Introduction
The legal requirement for new development to demonstrate and deliver at least 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is set nationally. That net gain can be delivered on-site, off-site or through purchasing of national statutory credits, subject to appropriate justification as required by law and as set out in national and local guidance. More information can be found on Biodiversity Net Gain page.
Habitat Banks
Habitat Banks involve the retention, enhancement and/or creation of habitats to deliver strategic nature recovery at scale. The biodiversity units generated are then able to be purchased by developers to meet their off-site BNG requirements where justified. A number of Habitat Banks have been set up in Somerset to provide BNG units, which can be used by developers to meet BNG requirements for new development.
To enable development, Somerset Council ran a ‘call for sites’ for Biodiversity Net Gain schemes from 20 May 2024 to 15 July 2024. Further information about this can be found on Environmental Call for Sites page. Following this, the Council has worked with numerous site promoters to negotiate and legally secure Habitat Banks around Somerset using Section 106 agreements. In each case, delivery against an approved Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP) is secured against the land. Somerset Council does not have any involvement in selling these credits; developers wishing to buy these units should contact the provider directly.
In addition, some Habitat Banks have been legally secured with a Responsible Body rather than with the Council, using Conservation Covenants. The Council has not been involved in legally securing these sites, but they still represent options for developers to source biodiversity units in Somerset. Again, developers wishing to buy these units should contact the provider directly.
The following Habitat Banks are those that Somerset Council is currently aware of, it does not necessarily represent a complete list nor a recommendation of Habitat Bank providers. This list will be updated periodically and as necessary. Inclusion in this list does not indicate that the Habitat Bank has necessarily been registered on the national gain site register, which is the responsibility of the landowner or gain site operator. We recommend checking the national register and speaking to the habitat bank provider directly for
These Habitat Banks have either been secured with a Responsible Body via a Conservation Covenant, or through a Section 106 Agreement with Somerset Council.
Providers
Legally secured with Somerset Council
- Bathealton Nature and Conservation Reserve
- Woodrow Farm – Natural Capital
- Yew Tree Farm – Natural Capital