Recent news and articles about BNG.
Pre-Planning BNG Advisory: How We Saved £2 Million
We recently helped a client reduce their Biodiversity Net Gain expected costs from £6 million to £4 million. Not by cutting corners or reducing their biodiversity obligations - but by questioning the assumptions in their ecological report and finding more practical solutions within the BNG framework.
How to commercially navigate NSIPs and BNG
Mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain comes into force for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) on May 2026. These projects routinely cross multiple Local Planning Authority boundaries and Natural Character Areas - which creates three clear commercial challenges.
We're Launching a Free Monthly BNG Lunch & Learn
It has become apparent that many people approaching the BNG purchase process for the first time are unclear on what it entails, and the prices they can expect to pay. So we've decided to do something about it - every month.
Got a BNG question? We've launched a hotline
Since mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain came into force, one thing has become very clear: developers, planning consultants and ecologists have a lot of questions.
Case Study: BNG Without the Learning Curve
Within three days we'd evaluated the metric against BNG legislation and Barnsley Council's requirements, and come back with a range of BNG unit supply options and pricing.
Celebrating Nature Positive Development: BNG Deserves Recognition
We're now creating Nature Positive awards for clients, sending them a certificate to showcase on site, in head offices, or wherever they choose. So you can tangibly see what was done and where - on the wall for all to see.
BNG Pricing Report February 2026: Two Years On
Timed to launch with the two year anniversary of Biodiversity Net Gain - now includes data from 165 habitat banks. This edition is both updated and expanded.
2025 Recap: BNG Industry Leaders
We wanted to reflect on where the industry had come in the last year - so we canvassed our colleagues across the industry and gathered their perspectives. They make for fantastic reading,
NSIPs and BNG: A Significant Step
Inclusion of NSIPs is a significant development for nature conservation. It's also beneficial for infrastructure projects themselves, as BNG removes environmental ambiguity through the planning process: a core benefit of the legislation.
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.

