Guidance

Statutory biodiversity credit prices

The prices of statutory biodiversity credits from the date biodiversity net gain (BNG) becomes mandatory.

Applies to England

Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is mandatory from 12 February 2024.

You can view all of the BNG guidance in the BNG collection.

This table gives the prices of statutory biodiversity credits.  

Prices are based on the 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’ notice. 

Statutory credit prices are not guideline prices for off-site biodiversity units

These prices do not include VAT. You will see VAT in the invoice for any statutory credit purchase. 

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 

‘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 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. If you buy statutory biodiversity credits, a ‘spatial risk multiplier’ (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.  

For each habitat type in the table, you can see its ‘tier’. 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 £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 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 watercourses All £230,000 W

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Updates to this page

Published 27 July 2023
Last updated 12 February 2024 + show all updates
  1. 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'.

  2. Updated to confirm prices previously published as ‘indicative’, ahead of biodiversity net gain becoming mandatory. The table of prices has not changed. Added detail on price reviews.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. First published.

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