Biodiversity net gain and the Environment Act

DIVERSIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

The Government’s proposed Environment Act, currently progressing through Parliament, will have wide-reaching implications for landowners and agricultural businesses when it becomes law. Our experienced, top-ranked Agriculture team, with thousands of farming clients all over the UK, can advise on the legal requirements of the Act and on ways to maximise the opportunities for diversification it creates.


KEY CONTACTS

Mark Charter

Partner 02380 930 314

 

The Environment Bill

The draft Environment Bill sets out how the government will maintain standards in line with its 25-year Environment Plan.

A key element of this is Biodiversity Net Gain –a requirement for every new site to have a positive ecological impact. In some cases, developers will be able to offset the impact of their activities by purchasing biodiversity credits.

This represents a revenue opportunity for landowners and farmers, who can agree to receive a payment in return for land being used for a biodiversity scheme such as tree planting or rewilding.

Biodiversity Net Gain schemes sit alongside other green diversification opportunities such as the use of land for solar, wind, water or biogas generation, carbon sequestration schemes, water storage, and battery storage.

When entering into any land deal or legal agreement, it is vital to have advice from specialists who can look at any potential arrangement in the long-term context of your wider estate and with the best possible commercial outcomes in mind.

 

Our expertise in this area encompasses:

 


Take Five Guides

Your guide to biodiversity net gain opportunities in five steps.

Your guide to letting land for allotments in five easy steps

Five quick and easy ways to improve farm sustainability


Acting as National Farmers Union panel solicitors for more counties than any other law firm in the country, we have strong ties to the following:

  • Agricultural Law Association 
  • British Institute of Agricultural Consultants
  • Central Association of Agricultural Valuers
  • Country Land and Business Association
  • Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
  • Tenant Farmers Association

We are also proud to be the sole designated legal contributor to the Farmers Weekly Business Clinic.

NFU

Farmers Weekly

 


CONTACT

A highly experienced agricultural partner, Mark’s clients have included individuals, families, trusts, partnerships, companies and government departments on a range of agricultural matters. He is particularly experienced in dealing with the sale and purchase of farms, estates and agri-businesses, and in cases involving high-value secured lending for farms and estates. Mark also advises on development and diversification projects, including renewables, for landowners. LEGAL 500

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