UKGBC’s Biodiversity and Environmental Net Gain Project has developed a suite of resources and information to enable industry professionals to meet and exceed the minimum standards set out in this legislation and ensure the BNG/ENG strategies that are being used on sites align with the Government Policy changes to support long-term authentic net positive change.

At this in person event, UKGBC and programme partners will showcase the project’s achievements and detail all resources and their intended use. We will also hear from our panel of project experts with a Q&A and interactive activity, followed by networking.

Why attend?

• Better understand Biodiversity Net Gain requirements and what it means for your organisation and projects
• Develop knowledge and confidence to take practical action on Biodiversity Net Gain implementation
• Connect with built environment peers

Who should attend?

This event is open to UKGBC members only. For more information on the benefits of membership, please see this page.

Biodiversity and Environmental Net Gain Project Partners

Our work on Biodiversity Net Gain and Environmental Gain is generously supported by the following organisations.

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While vitally important, these focus more on localised impact, rather than global-scale biodiversity loss. Addressing this global crisis holistically in the built environment will require another, different approach – one that takes into account the embodied ecological impacts.

Similar to embodied carbon, embodied ecological impacts result from the extraction, processing and transportation of materials. But, rather than only looking at carbon emissions, embodied ecological impacts consider the wider impacts through biodiversity loss, land and freshwater use.

This UKGBC project establishes the concept of embodied ecological impacts and aims to raise awareness in our industry about these issues. It focuses on material extraction related to the built environment, gives a high-level overview of some of the ecological impacts that result from that and discusses some potential solutions.

This webinar will present UKGBC’s web-based publication which will be released the same day. You will hear from the UKGBC team behind this work as well as external speakers. There will be the opportunity for you to be able to ask questions and give feedback.

Building on this project, UKGBC will embark on a wider journey addressing nature and biodiversity in relation to the built environment, so stay tuned for more to come.

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Under the UK government’s 25-year Environment Plan, new legislation within England will require all new development to provide a biodiversity uplift of a minimum of 10%, with use of the Defra BNG metric. This legislation is expected to come into force in November 2023, and will need to be considered by all stakeholders in the built environment from designers and architects to financial institutions and property consultants.

UKGBC believes the protection and enhancement of nature is an essential and has therefore formed a cross-industry task group of experts to support the creation of new outputs related to Biodiversity Net Gain. This has so far resulted in the publications of key definitions and factsheets.

In addition to this, UKGBC also has a Solutions & Innovation workstream which seeks to identify and share solutions to common sustainability challenges in the built environment. This has lead to the formation of UKGBC’s Solutions Library and our ever-expanding community of innovative start-up members.

These two teams are collaborating on this webinar to showcase some of the innovative tools available to support built environment practitioners in achieving BNG on projects. A list of these tolls and the agenda will be released nearer the time.

Why attend?

• Understand some of the BNG Tools available that can help support you on projects
• Have the opportunity to ask follow-up questions directly to solution providers
• Learn about BNG and some of the considerations required

Who should attend?

Built environment professionals looking to understand tools available for helping support BNG on projects. You do not need to be an expert on BNG to attend.

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The infographics examine the intrinsic value of nature while demonstrating the impact of the built environment as an industry on the UK’s biodiversity. They also map the links between biodiversity and other socio-economic priorities to tell a broader story about how we should view nature as a foundational element of our economy and society.

The infographics also explain the differences between BNG, which focuses primarily on habitats, and other key concepts like Environmental Net Gain (ENG), which focuses on systems and outcomes, and the Environmental Impact Assessments.

Understanding these concepts and their relative importance for different areas of design and construction in the built environment will enable and encourage businesses to – independently of Government action or legislation – implement solutions that enrich the natural world in early design and strategy stages.

Our infographics are designed to remind people that while 10% Biodiversity Net Gain is an important legal requirement from November, we should view this as the minimum contribution in one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.

“There are so many ways that businesses can adopt and thrive by implementing BNG, but also push beyond it with creative investments that unlock new potential for themselves, their communities, and society as a whole.”

Kerri McCarton, Project Coordinator for Resilience & Nature at UKGBC

Biodiversity/ Environmental Net Gain

Embracing and adding to biodiversity on site is vital as we work to reverse the biodiversity crisis.

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As part of UKGBC’s ongoing project on Biodiversity Net Gain, these infographics examine the intrinsic value of nature while demonstrating the impact of the built environment as an industry on the UK’s biodiversity. They also map the links between biodiversity and other socio-economic priorities to tell a broader story about how we should view nature as a foundational element of our economy and society.

The infographics also explain the differences between BNG, which focuses primarily on habitats, and other key concepts like Environmental Net Gain (ENG), which focuses on systems and outcomes, and the Environmental Impact Assessments.

Understanding these concepts and their relative importance for different areas of design and construction in the built environment will enable and encourage businesses to – independently of Government action or legislation – implement solutions that enrich the natural world in early design and strategy stages.

Nature Programme Partners

With thanks to our programme partners who make our work on nature possible.

Biodiversity and Environmental Net Gain Project Partners

Our work on Biodiversity Net Gain and Environmental Gain is generously supported by the following organisations.

Biodiversity/ Environmental Net Gain

Embracing and adding to biodiversity on site is vital as we work to reverse the biodiversity crisis.

View more

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UKGBC’s Impact Report 22-23 documents the transformational impact our network had over a financial year with collaboration at its heart. Its the first of our Impact Reports to track our activities in line with our 2025 strategy and goals, with the aims pushing for climate action further and faster.

This financial year saw the launch of new opportunities for radical collaboration between our members, like the Collaboration Cafés and Local Authority Retrofit Forum, providing spaces and networks for knowledge sharing and problem solving. Circular Economy was central in this year’s Advancing Net Zero programme, with the release of two industry leading reports and a record number of individuals being involved in ANZ work. This financial year also saw us hit the milestone of 700 members, with over 9,000 active member contacts.

As the final year of Julie Hirigoyen’s leadership, it was a year where our industry and society at large grappled with the climate and ecological crises; epitomised by the reaction to the extreme heat of summer 2022. Progress is being made across the built environment, but we must take the impact from this year and accelerate it in both business and government if we are to avert climate and ecological breakdown.

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Building on The Value of Urban Nature-Based Solutions report released last year, this project will provide built environment stakeholders with the opportunity to work through some of challenges and solutions of implementing nature-based solutions in an urban context.

Acknowledging that many practitioners are facing similar challenges, the NBS Labs are a place for learning and peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, specifically around maintenance and stewardship, as well as existing buildings and retrofit. You will be able to share your learnings and challenges as well as learn from others who are facing similar issues. In addition, a programme of external speakers who are experts on the topic will offer insights into the state of the art and best practice of urban nature-based solutions. Key findings and insights from these sessions will be shared in a summary output.

Currently, UKGBC has opened applications for both general participants and project partnership.

To facilitate this series of workshops, UKGBC is opening the opportunity for several member organisations to be involved as key Project Partners. This is a level of commitment above a standard participant and comes with a host of benefits. In addition to attendance to all sessions, partners will be credited with enabling the project, get priority access to all speaking opportunities related to the project and will take a steering role, helping to shape any associated outputs, alongside other benefits. It’s a role best suited for UKGBC members with experience and understanding of implementing Nature Based Solutions.

To learn more about the NBS Labs & Project Partnership and apply for either role, download the Call for Applications below.

Project Partnership is open to UKGBC members only. Learn more about what it means to be a member and the opportunities it provides you here.

Applications close on the 8^th September. If you have any enquiries about the project, please email kai.liebetanz@ukgbc.org.

Nature Programme Partners

With thanks to our programme partners who make our work on nature possible.

Nature

Nature is in crisis.  The built environment has a critical role to play in protecting and restoring nature and moving to a regenerative model of development.

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It’s impossible to overstate the importance of viewing – and taking action to address – the climate and ecological crises through the same lens.

It’s impossible to overstate the importance of viewing – and taking action to address – the climate and ecological crises through the same lens. Nature provides both climate resilience and at least a third of the emissions mitigation and removal opportunity required to achieve a 1.5°C pathway (UNFCCC), and so its restoration is an increasing priority. With growing acknowledgement that there is no net zero without action to address the loss of nature, industry is racing to create mechanisms that help us respond. The establishment of a global treaty to halt and reverse nature loss, the launch of the first science-based targets for nature, and an upcoming global framework to measure and disclose nature-related risk to cite but a few.

‘Nature positive’ has begun to slip into everyday discourse and, in the footsteps of ‘net zero’, has quickly become plagued by concern over opening-up yet another frontier for greenwashing. But, if we take reversing biodiversity loss and supporting nature restoration and recovery as our foundation, how are we seeing climate action that safeguards our natural world being realised across the built environment? Taking inspiration from UKGBC member Race to Zero signatories across the value chain – highlighted below – some common themes emerge:

Circularity and regeneration

According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the third principle of a circular economy is to regenerate nature. A circular economy supports natural processes, leaves more room for nature to thrive, and builds natural capital. “If we eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials, and regenerate nature, biodiversity can thrive.” Forward-thinking companies are embracing a paradigm shift – moving away from simply ‘doing less harm’ (emitting less, extracting less…), towards having a net positive impact that actively restores natural processes and resources, drawing down emissions. The north star goal being a regenerative state in which human and natural systems not only co-exist in harmony, but also co-evolve.

Co-benefits of nature-inspired solutions

For over 3.8 billion years, life has adapted and evolved to changing planetary conditions. Biomimetic  and biophilic design (note the difference explained here) allow us to learn and benefit from the best that nature has to offer. Stakeholders across the built environment are also increasingly deploying Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) and seeking to harness ‘Nature Tech’ to scale- and speed-up nature’s ability to combat climate change. These represent tangible design solutions that bring a myriad of intersectional benefits not only for nature, but also for climate resilience and societal health and wellbeing.

We will only discover and deploy exponential solutions to the climate and ecological crises if we move from competitive to cooperative leadership; breaking down silos and learning from each other’s successes and failures.

Collaboration

We will only discover and deploy exponential solutions to the climate and ecological crises if we move from competitive to cooperative leadership; breaking down silos and learning from each other’s successes and failures. Over the past year, UKGBC has been bringing together organisations across the value chain to do just this, as they take action towards net zero, at our inaugural series of Collaboration Café events – we’ve captured some of the insights here.

Financing and investment

Nature is not only significantly underfinanced, but also still feeling the brunt of nature-negative flows of public and private capital. The UNEP’s State of Finance for Nature 2022 report concluded that – to appropriately tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation – global investments into NbS need to more than double each year by 2025. Governments currently provide the vast majority of investment and should seek not only to increase this, but also to create an enabling environment to catalyse private finance flows. Businesses and other private sector stakeholders, for their part, need to ensure they invest in nature as they transition towards net zero – harnessing the ‘triple win’ power of NbS to mitigate and draw down emissions, restore degraded ecosystems and reverse biodiversity loss.

Policy and advocacy

The Race to Zero introduced its fifth criteria – “Persuade” – and launched the Pivot Point report last year, highlighting the key role non-state actors play in spearheading climate policy. Often referred to as the ‘ambition loop’, businesses have a key role to play in demonstrating to government both the possibility and demand for regulation. Lobbying government and engaging in public policy can therefore form just as vital a part of corporate responsibility as the setting of ambitious targets. Advocating for planning reform is particularly vital to deliver the certainty and clear rules our industry needs to support green investment, nature’s recovery, and climate action – as called for recently by UKGBC and its members.

To reach an equitable, net zero, and nature positive future, the next few years need to be a turning point where global momentum to tackle nature issues grows from words, to targets, to actions – in design, investment and policy. How does your organisation depend on and impact nature, and what can you do to contribute to a nature-positive future?

Discover what some UKGBC members are doing to play their part, and our resources and upcoming activities that can support your journey, below.

John Lewis Partnership

“Our Plan for Nature”

• Investing £2 million in ecosystem protection and regeneration projects, and funding sustainable water management programmes in three key sourcing areas.
• Zero deforestation in the sourcing of key commodities.
• Incorporating natural elements and design principles into key new build and renovation projects. All new-build projects target minimum 10% Biodiversity Net Gain.
• All new own-brand products will meet circular design principles from 2028.
• Partnering with WWF to fund ecosystem regeneration projects, sharing insights gained with the Science Based Targets Network, suppliers and policy-makers.
• Supporting the launch of science-based targets for nature, aiming to be amongst the first to set their own targets.

HOK

Regenerative Design Approach

• Leveraging integrated design and whole systems thinking to restore and regenerate the natural world and bring together the needs of people and nature.
• Employing nature-based performance modelling to benchmark and forecast environmental, economic and social impacts of projects. Aiming for positive performance and designs that emulate, and even surpass, the performance metrics of thriving ecosystems.
• Embracing bioinspired innovation through the complementary use of biomimicry and biophilic design solutions that support people’s connection to nature. E.g. incorporating natural materials, light, sound, vegetation, outdoor views and other experiences of nature inside a building.

Canary Wharf Group

Partnership with the Eden Project

• The Eden Project has partnered with CWG on the creation of a new ‘green spine’ through the centre of Canary Wharf.
• Including the creation of additional green public realm, parks and gardens, waterside access, performance spaces, bridges, boardwalks and floating pontoons. This will animate the docks with new spaces for arts and culture, and for water sports.
• To support the estate in becoming a global example of best practice and innovation on biodiversity in a dense urban environment, where people live and work in harmony with nature. A blueprint for global cities to act on biodiversity loss.
• Supporting the delivery of CWG’s broader Biodiversity Action Plan.

JLL

Science Based Targets Network Corporate Engagement Program

• JLL globally has joined the Science Based Targets NetworkCorporate Engagement Program.
• In the UK, a corporate nature strategy has been developed following an assessment of JLL’s material impacts and dependencies on nature.
• The UK Corporate roadmap to support a just transition to net-zero, nature-positive, resilient future includes:
  • Equipping advisory teams across the business with skills and knowledge to enable clients to develop and deliver nature-related solutions alongside wider sustainability solutions across real estate portfolios.
  • Strategically embedding nature into the fit out of JLL’s UK offices to identify and assess impacts, with a view to establish a blueprint for nature and biodiversity.
  • Introducing processes to reduce negative impacts on nature across corporate operations, from water use to procurement.

Grosvenor

Valuing Nature

• Nature-positive enhancements across the UK property portfolio, including consideration of the emergent concept of Environmental Net Gain.
• Targeting a 20% biodiversity increase in managed green spaces and 100% in new developments by 2030, exceeding regulatory requirements.
• “Biodiversity Buffet” provides guidance on delivering net gains in practice, detailing a range of Green Infrastructure/NbS with accompanying design guidance for new development and retrofit.
• Biodiversity uplift used as a key business performance indicator, directly impacting performance reviews and remuneration.
• Partnering on Wild West End, ensuring investment and action plans that support central London’s biodiversity and provide connections to nature for residents, workers and visitors.
• Working with suppliers and tenants to access data on their impact on nature, and ensure fit-out guides include Green Infrastructure from late 2023.
• Publishing progress from 2024 alongside learnings and case studies, and exploring how data could be used towards TNFD disclosure.

Interface

Factory as a Forest

• Vision to create a “Factory as a Forest” to support a regenerative business model and meet business targets, whilst contributing to the well-being of the landscape and local community.
• Mimicking the operations and processes of a high-performing ecosystem to create a replicable roadmap for how factories can operate, starting with establishing aspirational performance targets for a factory in LaGrange, Georgia.
• Working with Biomimicry 3.8 and employing a ‘place-based’ approach towards regenerative design:

1. Identify a local high-performing ecosystem.
2. Quantify its performance.
3. Develop performance metrics for the facility and perform a gap analysis.
4. Create design and operational strategies that align with overall business objectives and employee needs.
5. Implement and measure success.

• Initial actions include planting native trees and grasses to absorb water, sequester carbon, and reduce cooling load, as well as closing the evapotranspiration gap by sending water back into the atmosphere via water features.
• Collaborating with industry peers in the Project Positive group – demonstrating the impact of implementing NbS and showcasing learnings with wider industry.

BAM UK & Ireland

Nature Positive Business Pledge

• Founding signatory of the Nature Positive Business Pledge, a framework supporting businesses to act on biodiversity loss and contribute towards nature restoration.
• Core principles centre around applying the mitigation hierarchy to all facets of the business, generating long-term benefits for nature, seeking to achieve net gain or net positive outcomes, and assuming a worst case impact on nature scenario where there is lack of evidence or information.
• The framework requires the development of a Nature Positive Plan, including:

1. Undertaking a materiality assessment to identify where and how the organisation depends on and impacts nature.
2. Identifying a nature baseline and assessing impact on nature relative to this baseline.
3. Setting SMART and costed targets to address the business dependencies and impacts on nature.

• Annually assess and report progress.

Aviva Investors

Natural Capital Transition Global Equity Fund

• Targets opportunities aligned to the principles of the UN SDGs that support and benefit from the transition to a nature-positive economy.
• Investing in companies transitioning their business models towards a nature-positive economy, rather than just those looking to reduce their impact on nature.
• Engaging with the entire portfolio on specific biodiversity issues via a three-year programme tracking companies from leaders to laggards, with an escalation pathway that could lead to divestment if satisfactory progress is not demonstrated.
• Actively engaging with policymakers, with specific market reform initiatives that can help deliver nature-positive outcomes.

Climate Commitments

Our UKGBC members are on a journey to achieving net zero, reducing their greenhouse emissions in the face of the climate crisis. Our members have made a climate commitment, what is yours?

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This page presents data, evidence, and solutions that are provided by our partners and members and should therefore not be attributed to UKGBC. While we showcase these solutions for inspiration, to build consensus, and create momentum for climate action, UKGBC does not offer commercial endorsement of individual solutions. If you would like to quote something from this page, or more information, please contact our Communications team at media@ukgbc.org.

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More than 100 UK businesses have joined UKGBC in writing to the Government to call for urgent reform to the planning system to tackle the UK’s deepening housing and climate crises

Signatories to the letter, including some of the most influential businesses in the built environment sector, call on the Prime Minister to amend the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill to directly align the planning system with the UK’s climate commitments and adaptation goals under the Climate Change Act, and nature restoration targets under the Environment Act.

The letter demonstrates the breadth and depth of support for these reforms, which will break down existing barriers to sustainable development by enabling consistent direction, encouraging investment, and slashing delays.

The coalition warns the Government that the planning system is not providing a consistent approach to handling climate change and environmental considerations, creating delays, costs, and legal challenges.

Meanwhile, aligning planning reform with climate goals has received consistent support from the public, UK businesses, the Climate Change Committee, and was recognised in the Mission Zero Review, by Chris Skidmore MP, as playing a key role in building a future green economy.

Louise Hutchins, UKGBC Head of Policy and Public Affairs said:

“England’s inconsistent planning system is not delivering the change we need to tackle the climate and nature breakdown. Our business and local authority members are faced with endless barriers, delays and legal challenges to the kind of low carbon nature-friendly development we all want to see.

Today we’re urging the Government to back simple changes to planning law through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill that can help fix this. By introducing a clear legal imperative for planning decisions at all levels to align with our Climate Change and Environment Acts, we can unlock huge investment and momentum towards the beautiful neighbourhoods and low carbon infrastructure the country urgently needs.”

The full letter can be read here, and coverage in the Financial Times can be viewed here.

Businesses which have signed the letter:

2050 Materials  

Acclaro Advisory  

AECOM  

AGP Sustainable Real Assets  

Allies and Morrison  

Amro Partners  

Apex Acoustics Ltd  

Atelier Ten  

Atkins  

Avison Young  

BE Design  

Bennetts Associates  

Biogen Systems Limited  

Bioregional  

Black Architecture  

BNP Paribas Real Estate UK and Strutt & Parker  

Bruntwood  

Building with Nature  

Buro Happold  

Carbon Futures   

Carter Jonas  

Cervest  

Civic Engineers  

City Sanctuary Developments  

Climatise  

Colliers  

Conisbee  

David Morley Architects  

EFC Green Concrete Technology UK Limited  

Firstplanit  

Furbnow  

Gascoyne Estates  

Gbolade Design Studio  

Gort Scott  

Greengage Environmental Ltd.  

Greenspace Live Ltd  

Grid2.0  

Grigoriou Interiors  

Grosvenor Property UK  

Heyne Tillett Steel  

Hillbreak  

Hoare Lea  

HTA Design LLP  

Hydrock  

ICLEI Europe  

igloo   

Interface   

JETS Vacuum AS  

JLL UK  

Kenoteq  

KJ Tait  

Lamington group

Landsec  

Lansdowne Warwick Sustainability Consultancy  

Lipton Rogers Developments   

LS Estates 

Maber Architects   

Material Evolution  

Material Evolution   

Max Fordham LLP  

MCS Foundation  

measurable.energy  

Melius Homes  Mortar IO  

Narro Associates  

NBBJ  

NBBJ Ltd  

NORR  

NSR Management Ltd  

Preoptima  

PRP  

PT1 VC  

RCDC  

Related Argent   

Retirement Villages Group  

ROCKWOOL UK

 RSHP  

Saul D Humphrey LLP   

Shaftesbury Capital PLC  

Sika  

Spenbeck  

Square Mile Farms  

Stijl one ltd  

TFT   

Trident Building Consultancy  

Troup Bywaters + Anders  

Twinn Sustainability Innovation  

UKGBC  

unifi.id  

Unyte Group & Unyte Hemp Ltd  

Verte  

Vertigo SDC  

Vivid Futures  

Ward Williams Associates  

Waterman Group  

Woodbourne Group PLC  

Xeroc Ltd  

Zeal Hotels  

ZEHo Projects Ltd  

zero carbon house / Retrofit Balsall Heath 

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