Habitat banks

Habitat banks are offsite biodiversity gain sites set up on land to increase its biodiversity value, creating 'biodiversity units' that can then be sold to developers. The developer can use the biodiversity units to achieve their mandatory minimum 10% biodiversity net gain.

The land must be secured either through a conservation covenant or S106 agreement so that it can be registered on the national biodiversity gain sites register prior to any biodiversity units being sold.

• Search the biodiversity gain sites register (opens in new tab)

Habitat bank regulation

We have put together criteria to assess prospective habitat banks before a legal agreement to secure the land as a habitat bank can be progressed. You can read this below.

Available habitat banks (biodiversity gain sites)

We have legal agreements securing habitat creation/enhancements for 30 years for the following sites, meaning they can sell biodiversity units to developers, and we will act as the regulator to ensure that the proposed biodiversity gains are achieved.

Other sites may be available on the open market, regulated by third parties.

• See more on biodiversity net gain

Contact us

If you are considering establishing a habitat bank, please email biodiversity@dover.gov.uk (opens in new tab)

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