Environment Bank
Environment Bank is the UK's leading Biodiversity Net Gain specialist, operating England's largest network of 50+ Habitat Banks that generate tradable Biodiversity Units for developers meeting statutory 10% biodiversity requirements, and partnering with landowners on 30-year restoration projects.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersGrewelthorpe, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Environment Bank does
Environment Bank is a UK-based biodiversity gains specialist that operates the largest network of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Habitat Banks in England. Founded in 2006, the company took low-productivity agricultural land and converted it into 50+ Habitat Bank sites covering 4,000+ acres, with 1,500+ additional acres added each year; these sites are managed for 30+ years to generate tradable Biodiversity Units that developers purchase to satisfy the statutory 10% BNG requirement introduced by the Environment Act 2021. The platform combines in-house ecological, planning, legal, mapping, and data-analysis expertise (a team of 140 specialists) with a monitoring instrumentation stack — drones, bioacoustics, infrared cameras, and eDNA soil analysis — feeding an interactive impact-tracking dashboard for its voluntary-market Nature Shares product.
The business model rests on three revenue streams: (1) transaction-fee sale of Biodiversity Units to developers, housebuilders, commercial developers, infrastructure operators, and local authorities requiring off-site BNG for planning approval, priced by habitat type, proximity, and quantity with fractional units available for smaller schemes; (2) a 50/50 revenue-share partnership with landowners hosting Habitat Banks, where Environment Bank covers all upfront and 30-year management costs and shares upside once revenue targets are hit; and (3) Nature Shares, where businesses buy square-metre-equivalent stakes in high-profile restoration projects. Go-to-market combines a direct enterprise field-sales motion (Key Account Managers and Strategic Account Directors serving major clients), a referral-partner channel embedded with built-environment consultancies (Arup, Arcadis, Stantec, Lichfields, Carter Jonas, Lambert Smith Hampton), and event-driven demand generation across industry shows and webinars.
Capital structure and governance: privately held limited company (The Environment Bank Limited, registered in England & Wales) that received its disclosed institutional investment from Gresham House's British Sustainable Infrastructure Fund in 2021 to fund large-scale Habitat Bank rollout. The leadership team comprises CEO Catherine Spitzer, Chair Jonathan Halford (joined 2024), Chief Nature Officer Emma Toovey, CMO Luke Bigwood, CRO Henry Burn, and CFO James Moore. The company holds a B Corp Certification (June 2026) and counts among its customers Aldi, Tesco, National Grid, Network Rail, Everton FC, Berkeley Group, Vistry Group, Redrow, Keepmoat, Wates, Panattoni, Mott MacDonald, and SES Water, alongside local authorities such as Durham County Council and Bury Metropolitan Borough Council.
Environment Bank firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Environment Bank
- Legal name
- The Environment Bank Limited
- Website
- https://environmentbank.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Environment Bank is the UK's leading Biodiversity Net Gain specialist, operating England's largest network of 50+ Habitat Banks that generate tradable Biodiversity Units for developers meeting statutory 10% biodiversity requirements, and partnering with landowners on 30-year restoration projects.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Environment Bank industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- SIC
- Forestry (800)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) / No Net Loss Planning & Metrics (EUAHAHAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Conservation Planning, Mitigation Banking & Offset Strategy (EUAHAHAL), Biodiversity, Conservation & Natural Capital Funds (FSANAJAG), Nature & Biodiversity Reporting (TNFD, natural capital) (EUAHAJAM), Conservation, Restoration & Biodiversity Services (Habitat, Wetlands, Riparian) (IMAMAJAH)
Keywords
Where Environment Bank is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Grewelthorpe
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Environment Bank business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Biodiversity Units Sales: Revenue generated from selling Biodiversity Units to developers who need to meet statutory BNG planning conditions. Units are priced based on habitat type, location, and quantity required, with fractional purchases available for smaller developments. All liability for BNG delivery falls to Environment Bank.
- Habitat Bank Land Partnerships: Revenue sharing model with landowners: Environment Bank covers all costs and sets a revenue target for each Habitat Bank; once target is hit, additional revenue is shared 50/50 with the landowner.
- Nature Shares: Businesses purchase Nature Shares equivalent to one square metre of land in high-impact restoration projects. Provides annual progress reports and access to interactive tracking platform. Not offset-based but restorative action support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Biodiversity Units - Development BNG Compliance |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Environment Bank product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Environment Bank creates and manages a network of Habitat Banks across England, restoring biodiversity on low-quality land and generating tradable Biodiversity Units. It sells these Biodiversity Units to developers required to meet the statutory 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) condition under the Environment Act 2021, with all units fully pre-funded and ecologically managed for 30 years. The company also operates Nature Shares, a voluntary biodiversity market product that allows businesses to invest directly in high-impact restoration projects with measurable nature-positive outcomes.
Product overview
Environment Bank is a biodiversity gains specialist offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services. The core offerings consist of BNG Habitat Banks (restoration sites creating habitats on low-quality land), Biodiversity Units (the tradable units generated by Habitat Banks that developers purchase to meet statutory BNG planning conditions), and Nature Shares (high-impact restoration projects for businesses seeking nature-positive impact). The company also provides tailored service offerings for different customer segments: BNG for Developers (off-site unit purchasing), BNG for Landowners (partnership to establish Habitat Banks), BNG for NSIPs and Major Development (specialist infrastructure project support), and BNG Referral Partnerships (advisory sector partnerships). All offerings are supported by the company's in-house team of ecology experts, geospatial analysts, and legal specialists, with all Habitat Banks funded and managed for 30 years.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Biodiversity Units Off-site Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Units that developers purchase to satisfy statutory BNG planning conditions (Environment Act 2021). Units are sourced from Environment Bank's own network of Habitat Banks, registered on the national biodiversity gain sites register, and come fully funded for 30 years with legal compliance and ecological management. Available in fractional quantities for smaller developments.
- BNG Habitat Banks Areas of land where new habitats (meadows, woodland, hedgerows, ponds) are created and managed for 30+ years to help biodiversity flourish. Environment Bank partners with landowners to create these banks, which generate Biodiversity Units for sale to developers. The 50+ Habitat Banks across England are managed by an in-house team of 140 biodiversity specialists.
- Nature Shares High-impact biodiversity restoration projects where businesses can purchase Nature Shares (each equivalent to one square metre of restored land). Includes an interactive dashboard for tracking wildlife populations, carbon sequestration, and other environmental metrics over time, using drones, bioacoustics, infrared cameras, and eDNA soil analysis. Not offset-based but restorative action support.
- BNG for Developers Off-site BNG solutions providing developers with tailored options, legal compliance through nationally registered Habitat Banks, ecological integrity through qualified ecologists, and strategic delivery with Biodiversity Units sourced as locally as possible to development sites. Includes expert planning support and bespoke supply partnerships.
- BNG for Landowners Partnership programme enabling landowners and farmers to diversify income by creating Habitat Banks on their land. Environment Bank covers all setup and management costs, provides 30+ years of advance funding, and shares revenue 50/50 once agreed targets are met.
- BNG for NSIPs and Major Development Specialised BNG delivery for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects with an end-to-end process, fixed costs, flexible payments, and long-term reservations. Includes forward purchase agreements and bespoke Habitat Bank creation to give major projects early cost certainty and delivery guarantees.
- BNG Referral Partnerships Referral partnership programme for organisations in the land and development advisory sectors, giving built environment associates and landowners access to Environment Bank's BNG services. Partners include ecologists, planning consultants, land agents, and property advisors.
Quantifiable outcome
- 10% minimum biodiversity gain mandated by Environment Act 2021
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Environment Bank
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Environment Bank technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Environment Bank partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Barclays Business & Corporate BanksflagshipCollaboration with Barclays Business & Corporate Banks to support greater visibility and adoption of Biodiversity Net Gain to their landowner customers and developer clients across the built environment sector. Environment Bank hosted flagship panel 'The Business Case for Nature' with Barclays at London Climate Action Week 2026.
- Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra)coreEarly partnership in shaping nature policy in England, working with Natural England and Defra, which led to the successful launch of Biodiversity Net Gain as transformative nature legislation.
- Natural EnglandcoreGovernment nature agency partner in developing BNG policy and continuing regulatory alignment for habitat banking in England.
- Aspect EcologyminorEcology consultancy listed as a BNG partner, referring clients to Environment Bank for off-site Biodiversity Units.
- StantecminorEngineering and environmental consultancy listed as a BNG partner.
- LichfieldsminorPlanning consultancy listed as a BNG partner.
- Lambert Smith HamptonminorCommercial property consultancy listed as a BNG partner.
- Carter JonasminorRural property consultancy listed as a BNG partner.
- ArupminorEngineering consultancy listed as a BNG partner.
- ArcadisminorDesign and consultancy firm listed as a BNG partner.
- UK Business & Biodiversity Forum (UKBBF)minorIndustry body membership supporting biodiversity standards and best practices.
- Science-Based Targets Network (SBTN)minorInternational network membership supporting science-based nature targets.
- Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)minorFinancial disclosure framework membership supporting nature-related risk reporting.
- CIEEMminorChartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management membership.
- RSK WildingminorEnvironmental consultancy partnership for biodiversity delivery.
- RICSminorRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors membership.
- Country Land and Business Association (CLA)minorMembership organisation for landowners.
- Home Builders Federation (HBF)minorIndustry body for housebuilders.
- Planning Advisory Services (PAS)minorPublic sector planning advisory service.
- Future Homes HubminorIndustry hub for future homes standards.
- Nature Tech CollectiveminorNature technology innovation network.
- Dalcour MaclarenminorUtility and infrastructure consultancy that acts as a BNG advisor to clients including SES Water, with established relationship for delivering BNG solutions.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Environment Bank competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Forestry England: The UK government agency responsible for managing the nation's public forests. Comparable to Environment Bank in extensive land management for ecological outcomes (including woodland, heathland and wetland habitats) and growing participation in BNG and ecosystem services markets.
- The Wildlife Trusts: A UK network of 46 independent wildlife trusts collectively managing nature reserves across the country. Comparable to Environment Bank as a land steward with growing BNG unit supply and conservation mission; overlaps directly in habitat banking and biodiversity unit sales.
- National Trust: A UK conservation charity managing historic houses, gardens and over 250,000 hectares of countryside. Comparable to Environment Bank as a major UK land steward with conservation mission and growing interest in nature markets and biodiversity offset opportunities.
- RSPB: The UK's largest nature conservation charity, managing more than 200 nature reserves. Comparable to Environment Bank in nature reserve scale, conservation mission and growing involvement in BNG/corporate biodiversity solutions, though not specialist in off-site BNG unit sales.
- The Land Trust: A UK charity that manages over 2,600 hectares of green space for community and biodiversity benefit. Comparable to Environment Bank as a long-duration land steward delivering habitat outcomes, though with a charitable rather than commercial BNG unit model.
- Woodland Trust: The UK's largest woodland conservation charity, managing over 1,000 sites covering more than 35,000 hectares. Comparable as a large-scale land manager creating woodland and habitat for biodiversity outcomes; has begun exploring BNG and carbon credit schemes relevant to Environment Bank's model.
Regional players
- Earth Trust: An Oxfordshire-based UK environmental charity managing the Wallingford countryside for conservation and education. Comparable to Environment Bank as a regional land steward exploring nature market opportunities, though operating at a much smaller scale and a single geography.
Emerging players
- Trees for Cities: A UK charity focused on urban tree planting and greening of cities, working with corporate partners. Comparable to Environment Bank in the broader environmental restoration and corporate biodiversity engagement space, though focused on urban rather than rural habitat creation.
- Plan Vivo: A UK-based standard-setter for voluntary carbon and ecosystem services credits, working with smallholders and land managers globally. Comparable to Environment Bank's Nature Shares product as a developer of verified nature-based credit schemes for corporate buyers.
- Forest of Hearts: A UK-based initiative creating biodiverse native forests on unproductive land, with corporate sponsorship models for restoration. Comparable to Environment Bank's combination of habitat creation on low-productivity land and corporate-funded nature-positive investment products.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Environment Bank social profiles
Digital presenceEnvironment Bank compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Environment Bank financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Environment Bank leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Environment Bank funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Environment Bank M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Environment Bank
What does Environment Bank do?
Environment Bank creates and manages a network of Habitat Banks across England, restoring biodiversity on low-quality land and generating tradable Biodiversity Units. It sells these Biodiversity Units to developers required to meet the statutory 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) condition under the Environment Act 2021, with all units fully pre-funded and ecologically managed for 30 years. The company also operates Nature Shares, a voluntary biodiversity market product that allows businesses to invest directly in high-impact restoration projects with measurable nature-positive outcomes.
Is Environment Bank a public or private company?
Environment Bank is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Environment Bank founded?
Environment Bank was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Environment Bank based?
Environment Bank is headquartered in Grewelthorpe, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Environment Bank make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Biodiversity Units Sales are the primary driver. The others are habitat Bank Land Partnerships and nature Shares.
Who are Environment Bank's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Forestry England, The Wildlife Trusts, National Trust, RSPB, The Land Trust and Woodland Trust. Earth Trust is listed as a regional player. Emerging players are Trees for Cities, Plan Vivo and Forest of Hearts.
Does Environment Bank have an API?
No public API is recorded for Environment Bank.
What industry is Environment Bank in?
Environment Bank's product category is Environmental Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAHAHAJ, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) / No Net Loss Planning & Metrics, with a secondary code of EUAHAHAL, Conservation Planning, Mitigation Banking & Offset Strategy. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 800.