WARRINGTON Borough Council has registered two former landfill tips as its first habitat bank sites on Natural England’s Biodiversity Gain Site Register, creating new opportunities to enhance local wildlife and keep investment in biodiversity within the borough.
Two council-owned Local Wildlife Sites – the former Bewsey Tip and Gatewarth Tip – have now been officially registered as habitat banks. Covering more than 12 hectares, the sites will generate Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) units, which can be purchased by developers to offset biodiversity losses that cannot be fully mitigated on development sites.
Introduced through the Environment Act 2021, Biodiversity Net Gain requires most new developments to deliver at least a 10% increase in biodiversity. Where this uplift cannot be achieved on-site, developers can purchase BNG units from registered habitat banks to meet their statutory obligations.
At the Bewsey Tip and Gatewarth Tip habitat banks, Neutral Grassland BNG units are now available for sale. Income generated through the scheme will be ringfenced to deliver ecologist-led habitat enhancement, management and monitoring works over the next three decades, significantly increasing the biodiversity value of both sites.
Cllr Una Gillham, the council’s Cabinet Member for climate change, sustainability and the environment, said: “The registration of these habitat banks marks an important milestone for Warrington. For the first time, developers can invest in biodiversity projects right here in the borough, helping to create and improve habitats that will benefit wildlife for decades to come.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to enhance Warrington’s biodiversity, improve a locally scarce habitat type and enrich residents’ lives by bringing people closer to nature.
“By creating habitat banks within the borough, we can ensure that investment from Biodiversity Net Gain supports local wildlife and local communities, helping us deliver lasting environmental benefits for future generations.”
Prior to the registration of the sites, there were no public or private habitat banks within Warrington. As a result, developers needing to offset biodiversity impacts were often required to purchase BNG units outside the borough, meaning both biodiversity gains and long-term investment were lost to other areas.
Developers interested in purchasing BNG units can contact the council via bng@warrington.gov.uk
