What Are Habitat Banks and How Do They Support Biodiversity Net Gain?
Meeting Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) obligations isn’t just a legal necessity, it’s an opportunity to deliver ecological outcomes that last for years to come. At BioGains, we specialise in helping developers meet these obligations through high quality, professionally managed habitat banks.
If you’re wondering exactly what habitat banks are, how they work, and why they are becoming the preferred route for developers, we’re here to guide you. Lets dive in:
What Is a Habitat Bank?
Habitat banks are dedicated areas of land that are restored, created, or enhanced to generate biodiversity units in accordance with Natural England’s Biodiversity Metric. These units can then be sold to developers to offset biodiversity loss from development projects elsewhere.
Each habitat bank is carefully designed to deliver measurable biodiversity uplift – managed over a minimum of 30 years to align with the requirements of the Environment Act 2021. These sites provide an off-site solution for developers who cannot deliver the required 10% net gain within the site area of their project.
How Habitat Banks Support Biodiversity Net Gain
BNG policy now requires nearly all new developments to not only avoid biodiversity loss, but to leave the natural environment in a measurably better state. Habitat banks help deliver that outcome in the following ways:
A Credible Off-Site Solution
While on-site gains may be limited by space, land value, or ecological suitability, a habitat bank offers a scalable and flexible solution. Biodiversity units generated off-site allow developers to meet their obligations without compromising project viability.
Ecologically Valuable Habitats
At BioGains, we restore and manage a range of habitat types for landowners, from grasslands and woodlands to wetlands and species-rich meadows: tailored to local conservation priorities and Natural England’s criteria.
Transparent, Metric-Driven Delivery
We assess each habitat bank using the latest Biodiversity Metric, providing a clear calculation of how many biodiversity units will be generated. This metric takes into account habitat type, distinctiveness, condition, strategic significance and delivery timescale, ensuring each unit purchased reflects genuine ecological uplift.
Why Habitat Banks Offer Long-Term Value for Developers
Looking further than just about legal compliance, our Habitat Bank management services offer developers and planners a stable and streamlined route to fulfilling their BNG obligations:
Certainty and Simplicity
Working with a trusted provider like BioGains means you get access to ready-to-use biodiversity units with all the ecological assessments, legal agreements, and long-term management plans in place. This removes the uncertainty and complexity of trying to develop on-site habitats to the required standard.
Strategic Planning Benefits
Because habitat banks are pre-approved and centrally tracked via the biodiversity gain site register, using them can accelerate the planning process. Local planning authorities increasingly view off-site unit purchase as a preferred route when supported by strong ecological evidence. This is in line with the core concept of ‘Bigger, Better and More Joined Up’ (Lawton’s 2010 review), which underpins much of the UK’s approach to nature recovery and Biodiversity Net Gain..
Risk Mitigation
Habitat creation requires specialist design, long-term management, and monitoring to succeed. By sourcing units from BioGains, developers reduce delivery risks while also benefiting from steady, reliable outcomes.
Our Expertise in Habitat Banking
At BioGains, we create, manage, and monitor habitat banks that support both biodiversity and commercial outcomes. We work closely with ecologists, landowners, and developers to ensure every site meets national policy standards and delivers long-term ecological gain.
From initial site appraisal through to habitat design, legal compliance, and ongoing stewardship, our team manages the entire process. This gives developers and landowners peace of mind while contributing to genuine nature recovery.
Get in Touch Today
If you are looking for a trusted partner in habitat banking, we’re here to help. Whether you need biodiversity units for a planning application or want to explore the creation of a habitat bank on your land, our expert team at BioGains offers the guidance and expertise to make it happen.
Contact our team today to discuss your project:
Email: info@bio-gains.co.uk
Phone: 01392 715497