A Greener Future for Cobham: Development and Nature Hand in Hand

Recent legislation has introduced a powerful new standard: all but exempted developments must
now deliver a minimum ten per cent improvement in biodiversity from the pre-development
baseline. This progressive policy ensures that the growth of our communities also supports the
recovery and enrichment of our natural environment.

Wild Capital—a pioneering ethical partnership of ecologist, architect, and financier—is leading the
way in delivering on this promise. Registered with the Habitat Bank under the new legislation, Wild
Capital has acquired land across the country, including a significant site here in Cobham at Chatley
Farm, off Pointers Road.

When developers are unable to meet biodiversity targets on-site—although this remains the
ideal—they can purchase biodiversity credits from trusted providers like Wild Capital. These funds
are then used to restore and enhance nature elsewhere, ensuring tangible ecological benefits.
In Cobham, Wild Capital is creating Wild Cobham, a prospective nature reserve that will include new
woodland, species-rich grasslands, meadows, and revitalised watercourses. Crucially, the project will
also – in time - involve local schools, giving children the opportunity to take part in ecological
surveys, learn about local wildlife, and experience the value of nature through hands-on exploration.
The result is a win-win: new homes where they are needed, and a richer, more resilient natural
environment.

Councillor Laurence Wells, who recently met Wild Capital’s partners at Painshill Park before walking
the site, commented:
“Development can—and should—benefit both people and the planet. Cobham is fortunate to have
Wild Capital investing not only in our village, but in the long-term health of our countryside and local
ecology. Unlike many in this field, Wild Capital has guaranteed its commitment to nature in
perpetuity. The transformation of Chatley Farm will be a lasting gift and a model for others to
follow.”