Verification
How we verify listings: the Five Leaf standard
Every habitat bank on BNG Online shows five leaves. Each leaf tells you how well one part of the habitat bank is evidenced, so you can judge quality before you buy.
The Five Leaf standard is BNG Online's own standard, not a legal requirement. We confirm that information is present and consistent; we do not give legal or ecological advice, and we do not recalculate the statutory metric. Your own ecologist and solicitor remain responsible for your gain plan and contracts.
What the colours mean
Each leaf always shows a word as well as a colour.
- Grey: Not yet verified - nothing has been checked yet.
- Amber: Partially verified - some evidence is in, or something needs fixing.
- Green: Verified - the document is present and meets our checklist.
- Gold: Independently confirmed - an independent party or an official register stands behind it, never our word alone.
A listing with all five leaves gold is marked Gold Standard Listing. Separately, Identity checked by BNG Online means we have checked who the seller is; every seller's identity is checked before their listing goes live.
The five leaves
Leaf 1: Ecology metric
What it proves: The landowner has shared the statutory biodiversity metric for this site. We checked it uses the current version, the baseline is filled in, the trading rules are satisfied, the gain site reference, planning authority and author are named, and the units for sale are within what the metric shows.
What it does not prove: We do not recalculate the metric or check the ecologist's survey on the ground. The ecologist who prepared it remains responsible for its accuracy.
Risk if missing: Without a complete metric you cannot see how the units were worked out, and your own ecologist may not accept them in your gain plan.
Leaf 2: Management plan
What it proves: The habitat management and monitoring plan names the consultancy and the ecologist who wrote it, who prepared and approved it and when, covers the habitats in the metric and runs for at least 30 years.
What it does not prove: We check the plan contains this information, not that the management will be carried out well. Gold needs the ecologist to verify their own professional credentials with us.
Risk if missing: Without a plan there is less evidence that the habitat will be created and looked after for 30 years, which planning authorities expect.
Leaf 3: Legal agreement
What it proves: A signed conservation covenant or section 106 agreement secures the site for at least 30 years. We checked it is signed and dated, gives real title numbers and that the landowners named match identities we have checked. Gold means the responsible body is on Defra's list of designated bodies, or the council is a real planning authority.
What it does not prove: We confirm the information is present, not that the agreement is legally correct. Ask your solicitor if you need legal advice. Buyers do not see the agreement or the names in it until both sides have signed.
Risk if missing: Without a signed agreement the site cannot be registered and its units cannot be allocated to your development.
Leaf 4: Land Registry
What it proves: The landowner has applied to HM Land Registry to record the agreement on the title (an AP1 receipt), or the council has confirmed it as a local land charge, and the title numbers match the agreement.
What it does not prove: An application is not the finished title. Gold needs an up-to-date official copy of the register showing the restriction or entry; the landowner can upload it at any time.
Risk if missing: Without the application, the obligations may not bind a future owner of the land.
Leaf 5: Government register
What it proves: The site is on Natural England's Biodiversity Gain Site Register. We check the register every night. Gold means the register already shows units from this site allocated to developments.
What it does not prove: Being on the register does not mean every unit is still available; the units shown on the listing are what the landowner has left to sell.
Risk if missing: Units can only be allocated to your development from a registered site. BNG Online does not accept offers until a site is on the register: this is our policy, not the law.
Offers and the register
Leaves 1 to 4 never stop a habitat bank being listed or sold. We only accept offers once a site is on the government's Biodiversity Gain Site Register (Leaf 5 green or gold). While a site is on its way to the register (amber), buyers can register interest but nothing is bought or held. This is BNG Online policy, not the law: it protects buyers, because units can only be allocated to a development from a registered site.