Natural Capital for Landowners
Diversify income from your land through environmental enhancement schemes.
Trusted by Developers and Landowners
The Opportunity
New government regulations are creating environmental requirements for development and business. Developers must improve biodiversity by 10%, and in certain areas, prove they won't add nutrient pollution to waterways. Carbon reduction targets are driving demand for land-based sequestration. Many can't achieve these requirements directly, so they buy credits from landowners who can provide these improvements.
This creates sustained demand across regulated markets. Most new housing developments need biodiversity credits to get planning permission. In 74 Local Planning Authorities across 27 catchments, developers need nutrient credits before they can proceed. Carbon markets are growing as businesses and government work to meet net-zero commitments. These environmental improvements are mandatory - projects can't proceed without them.
Beyond these regulated requirements, voluntary environmental markets are also emerging. This growing demand - both mandatory and voluntary - translates into income for landowners who can deliver environmental improvements.
What is Natural Capital?
Natural Capital is simply a way of describing value that comes from nature. You already know some of these values well - food, timber, grazing for livestock.
But nature provides other benefits that haven't traditionally had a price attached. Clean water, diverse habitats, carbon storage, nutrient filtering. These "ecosystem services" matter for our environment, and now there's a framework to value them financially.
Through these schemes, you can generate income by creating and maintaining these environmental benefits on your land. Businesses that create environmental harm buy the credits you produce to offset their impact.
How Landowners Benefit
The UK has adopted 'the polluter pays' principle. When housing developers create negative environmental impacts, they must offset this by funding improvements elsewhere. You can provide those improvements.
By implementing habitat creation or nutrient mitigation on your land, you create credits that developers need. They pay for these credits, and that income comes to you.
What's involved on your part? You provide the land and work with us on key decisions. We handle the technical assessments, regulatory approvals, scheme design, implementation, and selling the credits to buyers.
Types of Schemes
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
Developments must now achieve a 10% increase in biodiversity. This means creating or enhancing habitats - woodlands, wetlands, grasslands, hedgerows. These improvements generate tradeable units that developers buy.
BNG schemes run for 30 years and can work alongside some existing land uses, depending on your situation and local demand.
What Returns Can You Expect?
Returns vary considerably based on your location, land type, and which scheme works best for your situation.
BNG schemes in high-demand areas can generate substantial income.
Some landowners use this to supplement existing farming income. Others take less productive land out of intensive use while maintaining or improving revenue. Some choose it as an alternative to selling land for development, retaining ownership while generating income.
The specific numbers depend entirely on your circumstances. We provide bespoke assessments that show realistic projections for your land.
Let's Discuss Your Land
If you're considering how these environmental schemes might work for your land, we'd be happy to talk through the possibilities. No obligation, just an honest conversation about whether this makes sense for you.
Resources for Landowners
Commercial Considerations
Better understand the BNG market and how decisions you make at the start of the project can impact later on.
Landowner eligibility
Understand if you are eligible and your legal commitments if you undertake a BNG scheme.
Nutrient Neutrality
If you are considering combining nutrients and BNG, we explain the complexities of a Nutrient Neutrality scheme.
Discover Our Projects
Restoring ecosystems and creating sustainable habitats
through BNG and nutrient mitigation.
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BNG
Somerset BNG Scheme
Nutrient Neutrality
Tees Nutrient Mitigation
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BNG
Test Valley BNG Scheme
BNG
Cheshire West and Chester BNG Scheme
BNG
High Weald BNG Scheme
Nutrient Neutrality
Yare Nutrient Mitigation
Nutrient Neutrality
Stodmarsh Nutrient Mitigation
Latest News
BNG Landowner Eligibility Criteria
Understand Eligibility Criteria and Legal Requirements.
Letter to Rishi Sunak
A letter written to The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP
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