HabitatBank.org
Restored English estate landscape suitable for Biodiversity Net Gain habitat banking

FOR DEVELOPERS

Secure credible off-site BNG units for planning compliance.

When on-site delivery cannot meet the full 10% requirement, registered off-site units can close the biodiversity gap with traceable evidence.

Discuss unit needs View the market
England BNG marketLandowner-led structureLegal and ecological routeBuyer-ready units

BUYER NEEDS

Development teams need units that are credible, traceable and planning-ready.

01

Right habitat type

Units must match the development requirement, trading rules and planning evidence.

02

Right location

Spatial relevance matters because local or strategic gain is usually more useful than distant supply.

03

Legal security

The gain site should be secured for at least 30 years through the right agreement.

04

Register evidence

Allocations need to be traceable through the public register and supporting documents.

05

Delivery confidence

Buyers need confidence that habitat delivery, monitoring and reporting are funded.

06

Clear transaction path

Commercial terms should align with planning milestones and allocation evidence.

PROCESS

How off-site units support a planning application.

  1. 01Confirm shortfall

    Establish what cannot be delivered on site after the gain hierarchy is applied.

  2. 02Define requirement

    Map unit types, area, hedgerow or watercourse needs and spatial relevance.

  3. 03Match supply

    Identify registered or registration-ready units that fit the requirement.

  4. 04Reserve units

    Agree commercial terms, evidence and timing.

  5. 05Allocate

    Record allocation once planning and statutory requirements are ready.

  6. 06Retain evidence

    Keep HMMP, legal and register evidence for planning compliance.