"BNG provides the right balance – enabling the government’s ambition to build 1.5 million more homes while at the same time investing in and supporting nature."
- Catherine Spitzer - Environment Bank
Environment Bank has seen demand for off-site Biodiversity Units grow rapidly over the past twelve months, selling units to over 100 customers in 2024. Since the start of 2025, demand has considerably gained momentum, with sales in January this year matching all sales from the second half of 2024. Environment Bank has confirmed that live enquiries now stand at the value of £210m.
Crucially, supply is meeting this high demand. To date, the firm has 18 of its BNG Habitat Banks listed on Natural England’s National Biodiversity Gain Sites Register, and accounting for over 40% of sites on the register. Its registered Habitat Banks cover nearly 1,000 acres and include over 2,500 off-site Biodiversity Units for developers to purchase to meet their BNG commitments.
Currently, Environment Bank is working to support over 1,000 development sites. The 18 registered Habitat Banks are part of its larger national network covering more than 2,000 acres, generating over 5,000 Biodiversity Units. BNG is also creating a valuable new income stream for farmers and landowners, supporting business diversification.
More recently, the firm was involved in the landmark transport infrastructure development linked to Everton Football Club’s new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium in Liverpool. By supplying Biodiversity Units, Environment Bank enabled the planning approval for this vital transport project, a central part of the club’s sustainable transport strategy.
“The Biodiversity Net Gain Market is thriving and it is truly exciting to see a market that never before existed becoming established and delivering on its goals to restore and protect nature," says Catherine Spitzer, CEO at Environment Bank "We’re working with many of the UK’s leading housebuilders, with the majority of our enquiries coming from the sector, and we’ve sold units to most of the biggest names. This shows that BNG provides the right balance – enabling the government’s ambition to build 1.5 million more homes while at the same time investing in and supporting nature.
She added, “The UK is the first country in the world to legislate for nature restoration with large new developments, and we can demonstrate that it is working well, cementing the UK as a world leader in nature markets. I hope its success inspires other countries to follow suit.”
