Village housing scheme developers invest in off-site biodiversity project
A new village housing development near Melton Mowbray will meet its Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements after special units were bought from a local off-site provider.
The transaction, with The Habitat Bank based at Ratcliffe-on-the-Wreake, enables Davidsons Homes to deliver its 47 new homes at its Willow Grove scheme at Queniborough.
The Habitat Bank’s facility was Charnwood’s first statutorily-established BNG offset site.
It extends to over 70 acres and runs adjacent to the River Wreake – the site restores, creates and enhances diverse habitats, including grassland, scrubland, traditional orchards and hedgerows.
Davidsons’ land director, Richard Stevenson, explained: “When it became clear it wouldn’t be possible to achieve the full BNG requirement on site at Willow Grove, we hoped to find a solution that would enable us to make meaningful environmental gains nearby.
“Through collaboration with The Habitat Bank, we were able to secure units at their bank site in Radcliffe-on-the-Wreake, which is less than 3km from our Willow Grove site.
"The Habitat Bank’s smooth handling of the transaction gave us confidence throughout the process, and we are pleased to be contributing to ecological restoration across Charnwood.”
Trevor Wells, director & co-founder of The Habitat Bank, who negotiated the sale, added: “
He commented: "The Davidsons team has been fully engaged throughout, truly taking the time to understand the mechanisms and long-term benefits of off-site BNG.
"Their proactive approach has been instrumental in achieving an outcome that will not only significantly benefit local biodiversity but also create high quality, sustainable homes for Leicestershire families.”