A Habitat Bank (or Biodiversity Gain Site) is land managed to:
- create or
- enhance habitats
generating biodiversity units. These units, developers can purchase to meet Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements. This supports nature recovery and offers landowners a new income stream.
Please be aware, the Council will not promote or encourage the purchase of Biodiversity Units from any particular habitat bank over another.
Our process
Cornwall Council works proactively with landowners to establish habitat banks.
Step 1: Submit your proposal
Email: bng@cornwall.gov.uk with the relevant information as set our in our Setting Up a Habitat Bank - Submission Requirements document.
Setting up a Habitat Bank - Submission Requirements
Step 2: Assessment
- Planning officers review your proposal and consult ecological advisers.
- Viability checks may be required.
- Process Fee:
- £381 for initial submission
- £119 per hour thereafter (inclusive of VAT).
These fees cover validation, legal instruction, ecological review, stakeholder liaison, and report preparation.
Please note: The Council will look to assess applications as quickly as possible. The determination of Habitat Bank proposals is not governed by legislative framework and/or time frames. This is currently a discretionary service being offered by the Council.
Step 3: Legal Agreement
If approved, we secure the habitat bank for 30 years via: Section 106 Agreement
Once:
- acceptability of the habitat bank has been determined; and
- any outstanding invoices paid
the Council’s legal team can be instructed to draft and oversee the execution of a S106 for the site.
Please note that applicants will be required to cover both their own and the Council's legal costs of preparing the S106 agreement.
Whilst the Council welcome the opportunity to enter into a s106 Agreement in support of facilitating habitat banks within the Cornwall, please note that it is not obliged to enter into any such agreement. Any such agreement therefore must be reasonable and enforceable and not place the council at any unnecessary risk or burden. A standard template will be sent to you once this point in the process is reached.
Step 4: Register with Natural England
- Once the legal agreement is signed, register your site on the National Biodiversity Gain Site Register.
- Registration fee: £639 (payable to Natural England).
Monitoring and Compliance
- Monitoring reports required at Years 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30.
- Monitoring Fees are based the size of the development.
Please visit the monitoring planning obligations web page for fee information.
Monitoring planning obligations
Fees are index-linked and cover officer time, legal oversight, and compliance checks.
Contact us
To start the process, email bng@cornwall.gov.uk with your proposal and supporting documents.