Landowners
Generate an Income Whilst Helping Restore Biodiversity
Enter into a long term lease (30 years) with BioGains and received a guaranteed rental income linked to inflation. BioGains will undertake all of the work to design, secure and register the habitat bank as well as then going on to fund and deliver the habitat creation and management. All you need to do is enjoy seeing the wildlife return to your land whilst receiving a generous rent for your land.
Frequently asked questions
What is a habitat bank?
A parcel of land designed to restore nature through the creation or enhancement of habitats by following a management plan. The uplift in ecological value can be measured using the government metric which provides an output in the form of habitat units. These units can then be sold to developers who require them to meet their planning obligations.
What sort of land is of interest?
The only land we’re not interested in is land that has been designated for wildlife reasons (e.g. SSSI, SAC etc.). Beyond that some land is better than others but most existing habitats can be enhanced. We are mostly interested in land that is currently grassland or arable and we require the land to be a minimum of 20 acres. The land can be in a floodplain and we are keen for parcels to include watercourses where possible.
What sort of financial return can I expect?
The rent payments will be made annually with compound interest applied for the life of the project and are guaranteed. The value per acre will depend on location, size of the land committed along with other factors including the baseline habitat conditions but on the whole, we believe it should be worth considerably more than grazing values or common rent values. BioGains pay all of the associated costs.
How long is the commitment?
Our leases will always be at least 31 years as the legislation underpinning BNG requires the habitats to be secured for a minimum of 30 years.
What if I decide I want to sell the land during that period?
The agreement sits on the title of the land so you can sell the land at any point but the agreement would pass on to the new land owner. So they would be duty bound to allow our habitat management plan to continue uninterrupted but they would continue to receive the rent.
Who manages the land?
We will either manage the land ourselves, arrange for one of our partnering contractors to undertake the management or if you have the means, experience and enthusiasm we’ll be happy to discuss the idea of you undertaking the management for an additional payment.
Can I still use the land?
If the activity in question does not conflict with the management plan. So walking and recreation yes, but it’s unlikely many agricultural uses would be permitted.
Is the management regulated or checked?
Yes the legal agreement securing the habitat bank will have an agreed timeline for when a qualified ecologist must come and conduct a monitoring survey to assess how the management plan is progressing. Their report will be sent to the local planning authority for compliance monitoring.
What happens after the 30 years has ended?
Our agreement with you will end so you will be entitled to do as you wish with the land as it is yours! We do not know what environmental incentives will be in place at that point in time to enter into a further scheme but we hope the land will be so rich in wildlife that you will choose to continue using it for the benefit of nature.
What are the risks to me?
None, the agreement is sealed in a legally binding document and a cash deposit is made by BioGains at the beginning of the agreement to take care of all of the future management costs. So in the worst case scenario of BioGains ceasing to exist the funds would be secured to see the project through to the end of the 30 years.
Do I get a say in what habitats are created on my land?
We will lead the conversation on the design of the habitat bank as we look to deliver habitats that will flourish in that specific location but that are also commercially viable to us in order to make the bank work. As the landowner you will however get to see the management plan as it is being developed and crucially you will have the final sign off on it to ensure you are happy with our plans.