Statutory biodiversity credit prices
The prices of statutory biodiversity credits from the date biodiversity net gain (BNG) becomes mandatory.
Applies to England
This table gives the prices of statutory biodiversity credits.听听
Prices are based on鈥痶he cost to create, maintain and monitor different habitat types. There is also a mark-up to prevent statutory credit prices undercutting the off-site market.
We will review prices every 6 months. Our review is to ensure prices are set high enough to not compete with the private off-site market, as well as being a feasible option for a developer to use as a last resort. We will announce any planned price changes in this guidance, giving at least 10 weeks鈥� notice.听
Statutory credit prices are not guideline prices for off-site biodiversity units.听
These prices do not include VAT. You will see VAT in the invoice for any statutory credit purchase.听
You can buy fractions of a credit, if it is rounded to 2 decimal places. For example, 0.5 credits, or 3.76 credits.
Information about terms in the table of prices聽
鈥楧istinctiveness鈥� is a measure based on the type of habitat and its distinguishing features. It measures different ecological factors, such as:聽
- the rarity of the habitat聽
- species richness within a habitat聽
鈥楤road鈥� and 鈥榮pecific鈥� habitat types are terms the biodiversity metric uses to describe different kinds of habitat.听
鈥楤road habitat type鈥� describes the general habitat, for example grassland or wetland.听听
鈥楽pecific habitat type鈥� describes the habitat in more detail, for example traditional orchards or reedbeds.听
The prices in the table are per credit. If you buy statutory biodiversity credits, a 鈥榮patial risk multiplier鈥� (SRM) will apply, which doubles the amount of statutory credits you need. The SRM applies to statutory credits to ensure they do not compete with the development of the off-site market and remain a last resort. You must buy 2 statutory credits for every 1 biodiversity unit you need to compensate for. The statutory biodiversity metric tool will automatically calculate this multiplication for you. The SRM is not included in the prices in the table.听听
For each habitat type in the table, you can see its 鈥榯ier鈥�. Statutory biodiversity credits are priced in tiers according to habitat type for area-based biodiversity units. There are separate prices for hedgerow and watercourse biodiversity units.
Area habitats
Low distinctiveness habitats
| Habitat distinctiveness | Broad habitat type | Specific habitat type | Price per credit | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | All | All | 拢42,000 | A1 |
Medium distinctiveness habitats
| Habitat distinctiveness | Broad habitat type | Specific habitat type | Price per credit | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medium | Heathland and shrub | All | 拢42,000 | A1 |
| Medium | Grassland | All | 拢42,000 | A1 |
| Medium | Individual trees | All | 拢42,000 | A1 |
| Medium | Urban | All | 拢42,000 | A1 |
| Medium | Cropland | All | 拢42,000 | A1 |
| Medium | Woodland and forest | All | 拢48,000 | A2 |
| Medium | Intertidal sediment | All | 拢48,000 | A2 |
| Medium | Lakes | Reservoirs | 拢125,000 | A4 |
| Medium | Lakes - ponds (non-priority habitat) | Ponds | 拢125,000 | A4 |
| Medium | Sparsely vegetated land | Other inland rock and scree | 拢125,000 | A4 |
High distinctiveness habitats
| Habitat distinctiveness | Broad habitat type | Specific habitat type | Price per credit | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | Wetland | Reedbeds | 拢42,000 | A1 |
| High | Grassland | Traditional orchards | 拢42,000 | A1 |
| High | Grassland | Lowland calcareous grassland | 拢48,000 | A2 |
| High | Grassland | Tall herb communities (H6430) | 拢48,000 | A2 |
| High | Grassland | Upland calcareous grassland | 拢48,000 | A2 |
| High | Heathland and shrub | Dunes with sea buckthorn | 拢48,000 | A2 |
| High | Heathland and shrub | Lowland heathland | 拢48,000 | A2 |
| High | Heathland and shrub | Upland heathland | 拢48,000 | A2 |
| High | Urban | Open mosaic habitats on previously developed land | 拢48,000 | A2 |
| High | Woodland and forest | Wet woodland | 拢66,000 | A3 |
| High | Woodland and forest | Felled | 拢66,000 | A3 |
| High | Woodland and forest | Upland birchwoods | 拢66,000 | A3 |
| High | Intertidal sediment | Littoral mud | 拢66,000 | A3 |
| High | Intertidal sediment | Littoral mixed sediments | 拢66,000 | A3 |
| High | Intertidal sediment | Littoral 鈥� biogenic reefs - mussels | 拢66,000 | A3 |
| High | Intertidal sediment | Littoral biogenic reefs - Sabellaria | 拢66,000 | A3 |
| High | Intertidal sediment | Features of littoral sediment | 拢66,000 | A3 |
| High | Intertidal sediment | Littoral muddy sand | 拢66,000 | A3 |
| High | Wetland mosaic | Floodplain wetland mosaic (CFGM) | 拢125,000 | A4 |
| High | Ponds | Ponds (priority habitat) | 拢125,000 | A4 |
| High | Ponds | Temporary lakes, ponds and pools | 拢125,000 | A4 |
| High | Coastal lagoons | Coastal lagoons | 拢125,000 | A4 |
| High | Rocky shore | High energy littoral rock | 拢125,000 | A4 |
| High | Rocky shore | Moderate energy littoral rock | 拢125,000 | A4 |
| High | Rocky shore | Low energy littoral rock | 拢125,000 | A4 |
| High | Rocky shore | Features of littoral rock | 拢125,000 | A4 |
| High | Coastal saltmarsh | Saltmarshes and saline reedbeds | 拢125,000 | A4 |
| High | Intertidal sediment | Littoral seagrass | 拢125,000 | A4 |
| High | Sparsely vegetated land | Coastal vegetated shingle | 拢125,000 | A4 |
| High | Sparsely vegetated land | Maritime cliff and slopes | 拢125,000 | A4 |
| High | Sparsely vegetated land | Inland rock outcrop and scree habitats | 拢125,000 | A4 |
| High | Woodland and forest | Upland mixed ashwoods | 拢125,000 | A4 |
| High | Woodland and forest | Native pine woodlands | 拢125,000 | A4 |
| High | Woodland and forest | Lowland mixed deciduous woodland | 拢125,000 | A4 |
| High | Woodland and forest | Lowland beech and yew woodland | 拢125,000 | A4 |
| High | Woodland and forest | Upland oakwood | 拢125,000 | A4 |
| High | Lakes | High alkalinity lakes | 拢650,000 | A5 |
| High | Lakes | Low alkalinity lakes | 拢650,000 | A5 |
| High | Lakes | Marl lakes | 拢650,000 | A5 |
| High | Lakes | Moderate alkalinity lakes | 拢650,000 | A5 |
| High | Lakes | Peat lakes | 拢650,000 | A5 |
Linear habitats
Hedgerow
| Habitat distinctiveness | Broad habitat type | Specific habitat type | Price per credit | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | Hedgerow | All | 拢44,000 | H |
Watercourses
| Habitat distinctiveness | Broad habitat type | Specific habitat type | Price per credit | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | All watercourses | All | 拢230,000 | W |
Give feedback
.
Updates to this page
-
Updated box at top of page to state that biodiversity net gain (BNG) is mandatory from 12 February 2024 and removed the 'draft guidance' label. Removed 'High, Sparsely vegetated land, Coastal sand dunes'.
-
Updated to confirm prices previously published as 鈥榠ndicative鈥�, ahead of biodiversity net gain becoming mandatory. The table of prices has not changed. Added detail on price reviews.
-
Amended the 'watercourses' table to clarify that there is one tier and price for all types of watercourses. Added information about what we will spend the revenue from credit sales on. Clarified that we have set credit prices high, to ensure they do not compete with the development of the private market. Clarified that prices include all costs, apart from VAT.
-
Added an explanation of 鈥榖road鈥� and 鈥榮pecific鈥� habitat types to the section 'Information about terms in the table' and re-ordered the information in this section.
-
First published.