At CSA, we believe in working with integrity and a shared commitment to achieving meaningful outcomes for people and nature. Our recent collaboration on a new Habitat Bank in Swindon Borough is a great example of how we support landowners and stakeholders to realise their conservation goals while delivering credible, high-quality Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).
We have been working alongside a family-run farming partnership with a deep commitment to nature and conservation to transform a site of agriculturally managed cropland into a strategically significant network of biodiverse habitats. From the outset, CSA has supported the landowners in shaping a vision that aligns their conservation values with the technical and legal requirements of BNG delivery.
The proposed scheme will create over 43 hectares of species-rich grassland and 5.5 km of species-rich native hedgerows, alongside traditional orchard planting and areas of native thicket and woodland. These new habitats not only enhance the ecological value of the site but also contribute meaningfully to the wider green infrastructure of the area, linking into the strategic corridor that follows the River Thames along the Borough’s northern edge.
Our team of ecologists have been involved from the early stages, undertaking detailed habitat condition assessments, advising on constraints and opportunities, and preparing a Biodiversity Metric calculation to evidence the uplift in biodiversity value. Throughout, we have maintained a clear focus on delivering realistic, robust outcomes that can be relied upon by both landowners and future unit purchasers.
The site is now in the process of being legally secured via a Conservation Covenant and will be registered on the Biodiversity Gain Sites register. Our Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP) provides detailed prescriptions for habitat establishment, ongoing management, and monitoring over the 30-year BNG period. This forms the basis of the legal agreement that will ensure the long-term integrity and functionality of the habitat bank.
Once registration is complete, a range of Habitat and Hedgerow Units will be available for purchase, enabling developers to meet their 10% net gain requirement. With its strategic location in Swindon Borough and the Upper Thames Clay Vales National Character Area, this Habitat Bank offers an excellent opportunity to secure high-quality BNG units.
If you are looking for Biodiversity Units in the region, or are interested in learning more about the project, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
