1. Access the Gaia BNG Marketplace → BNG Marketplace and either log in or sign up for a free account.
2. Click Filter & Sort, then search in your NCA and LPA
Search for BNG units in the National Character Area (NCA) and Local Planning Authority (LPA) of your development site's address.
Make sure to check both. NCAs can be double the size of LPAs, at times revealing 20x more supply than just the LPA had.
Don’t know your NCA? Find it here by postcode → NCA Finder
3. Neighbouring Areas
By default, Gaia search results include neighbouring LPAs and NCAs. This is because of the SRM (Spatial Risk Multiplier)—a penalty if you buy units too far from your site.
Untick the box if you only want to see listings in your chosen LPA or NCA.
If there are no listings in your LPA or NCA, tick the box.
For further info, see our SRM explainer → SRM Guide
4. Assess your habitat requirements
You'll either need to buy Area (Habitat) units, Hedgerow units, Watercourse units, or multiple. This is outlined in your BNG metric.
Your BNG metric is an Excel spreadsheet from your ecologist that breaks down exactly what type and number of units you need. That’s where Gaia's filters come in. You can filter by:
Unit type: Area, Hedgerow, or Watercourse
Distinctiveness: Very Low all the way to Very HighHabitat type: Woodland, Grassland, Wetland, etc.
Don’t worry if you’re unsure. Sellers will help you interpret your metric when you enquire, and they’ll usually ask for it first thing.
5. Legal Statuses
Each listing shows one of three statuses:
Pending Legal: The listing has a Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP) only; no legal agreements are secured yet
Available: The listing is legally secured through a Section 106 with the LPA or a Conservation Covenant with the NCA.
Available – Registered: Fully secured, with legal agreements in place and listed on the Natural England Register.
What if the only listing in your LPA / NCA is Pending Legal? Still enquire for a timeline—the seller could be just weeks away from securing agreements.
6. Browse listings
Listings show units available, habitats, and pricing or POA (Price On Application).
Don’t be afraid to enquire for the price when they're POA—sellers respond quickly!
7. Enquire away
Sign up for a free buyer account to send unlimited enquiries.
Just hit Contact Seller on any listings that fit. Many buyers enquire with several sites to compare tailored quotes.
It's free and helps you stay in control of value.
8. When sellers respond
You’ll be emailed when sellers respond.
Compare quotes side by side and selected sellers will guide you through what works best for your project.
9. Check on all sent enquiries
Visit the Gaia BNG Marketplace and click My enquiries for a full breakdown of all enquiries you've sent and who has responded.
10. Unsure about anything else?
Don't forget, our live chat is available weekdays for instant BNG Marketplace support. Just click the green chat icon in the bottom right of your screen!
11. Still can't find units?
Just submit a BNG unit request → Gaia Unit Requests, and let us coordinate with our network of top unit providers to find you the best matches.