Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Compliance
SEEDING SPECIALISTS
Specialist habitat creation and establishment for house builders, infrastructure contractors, and local authorities across the UK
Under the Environment Act 2021, most planning applications in England now require measurable 10% Biodiversity Net Gain. For house builders, infrastructure contractors, and developers, this means creating habitats that can be quantified using the Defra Biodiversity Metric 4.0 and maintaining them for 30 years.
The risk? Poorly specified wildflower meadows fail within 12 months due to high soil fertility, invasive grass dominance, or incorrect seeding methodology. This creates compliance failure, planning condition discharge delays, and costly remediation.
CDTS specialises in robust BNG habitat establishment: species-rich grassland (wildflower meadows), scrub, and woodland creation using proven ecological methods. Our approach combines low-fertility seedbed preparation, native provenance seed mixes, and hydraulic application to achieve rapid establishment and long-term habitat persistence.
Why BNG Compliance is Non-Negotiable
Mandatory from February 2024
Environment Act 2021 requires 10% net gain for most developments
Planning Condition Discharge
Failure to deliver measurable habitat establishment delays handover and incurs holding costs
30-Year Maintenance Liability
Poorly specified meadows fail within 12 months, creating compliance risk and remediation costs
Defra Biodiversity Metric 4.0
Habitat creation must follow approved methodology to count toward gain calculation
How CDTS Delivers Sustainable BNG Outcomes
We conduct soil nutrient analysis and employ stale seedbed techniques to create the low-fertility conditions wildflowers require. This prevents invasive grasses from outcompeting native species.
1. Low-Fertility Seedbed Preparation
Our bespoke brush seed harvester (towed behind low-ground-pressure quad bikes) collects local-provenance seed from donor sites, satisfying strict ecological planning conditions.
2. Native Provenance Seed Mixes
3. Hydraulic Application for Uniform Coverage
Using our fleet of 6,000L lorry-mounted and 2,500L towed hydroseeders, we achieve even seed distribution across complex terrain, including SUDS basins, embankments, and solar farm perimeters.
For higher-value habitat (scrub/woodland), we apply direct tree seeding—a method pioneered by CDTS's founder, Alistair Luke, at Cambridge University. This achieves natural woodland establishment on hostile substrates at a fraction of traditional planting costs.
4. Woodland Creation via Direct Tree Seeding
Proven Results: Data Driven BNG Delivery
BNG habitat creation carries significant delivery risk. CDTS mitigates that risk through proven methodology, specialist equipment, and three decades of project data.
95%+
Establishment Success Rate
7-14 Day
Visible Germination
98%+
Turbidity reduction
Frequently Asked Questions
When does BNG apply to my project?
BNG became mandatory for major planning applications in England from November 2023, with small sites following from April 2024. Most developments now require a minimum 10% net gain in habitat value, measured using the Defra Biodiversity Metric. Infrastructure projects including Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects must also demonstrate net gain.
Do I need an ecologist, or can CDTS handle BNG implementation?
You need both. An ecologist calculates baseline biodiversity units, designs the habitat creation plan, and verifies outcomes against the metric. CDTS implements the plan on the ground. We work from your ecologist's specification and can advise on practical habitat design during planning to ensure targets are achievable within your site conditions and programme.
What's involved in the 30-year maintenance requirement?
BNG regulations require habitats to be maintained and monitored for 30 years. This typically includes annual cutting regimes for grasslands, weed control in early years, and periodic monitoring to demonstrate the habitat is achieving target condition. CDTS designs habitats to minimise long-term maintenance burden by using appropriate species mixes and establishment methods that reduce intervention requirements.
What if the habitat fails and we don't achieve net gain?
Local Planning Authorities check BNG delivery before issuing completion certificates. Failed habitats can delay project sign-off and require costly remediation. Our methods reduce this risk by using appropriate seed mixes, proper ground preparation, and proven establishment techniques. We provide documentation of works and can support first-year monitoring to catch any issues early.
Can you handle large-scale BNG requirements?
Yes. Our various hydroseeders and conventional seeding equipment handle projects from half a hectare to 50+ hectares. We've delivered wildflower meadows, species-rich grasslands, woodland establishment and hedgerow seeding across major housing developments, infrastructure schemes, and land restoration projects throughout the North West, North Wales and West Midlands.