Biodiversity Net Gain Landscaping North West
Biodiversity Net Gain Landscaping North West
Since November 2023, Biodiversity Net Gain has been a mandatory requirement for most new developments in England under the Environment Act 2021. If you're a developer, architect, or planning consultant in the North West or North Wales, you already know what that means: every new development must demonstrate a measurable 10% net gain in biodiversity — or it won't get through planning.
Finding a landscaping contractor who genuinely understands BNG — not just one who's added the phrase to their website — is harder than it should be. Wirral Wildlife Landscaping has been creating ecologically rich landscapes, wildlife habitats, and biodiverse planting schemes across the North West for over a decade. We work with developers and planners to design and deliver BNG-compliant landscaping that satisfies planning conditions, genuinely improves biodiversity, and looks exceptional on the finished development.
Already Working to BNG Standards
The ecological planting schemes, wildlife ponds, native meadows, and habitat creation we carry out for residential and commercial clients across the North West directly contribute to measurable biodiversity net gain. We bring that same expertise to new development sites — helping developers meet their planning obligations with landscaping that actually works.
What Is Biodiversity Net Gain?
Biodiversity Net Gain is a planning requirement introduced under the Environment Act 2021, mandatory for most new developments in England since November 2023. It requires developers to demonstrate that a development will leave biodiversity in a measurably better state than before — a minimum of 10% net gain, measured using the government's Biodiversity Metric.
In practice, this means developers need to:
- Carry out a pre-development biodiversity baseline assessment
- Design the development to avoid and minimise habitat loss where possible
- Deliver on-site habitat creation and enhancement as part of the landscaping scheme
- Where on-site gains are insufficient, purchase off-site biodiversity units or statutory biodiversity credits
- Secure and maintain BNG habitats for a minimum of 30 years
The landscaping contractor you appoint plays a critical role in delivering the on-site habitat creation that underpins your BNG calculation.
Getting it right from the start is far easier — and cheaper — than trying to fix it after planning conditions have been imposed.
How We Help Developers Meet BNG Requirements
Ecological Planting Schemes
We design and implement native planting schemes that maximise biodiversity value on new development sites. Using species chosen specifically for the site's location, soil type, and surrounding habitat context, we create planting that genuinely supports insects, birds, and small mammals — and that counts positively in a BNG assessment. We've delivered ecological planting across new build residential developments, commercial sites, and mixed-use schemes throughout the North West and North Wales.
Wildlife Pond & Wetland Habitat Creation
Ponds and wetland features are among the highest-value habitats you can create on a development site for BNG purposes. A well-designed wildlife pond supports amphibians, invertebrates, birds, and mammals, and contributes significantly to a biodiversity metric calculation. We design and build wildlife ponds and wetland features that meet ecological standards, satisfy planning conditions, and become genuine assets to the finished development.
Wildflower Meadows & Native Grassland
Replacing amenity grass with native wildflower meadow or species-rich grassland is one of the most cost-effective ways to achieve BNG on a development site. We install wildflower meadows and native grassland schemes that establish quickly, require minimal maintenance, and deliver measurable biodiversity improvement. These features also significantly enhance the visual appeal and marketability of residential developments.
Hedgerow & Woodland Edge Planting
Hedgerows are a priority habitat under UK biodiversity legislation and carry significant weight in BNG calculations. We design and plant native hedgerow and woodland edge schemes using locally appropriate species, creating connectivity between habitats and providing year-round shelter and food for wildlife. On larger development sites, hedgerow planting can make a substantial contribution to meeting BNG targets.
Habitat Enhancement on Existing Sites
Not all BNG delivery involves creating new habitats from scratch. On brownfield sites or developments with existing vegetation, we carry out habitat enhancement work — improving the ecological condition and connectivity of existing features to increase their biodiversity value. This is often a highly efficient way to achieve BNG targets while keeping costs down.
Long-Term Habitat Management
BNG habitats must be secured and maintained for a minimum of 30 years. We offer ongoing maintenance contracts to ensure the ecological habitats we create continue to deliver biodiversity value throughout the monitoring period — giving developers and landowners confidence that their planning obligations will be met long-term.
Why Work With Wirral Wildlife Landscaping?
There are plenty of landscaping contractors in the North West who will tell you they can deliver BNG. Here's what makes us different:
- We have over a decade of hands-on experience creating ecologically functional landscapes — wildlife ponds, native planting schemes, wildflower meadows, and habitat restoration — not just decorative planting dressed up as ecology
- We are BALI accredited and CHAS accredited, giving developers confidence in our professional standards and insurance
- We understand the difference between planting that looks good and planting that genuinely works for biodiversity — and we know how to design schemes that satisfy both
- We work across the whole of the North West and North Wales, covering Chester, Liverpool, Wirral, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, and North Wales — meaning we can support developments across your entire pipeline
- We're a specialist ecological landscaping business, not a general contractor who has added BNG to their services list. This is what we do.
Who We Work With
We work with a range of clients on BNG-related projects:
Residential Developers
From small house builders to larger housebuilders delivering BNG as a planning condition on new residential schemes
Commercial Developers
Office parks, retail developments, and mixed-use schemes requiring ecological landscaping as part of their planning approval
Landscape Architects
Providing specialist ecological planting and habitat creation to complement wider design schemes
Planning Consultants
Advising on practical, deliverable BNG solutions for clients navigating the planning system
Landowners
Creating and managing off-site BNG habitats on agricultural or rural land to generate biodiversity units for sale
Frequently Asked Questions
Mandatory BNG applies to most new developments in England granted planning permission after November 2023, including residential and commercial schemes. There are some exemptions — including householder applications, small sites below certain thresholds, and permitted development — but the vast majority of significant new developments are now required to demonstrate 10% BNG. If you're unsure whether your development is affected, your planning consultant will be able to advise.
Talk to Us About Your Development
If you have a development in the North West or North Wales that requires Biodiversity Net Gain landscaping, we'd welcome the chance to discuss it. We offer a straightforward initial consultation to understand your site, your planning conditions, and what's achievable within your budget.
Call us on 07479 455170 or email contact@wirralwildlifelandscaping.com
