We have a working agreement with the county’s Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) to develop a Section 106 for each of the sites above, as a Trusted BNG supplier.

Why purchase BNG units with us?

• GNCF is a not-for-profit BNG broker who follows the CIEEM, IEMA, CIRIA (2019) good practice principles, the latest guidance from Defra, and knowledge share with a country-wide BNG community of practice. GNCF aims to provide excellence in off-site BNG delivery.

• Developer has no liability for offsite units once they have been allocated to development site

  Once offsite biodiversity units are purchased, registered, and allocated via the Defra Gain Site Register, the developers’ legal liability for the maintenance of that habitat is discharged. The legal obligation for
  habitat creation and management then lies with the landowner for 30+ years.

   The legal agreement for delivery of the BNG units (the s.106) for each offsite BNG scheme is registered to the land title. At the point of registering each site to the Defra Gain Site Register, the landowner/broker is required to submit a land charge certificate showing that the s.106 has been registered to the land title. If the land is sold or transferred to a trustee in bankruptcy, the new owner or bank is then responsible for delivering the 30-year offsite BNG unit obligations.

   Developers are responsible only for securing the offsite units via purchase, allocation and sign-off of their biodiversity gain plan, before commencing work onsite.

What is the process?

• 1. Final Biodiversity Metric Confirmation

  The Developer confirms that the biodiversity metric is final and accurately reflects the development proposals.

  2. Biodiversity Gain Plan (BGP) Preparation

  The Developer (or their Ecologist) prepares a draft Biodiversity Gain Plan (BGP), including details of on-site biodiversity delivery, and shares this with GNCF.

  3. Agreement of Unit Purchase

  A BNG Unit Sale Agreement is prepared and agreed between the Developer, the Landowner, and GNCF. This includes:

  • Development site details
  • Off-site habitat details
  • Number and type of units
  • Purchase price

  4. Contract Signing and Payment

  The agreement is signed by all parties.
  The Landowner issues an invoice, and the Developer makes payment in full. A receipt is provided upon payment.

  5. Registration of Units

  Following receipt of payment, GNCF submits the unit allocation to the Defra Biodiversity Gain Site Register within 5 business days.

  6. Allocation by Natural England

  Natural England processes the allocation of units to the development site.
  This typically takes up to 6 weeks.

  7. Allocation Confirmation

  Once allocation is confirmed, GNCF provides the Developer with the allocation notice and reference details required for planning submission.

   8. Submission to Local Planning Authority

  The Developer submits the completed BGP (including off-site unit details) to the relevant Local Planning Authority.

  9. BGP Review and Determination

  The Local Planning Authority reviews the BGP (up to 8 weeks):

  • If approved, the process proceeds
  • If revisions are required, the Developer/Ecologist updates and resubmits the BGP

  10. Commencement of Development

  Development can begin once:

  • The BNG units have been formally allocated, and
  • The BGP has been approved by the Local Planning Authority

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  Indicative Timeline

  • Agreement & payment: dependent on parties
  • Register submission by GNCF: within 5 days of payment
  • Allocation of units via Defra Gain Site Register: up to 6 weeks
  • BGP approval by Council: up to 8 weeks

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  Key Points to Note

  • Unit purchase is secured upon contract completion and payment
  • Allocation must be confirmed by Natural England before BGP can be submitted
  • Early engagement with GNCF is recommended to avoid delays

Please get in touch to discuss how we can help.

To talk to us about your business needs please complete the ‘Contact’ sheet below, or send an email to enquiries@glosncf.com. We are happy to talk through the legislation and the process.