How much do BNG units cost in England?
Indicatively, from around £20,000 per unit for medium distinctiveness grassland to £100,000 or more for watercourse units, with hedgerow units in between. Prices vary by provider, habitat, distinctiveness and location and the provider confirms the price. The ranges below are conservative, dated and sourced.
Last checked:
- Indicative, dated ranges by habitat and distinctiveness, with sources
- Statutory credit prices for comparison, from gov.uk
- The multiplier arithmetic that changes your effective price per unit of deficit
- Request an indicative quote and we come back with matched options and provider pricing
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Key facts
- Other neutral grassland, the most traded unit type, sits at roughly £20,000 to £28,500 per unit in England, with the north of England at the lower end (published England pricing report, February 2026).
- Common habitat prices softened by around 3% to 6% between October 2025 and February 2026 as registered supply increased (same report).
- Watercourse units are the scarcest and most expensive, averaging around £140,000 per unit nationally in early 2026.
- Statutory biodiversity credits start at £42,000 per credit and are deliberately priced above the market (gov.uk, checked 3 October 2026).
- Units from an adjacent area or elsewhere in England carry a 0.75 or 0.5 multiplier, so the effective price per unit of deficit rises.
Estimate your cost from these ranges
Indicative only. Enter the deficit from your metric and see the range before you talk to anyone.
Indicative price ranges by habitat and distinctiveness
Indicative, the provider confirms the price. Ranges are per unit, for units local to the development and are drawn from published pricing reports and public register data. Southern England typically carries a premium of 15% to 45% over the north depending on habitat.
| Habitat | Distinctiveness | Indicative range per unit | Supply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other neutral grassland | Medium | £20,000 to £28,500 | Good in most regions |
| Heathland and scrub, woodland and forest | Medium | £28,000 to £35,000 | Good to limited |
| Mixed deciduous woodland, traditional orchard | High | £38,000 to £57,000 | Limited to scarce |
| Lowland meadow | Very high | £37,000 to £42,000 | Limited |
| Hedgerow | Various | £20,000 to £45,000 | Limited |
| Watercourse | High | £100,000 to £150,000 or more | Scarce |
What moves the price
- Distinctiveness and condition of the habitat the provider has created, which must be like for like or better for high and very high distinctiveness losses
- Location relative to your site, because the spatial risk multiplier changes how many units you buy: see the multiplier guide
- Regional supply and demand, with the south east and east of England generally dearer than the north
- Quantity, timing and whether you need a forward allocation
- Provider terms, including documentation, monitoring reports and any CSR or carbon add-ons
Statutory biodiversity credits for comparison
Natural England’s statutory biodiversity credits are a last resort where no off-site units are available. Prices start at £42,000 per credit for the lowest tier and rise steeply for scarcer habitats and the conversion factor means roughly two credits per unit. That is why market units are almost always the better route. Read why credits are a last resort.
How to budget
Ask your ecologist how many units of each type the metric requires. Multiply by the range for that habitat. Then allow for the multiplier if local supply is limited: a deficit of 2 units sourced from an adjacent area means buying 2.67 units. The sourcing check does this arithmetic for your own figures.
Indicative ranges compiled from a published England pricing report (February 2026, covering 165 registered habitat banks), public commentary on that report and gov.uk statutory credit prices, checked 3 October 2026. Prices vary by provider, habitat, distinctiveness and location. Not a quote.
Regional price differences
The south of England carries a premium on most habitat types. Published reports in 2024 and 2026 put other neutral grassland roughly 2% to 7% dearer in the south than the north, woodland units up to 45% dearer and watercourse units around 16% dearer. The gap reflects demand density: more consents needing units per registered site in the south east and east of England. For a northern developer this is one reason local supply, at the 1.0 multiplier, is usually the cheapest route; for a southern developer it is a reason to start early and consider forward allocation.
Effective price per unit of deficit
The headline unit price is not what you compare. Divide it by the multiplier for where the supply sits.
| Unit price | Local (1.0) | Adjacent (0.75) | Elsewhere (0.5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| £22,000 | £22,000 | £29,333 | £44,000 |
| £28,000 | £28,000 | £37,333 | £56,000 |
| £45,000 (hedgerow) | £45,000 | £60,000 | £90,000 |
A £22,000 unit from elsewhere in England costs more per unit of deficit than a £40,000 local unit. The sourcing check runs this for your figures.
Why prices for common habitats have softened
More sites have registered since 2024, particularly grassland schemes on former arable land, while demand from small sites fell when the 0.2 hectare exemption arrived on 6 August 2026. Scarce habitat types have not followed: hedgerow, watercourse and high distinctiveness woodland have held or risen because few providers create them. Mandatory BNG for NSIPs from 2 November 2026 is expected to add large-volume demand that could tighten supply again, especially along energy and transport corridors.
Price questions
Are prices going up or down?
Common habitat prices softened slightly into early 2026 as more sites registered. Scarce habitat types, particularly watercourse and wet woodland, have held or risen.
Is a fractional unit priced pro rata?
Usually, yes, with some providers applying a minimum. We confirm this when we present options.
Does the price include documentation?
Reputable providers include allocation evidence and planning-ready documentation. We check this before an introduction.
Do I pay VAT on BNG units?
Treatment varies with how the provider structures the sale. Ask the provider and your accountant; it is not included in the ranges above.
Can prices be negotiated?
Yes. Volume, timing and certainty all matter to providers. You agree price directly with them.
Why are statutory credits so much dearer?
They are priced to discourage use and to fund government-delivered habitat. Roughly two credits are needed per unit.
Sources
Want real numbers for your site?
Tell us your requirement and we will come back with matched options and indicative pricing from providers.