Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)

Compliance made easy to understand—turning BNG from a burden into an opportunity.

BNG explained

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is no longer a ‘nice to have’. It’s the law. And if you're planning a development, restoring land, or managing a historic site, you are now legally required to deliver a minimum of 10% biodiversity uplift.

But here’s the challenge: understanding the rules is one thing. Navigating them confidently—and cost-effectively—is something else entirely.

At Land & Heritage, we help you get it right. We’ll show you how to meet the BNG requirement in a way that supports your project, protects your reputation, and avoids unnecessary spend on offsite units or statutory credits.

What’s changing—and why it matters to you

New legislation under the Environment Act 2021 means all planning applications submitted after these dates must include 10% Biodiversity Net Gain:

Major developments: from 12 February 2024
Minor developments: from 2 April 2024

BNG applies to nearly all planning scenarios — whether you're building homes, restoring heritage landscapes, or developing land for commercial or community use.

You’ll need to demonstrate that your project will leave habitats in better condition than before – and that this has been calculated and verified using the Statutory BNG Metric.

How BNG is measured—and where many get it wrong

BNG isn’t guesswork. It's a numbers game—and those numbers are audited by your local planning authority.

Here’s how it works:

A qualified ecologist surveys your site and assigns a baseline biodiversity value based on existing habitats and their condition.
Your plans are modelled using the DEFRA-approved Statutory Metric, calculating habitat loss, gain, and overall net change.
If your design doesn’t deliver 10% uplift, you must compensate with:

Onsite enhancements (e.g., wildflower meadows, new habitats)
Offsite habitat creation (on your own land or via a third party)
BNG Units purchased from landowners
As a last resort: Statutory Credits from the government

Getting this process right—and early—is key to avoiding expensive redesigns or planning rejections later.

Thinking of clearing your land first? Think again.

Some landowners ask: “Can I reduce my site’s value before the survey—by ploughing, felling trees, or removing scrub?”

The short answer? Don’t.

Under Schedule 14 of the Environment Act, planning authorities can use historic data and aerial imagery to determine your site’s baseline as it stood on 30 January 2020—even if the habitats have since been removed.

If the data isn’t clear, they may default to assuming the highest possible habitat value—costing you more in compensation later.

Our advice? Don’t touch the land until you’ve had a baseline assessment from a qualified ecologist.

BNG Units vs Statutory Credits – what’s the difference?

BNG Units are the measurable ecological ‘currency’ your project must generate—or compensate for. If you can’t create enough onsite, you can buy units from a landowner who’s created them through habitat enhancement.