Stories from the ground

A clear view on BNG, land and long-term value

Two years after becoming statutory in England, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is no longer an emerging policy. It is now a material factor in development viability and land management decisions.

This month, we share what BNG has delivered so far, where the market is heading next, and how developers and landowners can position themselves to create value as demand continues to grow.

Beyond policy: BNG two years on

Two years after becoming statutory, BNG has moved from policy intent to a functioning nature market. It is reshaping how development and land management work together, directing private investment into nature recovery while helping unlock housing, infrastructure and regeneration.

Off-site BNG has been a critical enabler, allowing schemes to move forward where on-site constraints would otherwise delay or prevent development, while delivering measurable gains for nature.

The pace of growth has been significant. Over the past year, the Biodiversity Gain Site Register has grown from 40 to 188 sites, signalling increasing confidence from landowners, developers and investors alike. While government reporting to date captures only limited statutory credit transactions, industry analysis indicates that private capital committed to off-site habitat creation and long-term management is substantial, with estimates running into the hundreds of millions of pounds.

This growth has not been without challenge. The market has faced scrutiny, consultation and speculation around legislative change and has emerged more resilient as a result.

Capability across the system continues to improve. Local planning authorities are becoming more consistent, specialist ecological expertise is deepening, and collaboration between landowners, developers, consultants and planners is strengthening market confidence and integrity.

Looking ahead, policy evolution will play a key role in shaping how BNG is delivered alongside development. Clearer frameworks and delivery mechanisms are expected to support compliance with BNG requirements while enabling development to proceed, helping to reduce uncertainty across the planning system. In parallel, advances in data availability and environmental technology are likely to improve the transparency and measurability of BNG outcomes, strengthening monitoring, accountability and confidence in the market.

Two years in, BNG is becoming a defining feature of land use and development in England. Those who plan early, understand local demand and invest in high-quality habitats will be best placed as the market continues to mature.

Beyond production: working with nature to strengthen food security

Food security depends on more than farms, yields and supply chains. It depends on healthy land.

Soil, water and biodiversity form the foundation of food production, and when ecosystems decline, farming becomes more exposed to disruption. Recent government assessments have highlighted how biodiversity loss and environmental degradation are now recognised as risks to food and water security, with implications for long-term stability.

There is also reason for optimism. Across the UK, farmers are increasingly adopting regenerative approaches that rebuild soil health, enhance biodiversity and reduce exposure to shocks. These approaches were a major focus at the 2026 Oxford Real Farming Conference, where practical, nature-led solutions were shown to be taking root on the ground. These practices are proving that productivity and nature recovery can go hand in hand.

BNG is becoming an increasingly important tool in this transition. By supporting the creation and long-term management of habitats alongside working farmland, BNG helps improve soil structure, water retention and ecosystem function across the wider landscape. Healthier soils and more diverse habitats support pollination, natural pest control and water regulation - all critical to stable food production.

For landowners, BNG can also provide a reliable income stream that helps offset the short-term costs of transitioning away from more intensive practices. By reducing financial risk, it gives farmers the confidence to invest in soil health and nature-positive management while maintaining long-term economic resilience.

The benefits extend beyond the farm gate. Restored habitats slow runoff, healthier soils absorb and hold more water, and well-managed landscapes reduce flood risk - protecting productive land, stabilising yields and reducing disruption to food supply chains as extreme weather becomes more frequent.

By working with nature, through regenerative farming supported by BNG, we can build landscapes that are both productive and resilient, strengthening food security while restoring the natural systems it depends on.

Where risk is recognised, action is growing. With nature at the centre, we are better placed to protect both our food and our environment.

Beyond today: strengthening long-term ecological delivery

We are delighted to welcome Louise Martland as Biofarm's Director of Ecology.

As BNG matures from policy to practice, strong ecological leadership has never been more important. Two years into the mandate, the sector is rapidly evolving. Standards are rising, delivery models are strengthening, and expectations around long-term performance are rightly increasing.

Louise has been part of that journey from the very beginning.

With over a decade of specialist experience in BNG - spanning local authority, habitat bank delivery and consultancy - she has been involved since its earliest stages. She brings rare, end-to-end delivery insight at a time when the industry needs it most.

High-quality BNG doesn't happen by accident. It depends on specialist ecological leadership.

It requires navigating metrics, planning conditions, legal agreements and long-term management, and designing schemes that are realistic, compliant and capable of performing over decades, not just years.

For developers and landowners, that leadership translates into reduced planning risk, clearer delivery pathways and confidence that BNG solutions are robust, investable and built to last.

Together, we will focus on delivering high-integrity off-site BNG that creates lasting value for nature, landowners, developers and communities.