Land Agent in Cirencester: Understanding Biodiversity Net Gain

Cirencester is a historic market town at the heart of the Cotswolds, surrounded by productive farmland, private estates and countryside that continues to attract interest from landowners, buyers and developers alike. With a strong property market and increasing environmental regulation, making decisions about land has become more nuanced. This is where working with an experienced land agent in Cirencester can make a real difference.

A land agent provides professional advice on the management, sale and development of land. While the role was once focused on agriculture and estate management, it now also includes strategic planning, environmental schemes, and long-term land-use planning. For landowners around Cirencester, having access to local knowledge and clear guidance helps ensure decisions are both practical and future-proof.

At Collington Winter Environmental, we support landowners, developers, and investors across the area, offering straightforward advice backed by local expertise and an experienced team.

A land agent’s role is centred on providing clear, practical advice that helps landowners make confident decisions about their land.

• Acting in the landowner’s best interests, with guidance tailored to each site and set of objectives
• Helping clients understand their options and supporting them through each step of the process, from early discussions to delivery
• Advising alongside estate agents where land or property is brought to the open market, particularly for farmland, rural plots or land linked to family homes
• Coordinating professional input by liaising with planners, ecologists, and legal advisers to ensure advice is joined up
• Providing start-to-finish support that reduces uncertainty and keeps decisions clear and well-managed

By combining local knowledge with professional coordination, a land agent helps ensure the process feels straightforward and well supported from start to finish.

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) has become a key consideration for landowners and developers across Gloucestershire. Introduced under the Environment Act 2021, BNG requires most major developments to deliver at least a 10% improvement in biodiversity compared with the site’s condition before development.

When the uplift cannot be delivered onsite, developers must secure offsite biodiversity units. This has created new opportunities for landowners around Cirencester, particularly those with lower-grade or underused land that could be enhanced for wildlife.

With the right approach, BNG can provide a stable long-term income while supporting meaningful environmental improvements. Understanding whether land is suitable, however, requires specialist advice.

A habitat bank is land that is managed specifically to create or enhance biodiversity over a minimum period of 30 years. The improvement in biodiversity is measured using DEFRA’s Biodiversity Metric and expressed as biodiversity units.

These units can then be sold to developers who need to offset their environmental impact elsewhere. Habitat banks are increasingly being established across rural areas near Cirencester, where land can deliver both ecological value and long-term returns.

BNG involves ecology, planning and long-term land management, which is why specialist land agent support is so important. A land agent in Cirencester helps landowners and developers understand how BNG applies to their site and how it can be delivered in a practical and commercially sensible way.

At Collington Winter Environmental, our land agents provide dedicated BNG support, working closely with ecologists, planners and developers throughout the process. Our services include:

• Site Identification and feasibility – Assessment of the land around Cirencester for its potential to deliver meaningful biodiversity uplift
• BNG agreement negotiation – Structuring and negotiating agreements between landowners and developers, including long-term habitat management and offset arrangements
• Biodiversity unit valuation – Advising on the potential financial return from biodiversity units, taking account of local demand and ongoing management requirements
• Planning and policy advice – Ensuring habitat creation schemes align with DEFRA’s metrics, Natural England Guidance and local planning policies

By combining ecological expertise with land agency knowledge, our land agents help ensure BNG projects are well planned, compliant and deliver long-term value. This approach allows landowners to explore environmental opportunities with confidence, without losing sight of the commercial realities of land ownership.

Collington Winters Environmental provides ecology-led agency services across Cirencester and the surrounding area. Our experienced team works with landowners and developers to assess land, prepare Biodiversity Net Gain plans and guide projects from initial feasibility through to delivery.

We pride ourselves on our local knowledge, clear communication and practical advice. Whether you are considering land management changes, reviewing development potential or exploring BNG for the first time, our team is here to help at every step of the process.

To speak to a land agent in Cirencester, contact us today at info@collingtonwinter.co.uk, fill out the contact form below or call one of the team on 01204 939 608.