Purpose

To set out the design, delivery and overall
process that officers will use to deliver, launch and implement the
Habitat Banking Programme in Phase 1 and Phase 2.
 
To showcase the opportunity that exists for
the council to improve biodiversity across parks and open spaces,
to support financial sustainability, allowing for long-term
improvements and investment into important local assets, and to
create spaces that local residents want to visit.
 
To secure Cabinet approval for the phased
establishment of habitat banks on Council-owned and leased land,
enabling and supporting the Council to generate Biodiversity Net
Gain units for commercial sales to developers and other interested
parties. The report is intended to establish the strategic
direction and approach; and provide a plan within which Officers
can operate to deliver and implement the proposals and deliver the
identified outcomes.
 
To utilise the implementation of the Habitat
Banking Programme to promote and support the Council’s wider
strategic approach of its Corporate Plan 2023–2028, the
Climate Strategy, the Huntingdonshire Futures Strategy and the
Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), helping provide a
financially sustainable, nature-based approach to improving
biodiversity, climate resilience and community wellbeing.

Decision

The Cabinet has
 
(a) 
noted the update on the Bio4All programme and the partnership work
between the Council and CPCA for Phase 1, and how this can be taken
forward in an approach for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG);
 
(b) 
acknowledged the environmental, social and economic benefits of
Habitat Banking across Huntingdonshire, alignment with existing
policies/strategies, and the role of BNG and Habitat Banking in
relation to development delivery within the District;
 
(c) 
approved the principle of and approach outlined to phased
establishment of Habitat Banks on suitable Council owned land to
generate Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) units;
 
(d) 
noted the inclusion of a £220,000 capital investment bid and
associated income impact within the 2026-2027 MTFS to deliver Phase
1 & 2;
 
(e) 
approved the approach, governance, process, and timeline for full
implementation across the district by April 2026 and embedding BNG
delivery and management as part of business-as-usual activity;
and
 
(f) 
ensured appropriate delegations are in place to enable efficient
and effective implementation, delivery of actions, and monitoring
pertaining to BNG units as part of business as usual (BAU) and
maximise the potential social, environmental and economic benefits
of BNG on Council owned land.

Reasons for the decision

Habitat banking provides a financially
sustainable and environmentally responsible approach to meeting
statutory biodiversity requirements.
 
Cabinet approval will enable the Council to
deliver habitat banking across appropriate Council sites, embed
biosecurity and habitat management standards across its estate, and
position the Council as a regional and national leader in
nature-based innovation and sustainable land management.
 
The scheme based upon the business plan
outlined within this report will allow the Council if it chooses to
re-invest the surpluses delivered by the proposed schemes to help
support the wider financial sustainability of the Council.
 
Launching this scheme will enable the Council
to work with its strategic partners to upskill, train and launch
new innovative programmes to help support residents back into work,
new apprenticeships or widen its reach across the volunteering
sector.
 
The launch of this habitat banking programme
will enable the Council to protect its local ecology environment
and engage with local and national developers and with the retained
income from the BNG sales it will allow the Council to improve and
support wider services for local resident benefit.

Alternative options considered

Three delivery approaches were considered.
 
Option 1 — Do Nothing would forgo a
significant financial and environmental opportunity, leaving the
Council reliant on external providers to meet local Biodiversity
Net Gain (BNG) demand.
 
Option 2 — Partnership or Lease Model
would reduce upfront delivery risk but would limit the
Council’s long-term financial return and control over habitat
quality, with the majority of value captured by a private
provider.
 
Option 3 — HDC-Led Habitat Banking,
delivered on Council-owned land, offers the strongest alignment
with strategic priorities, maximises revenue retention, and
provides full oversight of environmental outcomes. This is the
preferred option, as set out in detail in Appendix 2 & 3.
 
Option 3 is recommended because it maximises
long-term financial return to the Council, ensures local delivery
of high-quality habitats, and aligns most strongly with HDC’s
Corporate Plan, Climate Strategy and Huntingdonshire Futures
priorities. While Option 2 reduces some upfront risk, it
significantly limits the Council’s financial return and
long-term control. Option 1 offers no strategic or financial
advantage and would result in a lost opportunity for improvement of
Council-owned land.