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Natural Capital Agency

Government policy has seen an increasing focus on environmental measures with the Environment Act (2021) and agricultural policy focused on the delivery of environmental benefit with ‘public money for public goods’ as well as food production.

Here at Addisons Surveyors LLP in Barnard Castle, County Durham, I've been developing over the last year a Registry for Natural Capital - Biodiversity Net Gain, Carbon Credits and Nutrient Credits.

With the guidance published on Wednesday, 21 February 2023, we now have certainty that the mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain market will start this November and our independent selling platform will be able to operate as planned. With Government taking a hands-off approach, we can form increasingly stronger operational links with Local Planning Authorities and direct communication with Developers, ensuring a national marketplace for this new environmental credit.

As the Basic Payment Scheme fades away, this new source of non-taxpayer funded income for landowners is very welcome and Biodiversity Units are set to be around for a long time.

2023-03-03

About

I have been involved in land management since 1989, initially, for 12 years in Teesdale on Historic buildings, environmental schemes, early Stewardship pilots and being a regional secretary for the Historic Houses Association.

Subsequently based in North Yorkshire, managing land between County Durham and Nottinghamshire, and latterly 5 years of Historic House management and property development in Kent.

Returning to County Durham only to be immediately locked-down by COVID. Emerged now to work at Addisons Surveyors LLP, Barnard Castle.

Along with land management, I spent a while as a scientific and commercial illustrator, featured in Images 11 the Best of British Illustration 1986 and the Singer & Friedlander, Sunday Times Watercolour Competition, Mall Galleries 1987.

Now I enjoy painting, photography, walks with my Vizsla, hold a Private Pilots Licence and am proud to have been elected a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, 2004.

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