Using Off-site Biodiversity Habitats

The LPA has no legal duty to directly provide, sell, or offer a trading platform for off-site biodiversity units (BUs). All developers are advised that they will need to make their own arrangements in the private market to source off-site BUs where appropriate.

Notwithstanding this, the council is committed to supporting the development of a local BNG market and may be able to provide general advice regarding the availability of local providers. The council is also assessing the viability of setting up its own habitat bank, but this is dependent on a number of factors and is still very much in the early phases of consideration.

The Council may in future enter into formal arrangements with (privately- or publicly- owned) habitat banks within the LPA area, with a view to facilitating the establishment of local off-site BUs for purchase by developers. You can read more about this in the If you are a landowner section below.

Applicants may wish to refer to the following websites which show the availability of habitat bank providers:

• https://bng-map-wildlifetrusts.hub.arcgis.com/
• Habitat banks on national register BNG: Search Results

See also:

• Statutory credits https://www.gov.uk/guidance/statutory-biodiversity-credit-prices

If you are a Landowner interested in offering land as a habitat bank

The Council cannot formally endorse any public or private habitat bank for the provision of BUs. However, it is committed to supporting the development of a local BNG market. The Council is also assessing the viability of setting up its own habitat bank on its own land holdings, but this is dependent on a number of factors and is still very much in the early phases of consideration.

In July 2025 the Council received delegated authority from its Planning Committee to enter into standalone Section 106 legal agreements (not linked to a planning application) with commercial habitat banks within the same planning authority area to help facilitate local delivery of BNG. The legal agreement serves to guarantee delivery for the requisite 30-year monitoring period with the bank. The Council is currently working on preparing a standard legal agreement that can be modified for different commercial banks.