Kent Farm Becomes Flagship Habitat Bank

A 33-hectare farm in Kent has been converted into a nature-rich independent Habitat Bank, the first of its kind in the county.

The site at Chalksole Farm has officially been added to the Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) register. It provides 259 Biodiversity Units, enabling project teams across London, Sussex, Hampshire and Kent to unlock the development potential of plots where environmental requirements may not otherwise be satisfied.

The initiative represents a scalable model, which could be used to unlock similar opportunities on farmland across the UK.

It was achieved through a strong collaboration between Habitat Bank owner, Biodiversity and Habitat Solutions Limited, environmental consultancy, Biodiverse Consulting, and the local council, Dover District Council.

Vicki Mordue, founder and director of Biodiverse Consulting, explains: “Habitat Banks are essential for balancing the demand for new housing and infrastructure with the urgent need to protect and enhance our natural environment. 

“By creating these nature-rich spaces, landowners can diversify their income while ensuring communities benefit from well-planned, sustainable developments. We recently launched a new service, Biodiverse Brokering, dedicated to helping landowners fulfil this ambition.

“Chalksole is a flagship project that, if replicated across the UK, could go a long way in addressing BNG compliance challenges. With strong collaboration, we can add more nature-rich sites to the BNG register.”

John Newbury, founder of Biodiversity and Habitat Solutions Limited, explains: “When converting Chalksole Farm into a Habitat Bank, I was keen to create a space for local species to flourish. 

“The site will play a key role in the responsible delivery of new developments across the South East, and I give thanks to the teams at Biodiverse Consulting and Dover Council, whose support has been integral to its successful delivery.”

For more information on how the Chalksole Farm Habitat Bank can support your development project, visit: https://www.biodiverseconsulting.co.uk/biodiverse-brokering