A 60-hectare habitat site in Nottinghamshire that could be used to offset biodiversity loss has been put up for sale.
The site at Clipstone Park Farms, outside Mansfield, 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 £7m at current market rates – and its creation and maintenance is legally secured for 30 years.
Christy Wells, natural capital specialist at Fisher German, which has been appointed to market the opportunity, said: “The Sherwood National Character Area has no present supply of offsite BNG units. This means that at present developers are paying inflated prices for offsite units. 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.”
