Off-Site Biodiversity Units for Planning
Securing off-site biodiversity units has become one of the most important considerations for developers in England. Since the introduction of the Biodiversity Net Gain regulations, all new projects are legally required to demonstrate at least a 10% increase in biodiversity compared with the baseline condition of their land.
While some projects can achieve this within their boundary, many cannot. Limited land availability, dense urban design, or ecological constraints often make it impossible to create enough habitat on-site. In these situations, developers must rely on off-site biodiversity units, secured from habitat banks and registered gain sites.
At ACP Consultants, we specialise in helping developers source, secure and validate off-site units. Our work ensures projects remain fully compliant while contributing to meaningful ecological restoration, habitat conservation, and long-term environmental sustainability.
You can also drop us an email at hello@acp-consultants.com and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours to help with your inquiry!
We follow a simple, transparent process to ensure your project runs smoothly from the very first contact to the final report. Our approach is designed to provide you with clarity at every step, so you’re fully informed and confident in moving forward.
01
Step 1: Request a Quote
Fill out our quick quote form or call us, and our team will provide a free, no-obligation quote, outlining the services tailored to your needs.
02
Step 2: Confirm Your Booking
Once you approve the quote, simply return the booking form. We’ll schedule your survey and ensure all the details are taken care of.
03
Step 3: Receive Your Report
After your survey is completed and payment is received, we’ll promptly issue your survey report, ensuring you get the results as quickly as possible.
What Are Off-Site Biodiversity Units?
Off-site biodiversity units are measurable ecological credits. They represent habitat enhancement, restoration, or creation carried out away from the development site itself. Units are calculated using the statutory biodiversity metric and must be recorded on the official register to be recognised by planning authorities.
These units are vital for developments that cannot meet their 10% uplift internally. By funding improvements on another site, developers achieve compliance while also delivering wider environmental benefits. Off-site biodiversity units contribute to ecosystem services, increase natural capital, and can form part of broader habitat corridors that link fragmented landscapes.
For instance, a developer in central London may secure off-site units from a woodland creation project in Surrey. This counts towards their planning obligations while supporting flora and fauna diversity in the wider region.
Why Developers Need Off-Site Units
Developers need off-site biodiversity units for a variety of reasons. Urban projects often face severe space restrictions, making it impossible to create significant habitat on-site. In other cases, ground contamination or poor soil quality means that new habitats cannot thrive. Certain habitats, such as wetlands or ancient woodland, may also be strictly protected, leaving no scope for enhancement within the site boundary.
Sometimes it is a matter of planning certainty. Even where partial uplift is possible, local authorities may require the balance to be delivered externally. By securing off-site BNG, developers provide planning officers with clear evidence of compliance, reducing the risk of refusal or delay. This is especially important where schemes are subject to an environmental impact assessment.
Off-Site Biodiversity Units for Sale in the UK
The UK now has a growing marketplace for off-site biodiversity units for sale. Units can be purchased from landowners, conservation organisations and specialist providers who manage habitat banks or registered gain sites.
These gain sites may deliver a wide variety of habitats, including wetlands, grasslands, and woodlands. Developers can buy off-site biodiversity units to match the type and number required by their biodiversity net gain report.
However, care is needed. Units must be properly registered, sold transparently, and supported by long-term stewardship. Without this, the risk of overselling or under-delivering is high. ACP provides robust due diligence on all unit sourcing, ensuring that every purchase counts towards planning compliance.
Off-Site Biodiversity Units in London
Demand for off-site biodiversity units in London is particularly strong. With limited land available, many developers in the capital are required to source units externally. London boroughs such as Westminster, Southwark and Lambeth now expect clear evidence that off-site units are secured before planning permission is granted.
ACP Consultants works closely with clients across London to secure appropriate units. Where availability in the city itself is scarce, we identify opportunities in nearby counties such as Surrey, Sussex and Kent. This allows developers to achieve compliance while keeping investment as local as possible.
How to Secure Off-Site BNG Units
Securing BNG off-site requires more than a financial purchase it is a legal and ecological commitment. The process usually includes:
- Reviewing the development’s biodiversity net gain report to identify shortfall.
- Identifying appropriate gain sites through our network of trusted partners.
- Entering into binding legal agreements, often Section 106 obligations or conservation easements, which ensure long-term delivery.
- Confirming that land stewardship and management funding are secured for at least 30 years.
- Integrating off-site units into the planning application and Biodiversity Gain Plan.
This careful approach ensures compliance with biodiversity net gain regulations and guarantees that habitats are protected through proper habitat conservation and species preservation measures.
The ACP Consultants Process
ACP provides a structured and transparent process to minimise risk:
- Initial scoping: review project design, baseline surveys, and biodiversity metrics.
- Unit sourcing: identify appropriate biodiversity units UK through habitat banking and registered providers.
- Due diligence: verify registration, contracts, and management funding.
- Ecological review: ensure habitats support indigenous species, ecological restoration, and wildlife habitat enhancement.
- Planning submission: integrate evidence into the Biodiversity Gain Plan and liaise with the local authority.
- Monitoring and compliance: deliver a Habitat Management & Monitoring Plan for the 30-year term.
By combining expertise in ecology, planning and law, ACP ensures that every project secures units effectively and safely.
Benefits of Off-Site Units
Investing in off-site biodiversity units provides several advantages:
- Planning certainty: clear evidence of compliance reduces the risk of refusal.
- Environmental sustainability: contributions extend beyond the site boundary to wider ecosystems.
- Cost efficiency: often cheaper than attempting complex on-site habitat creation.
- Strategic conservation: supports landscape-level conservation strategies such as habitat corridors.
- Corporate responsibility: demonstrates commitment to sustainable land use, ecological footprint reduction, and protection of indigenous species.
Case Studies and Examples
The following examples represent just a small selection from our growing portfolio of biodiversity net gain (BNG) projects. ACP has been at the forefront of BNG delivery since the requirement first became mandatory, with a proven record of helping clients achieve compliance across diverse development types. Our team’s breadth of technical expertise and practical experience ensures that each project not only meets statutory obligations but also delivers measurable ecological value on the ground.
Urban Mixed-Use Scheme (South East England)
Faced with tight site boundaries, a developer partnered with a habitat bank to secure grassland units. This provided a straightforward path to compliance, while restoring valuable habitats at scale.
Office Redevelopment (Central London)
ACP sourced woodland units from a registered gain site in Surrey to support an office redevelopment in Westminster. The agreement guaranteed long-term land stewardship, delivering both compliance and meaningful ecological benefits.
ACP prepares HMMPs that are proportionate to the project, enforceable through legal agreements, and realistic in terms of cost and management effort. Our goal is to give developers, landowners and local authorities confidence that gains will not only be delivered but also maintained over the long term.
Related Services and Reports
Off-site biodiversity units rarely stand alone. They are part of a broader planning framework, which includes:
- Biodiversity Net Gain Reports to establish the baseline and calculate uplift.
- Biodiversity Gain Plans (BGPs) to demonstrate compliance in planning submissions.
- Habitat Management & Monitoring Plans (HMMPs) to guarantee delivery.
- Environmental Impact Assessment chapters to consider wider ecological impacts.
By combining these services, ACP ensures every client has a robust, joined-up solution.
In the past year, we’ve delivered over 750 audit-ready reports supporting 400+ projects for developers, planners, and architects nationwide. We put quality over quantity and build lasting relationships based on trust, ensuring your planning applications are backed by robust evidence and delivered on time.
You can also drop us an email at hello@acp-consultants.com and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours to help with your inquiry!
Frequently Asked Questions: Off-Site Biodiversity Units
Understanding how off-site biodiversity units work is essential for developers who cannot achieve the required uplift on their own land. Below, we answer the most common queries, from how to find off-site biodiversity units for sale or secure them in London and other regions, to what should be included in a biodiversity net gain report. We also explain the process for securing off-site BNG, the role of biodiversity units UK, and how commitments are enforced under the biodiversity net gain regulations. These FAQs give practical insight into habitat banks, registered gain sites, and the 30-year legal requirements, helping you approach planning obligations, environmental protection, and sustainable development with confidence.
What are off-site biodiversity units?
Off-site biodiversity units are ecological credits that represent habitat creation, restoration, or enhancement carried out away from a development site. They are measured using the statutory biodiversity metric and recorded on the official register to comply with biodiversity net gain regulations. Developers use them when they cannot deliver the required uplift on their own land.
When do developers need them?
Developers need off-site units whenever the mandatory 10% uplift in biodiversity cannot be achieved within the development boundary. This often happens on small or high-density sites, contaminated land, or projects with strict design limitations. By securing off-site BNG, developers can still gain planning approval without compromising the design of their scheme.
Are off-site biodiversity units available everywhere?
No, supply is uneven. While many regions now have established habitat banks and registered gain sites, other areas still have limited provision. The availability of biodiversity units UK-wide depends on local landowners, conservation organisations, and government-supported schemes. ACP helps developers identify opportunities across both established and emerging markets.
How do I buy off-site biodiversity units in London?
Demand for off-site biodiversity units in London is high, and space for local habitat creation is scarce. Developers typically purchase units from nearby counties such as Surrey, Sussex, and Kent. ACP works with trusted providers to ensure these units are correctly registered and aligned with planning authority requirements in London boroughs.
What is the role of habitat banks?
Habitat banks are dedicated sites managed for the sole purpose of delivering biodiversity net gain. They create, restore, and enhance habitats such as grassland, woodland, or wetland, and then generate units that developers can purchase. These units are registered, traceable, and secured by long-term land stewardship agreements, giving developers confidence in their investment.
How does securing off-site BNG affect planning permission?
Securing off-site units provides planning officers with clear evidence that your project complies with the biodiversity net gain regulations. This reassurance reduces the risk of delay or refusal and strengthens your planning application. For schemes requiring an environmental impact assessment, off-site units are often a key part of the mitigation strategy.
What due diligence is required?
Due diligence is essential when purchasing units. Developers must check that units are correctly registered on the Natural England register, backed by legally binding agreements, and supported by long-term management funding. ACP provides full due diligence, reviewing contracts, management plans, and financial commitments to ensure the unit sourcing process is safe and compliant.
What are conservation easements?
Conservation easements are legal agreements that permanently restrict how land can be used, ensuring that habitats created or enhanced for BNG are protected for the long term. They provide certainty to developers and planning authorities that ecological improvements will not be lost or reversed, supporting lasting habitat conservation and species preservation.
Do off-site units link with carbon offset projects?
Some biodiversity offsetting schemes are designed to deliver both biodiversity and carbon benefits, for example, woodland creation projects. However, the metrics for biodiversity units and carbon offset projects remain separate. Developers should not assume that carbon credits automatically satisfy BNG requirements. ACP helps clients identify opportunities where both outcomes can be delivered in tandem.
How are off-site units monitored?
Off-site biodiversity units are monitored through a Habitat Management & Monitoring Plan (HMMP), which typically runs for 30 years. This ensures that habitats continue to deliver ecological value over time. Monitoring may include site inspections, ecological surveys, and reporting to the local planning authority. ACP supports clients by drafting and implementing HMMPs to guarantee long-term compliance.
Government Guidance and Statutory References
- Guidance: Make off-site biodiversity gains as a developer. Defra.
- Securing off-site Biodiversity Net Gain: Expert legal perspectives. Natural England.
- Understanding biodiversity net gain. Guidance on what BNG is and how it affects land managers, developers and local planning authorities. Defra.
- Statutory framework & planning condition – Biodiversity Net Gain under Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990; statutory regime explained in Planning Practice Guidance (GOV.UK).
- Biodiversity Gain Plan – Must be approved before commencement; Local Planning Authority decision normally within 8 weeks. See Biodiversity Net Gain Guidance (GOV.UK).
- Statutory biodiversity metric – How units are calculated, modules, factors, and guidance on early use. Statutory Metric and User Guide (GOV.UK).
- Condition Sheets & Small Sites Metric (SSM) – Official metric tools and guidance sheets. BNG Metric Tools (GOV.UK).
- Exemptions & de minimis thresholds – Householder, small self-build, and very small impacts where no priority habitat is affected. Exemptions Guidance (GOV.UK) and Defra Environment Blog.
- Off-site register & fee – Natural England guidance on registering biodiversity gain sites, with the current £639 registration fee. Register a Biodiversity Gain Site (GOV.UK).
- NSIPs timing – Government proposals indicate that BNG will apply to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) from May 2026, pending final regulations. Defra Consultation (GOV.UK).
- Creating a Habitat Management & Monitoring Plan (HMMP) – GOV.UK guidance on how to prepare HMMPs, including monitoring and reporting requirements. HMMP Guidance (GOV.UK).
- Small Site Matric Guidance.
Other Supporting References (Quick Links)
- BNG in Practice Report (2025) – Case studies showing how BNG is being delivered in real projects. Institute of Environmental Sciences.
- Biodiversity Net Gain – Principles and Guidance for UK Construction and Developments. Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management.
- BNG Research Briefing – This post note outlines the mandatory biodiversity net gain policy introduced in England in 2024 and the risks and challenges for delivering its objectives. UK Parliament.
- Biodiversity net gain: where to start. Natural England.
- Biodiversity Net Gain Report and Audit Templates- CIEEM.
- Implementing statutory biodiversity net gain. NAO.
- Mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain in England. A Guide by CIEEM.
Recent Google Reviews
Next Steps: Secure Your Off-Site Biodiversity Units
ACP Consultants provides trusted, professional support for developers securing off-site biodiversity units. We combine technical expertise, ecological knowledge, and legal due diligence to ensure compliance with biodiversity net gain regulations.
Explore Related Biodiversity Net Gain Resources
Off-site biodiversity units offer developers a practical route to achieving mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) where on-site delivery is limited. To see how they fit within the statutory framework, begin with the Biodiversity Net Gain Overview and BNG Legislation & Guidance explaining the Environment Act 2021 requirements for unit trading and registration.
Before securing off-site options, calculate habitat value using the Statutory Biodiversity Metric 4.0 or Small Sites Metric (SSM), and prepare your Biodiversity Gain Plan (BGP) and Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP) to demonstrate compliance.
Learn how to legally secure your off-site habitat through Conservation Covenants vs Section 106 Agreements and Registering a Gain Site. For cost and monitoring insight, explore the BNG Costs & Pricing and BNG Monitoring Fee Calculator, or download supporting materials from BNG Templates & Downloads.
You can also drop us an email at hello@acp-consultants.com and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours to help with your inquiry!
- Last Updated:
- October 2025
Disclaimer: Our content is prepared by ACP Consultants’ in-house specialists and is based on current guidance, standards, and best practice in environmental consultancy. While we make every effort to keep information accurate and up to date, it is provided for general guidance only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice on specific projects. Planning authorities retain final decision-making powers, and requirements may vary between local authorities and over time. ACP Consultants accepts no liability for any loss arising from reliance on this content without obtaining tailored advice for your project.