Conservation Covenants

Conservation Covenants for Nature Biodiversity

Conservation Covenants are a new legal tool enabling landowners to protect habitats, conserve rare species, and manage land in ways that support biodiversity. A conservation covenant ensures that specific conservation objectives (such as maintaining a woodland habitat, protecting a river corridor, or encouraging the reintroduction of native species) are upheld even if the land changes ownership. If used to support Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) objectives the covenant must remain in place for at least 30 years and deliver habitat enhancement and maintenance for the public good.

Why should I use one?

These covenants can be a powerful tool for landowners who want to make a lasting positive impact on nature and who see their land as a cornerstone for biodiversity restoration. When registered on the local land charges register it will be legally binding on all future landowners. Conservation covenants offer significant advantages over traditional s.106 agreements in terms of both speed and flexibility.

We will be adding more information to this page as we go. In the meantime a good starting point is RSK Wilding’s page here.

The above information is for general guidance only. If you are planning on entering into a Conservation Covenant agreement it is important that you have specific advice on your particular circumstances. To arrange a free, no obligation initial consultation please email Rupert Bedford at rbedford@setfords.co.uk or get in touch through our contact page.