TLT secures milestone conservation covenant for Belmont Estate

Law firm TLT has secured a 30-year conservation covenant for longstanding partner Belmont Estate, making it the first offsite biodiversity net gain (BNG) provider in North Somerset and demonstrating the firm’s expertise in BNG. 

Belmont is a regenerative organisation on a mission to inspire behavioural change through the delivery of nature-recovery projects, nature connection and community programmes and natural capital solutions across multiple sites in the UK. 

The conservation covenant was secured for Watercress Farm, a key site in the organisation’s nature recovery journey, allowing the site to be formally added to National England’s Gain Site register. By becoming an offsite BNG provider, Belmont will play a central role in supporting regional development, allowing developers to access high-quality BNG units, whilst also driving ecological restoration that will benefit the local community. 

Alongside advising Belmont on all the legal requirements of securing the conservation covenant, TLT has also been providing legal guidance on BNG to the organisation since it became a mandatory legal requirement in February 2024 under the Environment Act.

 The team was led by partner and head planning at TLT Katherine Evans and partner in TLT’s future energy team David Miller. 

Henry Rossiter, Business Director at Belmont Estate commented: "Securing this covenant is a proud moment for our team and a testament to our long-term vision for nature recovery and connection in the Southwest. Developers working with us aren't just ticking a box; they're aligning with a project offering enduring benefits for biodiversity and local communities."

Katherine Evans, partner and head of  planning at TLT, said: “This is a milestone moment for Belmont, as well as the use of conservation covenants – one of the two legal mechanisms by which land can be registered on the site register. By becoming the first offsite BNG provider in North Somerset, the organisation will be delivering lasting conservation benefits for the good of the local area. It was a pleasure to support the team in securing this covenant, providing a pathway to help the business achieve its long-term sustainability goals.” 

TLT became Belmont’s first corporate partner in 2022. The partnership is part of TLT’s commitment to working with other sustainability-minded organisations to support environmental and social goals and the communities where it is based. The partnership has also allowed TLT staff to learn about nature and conservation through a community-led volunteering programme in Watercress Farm.