Land Agent in Herefordshire: Understanding Biodiversity Net Gain

Rural land management across Herefordshire is evolving at pace. New environmental rules, ongoing development pressure, and new ways to use land mean that landowners and farmers now face more complex decisions than ever before. Making informed choices today is key to protecting your land and its long-term value.

A rural land agent in Herefordshire can help you plan ahead with confidence. While the role once focused mainly on farming and estate matters, it now covers land management, planning, and environmental advice to meet modern challenges.

At Collington Winter, we support landowners across Herefordshire by helping them adapt to change and make the most of their land.

A land agent’s role depends on your goals, but commonly includes:

• Land valuation and sales – Valuing farms, estates, and rural property, managing sales and purchases, and negotiating on your behalf.
• Planning advice – Helping with planning applications and identifying development opportunities.
• Environmental advice – Advising on environmental schemes, grants, subsidies, and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).
• Compliance support – Making sure your land meets legal, planning, and environmental requirements.
• Estate management – Providing long-term advice to protect and increase the value of your estate.

We provide clear, practical guidance so you can make confident 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.

If this cannot be achieved on the development site, developers must buy biodiversity units elsewhere. This creates a new income opportunity for landowners in Herefordshire.

Biodiversity units can be generated by improving habitats, planting native species, restoring grassland, 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-quality farmland – managed to improve biodiversity for at least 30 years.

You keep ownership of your land, while the biodiversity units created can be sold to developers. A habitat bank can provide a reliable income and support more sustainable land management alongside farming or other estate activities.

BNG can feel complicated, especially if you are new to environmental schemes. Professional advice helps ensure projects are realistic, compliant, and worthwhile in the long term.

At Collington Winter, we can help by:

• Checking if your land is suitable for BNG
• Estimating how many biodiversity units could be created
• Assessing long-term income potential
• Negotiating agreements with developers
• Making sure schemes meet DEFRA and planning requirements

With the right support, your land can deliver environmental benefits while providing a steady financial return.

Our land agents work with landowners and developers across Herefordshire and the surrounding areas. We combine local knowledge with practical experience in land management and biodiversity net gain.

Whether you are considering environmental opportunities, dealing with development pressure, or planning for the future of your land, we offer straightforward advice tailored to your needs.

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