Recent news and articles about BNG.
DEFRA's Small Site Exemption: Our Take
What's quite interesting in our data is that these small sites make up maybe 30% of the leads coming into our business, but only 8% of the actual total unit sales. That's because they're all such small amounts.
Announcing New Commercial Director to Support Market Leading Growth
We have appointed Will Moore as a new Commercial Director - following our strongest year of growth since launching in 2023.
The BNG Cost Calculator: Become A Beta Tester
Over three years working with developers across England, we've seen the same pattern: people trying to decode a DEFRA Metric spreadsheet. Then, once you have that figured out you need to get a cost. So we built something better: The BNG Calculator
How to Complete a Biodiversity Gain Plan: Step-by-Step Guide
In this short video, Jen Stott, Operations Manager at Biodiversity Units UK, walks through the Biodiversity Gain Plan template section by section and explains how to complete it in a way that satisfies your local planning authority and clearly demonstrates your 10 percent net gain.
What is a Biodiversity Gain Plan (BGP)?
In this short explainer, Jen from Biodiversity Units UK breaks down what a Biodiversity Gain Plan (BGP) is, why it’s required for planning applications, and what developers need to include to demonstrate their 10% Biodiversity Net Gain. Whether you’re an ecologist, planner, or developer, this video gives you a clear overview of how the BGP ties together your baseline data, metric calculations, and habitat enhancements.
October 2025 BNG Pricing Report: More Data, More Clarity
Our October 2025 BNG Pricing Report contains anonymous data from 95 habitat banks across England, plus a new feature: live data from the Natural England Register thanks to Natural Asset Partners.
BNG Advice for Developers: Navigating Biodiversity Net Gain with Confidence
When mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain landed in 2024, most developers had more questions than answers. This guide sets out the practical BNG advice for developers that makes the difference between a smooth process and an expensive delay.
Habitat Spotlight Series: Individual Trees
‘Individual trees’ refers to trees that are not part of a woodland or other habitat primarily characterised by trees. They can be either urban or rural - the classification depends on the surrounding habitat's degree of urbanisation.
What Are Biodiversity Net Gain Services and Why Are They Essential in the UK?
For many developers and landowners, the question isn’t whether to comply - it’s how to do so efficiently and without unnecessary cost. That’s where outside biodiversity net gain services come in. This guide explains what they cover, why they matter, and why professional support has become essential rather than optional.
The BNG Industry: “Bloody Brilliant”
Ian explains the driving force behind our inaugural BNG Industry Report: "We feel pretty strongly at Biodiversity Units that we're part of an industry, and it's a new fledgling industry. I should say it's a bloody brilliant industry as well right. It is re-wilding and restoring nature across England."
How Our 4 Pillars Deliver BNG Certainty for Developers 🌿
After 4,000+ hours of market research, we've built our service around four pillars that address the real challenges developers face - from navigating complex LPA requirements to avoiding costly mistakes with inappropriate units.
Habitat Spotlight Series: Mixed Scrub
As part of our Habitat Spotlight Series, we’re taking a closer look at Mixed Scrub. The BNG Metric recognises at least eight scrub habitat types, read the blog to learn more.
Unpacked: The June 2025 BNG Pricing Report
Learn the key insights direct from Ian Hambleton, our CEO, and creator of the fifth BNG Pricing Report, published in June 2025. The report now includes 77 habitat banks covering 85% of England's BNG market.
Frequently Asked Questions from Habitat Banks
As part of our Habitat Bank Onboarding Series, we’ve put together answers to the questions we hear most often from our Habitat Bank partners. This blog is a written companion to the video above, giving you a quick reference guide to how we work at Biodiversity Units UK.
Habitat Bank Insights Series
At Biodiversity Units UK, we’re committed to giving our partner Habitat Banks as much insight, support, and visibility as possible.
That’s why we’ve developed the Habitat Bank Insights Series — a collection of exclusive content, data, and resources to keep you fully informed and ahead of the curve.
Habitat Bank Onboarding Explainer: A Simple 7-Step Guide
Welcome to Biodiversity Units UK! If you’re a Habitat Bank interested in working with us, this blog is designed to give you a clear, step-by-step explanation of how we onboard new partners.
Habitat Spotlight Series: Other Neutral Grassland (ONG)
We’re taking a closer look at the different habitat types that frequently come up in biodiversity assessments, planning discussions, and habitat creation projects. First up is Other Neutral Grassland (ONG) - a commonly occurring but often misunderstood habitat.
LNT Marchwood Case Study: How Advisory Expertise Saved Money and Built Trust
Rather than simply accepting the initial BNG requirement, we applied our process know-how to help LNT navigate the planning system more effectively. Image provided by Environment Bank.
Revealed: The BNG Industry Report July 2025
The BNG Industry Report July 2025 draws insights from 33 habitat bank businesses across England, representing over 21,000 acres of land dedicated to biodiversity enhancement and nature recovery.
BNG Market Update: June 2025 Pricing Report Shows Growing Stability
Our analysis of price trends from 77 Habitat Banks provides the market intelligence you need to secure the right units at the right price - plus many more BNG industry insights.

