A unique chance to purchase high-quality habitat to offset biodiversity loss in Nottinghamshire is now available through our natural capital team. We are marketing a 60 hectare-site at Clipstone Park Farms outside Mansfield which is being converted from arable fields into high-quality grazing pasture.
Clipstone Park Farms is looking to diversify into beef production and has set aside the land for habitat creation to help fund the project.
The habitat uplift equates to 280 biodiversity units – worth around £7 million at current market rates. Its creation and maintenance are legally secured for 30 years.
With new rules being introduced in 2024 for developers to offset impacts on biodiversity, known as biodiversity net gain (BNG), some are looking offsite to meet this new requirement.
Developers can offset anywhere in the country, but if they offset outside of their National Character Area (NCA), they are forced to purchase additional units to fulfil their requirement. This encourages developers to offset on sites that are located nearby to the development
The site near Clipstone is the only site within the NCA being marketed and therefore able to offer local developers the best possible value.
One of our natural capital specialists, Christy Wells, anticipates strong demand among developers for the site. He said: “The Sherwood National Character Area has no present supply of offsite BNG units. This means that developers are paying inflated prices for offsite units at present.
“This land in Clipstone is therefore a fantastic opportunity for local developers to meet their BNG obligations most cost effectively, and ensure valuable habitat is deliver within the local area. The mix of native hedgerows, trees, grasslands and ponds provides excellent conditions for improving biodiversity whilst continuing to farm the land.
“The site is designed in a way that allows for flexibility, and we will be able to adapt to meet bespoke requirements in some cases.”
As the BNG market continues to grow, Christy has recently been recognised as a Chartered Environmentalist and gained a full membership of the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Practitioners.
“Farmers and landowners need to make sure that their businesses are sustainable in the long term. BNG has offered a good opportunity to leverage funding to make changes to their business model. It is important that the changes are business driven and make practical sense,” he added.
“Recognition from ISEP ensures that farmers know I have the skills and experience to provide informed advice on sustainable business practices, whilst accessing new markets like BNG.
“The Clipstone site is an example of a sound business decision aligning with an emerging source of funding.”
Anyone interested in the land at Clipstone Park Farms should contact Christy.