Case Study
BNGx
The People
This was a complex project, in which Retina Digital played a part. New government legislation was introduced in November 2023, to help ensure biodiversity and ecological value lost in property development and infrastructure projects is replaced elsewhere. Biodiversity must be increased by 10%, and maintained for 30 years under the Biodiversity Net Gains scheme (BNG), which became mandatory from February 2024, for ‘major developments’.
The Challenge
There are complex calculations involved. Value is assigned to habitats such as woodland, hedgerow, fields, and so on, and the equivalent amount must be created or enhanced elsewhere. There are detailed rules around calculating the value of what is lost vs what can be used to replace it. This includes a sliding scale of distance from the original site, and the type of habitat that is involved, with a hierarchy in place so one lost length of hedgerow cannot be replaced with simply acres of fields, but woodlands, or ponds or other hedgerow must be used.
Developers or infrastructure project planners need access to purchase replacement habitats, as well as those who have land available for purchase, and who can maintain those habitats for 30 years. Anyone using the BNG scheme requires external knowledge to source the replacement biodiversity, whether they are a property developer or someone who manages land. Both sides must work with ecologists to quantify the land that they have, or are working with.
The aim of the BNG Exchange is to simplify that process, on both sides, allowing the matching of appropriate habitats, and equivalency calculations to be carried out behind the scenes.
The Process
Retina Digital was brought in as a contractor in the later stages of this project, and held fortnightly meetings with the agency and the client, developing the back end of the site. As part of a larger team, we were able to dovetail with their existing Agile methodology, and integrate with their client communications process. Retina also ran holiday cover during the whole project.
At the outset, we had a steep learning curve to understand the project to date, and the requirements of the BNG scheme. We worked with the in-house development team to reach their working milestones, and ready the project for a soft launch. Our remit was to refine and simplify the purchasing process, and the systems in place for handling user accounts. We also created a management reporting and data management function, for the government side of the operation.
The Solution
The end result is a website where the property developer can work with an ecologist to create a spreadsheet in which they can input the habitats that are being lost. This is then uploaded to the website. Sellers also create spreadsheets with an ecologist, quantifying the land that they have and can maintain, which are also uploaded.
The property developers are then presented with a set of three recommendations for alternative habitats to be maintained in lieu of their development: the closest, the cheapest, and the ‘best of both’ option, which they can then choose between. On choosing, the sale is processed, and the seller receives an offer, which can be accepted. The website generates the required documentation, and collects payments, on four or five clicks.
Taking these complex responsibilities away from the buyer lifts a huge burden – they don’t need to find the land to purchase, and ensure that the calculations are correct regarding the equivalences of land, distances and hierarchies. All this helps ensure that the process is carried out in accordance with the law.