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On 27th July 2023, the UK government announced the pricing of biodiversity credits. The prices are an important indication of how Biodiversity Net Gain will take centre stage for larger developments from November 2023.
Be sure not to head over to the government page and look at the pricing tables only, and overlook this ultra important line that is included on the page.
“You must buy 2 credits for every 1 biodiversity unit you need to compensate for.”
This might come as a shock. However, it is very logical as it takes into account the fact that the credits could be spent anywhere in the country, so it gives the same spatial multiplier as offsite compensation beyond the neighbouring LPA.
Buying statutory biodiversity credits is a last resort option for developers if you are unable to use on-site or off-site units to deliver biodiversity net gain (BNG).
You will be able to buy statutory biodiversity credits using a credit sales service, which will be available once BNG becomes mandatory.
These prices are indicative, which means they give an indication of likely prices, to help developers plan ahead. We will publish confirmed prices when biodiversity net gain becomes mandatory.
All prices are exclusive of VAT. VAT will be included in the invoice for any statutory credit purchase.
To support you with calculating how many credits you need, we are working on an addition to the biodiversity metric. This will be available in the statutory biodiversity metric tool, when BNG becomes mandatory.
If you buy statutory biodiversity credits, a ‘spatial risk multiplier’ will apply, which doubles the amount of credits you need. You must buy 2 credits for every 1 biodiversity unit you need to compensate for. The statutory biodiversity metric will automatically calculate this multiplication for you.
You can find more information about the spatial risk multiplier in the Biodiversity Metric 4.0 user guide, section 7.4 (page 29).
For each habitat type in the table below, you can see its ‘tier’. Biodiversity credit prices are tiered, to reflect the cost and value of different habitats. When you access the credit sales service, you’ll have to pick which tier or tiers you are buying.
The prices in the table are per credit. The spatial risk multiplier is not accounted for in the prices in the table.
‘Distinctiveness’ is a measure based on the type of habitat and its distinguishing features. It measures different ecological factors, such as:
| Habitat distinctiveness | Broad habitat type | Specific habitat type | Price per credit | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | All | All | £42,000 | A1 |
| Habitat distinctiveness | Broad habitat type | Specific habitat type | Price per credit | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medium | Heathland and shrub | All | £42,000 | A1 |
| Medium | Grassland | All | £42,000 | A1 |
| Medium | Individual trees | All | £42,000 | A1 |
| Medium | Urban | All | £42,000 | A1 |
| Medium | Cropland | All | £42,000 | A1 |
| Medium | Woodland and forest | All | £48,000 | A2 |
| Medium | Intertidal sediment | All | £48,000 | A2 |
| Medium | Lakes | Reservoirs | £125,000 | A4 |
| Medium | Lakes – ponds (non-priority habitat) | Ponds | £125,000 | A4 |
| Medium | Sparsely vegetated land | Other inland rock and scree | £125,000 | A4 |
| Habitat distinctiveness | Broad habitat type | Specific habitat type | Price per credit | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | Wetland | Reedbeds | £42,000 | A1 |
| High | Grassland | Traditional orchards | £42,000 | A1 |
| High | Grassland | Lowland calcareous grassland | £48,000 | A2 |
| High | Grassland | Tall herb communities (H6430) | £48,000 | A2 |
| High | Grassland | Upland calcareous grassland | £48,000 | A2 |
| High | Heathland and shrub | Dunes with sea buckthorn | £48,000 | A2 |
| High | Heathland and shrub | Lowland heathland | £48,000 | A2 |
| High | Heathland and shrub | Upland heathland | £48,000 | A2 |
| High | Urban | Open mosaic habitats on previously developed land | £48,000 | A2 |
| High | Woodland and forest | Wet woodland | £66,000 | A3 |
| High | Woodland and forest | Felled | £66,000 | A3 |
| High | Woodland and forest | Upland birchwoods | £66,000 | A3 |
| High | Intertidal sediment | Littoral mud | £66,000 | A3 |
| High | Intertidal sediment | Littoral mixed sediments | £66,000 | A3 |
| High | Intertidal sediment | Littoral – biogenic reefs – mussels | £66,000 | A3 |
| High | Intertidal sediment | Littoral biogenic reefs – Sabellaria | £66,000 | A3 |
| High | Intertidal sediment | Features of littoral sediment | £66,000 | A3 |
| High | Intertidal sediment | Littoral muddy sand | £66,000 | A3 |
| High | Wetland mosaic | Floodplain wetland mosaic (CFGM) | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Ponds | Ponds (priority habitat) | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Ponds | Temporary lakes, ponds and pools | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Coastal lagoons | Coastal lagoons | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Rocky shore | High energy littoral rock | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Rocky shore | Moderate energy littoral rock | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Rocky shore | Low energy littoral rock | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Rocky shore | Features of littoral rock | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Coastal saltmarsh | Saltmarshes and saline reedbeds | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Intertidal sediment | Littoral seagrass | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Sparsely vegetated land | Coastal sand dunes | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Sparsely vegetated land | Coastal vegetated shingle | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Sparsely vegetated land | Maritime cliff and slopes | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Sparsely vegetated land | Inland rock outcrop and scree habitats | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Woodland and forest | Upland mixed ashwoods | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Woodland and forest | Native pine woodlands | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Woodland and forest | Lowland mixed deciduous woodland | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Woodland and forest | Lowland beech and yew woodland | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Woodland and forest | Upland oakwood | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Lakes | High alkalinity lakes | £650,000 | A5 |
| High | Lakes | Low alkalinity lakes | £650,000 | A5 |
| High | Lakes | Marl lakes | £650,000 | A5 |
| High | Lakes | Moderate alkalinity lakes | £650,000 | A5 |
| High | Lakes | Peat lakes | £650,000 | A5 |
| Habitat distinctiveness | Broad habitat type | Specific habitat type | Price per credit | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | Hedgerow | All | £44,000 | H |
| Habitat distinctiveness | Broad habitat type | Specific habitat type | Price per credit | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | Rivers | All | £230,000 | W |
| Various | Rivers and streams | All | £230,000 | W |
Read more about Statutory biodiversity credit prices here.
This news came in as we were recording with multi-award winning ecologist, Claire Wansbury and top environmental lawyer, Ben Stansfield for the Beyond Biodiversity Net Gain Online Training
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Later on 27th July 2023, the Conservation Covenants Criteria were announced.
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