BNG Units in Leicestershire | Melton Mowbray Habitat Bank
Grassland, woodland, scrub, wetland and hedgerow habitats at Melton Mowbray Biodiversity Gain Site.
Melton Mowbray is a Biodiversity Gain Site in Leicestershire providing off-site biodiversity units for developers seeking BNG units in Melton, Leicestershire and surrounding authorities. Located within the Melton Local Planning Authority and the Trent and Belvoir Vales National Character Area, the site delivers grassland, woodland, scrub, wetland and hedgerow units to support off-site Biodiversity Net Gain requirements.
It may support developments across neighbouring authorities including Rutland, Harborough, Charnwood, Rushcliffe and South Kesteven, subject to trading rules, spatial risk considerations and project-specific assessment. With a broad range of habitat types and units across multiple distinctiveness categories, Melton Mowbray is well suited to developments with complex habitat deficits requiring a single-site procurement solution.
Key Facts
County: Leicestershire
Local Planning Authority (LPA): Melton
National Character Area (NCA): Trent and Belvoir Vales
LNRS: Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland
HMMP: Yes
Legal Agreement: Conservation Covenant (pending)
Total units (indicative): 399.45
Overview
Melton Mowbray is an Integrated Land Management (ILM) biodiversity gain site in Leicestershire, positioned within the Trent and Belvoir Vales National Character Area. At approximately 67 hectares, it is one of the larger habitat banks in the ILM portfolio and offers a broad mix of habitat types from a single site.
The habitat bank delivers Other Neutral Grassland, Lowland Meadows, Mixed Scrub, Broadleaved Woodland, Reedbeds and a range of species-rich native hedgerow types, generating units across medium, high and very high distinctiveness categories. The range of habitats available allows developers to address multiple habitat deficits through a single allocation, potentially reducing the need to source units from several habitat banks.
An HMMP is in place and a Conservation Covenant is currently being progressed. Units are available to reserve ahead of legal completion and registration.
The following units are currently available from Melton Mowbray. Availability may change as units are allocated to live projects.
Units Available
With almost 400 indicative units available across grassland, woodland, scrub, wetland and hedgerow habitats, Melton Mowbray is one of the larger habitat banks in the ILM portfolio. It offers both area-based and hedgerow units across medium, high and very high distinctiveness categories, allowing developers to address multiple habitat deficits from a single allocation.
Suitable For
Developments requiring multiple habitat types from a single habitat bank
Projects requiring both area-based and hedgerow units
Developments seeking medium, high and very high distinctiveness habitats
Schemes within or near the Trent and Belvoir Vales National Character Area
Projects looking to simplify off-site unit procurement through a single-site solution
Developments requiring a combination of grassland, scrub, woodland, wetland and hedgerow habitats
Developments This Site May Support
Melton Mowbray borders several authorities and may be suitable for developments within:
Melton
Rutland
Harborough
Charnwood
Rushcliffe
South Kesteven
Developments within these neighbouring authorities may be able to utilise units from this habitat bank, subject to project-specific assessment, Biodiversity Net Gain trading rules and the applicable spatial risk multiplier.
The site's location within the Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland LNRS area may also become increasingly relevant as Biodiversity Net Gain policy continues to transition towards LNRS-based strategic significance and spatial risk considerations.
BNG Suitability
Developers seeking BNG units in Leicestershire may find Melton Mowbray particularly suitable where projects require a combination of medium, high and very high distinctiveness habitats. The site provides biodiversity units across all three distinctiveness categories, helping developers satisfy Biodiversity Net Gain trading rules where like-for-like replacement or trading up is required.
The availability of both area-based and hedgerow units from a single site can simplify procurement for developments with deficits across multiple habitat types, which may be particularly beneficial for larger or phased schemes. The site's position within the Trent and Belvoir Vales NCA may support compliance with spatial risk multiplier considerations for developments located within the same NCA or nearby areas, subject to the latest statutory biodiversity metric guidance and project-specific assessment. As policy continues to evolve, its location within the Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland LNRS area may also provide strategic relevance for developments sourcing off-site units within the same recovery network.
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Melton Mowbray provides Other Neutral Grassland, Lowland Meadows, Mixed Scrub, Broadleaved Woodland, Reedbeds and a range of species-rich native hedgerow habitats.
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Yes. The site provides multiple hedgerow habitat types, including species-rich native hedgerows, hedgerows with trees and hedgerows associated with banks or ditches.
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Yes. Units are available to reserve ahead of legal completion and registration, subject to availability and project-specific assessment.
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Developments within Melton and neighbouring authorities including Rutland, Harborough, Charnwood, Rushcliffe and South Kesteven may be able to utilise units from the site, subject to trading rules and spatial risk considerations.
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Developers, ecologists and planning consultants can contact ILM with their biodiversity metric and project details to discuss current availability and suitability.
Enquire About BNG Units
If you are seeking off-site biodiversity units in Leicestershire or the surrounding area, contact ILM to discuss availability. Providing your biodiversity metric and development details will help the team confirm suitability and identify the units best matched to your projects.
