Statutory biodiversity credit prices
Guide prices and information on calculating costs for developers buying statutory credits.
Applies to England
Buying statutory biodiversity credits is a last resort option for developers if you are unable to use on-site or off-site units to deliver biodiversity net gain (BNG).
You will be able to buy statutory biodiversity credits using a credit sales service, which will be available once BNG becomes mandatory.
These prices are indicative, which means they give an indication of likely prices, to help developers plan ahead. WeConfirmed prices will publishbe confirmedpublished prices when biodiversity net gain becomes mandatory.
AllPrices pricesinclude areall exclusivecosts, ofapart from VAT. VAT will be included in the invoice for any statutory credit purchase.
Credit sales revenue will be used to:
- invest in habitat creation projects
- administer credit sales
Statutory biodiversity credit prices are not guideline prices for biodiversity units sold in the off-site private market. Credit prices are set high to ensure they do not compete with the development of the private market.
Using the statutory biodiversity metric to calculate biodiversity credits
To support you with calculating how many credits you need, we are working on an addition to the biodiversity metric. This will be available in the statutory biodiversity metric tool, when BNG becomes mandatory.
If you buy statutory biodiversity credits, a ‘spatial risk multiplier’ will apply, which doubles the amount of credits you need. You must buy 2 credits for every 1 biodiversity unit you need to compensate for. The statutory biodiversity metric will automatically calculate this multiplication for you.
You can find more information about the spatial risk multiplier in the Biodiversity Metric 4.0 user guide, section 7.4 (page 29).
Information about terms in the table
‘Distinctiveness’ is a measure based on the type of habitat and its distinguishing features. It measures different ecological factors, such as:
- the rarity of the habitat
- species richness within a habitat
‘Broad’ and ‘specific’ habitat types are terms the biodiversity metric tool uses to describe different kinds of habitat.
‘Broad habitat type’ describes the general habitat, for example grassland or wetland.
‘Specific habitat type’ describes the habitat in more detail, for example traditional orchards or reedbeds.
The prices in the table are per credit. The spatial risk multiplier is not accounted for in the prices in the table.
For each habitat type in the table below, you can see its ‘tier’. Biodiversity credit prices are tiered, to reflect the cost and value of different habitats. When you access the credit sales service, you’ll have to pick which tier or tiers you are buying.
Area habitats
Low distinctiveness habitats
| Habitat distinctiveness | Broad habitat type | Specific habitat type | Price per credit | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | All | All | £42,000 | A1 |
Medium distinctiveness habitats
| Habitat distinctiveness | Broad habitat type | Specific habitat type | Price per credit | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medium | Heathland and shrub | All | £42,000 | A1 |
| Medium | Grassland | All | £42,000 | A1 |
| Medium | Individual trees | All | £42,000 | A1 |
| Medium | Urban | All | £42,000 | A1 |
| Medium | Cropland | All | £42,000 | A1 |
| Medium | Woodland and forest | All | £48,000 | A2 |
| Medium | Intertidal sediment | All | £48,000 | A2 |
| Medium | Lakes | Reservoirs | £125,000 | A4 |
| Medium | Lakes - ponds (non-priority habitat) | Ponds | £125,000 | A4 |
| Medium | Sparsely vegetated land | Other inland rock and scree | £125,000 | A4 |
High distinctiveness habitats
| Habitat distinctiveness | Broad habitat type | Specific habitat type | Price per credit | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | Wetland | Reedbeds | £42,000 | A1 |
| High | Grassland | Traditional orchards | £42,000 | A1 |
| High | Grassland | Lowland calcareous grassland | £48,000 | A2 |
| High | Grassland | Tall herb communities (H6430) | £48,000 | A2 |
| High | Grassland | Upland calcareous grassland | £48,000 | A2 |
| High | Heathland and shrub | Dunes with sea buckthorn | £48,000 | A2 |
| High | Heathland and shrub | Lowland heathland | £48,000 | A2 |
| High | Heathland and shrub | Upland heathland | £48,000 | A2 |
| High | Urban | Open mosaic habitats on previously developed land | £48,000 | A2 |
| High | Woodland and forest | Wet woodland | £66,000 | A3 |
| High | Woodland and forest | Felled | £66,000 | A3 |
| High | Woodland and forest | Upland birchwoods | £66,000 | A3 |
| High | Intertidal sediment | Littoral mud | £66,000 | A3 |
| High | Intertidal sediment | Littoral mixed sediments | £66,000 | A3 |
| High | Intertidal sediment | Littoral – biogenic reefs - mussels | £66,000 | A3 |
| High | Intertidal sediment | Littoral biogenic reefs - Sabellaria | £66,000 | A3 |
| High | Intertidal sediment | Features of littoral sediment | £66,000 | A3 |
| High | Intertidal sediment | Littoral muddy sand | £66,000 | A3 |
| High | Wetland mosaic | Floodplain wetland mosaic (CFGM) | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Ponds | Ponds (priority habitat) | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Ponds | Temporary lakes, ponds and pools | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Coastal lagoons | Coastal lagoons | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Rocky shore | High energy littoral rock | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Rocky shore | Moderate energy littoral rock | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Rocky shore | Low energy littoral rock | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Rocky shore | Features of littoral rock | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Coastal saltmarsh | Saltmarshes and saline reedbeds | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Intertidal sediment | Littoral seagrass | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Sparsely vegetated land | Coastal sand dunes | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Sparsely vegetated land | Coastal vegetated shingle | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Sparsely vegetated land | Maritime cliff and slopes | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Sparsely vegetated land | Inland rock outcrop and scree habitats | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Woodland and forest | Upland mixed ashwoods | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Woodland and forest | Native pine woodlands | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Woodland and forest | Lowland mixed deciduous woodland | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Woodland and forest | Lowland beech and yew woodland | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Woodland and forest | Upland oakwood | £125,000 | A4 |
| High | Lakes | High alkalinity lakes | £650,000 | A5 |
| High | Lakes | Low alkalinity lakes | £650,000 | A5 |
| High | Lakes | Marl lakes | £650,000 | A5 |
| High | Lakes | Moderate alkalinity lakes | £650,000 | A5 |
| High | Lakes | Peat lakes | £650,000 | A5 |
Linear habitats
Hedgerow
| Habitat distinctiveness | Broad habitat type | Specific habitat type | Price per credit | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | Hedgerow | All | £44,000 | H |
Watercourses
| Habitat distinctiveness | Broad habitat type | Specific habitat type | Price per credit | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | All | |||
| All | £230,000 | W |
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Last updated
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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.
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Added an explanation of ‘broad’ and ‘specific’ habitat types to the section 'Information about terms in the table' and re-ordered the information in this section.
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First published.