Developers welcome groundbreaking new Habitat Bank in Greater Manchester to raise BNG Units
Work is currently underway to create a new Habitat Bank in Greater Manchester, from which Environment Bank will raise Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Units ahead of the BNG transition period ending in January 2024. This will enable developers to successfully meet their legal obligations as set out in the Environment Act.
Due to the highly urbanised nature of the city of Manchester and the surrounding areas, the built environment is continuing to grow at a rapid pace. The high population density means that new developments and community infrastructure are in demand in this hub of housing, and progress shows no signs of slowing down. Therefore, the 34-hectare site near Bolton is being welcomed by local developers looking to begin their projects in the North West while raising BNG Units to remain legally compliant.
The Bolton Habitat Bank is one of many already being established in England by Environment Bank from which Units can be reserved or purchased now. We have seen overwhelming interest in our BNG Units product, as developers and their advisors recognise that they are a straightforward, end-to-end solution to the new legislation.
In Bolton, our expert ecologists are working in partnership with the family-run farm to create, restore and maintain biodiversity on their doorstep. The Habitat Bank is set on grade-4 pasture land, which previously wasn’t offering the former dairy farmers a sustainable income.
On the project, principal ecologist, Fleur Wilson said: “The Bolton Habitat Bank promises to deliver significant gains for nature, all while set in a hybrid urban-rural setting in close proximity to Manchester.
The farm is just 25 minutes outside of Manchester by car. They recognise the rarity of such a mix of city and rural life, and offer a legitimate, local solution to the BNG requirement for developers looking to begin their projects in the North West.”
The Bolton site is just one example of how our nationwide Habitat Banks can provide a simple solution to the BNG requirement. By working with our expert team, we’re able to understand the exact requirements of individual sites at a local level. We then provide BNG Units at the point of need from a range of habitats across our sites.
If you’re a developer and you’re considering how to approach the BNG requirement, we’d recommend you get in touch early. This aids the planning process as compliance is demonstrated immediately and the process is streamlined from the point of conception.
To talk about purchasing or reserving BNG Units, please call 01904 202990 or complete our BNG Unit request form.