Land Agent in Cheltenham: Understanding Biodiversity Net Gain

Cheltenham and the wider Gloucestershire area are experiencing notable changes in land use, rural policy, and environmental regulation. As these shifts continue, land agents increasingly play a central role in helping landowners adapt and unlock new opportunities. Historically associated with managing farmland, estates, and traditional rural enterprises, today’s land agents also provide expertise in planning, conservation, environmental schemes, and commercial land development.

One of the most significant opportunities emerging for landowners around Cheltenham is Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). This policy not only supports national environmental goals but also opens the door to long-term, reliable income streams through the creation and sale of biodiversity units. At Collington Winter Environmental, we work closely with landowners and developers across Cheltenham and Gloucestershire, assessing the potential biodiversity uplift a landowner could generate and sell through habitat banking.

As traditional agricultural subsidies continue to reduce, alternative revenue sources such as BNG are becoming far more attractive. In some circumstances, land dedicated to biodiversity enhancement can offer substantial financial returns, depending on habitat type and local demand. This shift is prompting many Cheltenham landowners to explore how environmental land management can complement or even exceed the profitability of conventional farming.

Under the Environment Act 2021, all major developments in England must deliver a minimum 10% net gain in biodiversity. This ensures that any development that proceeds leaves the natural environment in a measurably improved condition.

Developers must calculate biodiversity losses and gains using Defra’s Biodiversity Metric, which assigns a unit value to different habitats. A BNG plan, supported by habitat surveys and ecological assessments, must then demonstrate how the required uplift will be achieved and maintained over a 30-year period.

Early engagement with specialist BNG land agents and ecological consultants is essential, as this helps identify suitable sites, prevent planning delays, and ensure that the proposed mitigation meets both local and national requirements.

If a development site within Cheltenham or the surrounding area cannot achieve the uplift onsite, the developer can purchase offsite biodiversity units from landowners who have created a registered habitat bank. Demand for these units is rising as development around Gloucestershire continues, particularly in areas where land for on-site improvements is limited.

A habitat bank is a parcel of land transformed and managed specifically to enhance biodiversity for a minimum of 30 years. The uplift created, expressed in biodiversity units, can then be sold to developers needing to offset their environmental impact. For many landowners around Cheltenham, habitat banking offers a stable, long-term income opportunity.

Land agents increasingly provide vital guidance to both developers and landowners engaging with the BNG market. Collington Winter Environmental offers:

• Site identification and feasibility assessments
• Negotiation of BNG agreements
• Valuation of biodiversity units
• Planning and compliance advice

Our team’s ecological and planning expertise helps clients approach BNG with confidence.

Our Cheltenham-based BNG specialists support landowners and developers through the entire process, from initial site assessment to long-term habitat management plans. Using the latest Defra metrics, we produce detailed, site-specific BNG plans and guide clients through every step of the regulatory process.

Whether you are a developer requiring BNG support or a Cheltenham landowner considering habitat creation as a new income source, our team is here to help. To speak with a land agent in Cheltenham, contact us at info@collingtonwinter.co.uk or call 01204 939 608.