Developers
At Natural Asset Partners we help developers navigate the Biodiversity Net Gain framework, helping them develop their BNG strategy and allowing them to maximise their positive impact on nature recovery.
Developer Consultancy
Habitat Creation & Management
Habitat Banking
What We Do
Supporting Developers to achieve Biodiversity Net Gain compliance and deliver on nature recovery.
Navigating the new Biodiversity Net Gain legislation can be time consuming and complicated. Our end-to-end service streamlines your BNG process, giving you all the information needed to make informed decisions when developing your BNG strategy and allowing you to maintain project timelines.
We provide an end-to-end BNG service, from baseline habitat surveys, creation of Biodiversity Gain Plans & the optimisation and sourcing of off-site BNG units through our network of habitat banks and affiliate partners.
We can provide support through site acquisition, early viability and planning submission stages to ensure you’re aware of your evolving net gain requirements and liabilities as your scheme develops.
We provide off-site solutions to enable you to discharge your BNG pre-commencement obligations. Further to this, we can provide regular updates on how your funding is delivering nature recovery, contributing to corporate goals and ESG targets.
Developer Consultancy
Support with BNG baselining, optimisation & Gain Plan Submission.
Habitat Banks
Secure Off-site BNG Units from one of our UK wide Habitat Banks.
Habitat Creation & Management
Deliveringonsite habitat creation, management and monitoring.
The Challenge
Navigating the new Biodiversity Net Gain legislation can be time consuming and complicated.
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is a planning permission requirement in England which aims to encourage sustainable development and leave the environment in a measurably better state.
This is achieved by quantifying the biodiversity score of a project site before development and simulating the development being completed. Biodiversity is quantified into “BNG Units” using the Statutory BNG Metric.
To gain planning permission, a 10% increase must be delivered. The required 10% increase must be maintained for at least 30 years. Developers can either produce this 10% increase onsite or can buy the required BNG Units from through a Habitat Bank.
There are multiple types of BNG units, as well as ‘trading rules’ that must be adhered.
The Solution
Our end-to-end service streamlines your BNG process, giving you all the information needed to make informed decisions when developing your BNG strategy and allowing you to maintain project timelines.
We provide an end-to-end BNG service, from baseline habitat surveys, creation of Biodiversity Gain Plans & the optimisation and sourcing of off-site BNG units through our network of habitat banks and affiliate partners.
We can provide support through site acquisition, early viability and planning submission stages to ensure you’re aware of your evolving net gain requirements and liabilities as your scheme develops.
We provide off-site solutions to enable you to discharge your BNG pre-commencement obligations. Further to this, we can provide regular updates on how your funding is delivering nature recovery, contributing to corporate goals and ESG targets.
Meet Our People
Meet the team purpose built to provide you with the support you need.
Chris Cooper
Co-Founder
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Chris Cooper
Co-Founder
Paddy Harlow
Co-Founder
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Paddy Harlow
Co-Founder
Jack Hoare
Partner
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Jack Hoare
Partner
Developer Services
We work flexibly with developers.
We can offer a full in-house end-to-end solution can or support with specific services as needed - whatever works best for you!
On-Site BNG Assessments
Our ecologists conduct BNG assessments and gain plans, working with you to develop a bespoke BNG solution.
BNG Strategy & Optimisation
We help optimise your developments, improving efficiency and informing design throughout planning.
Off-Site Sourcing of BNG Units
If off-site units are needed, we leverage our landowner portfolio to provide a tailored solution.
Habitat Creation
With habitat management plans in place, we implement habitat creation and maintenance.
Long-Term Compliance Monitoring
We monitor BNG habitats on-site and off-site, handle reporting, and liaise with the LPA on your behalf.
Long-Term Management
We provide 30-year management of on-site and off-site BNG habitats, overseeing creation and maintenance.
The BNG Process
01
Pre-Application
Early Stage Viability & Baselining
- Early assessment is key to understanding BNG’s impact on a development and preventing planning delays.
- We combines commercial ecology expertise and planning knowledge with statutory BNG insight to provide an end-to-end service.
- We conduct early feasibility studies, overlaying potential scheme designs providing an early understanding of BNG requirements.
02
Pre-Application
BNG Strategy & Value Optimisation
- We help developers optimise their BNG strategy, advising on efficient on-site mitigation and required off-site offsetting.
- We iteratively refine scheme design through planning to prevent BNG from delaying submission.
03
Planning `Submission
BNG Gain Plans
- We support developers in preparing Biodiversity Gain Plans, ensuring compliance with on-site mitigation and off-site unit provision.
- We have extensive experience working with LPAs and know how to communicate an effective BNG strategy.
04
Planning Submission
Securing Off-Site BNG Units
- If off-site units are needed, we provide appropriate solutions via our extensive and national habitat bank portfolio
- We provide BNG option agreements to secure early pricing and supply, supporting project cash flow and forecasting.
05
Post-Development
Habitat Creation, Long-Term Management & Monitoring
- With habitat management plans in place, our in-house asset management team implement habitat creation and maintenance, offering long-term (30-year) agreements.
- We provide ongoing monitoring of on-site and off-site BNG habitats, handling reporting and liaising with the LPA.
06
Future Development Pipeline
Bespoke Developer Habitat Banks
- We work with developers to establish their own habitat banks, securing long-term unit supply, tailored to your pipeline, reducing reliance on the open market and lowering long-term costs.
- We can lead all the legal process, habitat creation, management, and excess unit sales strategy.
Martyn Braggs – Shillingford Organics
“The Natural Asset Partners team have been exceptionally clear and diligent advising us which are the best BNG options that would work on our farm. They have a very honest approach to the long-term implications for our farm, and a deep understanding of how the legislation work.”
Alex Theaker - Avenue Farm
"We are keen to diversify our farm with projects like BNG to create a more balanced farm with ecology, sustainability and profitability. BNG gives us the opportunity to turn less productive areas of our farm into restorative nature projects, ensuring both our business and the local environment with thrive."
Emily Padfield - Hill Farm, Southam
"We see BNG as an opportunity to further what we are working towards on our farm: providing healthy, nutrient-dense food whilst enhancing biodiversity. Integrating BNG is a natural step for us allowing us to invest further in achieving these goals."
Our Products
We have three core routes for securing BNG units. Purchasing units with NAP result in no long-term liability for developers.
Habitat Banking
We manage a growing network of UK habitat banks, partnering with landowners and investors to drive large-scale nature recovery.
These habitat banks enable off-the-shelf rapid unit allocation to developments. All banks offer fractional units with no minimum order size, with tailored allocation packs for planning submission.
For all units sold, we provide developers with regular updates and progress reports to demonstrate the impact your funding is having, and contribution to ESG goals.
Long-term Option Contracts
BNG unit prices and availability fluctuate. To mitigate this, we offer long-term option contracts for future developments.
These contracts provide the right - but not the obligation - to buy specific BNG units at pre-agreed terms, securing fixed prices and future availability.
This reduces planning delays in an uncertain environment and enables accurate project costing.
Build-to-Order
If suitable off-site units aren’t available in the off-site market, we collaborate with landowners to create bespoke habitats tailored to developers’ needs, and locations. This guarantees a suitable solution for any project across the country.
Build-to-order units require early engagement with NAP. Involving us early in the planning process ensures efficient BNG strategies and will result in long-term cost savings.
Landowner
Developers
Investors
Contact
Let's build a greener future!
Connect with Us to Explore Partnership Opportunities
Whether you’re a landowner looking to unlock the value of your natural assets, a developer navigating BNG requirements, or an investor interested in sustainable returns, we’d love to hear from you. At Natural Asset Partners, we’re dedicated to creating meaningful partnerships that drive impactful natural capital projects across the UK. Reach out today, and let’s discuss how we can work together to create a lasting legacy for our environment and communities.
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Who We Work With
Service One
Landowners
Service Two
Developers
