Sell BNG Credits
Interested in generating income from your land?
At BNG Solutions UK, we offer landowners an opportunity to sell Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) units to help developers meet their environmental and planning requirements. By working with our MCIEEM accredited team, you can maximize the biodiversity potential of your land, generate a significant revenue whilst keeping full ownership and control over your land. We can help you to maximise an asset that will enable you to protect your farm for future generations.
With BNG Solutions UK, you can trust that with our fully managed service your BNG units will be marketed and sold efficiently. Furthermore we will deliver a seamless experience with phone calls answered within two rings and emails replied to within an hour, so that you feel fully supported and informed throughout the entire process.
What are Biodiversity Net Gain Units?
These units measure the biodiversity value of different habitats, such as grassland, native hedgerows, watercourses, or mixed woodland etc. Each unit is assigned a financial value. If a development project is set to impact or destroy a specific type of habitat or the developer simply needs the mandatory 10% increase in the biodiversity of the site, and you own that type of habitat on your land, you can sell its biodiversity value—without selling the land itself. The units you sell have to be uplifted from the habitats you have or can create e.g. if you have poor quality modified grassland (crop land or pasture) and you/we upgrade this to moderate or good the difference can then be sold.
How Much are BNG Units Worth?
This ranges significantly depending on the type of habitat and the quality of that habitat. For example Neutral Grassland is worth around £27,000 per unit, this equates to £216,000 per hectare of this type of habitat. For Mixed Woodland, one unit would be valued at around £30,800 this equates to £338,800 for a hectare of this habitat. As you can see, this is a significant amount of money, but there are hoops to jump through. You can only sell the value of the units that are part of the uplift from the baseline calculation.
What is the process?
If you are thinking about selling offsite Biodiversity units created from uplifting the biodiversity of you own land, we can help with any questions you might have! We can oversee the process from beginning to end, conducting the initial ecological assessments required to identify the potential biodiversity net gain of your site and create the plan for improvement or creation of habitats on the site as well as implement it (HMMP). Following this a legal agreement called a Conservation Covenant will be put in place between you, as the land owner, and a Responsible Body. We work closely with the Responsible Body to ensure that all documentation is completed in line with their requirements. Once the Conservation Covenant is in place, the land can be registered as a Biodiversity Gain Site with Natural England and you can sell your units! We will be with you throughout the whole process, helping match buyers to appropriate landowners.
You can see the process for landowners below:
Whether you have an existing habitat ready for biodiversity enhancement or are looking to establish a long-term solution, we provide expert guidance to help you sell your BNG units in a seamless, compliant, and commercially beneficial way. With biodiversity increase guaranteed, we ensure your land’s ecological value aligns with current planning regulations, all while providing reliable support ensuring the paperwork is compliant and the onsite work is completed to ensure uplift of the units and ongoing management with no input required from yourself.
Why Choose BNG Solutions uk?
FAQ - Selling BNG Units
Landowners can generate and sell off-site biodiversity units by creating or enhancing habitats on suitable land. Although these are sometimes referred to as BNG credits, they are different from statutory biodiversity credits, which are sold by the government.
BNG Solutions UK works with landowners looking to sell BNG units, helping them identify opportunities to generate income from their land while retaining ownership.
Yes. Agricultural land may be suitable for generating biodiversity units, depending on its existing habitats, ecological condition and potential for enhancement. Some landowners may be able to continue agricultural activities alongside habitat management, provided these are compatible with the agreed biodiversity objectives.
BNG Solutions UK can assess your land and identify opportunities to generate biodiversity units while considering your existing land use and long-term plans.
Yes. Unlike statutory BNG credits, which have government-set prices, off-site biodiversity units are sold through a private market where prices are commercially agreed.
The value of your units will depend on factors such as habitat type, location, market demand and the costs of creating, managing and monitoring the habitats over the required period.
BNG Solutions UK works with landowners to assess the commercial potential of their biodiversity units and support their sale to developers. BNG unit prices for landowners should be considered alongside the costs and obligations involved, rather than simply the advertised selling price.
Yes. A registered biodiversity gain site can supply units to multiple developments, provided sufficient eligible units are available and each allocation is correctly recorded.
Individual biodiversity units cannot be allocated to more than one development. Accurate recording is essential to prevent double counting and maintain compliance.
BNG Solutions UK can help manage the allocation process and associated documentation, supporting landowners who wish to sell units to multiple developers.
Payment arrangements for biodiversity units are commercially agreed between the landowner and the buyer or habitat bank operator. Depending on the agreement, payments may be made as a lump sum, in stages or through another agreed structure.
Landowners should consider the costs of habitat creation, ongoing management, monitoring and their legal obligations before agreeing payment terms.
BNG Solutions UK can help landowners understand the commercial considerations involved in selling biodiversity units and establishing a financially sustainable arrangement.
Land suitable for selling biodiversity units must have the potential to deliver measurable habitat creation or enhancement in accordance with the Statutory Biodiversity Metric.
Suitability depends on factors including existing habitat types, ecological condition, land area, location, achievable biodiversity uplift and any existing legal or environmental commitments.
BNG Solutions UK can undertake an initial assessment to establish whether your land has the potential to generate marketable biodiversity units and identify the next steps.
The process of selling BNG units generally involves an initial ecological assessment, calculation of potential biodiversity uplift, preparation of a Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan, and securing the land through an appropriate legal agreement.
The biodiversity gain site must also be registered with Natural England, and units must be formally allocated to developments through the required registration process.
BNG Solutions UK can support landowners throughout this process, from initial feasibility and habitat planning to registration, marketing and selling biodiversity units to developers.
Landowners do not necessarily need to establish a large commercial habitat bank to sell biodiversity units. However, the land used to generate off-site units must meet the relevant legal, ecological and registration requirements.
A biodiversity gain site may be created on suitable land where measurable biodiversity improvements can be delivered and secured for at least 30 years.
BNG Solutions UK can help determine whether your land is suitable for a biodiversity gain site and advise on the most appropriate commercial arrangement.
Off-site biodiversity gains must normally be legally secured for a minimum of 30 years through a conservation covenant or planning obligation.
The agreement establishes responsibilities for delivering, managing and monitoring the habitats in accordance with the approved Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan.
Selling biodiversity units does not require the landowner to sell the land itself. However, the legal agreement can impose long-term obligations affecting how the land is used, including where ownership changes.
BNG Solutions UK can help landowners understand the practical requirements and coordinate the relevant ecological and legal processes.
The costs associated with generating and selling biodiversity units can include ecological surveys, habitat design and creation, legal agreements, registration, ongoing management, monitoring and remedial works.
The overall financial return depends on the number and type of units generated, their selling prices, market demand and the commercial arrangement agreed with the habitat bank operator or delivery partner.
BNG Solutions UK can help landowners assess the potential revenue and long-term commitments before deciding whether to proceed with selling biodiversity units.
We Can Assist You with Selling BNG Units:
Looking to sell Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) units? We’re here to help!
Whether you have grasslands, hedgerows, woodlands, or other qualifying habitats on your land, we can guide you through the process of selling their biodiversity value. Our team makes it simple and stress-free, ensuring you maximize the financial potential of your land whilst retaining full ownership and control of your land.
Contact us today to learn more and get started!
partners
