At Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment, we help developers, planners, and landowners across the UK meet the increasing environmental requirements for sustainable development.

With the UK Environment Act now mandating measurable biodiversity improvements, our expert ecologists ensure your biodiversity net gain assessment delivers at least a 10% gain while meeting local planning authority requirements.

From detailed site evaluations to targeted habitat creation, we combine ecological expertise with a practical, development-focused approach that keeps your project on schedule while enhancing the surrounding environment.

What Makes a Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment Essential for Projects?

A biodiversity net gain assessment is a structured planning process that ensures new developments leave the natural environment in a measurably better condition than before.

This approach is now a legal requirement in most cases, meaning developers must demonstrate compliance to secure planning consent. In practice, a biodiversity net gain assessment creates opportunities to restore degraded land, introduce diverse planting schemes, and improve the long-term resilience of local ecosystems.

Which Types of Developments Are Likely to Need a Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment?

Biodiversity net gain assessment requirements apply to a wide range of developments, including:

• Residential schemes – From small housing plots to large-scale estates, particularly on greenfield or ecologically sensitive sites.
• Commercial developments – Offices, retail premises, warehouses, and mixed-use complexes.
• Infrastructure projects – Roads, rail links, bridges, and utilities that impact habitats or wildlife corridors.
• Major refurbishments – Significant redevelopments with ecological implications.
• Agricultural projects – Land-use changes, new farm infrastructure, and drainage works.
• Renewable energy projects – Solar farms, wind farms, and associated infrastructure.
• Industrial expansions – New facilities or extensions in or near sensitive ecological areas.

What Budget Should You Expect for a Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment?

The cost of implementing biodiversity net gain assessment measures ranges from £6,000 to over £60,000, depending on the site’s current biodiversity value, the scale of proposed improvements, and whether enhancements are delivered on-site or off-site.

Costs are influenced by factors such as the type of habitat creation or restoration, the complexity of landscaping, the need for specialist ecological monitoring, and long-term management commitments.

Contact Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment for a tailored quotation to meet your project’s needs.

How Do Experts Measure Biodiversity Value During an Assessment?

Our ecologists use the DEFRA Biodiversity Metric to carry out a biodiversity net gain assessment. This process includes mapping and categorising existing habitats, assessing their quality and distinctiveness, and recording the species they support.

Each habitat is assigned a biodiversity unit score, which forms the baseline reference for calculating the uplift required to achieve compliance.

Can a Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment Combine On-Site and Off-Site Enhancements?

A biodiversity net gain assessment can recommend delivering enhancements entirely on-site or using a combination of on-site improvements and off-site biodiversity unit purchases.

This flexible approach is often necessary when space constraints or site design limitations make it difficult to achieve all biodiversity gains within the development boundary.

How Are Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment Plans Tailored to Meet Local Authority Criteria?

We prepare biodiversity net gain assessment plans to meet national DEFRA standards as well as local planning authority requirements. This includes providing clear habitat maps, biodiversity metric calculations, and detailed management schedules.

By aligning our recommendations with local conservation goals, such as restoring priority habitats or enhancing designated wildlife corridors, we increase the likelihood of smooth and timely planning approval.

What Are the Key Steps in Producing and Submitting a Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment?

The biodiversity net gain assessment process begins with an initial consultation to understand your project’s objectives and site conditions. Our team then conducts the baseline survey, completes biodiversity metric calculations, and proposes targeted enhancement measures.

We prepare all required documentation, including metric outputs and phased implementation plans, for submission alongside your planning application, ensuring both compliance and practicality.

Which Practical Strategies Can Help Achieve a 10% Gain in a Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment?

Common strategies used in biodiversity net gain assessments include:

• Enhancing existing habitats – Improved management of grassland, woodland, and wetland areas.
• Creating new habitats – Establishing wildflower meadows, ponds, wetlands, or native woodland.
• Green infrastructure – Incorporating green roofs, living walls, and urban planting.
• Wildlife corridors – Linking fragmented habitats to encourage species movement.
• Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) – Combining water management with ecological enhancements.
• Invasive species control – Removing non-native species to allow native habitats to recover.

Do Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment Services Include Long-Term Monitoring?

Once biodiversity net gain assessment measures are in place, ongoing monitoring is essential to verify that biodiversity improvements are achieved and sustained, typically over a 30-year period under the Environment Act.

We provide scheduled inspections, compliance checks, and habitat condition reporting to ensure gains are maintained.

Contact Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment for expert support in achieving and preserving biodiversity improvements.

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