Buy BNG Credits
Secure the right BNG units for your development
If your development cannot meet its BNG requirement on site, you may need off-site biodiversity units to meet your compliance requirements. If you’re searching for BNG credits, it’s important to understand that off-site biodiversity units are different from government-issued statutory credits. Securing the right units early can help you avoid unnecessary delays and keep your project moving forward.
Whether you already have a biodiversity metric or are still working out your BNG requirements, our experienced BNG team can help. We can review your biodiversity metric, confirm the type and number of units you need, identify suitable off-site units, provide clear options and costs, and support you through the process of securing the required units for your development.
What are Biodiversity (BNG) Units?
Biodiversity units are a standardised way of measuring the biodiversity value of a habitat. They are calculated using the statutory biodiversity metric, which considers factors such as habitat type, size and condition.
If your development has a biodiversity shortfall that cannot be fully addressed on site, you still need to meet your BNG requirements. In this case, off-site biodiversity units can provide a practical way to help meet that requirement.
When might you need off-site biodiversity units?
As of April 2nd 2024 a Biodiversity net gain of 10% on all building projects over 25m2 became mandatory. This was amended in August 2026 to sites over 0.2 hectares (0.5 acres) if no Priority Habitat was impacted. As a developer, you may have built an extension, large estate or something in between. As such, to comply with planning regulations you will need to increase the biodiversity of the site by 10%. The ideal solution is to increase the biodiversity onsite, therefore not needing to purchase off-site BNG units. However the net gain can not be achieved by using a residential garden to plant hedges, trees etc to uplift the BNG; in these cases the units must be purchased off-site.
How the process works?
From your enquiry to receiving your Reservation Code, we guide you through each stage of securing your off-site biodiversity units.
Why choose BNG Solutions UK ?
FAQ - Buying BNG Units
BNG units are generated through habitat creation or enhancement and can be purchased from landowners or habitat banks to meet a development’s Biodiversity Net Gain requirements. Statutory BNG credits are purchased directly from the government as a last resort when suitable on-site and off-site biodiversity solutions are unavailable.
BNG Solutions UK supplies off-site biodiversity units, helping developers secure suitable habitat units as an alternative to purchasing statutory credits.
Developers must first demonstrate that they cannot meet their Biodiversity Net Gain requirements through appropriate on-site or off-site measures. Where statutory biodiversity credits are necessary, the developer must apply through the government’s credit purchasing service, providing the required biodiversity metric calculations and supporting documentation.
Before pursuing statutory credits, developers can explore the BNG Habitat Units catalogue to identify potentially suitable off-site units.
Further guidance is available from GOV.UK — Buy statutory biodiversity credits.
Statutory BNG credits are generally only available where the required biodiversity gain cannot be achieved through on-site measures or suitable off-site biodiversity units. Developers must follow the applicable biodiversity gain hierarchy and demonstrate why statutory credits are necessary.
Purchasing off-site BNG units may provide an alternative. BNG Solutions UK can review your biodiversity metric and help identify suitable units for your development through our Buying BNG Units service.
Statutory biodiversity credits are deliberately priced to avoid undercutting the private off-site biodiversity market. Their cost depends on the habitat credit tier and the number of credits required, including the applicable spatial risk multiplier.
Off-site biodiversity unit prices depend on habitat type, quantity, location and availability. The overall BNG unit cost will also depend on the number of units needed to meet your development’s biodiversity requirements. Developers should compare suitable off-site options before considering statutory credits. Our BNG Habitat Units catalogue provides indicative prices across several habitat types.
If suitable off-site BNG units are unavailable, statutory biodiversity credits may be considered as a last resort. Developers will generally need evidence that they have explored available off-site options, including enquiries with relevant suppliers, before purchasing credits.
BNG Solutions UK can assess your biodiversity requirements and explore suitable habitat unit availability, helping you establish whether an off-site solution is possible before progressing towards statutory credits.
To buy biodiversity units, developers first need to establish their biodiversity shortfall using the statutory biodiversity metric. This identifies the type and quantity of units required to meet their planning obligations.
BNG Solutions UK can review your biodiversity metric, identify suitable off-site units and provide a quotation based on your development’s requirements. Once suitable units have been agreed, we can guide you through the allocation process and associated documentation.
For further information, visit our BNG Habitat Units catalogue to explore the units currently available.
Yes. BNG Solutions UK offers biodiversity units for sale in increments of 0.01, allowing developers to purchase the quantity required to address their biodiversity shortfall without necessarily purchasing a full unit.
The type and quantity of units required will depend on your biodiversity metric, the habitat types affected and the relevant trading rules.
Our team can help identify suitable units and provide a quotation based on your development’s requirements.
The biodiversity unit cost depends on the habitat type, number of units required and availability of suitable off-site habitats. Smaller purchases may also include fixed administration and allocation costs, which can affect the overall price.
BNG Solutions UK provides indicative pricing for different habitat types, helping developers understand potential costs before committing to a purchase.
You can review our BNG Habitat Units catalogue or contact our team for a quotation tailored to your development.
Contact Us:
We can assist you with all of the necessary surveys you need to start the process of buying BNG units.
To find out more about how we can help, get in touch today!
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