Biodiversity net gain unit prices vary widely depending on habitat type, location, and provider. Here is a transparent breakdown of what developers can expect to pay in the private market versus statutory credits, and what drives the price differences.
Since Biodiversity Net Gain became mandatory for major developments in February 2024 (and for smaller developments from April 2024), a functioning private market has developed for off-site BNG units. Prices are not fixed by government — they are set by habitat bank operators based on the real costs of land, habitat creation, ecological monitoring, and 30 years of management. As the market has matured through 2024, 2025, and into 2026, pricing has become more transparent and more competitive.
The single biggest factor in unit pricing is habitat distinctiveness. The Biodiversity Metric 4.0 classifies every habitat type on a scale from very low to very high distinctiveness. Higher distinctiveness habitats are harder to create, take longer to establish, carry greater ecological risk, and therefore cost more per unit. Below is a guide to the typical price ranges you can expect in the current market.
Other neutral grassland, mixed scrub, and similar medium distinctiveness habitats. These are the most commonly traded BNG units and represent the bulk of the private market.
High and very high distinctiveness habitats such as traditional orchards, species-rich grassland, and native woodland. Longer establishment times and specialist management drive higher prices.
Hedgerow units are measured separately from area-based habitats in the Biodiversity Metric. Native species-rich hedgerows with trees command higher prices than species-poor hedgerow.
Watercourse (river) units are the scarcest and most expensive unit type. River restoration requires specialist engineering, regulatory consents, and long-term hydrological management.
These ranges reflect the private market as it stands in mid-2026. Prices vary by region, by provider, and by the specific habitat condition target. A unit of other neutral grassland in moderate condition will cost less than a unit targeting good condition, because the latter requires more intensive management and takes longer to achieve. Always ask providers for a quote based on your specific Biodiversity Metric results rather than relying on headline figures alone.
It is worth noting that the market remains relatively young. As more habitat banks become registered and competition increases, prices — particularly for medium distinctiveness area units — are expected to become more competitive. Developers who are comparing quotes from multiple providers are already seeing the benefit of a more liquid market.
If a developer cannot secure enough off-site BNG units from the private market, the last resort under the Environment Act 2021 is to purchase statutory biodiversity credits from the government. These credits are sold by Natural England and the revenue is used to fund habitat creation projects chosen by Defra.
Statutory credit prices are deliberately set well above private market rates. The government's stated intention is that credits should be a last resort, not a convenient shortcut. As of 2026, statutory credit prices range from £42,000 per credit for the lowest-cost habitat types up to £650,000 per credit for the most ecologically sensitive habitats such as intertidal and coastal saltmarsh.
There is an important distinction that catches many developers off guard: statutory credits and biodiversity units are not the same thing. The government applies a conversion factor (often referred to as the statutory credit to unit ratio) which means that in most cases you need approximately two statutory credits to replace one biodiversity unit. This is built into the statutory credit purchase mechanism to account for the time lag and delivery risk associated with government-funded habitat creation.
In practice, this means a development needing 5 off-site area units of medium distinctiveness habitat might face a statutory credit bill of £420,000 or more, compared to a private market cost of £100,000–£175,000 for the same units purchased from a registered habitat bank. The savings from using the private market are substantial.
For almost every development, purchasing off-site BNG units from a registered habitat bank is significantly cheaper than buying statutory credits. The only scenarios where statutory credits might be considered are where no suitable habitat bank exists within a reasonable spatial risk distance, or where extremely rare habitat types are required that no private provider can deliver. Even then, it is worth exploring the market thoroughly before defaulting to credits. Our guide to how to buy BNG units walks through the full process.
Understanding the factors that drive BNG unit pricing helps developers budget accurately and make informed purchasing decisions. The five main factors are:
The spatial risk multiplier is one of the most important — and most misunderstood — elements of BNG unit pricing. It exists because the biodiversity benefits of habitat creation are greatest when new habitats are close to the development that caused the biodiversity loss. Creating habitat far from the impact site carries a risk that the ecological benefits do not reach the affected local ecosystem.
Since the statutory instrument changes that took effect in early 2026, the spatial risk multiplier is now based on Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) areas rather than the previous National Character Area (NCA) system. This was a significant change that reshaped the BNG market, and understanding it is essential for managing costs.
No penalty. The habitat bank and your development are in the same LNRS area. You need exactly the number of units your metric shows.
Moderate penalty. You need 33% more units. For example, a 10-unit deficit becomes 13.3 units to purchase.
Significant penalty. You need double the units. A 10-unit deficit becomes 20 units — doubling your total cost.
The financial impact is straightforward: buying local saves money. A development in Dorset purchasing 10 units of medium distinctiveness habitat from a Dorset habitat bank (same LNRS) at £25,000 per unit would pay £250,000. The same development buying from a distant habitat bank at the same per-unit price would need 20 units, costing £500,000. The spatial risk multiplier effectively doubles the total cost when buying from a distant provider.
This is why choosing a habitat bank within your LNRS area — or at minimum in an adjacent area — is one of the most effective ways to control BNG costs. For developments in Dorset, BCP, Hampshire, Wiltshire, and Somerset, The Ferals offers units at favourable spatial risk multipliers. See our off-site BNG in Dorset page for details on which local planning authorities we serve and the applicable multipliers.
The Ferals is a 250-acre registered habitat bank at Tarrant Keyneston in Dorset (Natural England register reference BGS-180925001). We provide off-site BNG units directly to developers — no brokers, no intermediaries, no hidden fees. When you buy from The Ferals, you deal directly with the habitat bank operator, and the price you are quoted is the price you pay.
We do not publish fixed prices because every development’s requirements are different. Your unit needs depend on the specific habitat types in your Biodiversity Metric, the number of units required, and the spatial risk multiplier applicable to your location. What we can say is that our pricing is consistently below typical market rates, reflecting our position as a direct-to-developer habitat bank with no brokerage layer. Buying from The Ferals means you are not paying a middleman’s margin on top of the unit cost.
Our units are secured by a Section 106 agreement with Dorset Council, providing the strongest possible legal protection for developers. Every unit we sell is formally allocated on the Natural England biodiversity gain site register, giving your planning authority full confidence that your BNG obligation has been met. There are no separate broker fees, no registration surcharges, and no ongoing management levies. The price covers everything.
We currently offer area-based habitat units including other neutral grassland, mixed scrub, and individual trees, with traditional orchard units coming soon. For developments that need a combination of unit types, we provide a single bundled quote covering all requirements. For full details on what we offer, visit our BNG units for sale page.
Getting a BNG unit quote from The Ferals is straightforward. We aim to provide a detailed pricing proposal within 48 hours of receiving your Biodiversity Metric.
If you are a developer exploring your options or an ecologist advising a client, we are happy to provide indicative pricing before the metric is finalised. Our guide for developers explains the full BNG compliance process from planning application through to unit purchase and condition discharge.
Almost always, yes. Statutory biodiversity credits from Natural England cost between £42,000 and £650,000 per credit depending on habitat type, and you typically need approximately two credits per biodiversity unit because of the statutory credit conversion factor. Off-site BNG units purchased from a private habitat bank like The Ferals are significantly cheaper in almost every scenario. Statutory credits are designed as a last resort, not a cost-effective compliance route.
BNG unit prices vary because of several factors: the distinctiveness of the habitat being created (high distinctiveness habitats like traditional orchards cost more than medium distinctiveness grassland), the spatial risk multiplier based on distance between the development and the habitat bank, regional supply and demand, and the legal security mechanism used. A unit of other neutral grassland in the same LNRS area will cost far less than a unit of species-rich wetland delivered in a distant county.
Yes, significantly. Since the 2026 rule changes, BNG uses a spatial risk multiplier based on Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) areas. If the habitat bank is in the same LNRS area as the development, the multiplier is 1x (no penalty). Adjacent LNRS areas attract a 1.33x multiplier, and distant areas attract a 2x multiplier. This means buying from a local habitat bank can save you 25–50% compared to purchasing from a distant provider.
Volume pricing is available for larger developments requiring multiple units. The economics of habitat creation mean there are efficiencies at scale, and habitat bank operators can often reflect this in pricing for significant purchases. Contact The Ferals with your Biodiversity Metric and we will provide a tailored quote that accounts for the total volume and mix of unit types required.
At The Ferals, there are no hidden fees. The quoted price covers the unit itself, allocation on the biodiversity gain site register, and the 30-year habitat management obligation secured by our Section 106 agreement with Dorset Council. You do not pay separate broker fees, registration fees, or management charges. Some providers in the market do charge additional fees for brokerage or registration, so it is worth asking any provider for a fully inclusive quote.
Compare quotes from multiple habitat banks and check what is included. A fair price should cover the unit allocation, legal registration, and the full 30-year management commitment. Look at statutory credit prices as an upper benchmark — if a provider is quoting near statutory credit levels, you should shop around. The Ferals provides transparent, all-inclusive pricing and will explain exactly how your quote breaks down by habitat type and spatial risk.
The Ferals typically requires payment upon signing the unit purchase agreement, before units are formally allocated on the biodiversity gain site register. For larger purchases, staged payment arrangements may be available by agreement. All transactions are documented in a formal purchase agreement that sets out both parties’ obligations clearly.
Send us your Biodiversity Metric 4.0 and we will confirm availability, pricing, and spatial risk within 48 hours.
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