Biodiversity Duty Report January 2026 - The use of Walsall Council’s land for offsite BNG and supporting the creation of a local BNG market

Throughout the reporting period, we have in conjunction with the Purple Horizon landscape Project looked to identify and assess potential areas within Walsall Council ownership that could be utilised as offsite BNG compensation areas / habitat banks. 

During the first year of the project, we identified seven potential sites, with the second year identifying an additional two sites. Each site was subject to a BNG baseline surveys and metrics, and the production of a management plan. 

Following a review of year 1 sites, Walsall Council looked to investigate the legal and finance process and requirement needed to register and put forward the sites for BNG. This includes engagement with Lichfield Trading Arm to investigate the potential of a Walsall Borough Habitat Bank and being active participant in the Local Investment for Nature Conservation (LINC) project run by the West Midlands Combined Authority. 

Working proactively with West Midlands Combined Authority we are pursuing the potential opportunity of a Combined Authority habitat bank. This is at the initial stages, with a business case to be submitted for review early 2026. 

Finally, Walsall Council has commenced discussion with a private habitat bank company to procure the borough’s first offsite BNG site on private land. This is still in process due to go live in 2026 with two sites within the east of the borough. 

Next reporting period

Walsall Council will continue to meet its statutory duty in respect to BNG within the planning process. 

Walsall will continue to work with WMCA to create a habitat trading platform to allow the use of council owned land as potential BNG offsetting sites. Current projections suggest that the trading platform will be in open for use by developers early 2027. 

A formal process will be put in place for any private habitat banks that wish to set up BNG site within the borough.