New biodiversity rules came into force this month requiring all new road and house developments to leave nature in a better state in which they found it.

The emerging market, known as biodiversity net gain (BNG), requires all new developments to result in a 10% boost to nature.

A net gain means a development will result in more or better quality natural habitat than there was before development.

Kent County Council (KCC) has been preparing for the new legislation by collaborating with Medway Council and the district councils to produce a BNG register.

It will list projects across Kent that developers can support to earn their points.

The register is in its early days, but so far there are five sites registered as surveyed and suitable.

There are three RSBP reserves – at Northward Hill, near High Halstow; at Seasalter, near Whitstable, and at Worth Marshes near Sandwich.

The Kent Wildlife Trust has registered a site – Heather Corrie Vale, between Otford and Wrotham, while farmer Andrew Howard has put forward his land at Bockhanger Farm near Hothfield.

A further three sites, including an area of woodland promoted by Tunbridge Wells council, are under consideration.

The register is open to any landowner who considers their land suitable for biodiversity improvement to sign up.

It will be up to the developer to choose which site and project they wish to support.

They are also of course free to find their own projects.

Since February 12, all major developments – classed as those of 10 homes or more – have been required to ensure that nature is left 10% better off than before.

From April, the requirement will be expanded to all developments, whatever the size.

KCC said: “We have commissioned Kent Wildlife Trust to develop an interactive register of sites in Kent and Medway where biodiversity net gain credits are available to purchase.

“This register will support local planning authorities, developers and landowners to deliver against new national requirements for Biodiversity Net Gain.”

Developers and landowners can access the register here.

Cllr Robert Thomas is the council’s cabinet member for the environment. He said: “Ensuring that we have a high-quality pipeline of sites available to deliver habitat creation and enhancement across the county is essential for securing the successful delivery of BNG across Kent and Medway.”

“Encouraging developers to make significant improvements to the areas near where they work is vital to ensure environments continue to thrive.

“We want to encourage landowners and land managers to create an account on our site register to upload details of their sites available for delivering biodiversity net gain. Developers will then be able to use the register to identify sites that could provide suitable habitat improvements to support their development.

“Our commitment is to carry on working with local authorities to ensure we use the data so that biodiversity net gain delivers the greatest possible outcomes for wildlife in the county.”

Maidstone councillor Stuart Jeffery, who leads the town’s Green Party, said: “This idea of purchasing BNG off-site is something of a get out of jail free card for developers.

“I can see that there could be potential gains, allowing money to go into creating larger, biodiverse green spaces – perhaps something could be done to enhance the area around the River Len in Maidstone, for example.

“But there is also the danger that developers won’t bothered about improving biodiversity on their own development sites and we will be left with a lot of sterile plots absent of nature.

“More consideration for nature needs to be shown everywhere not just in a few places on a register.”