Unit Buying Guide
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is now a mandatory requirement for most developments, and many sites simply can’t deliver the required uplift within the red line. When on site options are exhausted, buying off-site BNG units is the recognised and regulated route to compliance. Naturebank provides a reliable way to secure those units without developers needing to source land, understand habitat trading rules, or navigate long-term management obligations themselves. We handle the technical work, the legal structure, and the approval process, so you get a clear, deliverable solution that keeps your project moving.
How buying off-site units works
Once you have established off-site units are likely to be required for your project, simply share your findings with us and we will match your needs with suitable off-site units. Naturebank will then provide the documentation you need for your Biodiversity Gain Plan, ensuring your off-site units are properly allocated and ready for Local Planning Authority approval.
Our simple three-step approach
1. Matching
We start by reviewing your existing planning documents to match your project’s requirements to our available units.
2. Reservation
We issue you with a quotation and reserve your units on receipt of a 10% deposit.
3. Allocation
Once your planning is approved, we confirm allocation of your units and provide updated documentation to demonstrate your BNG compliance.
The timescale for off-site allocation depends on where you are in the planning process and whether we can meet your requirements through pre-registered units or with units from an upcoming site. Units from our registered sites can be allocated almost immediately, while our upcoming sites are still undergoing rigorous ecological and legal review. To enable your project to progress swiftly, it is beneficial to consider BNG early in the planning process. Your quotation will provide an indicative timescale for the units offered.
Areas we cover
Naturebank’s habitat restoration work is focused in the Midlands, primarily Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire and Staffordshire.
Working with us means you gain fast, reliable access to high‑quality biodiversity units while directly supporting nature recovery in the landscapes your projects affect.
Within the Midlands, we can deliver units that align closely with planning expectations and achieve stronger biodiversity metric outcomes, helping to streamline approvals. At the same time, our approach enhances regional ecological networks – improving habitat connectivity, strengthening local wildlife populations, and contributing to long‑term landscape resilience. We offer a straightforward, sustainable way to meet your BNG obligations while maximising environmental benefit where it counts most.
We welcome enquiries from projects within this area, however we are always happy to discuss opportunities beyond it.
Bespoke solutions
Struggling to find units in your area or looking for a more tailored approach?
We offer a bespoke off-site unit option designed for developers looking for a tailored, project-specific route to achieving biodiversity net gain. Instead of relying on pre-registered units, we work with you to design and create new habitats on suitable land that can be shaped around your project’s needs. This includes identifying an appropriate offset site, planning the habitat enhancement, and ensuring long-term security through the required legal agreements and 30-year management commitments.
Bespoke off‑site solutions typically take longer, in the region of 12 to 18 months, but offer increased flexibility and a solution to suit.
How to get started
If you believe off-site biodiversity units may be required for your project, please contact us either directly or complete our short enquiry form below.
Submitting an enquiry does not commit you to anything.