🌱 Mandatory for all planning applications since April 2024

Instant Biodiversity Net Gain
Reports for Any Site in England

Draw a boundary on the satellite map. Get a BNG screening report in 60 seconds — auto-populated from 7 UK government data sources. No ecologist visit needed.

Free to screen
60s results
7 data sources
See how it works ↓

No account required. No credit card. Just draw and analyse.

Natural England Priority Habitats
Environment Agency Flood & LIDAR
BGS Soil & Geology
NBN Atlas Species Records
Statutory Metric July 2025

The Old Way

  • Hire an ecologist: £2,000–£10,000
  • Wait 4–8 weeks for site visit & report
  • Manual data gathering from 5+ government websites
  • Seasonal constraints (some surveys only in spring/summer)
  • Discover problems after you've committed to the site

The BioGain Way

  • 14-day free trial, then £39/mo
  • Results in 60 seconds, not 6 weeks
  • 7 data sources queried automatically
  • Available year-round, any time of day
  • Know your constraints before you buy the land

How It Works

Four steps. Under two minutes. No expertise required.

1

Find your site

Search by postcode or navigate the satellite map. Zoom in to see your site clearly.

2

Draw the boundary

Click points around your site boundary using the polygon tool. Double-click to finish.

3

We analyse everything

BioGain queries 7 government databases. Priority habitats, ancient woodland, SSSIs, flood risk, species, soil, LIDAR — all in seconds.

4

Get your report

View results on the map, download a PDF, or share a link. BNG baseline calculated using Statutory Biodiversity Metric.

7 Government Data Sources. Instant.

Every data point an ecologist checks in a desk study — queried in real-time from official UK government APIs.

Priority Habitats

Natural England's Priority Habitat Inventory. Deciduous woodland, lowland meadow, coastal saltmarsh, and more.

Ancient Woodland

Woodland present since at least 1600 AD. Irreplaceable habitat — ASNW and PAWS locations identified.

SSSIs

Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Statutory protection — development requires Natural England consultation.

Flood Risk

Environment Agency flood zones. Affects habitat creation potential and development viability.

Species Records

NBN Atlas protected and notable species. Birds, mammals, amphibians, invertebrates — verified records with dates.

Soil & Geology

British Geological Survey superficial deposits. Soil type determines habitat creation potential.

LIDAR Elevation

EA 1m Digital Terrain Model. Min/max/average elevation and terrain classification across your site.

Built for Developers. Trusted by Ecologists.

Two paths, one platform. Start as a developer, upgrade when your ecologist gets involved.

🏗️

For Developers & Landowners

"Know your site before you hire an ecologist"

  • Instant screening — constraints, designations, habitats
  • Small Sites Metric calculator (no ecologist needed)
  • BNG baseline estimate for feasibility
  • Share results with planning team
  • 14-day free trial — then £39/mo for unlimited reports
🔬

For Ecologists & Consultants

"Replace the spreadsheet. Keep the expertise."

  • Auto-populated baseline from 7 gov data sources
  • Editable habitat tables and condition sheets
  • Statutory Biodiversity Metric export
  • Client project management
  • From £99/mo — save hours per assessment

Simple Pricing. No Surprises.

Ecologists charge £2,000–£10,000 per assessment. Try BioGain free for 14 days.

Professional
£99/mo
£899/yr — save 3 months
  • Everything in Pro
  • Editable baselines
  • Condition sheets
  • Statutory metric export
  • Client project management

🏠 Small Sites Metric Calculator

Sites under 1 hectare? No priority habitats? You might not need an ecologist at all. Our built-in SSM calculator auto-checks eligibility, pre-fills your baseline, and calculates the 10% BNG target.

Over 200,000 small site planning applications per year in England. The SSM was designed so developers can handle BNG compliance themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)?

BNG is a legal requirement (Environment Act 2021) that all planning applications in England must demonstrate a minimum 10% increase in biodiversity value. It's been mandatory for major developments since February 2024 and small developments since April 2024.

Do I need an ecologist for BNG?

Not always. Small sites (under 1 hectare, no priority habitats) can use the Small Sites Metric, which a "competent person" can complete — no ecologist required. For complex sites with protected species or priority habitats, you'll need a professional ecological assessment.

How accurate is BioGain?

BioGain queries official UK government APIs in real-time — the same data sources ecologists use in desk studies. It's not a replacement for a full ecological survey on complex sites, but it provides an accurate baseline screening that can save hours of manual data gathering.

Where does the data come from?

Natural England (priority habitats, ancient woodland, SSSIs), Environment Agency (flood risk, LIDAR), British Geological Survey (soil/geology), and NBN Atlas (species records). All data is queried fresh — we don't cache or store environmental data.

Can I use BioGain reports for planning submissions?

BioGain reports are suitable as screening evidence and supporting documentation. For formal planning submissions on complex sites, an ecologist's sign-off is typically required. Our Professional plan (£99/mo) includes Statutory metric export for ecologists.

How much does a BNG assessment normally cost?

Traditional ecological surveys cost £2,000–£10,000+ per site. Off-site biodiversity units cost £20,000–£50,000+ each. Statutory credits (last resort) are £42,000+ per unit. BioGain offers a 14-day free trial, then Pro from £39/mo.

Ready to assess your site?

Draw a boundary. Get instant results. No signup, no credit card, no waiting.