Designing for 10% Biodiversity Net Gain

Our biodiversity expert Rachael Emous-Austin presented an illustrated guide for architects at RIBA Gloucestershire. She wanted to highlight the health and wellbeing benefits of putting nature at the heart of development design, as well as the benefits that habitat creation brings to nature and the environment.

Designing for 10% Biodiversity Net Gain is soon to become compulsory to all development proposals. Combining this with Building with Nature principles will make for better communities and infrastructure.

Landscapes have to work harder than ever now and cannot just be considered a nice-to-have green side garnish. Nature is key to cleaning the air, and filtering, slowing floodwater and providing a cooling effect for our buildings and outdoor spaces. Beautiful and well-designed landscapes are good for people and wildlife as well as increasing the monetary value of the land.

With so much to consider, bringing a landscape architect on board at the beginning of a project can help achieve these aims and prioritise these issues, adding value to your projects and easing the way through planning.