It is our firm belief that to be successful and sustainable, development must respond effectively to three universal considerations. These are international challenges, and we are determined to address them as Master Developer of the built environment.
The world is experiencing a crisis of nature and extinction. Whilst the situation in the UK is less severe than in some parts of the world, sustainable development must mitigate its impact on local habitats, plants and wildlife, to contribute towards a greater and enhanced net gain in local biodiversity.
A warming climate, deforestation and habitat destruction, pollution and other human processes have led to an extinction crisis. Future projections estimate that 30 per cent to 50 per cent of all current species could be extinct by the middle of the century. Specific concerns raised by the IPCC include international pollinator loss – mass loss of bees and wasps – with a significant impact on harvests and the food supply chain. Sustainable development must focus on mitigating impacts on local habitats, plants, and wildlife and contribute to a net gain in local biodiversity.
In the UK, 41 percent of species in the UK have declined, with a recent index indicating the UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world. The need to reverse this continued trend in biodiversity loss is clear, and developments can contribute through carefully designed and delivered schemes. At the same time the need to provide homes and amenities for the UK’s population is putting strain on our local ecosystems, and the development of new land can come into direct contention with biodiversity, rewilding and conservation aims. The concept of biodiversity net gain (BNG) has become increasingly centred within scientific discourse and policy-making around biodiversity in the UK and beyond. The National Planning Policy Framework (2019) includes guidance on providing net gains, and the recently passed Environment Bill (2021) has formalised BNG as an expectation for all developers, introducing a 10 per cent minimum target for all new housing schemes.
| Our approach is to develop stronger and more resilient local ecosystems, recognising the importance of biodiversity and social impacts and strengthening the link with the wider natural capital benefits and environmental net gains, beyond any legislative requirements. With this in mind, our Sustainability Framework had previously committed us to a 12% net gain on each of our developments, which has now been increased to 25% in line with the assessment methodology published by Defra. The benefits have far wider impacts: well-considered ecological design can provide a rich and exciting visual setting, as well as supporting significant health and wellbeing by enabling people to be closer to nature. |
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The world is experiencing a crisis of nature and extinction. Whilst the situation in the UK is less severe than in some parts of the world, sustainable development must mitigate its impact on local habitats, plants and wildlife, to contribute towards a greater and enhanced net gain in local biodiversity.
A warming climate, deforestation and habitat destruction, pollution and other human processes have led to an extinction crisis. Future projections estimate that 30 per cent to 50 per cent of all current species could be extinct by the middle of the century. Specific concerns raised by the IPCC include international pollinator loss – mass loss of bees and wasps – with a significant impact on harvests and the food supply chain. Sustainable development must focus on mitigating impacts on local habitats, plants, and wildlife and contribute to a net gain in local biodiversity.
In the UK, 41 percent of species in the UK have declined, with a recent index indicating the UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world. The need to reverse this continued trend in biodiversity loss is clear, and developments can contribute through carefully designed and delivered schemes. At the same time the need to provide homes and amenities for the UK’s population is putting strain on our local ecosystems, and the development of new land can come into direct contention with biodiversity, rewilding and conservation aims. The concept of biodiversity net gain (BNG) has become increasingly centred within scientific discourse and policy-making around biodiversity in the UK and beyond. The National Planning Policy Framework (2019) includes guidance on providing net gains, and the recently passed Environment Bill (2021) has formalised BNG as an expectation for all developers, introducing a 10 per cent minimum target for all new housing schemes.
| Our approach is to develop stronger and more resilient local ecosystems, recognising the importance of biodiversity and social impacts and strengthening the link with the wider natural capital benefits and environmental net gains, beyond any legislative requirements. With this in mind, our Sustainability Framework had previously committed us to a 12% net gain on each of our developments, which has now been increased to 25% in line with the assessment methodology published by Defra. The benefits have far wider impacts: well-considered ecological design can provide a rich and exciting visual setting, as well as supporting significant health and wellbeing by enabling people to be closer to nature. |
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