Off-site BNG procurement for major infrastructure

Off-Site BNG Units for
Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects

Secure suitable off-site biodiversity units for energy, water, transport and utility infrastructure across England. Integrated Land Management reviews your metric and project programme, identifies compatible habitat-bank supply and supports procurement through to allocation.

Submit Your Biodiversity Metric
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30+ Registered and pipeline Biodiversity Gain Sites  ·  136+ Local Planning Authority areas  ·  45+ LNRS areas  ·  104+ NATIONAL CHARACTER AREAS
NSIP BIODIVERSITY NET GAIN

Plan on-site and off-site gains together

Mandatory for relevant DCO applications made on or after 2 November 2026.

For Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, Biodiversity Net Gain may need to be delivered across an extensive project boundary, multiple planning authority areas, several habitat types and a programme that continues to evolve through detailed design and construction.

Integrated Land Management helps project teams develop a deliverable off-site unit strategy. We review the biodiversity metric and project programme, identify compatible supply across our habitat-bank network and support procurement through to the allocation of registered off-site gains.

An NSIP can meet its BNG requirement through on-site gains, registered off-site gains, or a combination of both. Statutory biodiversity credits are a last resort.

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View Available BNG Units

What ILM provides

NETWORK ACCESS

Registered and pipeline units across a growing network of BNG sites in England.

PROJECT-SPECIFIC OPTIONS

Single-site and multi-site options based on the metric, project location and programme.

COMMERCIAL INFORMATION

Availability, site status, indicative pricing and commercial terms presented for each option.

PROCUREMENT SUPPORT

Support with unit reservation, purchase and allocation.

HOW EACH OPTION IS ASSESSED

Matching off-site units to your project

ILM assesses potential unit options against the project metric, applicable trading rules and delivery programme. The comparison also covers site status, location and commercial terms, giving your team a clear basis for procurement decisions.

Check Unit Availability
Metric fit Unit type, habitat type and distinctiveness are checked against the project metric and applicable trading rules.
Location Spatial risk is assessed against the project location, with strategic significance checked against the relevant LNRS.
Site status Registration, legal security and current unit availability are identified for each gain site.
Programme Unit availability and reservation timing are compared with the project programme, with formal allocation following the DCO decision.
Commercial terms Single-site and multi-site options are compared by indicative price and commercial terms. 
BNG THROUGH THE DCO PROCESS

When to identify, secure and allocate off-site units

1

Pre-application & DCO submission

The DCO application must include an outline biodiversity gain plan. This must set out the proposed use of on-site gains, off-site gains and statutory credits, together with a schedule for securing them.

ILM can review the initial metric and project location, check available off-site supply and provide options for the outline procurement strategy.

2

After consent and before commencement

Before development starts, an updated biodiversity gain plan—or a gain plan for the relevant phase—must be approved. It must include an updated metric, evidence of units already secured and a strategy for any remaining requirement.

Once the DCO decision letter is available, registered off-site gains can be formally allocated to the project. Applicants should secure as many units as can reasonably be secured before commencement.

3

Before operation

Any final unit shortfall must be calculated and secured before the project becomes operational.

ILM can compare the updated metric with the units already allocated, identify any remaining habitat or unit shortfalls and source additional registered units. Reviewing the position early gives the project more time to find suitable supply before the operational deadline.

View registered and pipeline sites across the ILM network, including location, habitat types and current availability.

ILM can assess single-site and multi-site options against your project metric and location.

View the BNG Sites Directory

This map illustrates ILM’s growing portfolio of habitat banks across England, including both registered sites and those progressing through the legal process - together representing over 3,000 biodiversity units available nationwide.

EXPLORE THE NETWORK

Biodiversity Gain Sites across England

Questions about off-site BNG for NSIPs

  • Yes. Mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain apply to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects from 2 November 2026.

  • Yes. The final NSIP guidance confirms that off-site Biodiversity Net Gain can be used as a first-instance delivery strategy where appropriate.

  • Some projects may be able to source units from a single habitat bank, whilst others may require multiple habitat types or locations. Requirements vary depending on the project and biodiversity impacts involved.

  • Ideally as early as possible. Understanding likely requirements early can help improve visibility of available supply and support wider project planning.

  • Integrated Land Management (ILM) can review your biodiversity metric outputs and project requirements to help identify suitable habitat banks and available biodiversity units.

Discuss Your NSIP Requirements

You do not need a final metric to begin assessing supply. ILM can start with a draft metric, indicative unit requirement or project route.

To help us review the requirement, send us any of the following information available:

  • project location or route;

  • draft or completed biodiversity metric;

  • habitat types or indicative unit shortfall;

  • current project stage;

  • target procurement date.

We will review the information and contact you to discuss suitable off-site supply and next steps.