Kingston upon Thames is exploring the possibility of establishing habitat banks on council-owned nature reserves. The Kingston upon Thames Place Committee discussed the proposal at their meeting on Tuesday 24 June 2025, aiming to allow the council to offer biodiversity net gain (BNG) units for purchase by developers.
BNG legislation mandates that new developments increase biodiversity by a minimum of 10% on the proposed site. If achieving this on-site isn't feasible, developers can buy units off-site to offset the difference. Habitat banks would enable the council to generate funds for enhancing and maintaining nature reserves within the borough.
According to a report presented at the meeting, an ecological survey at Southwood Nature Reserve identified a potential of 77 units that could be achieved through site improvements. With units potentially selling for upwards of £30,000 each, this could generate a substantial income for the council, earmarked for biodiversity improvements over a 30-year period. Officers are also evaluating other sites in the borough for their BNG credit potential, including wetland habitats at Tolworth Court Farm.
To facilitate the purchase and sale of units, Natural England has created the Gain Site Register (GSR). Registration requires a legal agreement securing the land for at least 30 years, such as a planning obligation or conservation covenant. The council is exploring options for legal agreements with independent organizations to meet this requirement. The Habitat Banks - FINAL.pdf report examined several options, recommending signing a conservation covenant with a Responsible Body.
The council believes that creating habitat banks will allow them to treat natural capital as an asset in planning for sustainable, healthy, and thriving communities, resilient to future climate change impacts. The habitat banks will ensure existing natural capital is protected and enhanced within the Borough, when suitable biodiversity gains can not be achieved within the boundary of local development sites.