How to Buy Biodiversity Net Gain Units – How BNG Works
If you are looking to find out more about purchasing Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Units, we are here to help.
Whether you’re a developer, infrastructure provider, or corporate buyer, we can support you through every stage.
The new BNG legislation requires developers to create or enhance habitats that deliver at least a 10% biodiversity uplift.
While this biodiversity boost is encouraged on site, it’s not always possible to deliver – which is where landowners, and offsite BNG comes in.
End-to-end Biodiversity Net Gain Services through Plantlife
At Plantlife, our mission is to secure a world rich in plants and fungi. That’s why we don’t just meet Biodiversity Net Gain requirements, we exceed them. Our Nature Plus BNG Units go beyond metrics — they’re designed to deliver meaningful, lasting benefits for nature, backed by expert stewardship and science.
How Can You Help Nature?
We are a conservation charity, and that means we’re in this for nature not profits. Every pound we earn goes straight back into protecting and restoring the natural world. We are driven by our mission, not the market. That’s why landowners, developers and public bodies trust us to deliver BNG with integrity and care for the long term.
Why Partner with a Conservation Charity for Biodiversity Net Gain?
With more than 30 years of hands-on conservation experience restoring habitats and protecting wild plants and fungi across the UK – and we’re just getting started. Plantlife brings unique credibility, deep ecological expertise, and a long-term vision to every project.
Here’s what sets us apart:
- High-Integrity Units – verified, high-quality habitats
- End-to-End Delivery – from ecological baseline to long-term management
- Legal Security – as a ‘Responsible body’ under the Environment Act 2021, we can create legally secure Conservation Covenants
- Not-for-Profit – all revenue is reinvested into nature
- Flexible Solutions – designed for both statutory and voluntary BNG
How to Get Support for Biodiversity Net Units Requirements
Whether you’re a developer, infrastructure provider, or corporate buyer, we support you through every stage: BNG solutions and acquisition – including building a pipeline of projects and units to fulfil your needs – plus reporting and long-term ecological stewardship.
We offer a pipeline of biodiversity units for:
- Mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (England)
- Voluntary Biodiversity Net Gain or Investment – including NBB, ESG, TNFD, or CSR (England, Scotland, and Wales)
All of our projects are backed by long-term stewardship and science. We work in species recovery and landscape connectivity and support ecosystem services like pollination, water quality, and climate resilience.
All BNG units are open to site visits and third-party verification which ensures transparency and builds trust.
Certified and Verified
Every project meets the ‘Plantlife Standard’, our rigorous due diligence process that guarantees the integrity and sustainability of biodiversity units.
Available BNG Units to Buy
Partnering with expert landowners, we deliver high-integrity, fully quantified biodiversity gains through saleable BNG units. We’re constantly adding new landholdings, offering a range of investment and purchase options to suit your needs. We work with landowners to develop ecological restoration projects across multiple regions, creating measurable, long-term biodiversity benefits.
| Region/ LPA | Area | Units | NCA |
| Berkshire (West) | 112.5 ha | 620 (grassland) | Berkshire & Marlborough Downs |
| Devon | 30 ha | 253 (grassland) | Dartmoor |
| Dorset | 5–19 ha | 12.6–144 (grassland) | Yeovil Scarplands / Dorset Downs / Blackmore Vale |
| Kent (LPA areas) | 4–17 ha | 29–78 (grassland) | North Downs / Wealden Greensand |
| Lincolnshire / S. Humberside | 55 ha | 200+ (grassland) | Humberhead Levels |
| Northumberland | 55–120 ha | 200–500+ (grassland, hedgerows) | Cheviot Fringe |
| Somerset | 5 ha | 36 (grassland) | Somerset Levels & Moors |
| Stratford upon Avon | Coming soon | Coming soon | Severn and Avon Vales |
| Surrey | 60 ha | 226 (grassland) | North Downs & Thames Basin Lowlands
|
| Scotland
| 290ha | 1,400 (grassland and woodland) | N/A
|
| Wales | Forthcoming |
Where Can You Buy BNG Units?
Contact our team today and we’ll guide you through from initial inquiry right through to BNG unit delivery.
‘Creating Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Units: A Plantlife Case Study
The £8m Meadow Makers project launched in 2023 in partnership with National Highways. This partnership will create over 600 BNG units, working with landowners from Dartmoor to North Yorkshire to restore, create, and manage 100 hectares of species-rich meadows over the coming years.
Together, we’ll ensure these habitats are not only restored but also monitored and maintained to deliver lasting biodiversity gains.
“This funding allows us to create a traditional meadow, boosting biodiversity while securing an income. It’s a win for nature, climate, and business.”
— James Hawkins, Landowner, Warren Farm
“We’re committed to significantly improving biodiversity near our road network, and the partnership with Plantlife will be a vital step in delivering a more sustainable road network that protects and enhances the environment”
— Andy Jinks, Regional Director, National Highways
Find out more about the Meadow Makers project here.
Let’s Secure a Nature-Positive Future
Talk to our team to explore how we can support you to purchase Biodiversity Net Gain Units and deliver real, measurable gains for nature.
