Beresfords Group partners with Eco Capital to navigate Biodiversity Net Gain requirements

BNG is measured using Biodiversity Units (BU’s), calculated via the DEFRA Biodiversity Metric, which acts as the ‘currency’ for determining whether a site meets the required uplift. 

Developers must demonstrate how they will achieve this gain, either through on-site enhancements or off-site measures. If the uplift cannot be achieved on-site, developers can purchase off-site BUs from habitat banks like Eco Capital. If no BU’s are available then Statutory Units (SU’s) from the government must be legally secured and maintained for thirty years. These are priced at a premium and developers have to buy double the amount of units, to encourage the use of local, privately generated units. 

The introduction of BNG has had significant implications for land and properties with a high level of pre-existing biodiversity. -Without planning consent, owners can be penalised if they are impacting on habitats, and they need to meet the uplift requirement by taking out valuable land which could be used for building new properties. In some cases, this has led to a decrease in land value unless biodiversity credits are purchased to free up the land again for development. 

Fraser Allen, Land Director for Beresfords, emphasises the urgency for landowners to understand and adapt to BNG requirements. He said: “The introduction of BNG presents both challenges and opportunities for landowners and developers. While the rules are complex and councils are still interpreting them differently, early action is the best way to protect land value and prevent costly delays.” 

Through its partnership with Eco Capital, Beresfords offers clients a credible solution to help them navigate the BNG requirements. While Beresfords brings expertise in land and development, Eco Capital provides expert advice on the BNG system and supplies biodiversity units across the country at the best prices – together offering a joined-up service to help landowners and developers satisfy their planning conditions. 

The process typically follows these steps: 

1. Land assessment
An ecologist surveys the development site to evaluate current habitat types and biodiversity levels to establish a baseline. 

2. DEFRA metric calculation
Using the DEFRA Biodiversity Metric, the impact of the development project is calculated against that baseline along with a minimum 10% uplift. This is reported by the ecologist as a number of Biodiversity Units (BUs) needed to cover the project’s impact plus the 10% gain. 

3. Securing Biodiversity Units
Ecocapital supplies the required BU’s, ensuring they are reliable and sourced in the most appropriate ‘character area’ for the development and at the best rates. 

4. Managing spatial risk
If suitable BU’s are unavailable in the same area as the development, then developers may purchase units from outside the area. However, this incurs an additional ‘spatial risk multiplier’ which increases the cost to the developer by doubling the number of units required. Eco Capital can supply units in areas across the country to minimise or completely avoid the increased cost from the multiplier. 

5. Certification and approval
Once units are secured, Eco Capital provides the necessary certification and documents for submission to the local planning authority, including a completed s.7 of the biodiversity gain plan for the development and then allocation of the units to the development, enabling the planning authority to sign off the BNG aspect of any planning application. 

Eco Capital’s units all produced by qualified ecologists, audited by a DEFRA authorised responsible body or local authority and listed on the official government register, giving developers and landowners confidence that they are investing in a credible and compliant solution. 

Eco Capital’s Biodiversity Net Gain projects include everything from managing England’s ancient woodlands to converting land with no suitability for farming into wild meadows and habitats across England including Hertfordshire and Essex, always working in line with local authorities.

The government have pledged to keep the BNG system in place for the foreseeable future, with only minor reforms proposed to small scale developments which aren’t likely to take effect until later next year at the earliest. 

With policy still evolving and an ever-changing landscape, trusted partnerships such as that between Beresfords and Eco Capital will play a vital role in helping landowners and developers adapt and comply to new regulatory changes. 

Colin Goldring, Managing Director at Eco Capital has said “We are very proud of our partnership with Beresfords and are committed to ensuring developers have straight forward practical advice, enabling clients to be confident they are buying the right units to get through planning and at the best prices”.