Managing BNG Risk: From Procurement to Long-Term Stewardship

Every Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) project carries a degree of risk. Some of it is ecological. Some financial. Some reputational.

While a level of uncertainty is unavoidable, most BNG risks are entirely predictable and with the right expertise involved early enough, they are preventable.

From our experience, the projects that run smoothly all share one common factor: collaboration starts early. Before designs are finalised, before procurement begins and well before Section 106 agreements are signed.

Early engagement prevents late surprises

Industry guidance consistently reinforces what we see on the ground. The BNG Technical Guide (CIEEM / IEMA / CIRIA, 2024) highlights that early engagement with BNG specialists allows risks to be identified and managed before they become expensive problems.

Concept-stage feasibility reviews help establish what is genuinely achievable on site – from soil conditions and hydrology to access constraints, utilities and how habitats will actually be built and maintained.

When these factors are understood early, costs remain realistic and programmes stay on track.

“It’s far easier to manage BNG risk before it’s poured in concrete.”

Risk lives in the details

Many of the most common BNG failures don’t stem from poor intent, they come from pressure on site. Tight programmes, competing priorities and a lack of awareness can lead to small but critical errors: compacted soils, incorrect seed mixes or missing seasonal windows.

Over time, those details undermine years of planning.

Training and clear communication are some of the most effective tools for reducing risk. As the Technical Guide notes, contractors should be supported through BNG awareness and training so they understand not just what is required but why it matters.

At Field Works, we work directly with contractors and site teams to translate habitat management plans into practical, site-ready actions. That shared understanding helps habitats establish correctly first time, reducing the need for costly rework or remediation later.

“Most BNG risk doesn’t come from strategy, it comes from what happens on site.”

Procurement and specification: where risk becomes real

A well-defined specification is the foundation of a stable BNG project. Where scope or responsibilities are unclear, uncertainty creeps in and uncertainty almost always leads to increased cost.

Embedding BNG requirements clearly within procurement and contract documentation from the outset helps create accountability across all parties. Clear performance measures, realistic programmes and aligned stewardship obligations protect both biodiversity outcomes and commercial certainty.

This approach is echoed in guidance from the Future Homes Hub, which emphasises that robust procurement and tendering processes are essential for successful habitat creation and long-term maintenance.

Managing cost and delivery risk over 30 years

BNG risk isn’t limited to construction. Long-term delivery depends on early, honest conversations about engineered features, access requirements and the true cost of 30-year management commitments.

Guidance is clear: these considerations should be assessed early, not left until procurement closes or sites are handed over.

By working closely with commercial teams, ecologists and management companies, we help review specifications before contracts are finalised. This ensures everyone understands what is required, how it will be delivered and how success will be measured over time.

Early coordination doesn’t just protect cost and programme, it builds trust between stakeholders.

“BNG risk isn’t something to avoid. It’s something to manage with foresight and clarity.”

Turning risk into reliability

BNG delivery will always involve moving parts. But risk doesn’t have to translate into uncertainty.

When specialists are engaged early, contractors are supported through training and stewardship is embedded into contracts from the outset, developers can deliver habitats that stand the test of time; financially, legally and ecologically.

At Field Works, we see our role as turning uncertainty into confidence.

Because when every stakeholder understands the “why” as well as the “what”, BNG stops being a risk and becomes a reliable part of successful development.

Field Works – your BNG site implementation and stewardship partner.