Land Agent in Chorley: Understanding Biodiversity Net Gain

Rural land management across Chorley and the surrounding areas is changing rapidly. New environmental legislation, continued development pressure, and evolving opportunities for land use mean that landowners and farmers are facing more complex decisions than ever before. Making informed choices today is essential to protecting your land, securing future income, and safeguarding long-term value.

A rural land agent in Chorley can help you navigate these challenges with confidence. While the role once focused largely on traditional farming and estate matters, modern land management now encompasses planning strategy, environmental schemes, and development advice. The right professional support ensures your land continues to work effectively for you, both now and in the future.

At Collington Winter, we support landowners across Chorley and the wider region, helping them adapt to change and maximise the potential of their land through practical, forward-thinking advice.

The services provided by a land agent depend on your objectives, but typically include a broad range of strategic and hands-on support:

• Land valuation and sales – Valuing farms, estates, and rural property, managing sales and acquisitions, and negotiating on your behalf.
• Planning advice – Identifying development opportunities, supporting planning applications, and advising on strategic land promotion.
• Environmental advice – Guidance on environmental schemes, grants, subsidies, and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).
• Compliance support – Ensuring land complies with legal, planning, and environmental regulations.
• Estate management – Long-term planning to protect, enhance, and grow estate value.

Our approach combines clear communication with strong local knowledge, enabling you to make confident, well-informed decisions about your land.

Biodiversity net gain is now a legal requirement under the Environment Act 2021. Most major developments must deliver at least a 10% increase in biodiversity.

Where this cannot be achieved on-site, developers are required to purchase biodiversity units from elsewhere. This has created a significant new opportunity for landowners across Chorley to generate income while enhancing the natural environment.

Biodiversity units can be created through habitat improvements such as restoring grassland, planting native hedgerows, enhancing wetlands, or managing woodland. These improvements are measured using DEFRA’s biodiversity metric and recorded on the national BNG register.

A habitat bank is an area of land – often lower-grade or less productive farmland – managed specifically to deliver biodiversity improvements over a minimum 30-year period.

Landowners retain ownership of their land while selling the biodiversity units generated to developers. A habitat bank can provide a reliable long-term income stream and support more sustainable land management, either alongside farming or as part of a wider estate strategy.

BNG can be complex, particularly for landowners unfamiliar with environmental schemes. Professional advice helps ensure projects are viable, compliant, and financially worthwhile over the long term.

At Collington Winter, we support landowners by:

• Assessing whether your land is suitable for BNG
• Estimating the number of biodiversity units that could be created
• Evaluating long-term income potential
• Negotiating agreements with developers
• Ensuring schemes meet DEFRA and local planning authority requirements

With the right guidance, your land can deliver meaningful environmental benefits while providing financial benefits.

Our land agents work with landowners and developers throughout Chorley and the North West. We combine in-depth local knowledge with practical experience in rural land management and biodiversity net gain.

Whether you are exploring environmental opportunities, responding to development pressure, or planning for the future of your estate, we provide clear, tailored advice to help you move forward with confidence.

To speak with a land agent in Chorley, contact Collington Winter Environmental at info@collingtonwinter.co.uk or call 01204 939 608.