Register a biodiversity gain site

BeforeWho youcan apply

You’llYou need:can apply to register a biodiversity gain site if you’re: 

• thea titlelandowner deeds or leaseleaseholder agreementof tothe provebiodiversity ownership

  gain site you’re registering

• writtenan authorisationemployee fromor representative acting on behalf of an organisation who is the landowner or leaseholder

An ifapplicant you’recan applyingalso appoint an agent to manage the application on their behalf.

If you’re an agent acting on behalf of the applicant 

You must be authorised by the applicant, which is either the landowner, leaseholder or another person, to act on their behalf. They will need to complete an ‘authorise an agent to act on your behalf’ form. You must upload this with your application.

If you’re an employee or a representative of an organisation, you do not need to complete an authorise an agent form.

Before you apply

You’ll need:

• documents to prove who owns or leases the biodiversity gain site you’re registering

• a document or image showing the land boundary – this must not include any personal information, like a landowner’s name

• a legal agreement that secures the land for at least 30 years – this must be a planninga planning obligation (Section 106 agreement) or conservationor conservation covenant

• completed a completed statutory biodiversity metric tool calculationscalculation that includeincludes information about all the land secured by the legal agreement

• a a habitat management and monitoring plan (this (this may be included within your legal agreement)

• a a local land charge search certificate

  dated within the last 2 months

Registration fees

It costs £639 to register a biodiversity gain site. You must pay within 28 days of submitting your application.

What happens after you apply

We will let you know within 6 weeks if:

• we need more information from you
• your application to register your biodiversity gain site has been accepted or rejected

If we accept your application, you will get an email with a gain site reference number. This is unique to your biodiversity gain site.

If we reject your application, we will let you know why.  why.

Withdrawals and refunds

Once we have made a decision on your application you cannot withdraw it. Refunds will not be given. 

You can read the terms and conditions for more information on withdrawals, refunds and how we approve or reject applications. 

How to apply

You can use this service to record an allocation of off-site gains. 

Start now

If you also want to record allocation of off-site gains to a development

You can apply to register a biodiversity site and allocate to a development at the same time.

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Signing into this service

You’ll need a Government Gateway account and a Defra account to sign into this service.

If you do not already have these accounts or wish to create new ones, you can set these up when you use this service. 

You should use your own email address for these accounts, so we can contact you about your application. It can be either your personal email or your work email, if you are applying for an organisation.

Saving your progress

You can save your application and come back to it at any time.

Continue with a saved application

Withdrawals and refunds 

Once we have made a decision on your application you cannot withdraw it. Refunds will not be given.  

You can read the terms and conditions for more information on withdrawals, refunds and how we approve or reject applications.

Get help with your application