Bidwells, the Cambridge-based property consultancy, has unveiled a pioneering interactive BNG Map, offering developers and ecologists an effective way to explore habitat banks and secure credible biodiversity units across England.
The new platform is designed to streamline the complex process of identifying and assessing off-site BNG opportunities. The map provides instant visibility of habitat banks by Local Planning Authority (LPA) and National Character Area (NCA), with intelligent boundary overlays and advanced filtering options.
Lisa Bulmer, partner, natural capital at Bidwells, said: “Our new BNG Map brings clarity to a rapidly evolving market. By consolidating habitat bank data, planning boundaries, and registration details into one place, we’re giving developers the confidence and transparency they need to make informed decisions about where to secure off-site biodiversity units. It’s a major step forward in simplifying the BNG process.”
The map enables users to:
- Search by LPA to view habitat banks within a chosen authority and across adjacent authority areas.
- Search by NCA to explore opportunities within a selected character area and across adjacent areas.
- Filter by habitat type, sorted by habitat distinctiveness.
- Filter to display only registered habitat banks.
- View habitat bank details including Biodiversity Gain Site registration numbers directly from each listing.
Jamie Woollam, director (ecology) at CSA Environmental, said: “This is a great resource for ecologists and those looking for BNG solutions. Searching by habitat type is really helpful, as is having photos of the sites; knowing your habitat units are coming from something real.”
Gabrielle Graham, managing director at SWT Ecology Services, said: “Finding the right BNG units in the right location is not an easy feat and Bidwells’ new search function certainly helps ease the process.
“Being able to visually search for habitats of low, medium, high and very high distinctiveness within Local Planning Authority and National Character Areas certainly helps identifying sites that specifically meets the needs of developers across England.”
Images: Bidwells
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