Building Biodiversity into Development: How HSR Design (2004) Ltd Navigated BNG

When working with local planners and developers, speed and certainty are everything. For Chris Lockwood, Founder of Southampton-based architectural practice HSR Design (2004) Ltd, meeting environmental obligations is about more than just ticking a regulatory box. It is about choosing solutions that deliver genuine, lasting benefits for the UK countryside.

When a commercial project required the discharge of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) conditions, Chris looked for a reliable, straightforward approach to off-site habitat delivery.

The Development Challenge

The project involved a simple commercial layout: the erection of two Class B8 storage and distribution warehouses, complete with associated car parking.

To clear planning and allow works to proceed on site, the scheme required the purchase of offsite BNG units. The offset required a mix of specific habitats, both medium and high distinctiveness:

• Mixed scrub
• Traditional orchard
• Other neutral grassland (O.N.G.)

With planning timelines tight, securing these units efficiently was critical.

The Stockbridge Habitat Bank

The units were sourced directly from our first allocation at the Stockbridge Habitat Bank, registered in July 2026. Stockbridge Habitat Bank is located within the Test Valley Borough Council Local Planning Authority(LPA) and the Hampshire Downs National Character Area (NCA 130).

At Stockbridge, ecological restoration is focused on establishing diverse, long-term ecosystems. By establishing structured mixed scrub for shelter, restoring traditional fruit orchards, and introducing species-rich neutral grassland, the site transforms agricultural land into rich ecological corridors. This tailored management plan ensures the habitats establish successfully, creating genuine biodiversity gains that support local wildlife for decades to come.

Why Hands-On Farming Experience Matters

Our approach to BNG is built on four generations of real farming experience. Decades of working directly with the land mean we understand habitat creation from the soil up, managing our habitat banks ourselves rather than passing the responsibility to external contractors.

For Chris, this fully integrated, hands-on model offered total peace of mind:

• Direct Accountability: We take on full responsibility for site implementation and 30-year habitat maintenance.
• Agricultural Roots: A hundred years of farming experience ensures that habitat restoration works in practice, not just on paper.
• Simplicity: Eliminating middle managers keeps the process clean, quick, and transparent.

Chris has an interest in BNG and its ability to make a tangible difference to the environment. Partnering with a team that shares a practical commitment to ecological restoration made all the difference when presenting the strategy to his client.

Client Feedback

"Working with a team that manages the land directly gave us complete confidence in delivery. Knowing genuine farming experience was behind the habitat made handing over our BNG obligations simple and stress-free." Chris, Founder of HSR Design (2004) Ltd

Rapid Execution

By keeping everything under one roof, the legal and administrative process moved seamlessly. From the initial meeting through to signing agreements, issuing invoices, and supplying the Biodiversity Gain Plan (BGP), the entire package was completed and delivered within a fortnight.

With the BGP and certificates delivered so rapidly, HSR Design (2004) Ltd was able to discharge planning conditions without delay. By combining practical design with farmer-led conservation, this project demonstrates how commercial developments can fulfil their environmental obligations while directly supporting nature recovery.

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