CASE STUDY

De-Risking Land Bids and Protecting GDV with BNGAI™

Discover how Story Homes streamlined land acquisition decisions by embedding BNGAI™ into its bid process. With biodiversity net gain (BNG) now a mandatory requirement, relying on indicative assumptions or delayed ecological surveys created too much risk for a fast-moving developer.

By adopting BNGAI™ Quick Assessments, Story Homes gained site-specific insights in just days — reducing uncertainty, flagging hidden constraints, and enabling accurate forecasting of offsite liabilities. The result: faster bids, greater confidence in gross development value (GDV), and a competitive edge in securing land opportunities.

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Read the case study & learn how Story Homes de-risked their land bids with BNGAI™

About Story Homes

Story Homes is a leading housebuilder delivering high-quality developments across the North of England. Founded in 1987, the company has earned its reputation by designing beautiful, long-lasting homes across Cumbria, the North West, the North East, and Southern Scotland—creating communities people truly want to live in. 

Beyond aesthetics and build quality, sustainability lies at the heart of Story Homes’ values. Through their “Sustainable Story” initiative, the team emphasizes energy-efficient homes, eco-conscious materials, green public spaces, and responsible local investment. This includes energy-saving design features, solar PV, sustainably sourced timber, and innovative landscaping that enhances biodiversity. 

As Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements took hold, Story Homes saw the necessity to embed environmental intelligence directly into their acquisition process—not just to comply, but to safeguard Gross Development Value (GDV) and deliver on their ethos of sustainable placemaking. They needed a faster, smarter way to understand site constraints, reduce early risk, and make confident investment decisions at the bid stage.

THE CHALLENGE

Finding certainty in early-stage decisions

Land acquisition is one of the most competitive and high-risk phases of the development process. Bids are time-sensitive, and developers often have just days to evaluate a site’s potential before deciding whether to proceed.

Traditionally, biodiversity assessment at this stage relied on quick site visits or broad assumptions. Full ecological surveys can take weeks, and with ecologists in short supply, even receiving a fee proposal can cause delays. That left Story Homes vulnerable to hidden ecological constraints that could surface later — adding unexpected costs, causing redesigns, or requiring expensive offsite units to meet the 10% BNG uplift.

As Amanda Stephenson, Head of Land at Story Homes, explained:

“You’re competing with everyone for ecological surveys, and even getting a fee proposal can take a week. It’s just not fast enough when bids move quickly.”

The result was a process that risked undermining bid confidence and leaving GDV exposed to late-stage surprises.

Screenshot from the BNGAI™ platform on an initial site assessment

THE SOLUTION

Quick BNG insights in days, not weeks

To overcome these challenges, Story Homes began using BNGAI™ Quick Assessments to evaluate potential sites before bidding. Across multiple early-stage opportunities totalling more than 30 hectares, the team received baseline habitat maps, risk indicators, and DEFRA metric-ready reports within 2–3 days — without anyone needing to set foot on site.

This rapid turnaround replaced broad assumptions with data-backed forecasting, giving the team early clarity on ecological constraints and potential offsite liabilities. That information flowed directly into land value assessments and GDV calculations, providing a more reliable basis for decision-making.

Daniel Robson, Senior Designer: Pre-Development at Story Homes, highlighted the impact:

That insight enabled the team to adjust designs, negotiate with the landowner, and enter the bid process with much greater confidence.

3 days

to deliver initial assessments

4.6x

faster than traditional methods

Services provided

From data to decisions

BNGAI™ delivered a comprehensive package of insights designed specifically for developers operating at the land viability stage:

  • BNGAI™ Quick Assessment: Rapid biodiversity baselines without site access

  • Baseline habitat mapping: Clear visuals of habitats, hedgerows, and water features

  • Constraint and opportunity insights: Early warnings on ecological risks that could affect design or viability

  • DEFRA metric-ready reporting: Outputs aligned with statutory requirements

  • In-platform support from BNG experts: Direct access to guidance, ensuring smooth adoption and rapid value

Speed, certainty, and confidence

By adopting BNGAI™, Story Homes has embedded biodiversity into the very first stage of site evaluation — transforming uncertainty into a source of competitive advantage that complements their commitment to building sustainable, future-ready communities where families thrive.

Key benefits

Faster bids

Initial assessments delivered in just 3 days — up to 4.6× faster than traditional methods

Budget clarity

Early input to viability modelling and offsite credit forecasting

Risk reduction

Hidden ecological constraints, like a watercourse bisecting farmland, identified early

Ease of adoption

Integrated smoothly into the existing bid process with minimal effort

Design confidence

Clearer justification for layout decisions during internal reviews and external discussions

GDV accuracy

Improved confidence in land value calculations by quantifying biodiversity costs upfront

Daniel Robson highlighted how straightforward it was to get started:

OUTCOME

From unknown risk to competitive advantage

With BNGAI™ now embedded into their land acquisition process, Story Homes has transformed how it evaluates sites. What was once a late-stage unknown has become an early-stage input, giving the team reliable data to inform design, budgeting, and bid strategy.

Amanda Stephenson reinforced how it has become standard practice:

By shifting biodiversity assessment into the earliest stage of site evaluation, Story Homes can make faster, smarter, and more accurate decisions — protecting GDV and securing a competitive edge in a crowded land market.

Key Takeaways

  • BNGAI™ enabled Story Homes to assess sites 4.6× faster than traditional ecological surveys, delivering results in just 3 days.

  • Hidden risks, like a watercourse cutting through farmland, were flagged early — saving time, cost, and protecting GDV.

  • Quick assessments provided budget clarity, helping quantify offsite liabilities before bids.

  • Ease of adoption meant BNGAI™ slotted seamlessly into existing workflows, quickly becoming a standard part of the land acquisition checklist.

Secure smarter land bids with BNGAI™

Get a demo to discover how BNGAI™ can give your team a head start on land bids