Berkeley Group CEO Rob Perrins says that net biodiversity gains will help bring nature to our cities and towns.
New legislation is now in effect as the UK government strives to minimize the harm caused to the environment during development. Developers in England must directly deliver a 10% Biodiversity net gain when building new housing or industrial and commercial developments. This will leave habitats in a much better condition than before development. This could lead to a change in construction practices.
The Environment Minister, Rebecca Pow, said: “Biodiversity net gain will help us build the beautiful homes that the country needs. It will also support wildlife, and create wonderful places to live for people.”
“This government has gone further and faster in its efforts to protect nature. Since 2010, we have restored an amount of land larger than Dorset. We also banned microplastics and set ambitious goals to stop biodiversity decline.
This vital tool will help us reverse the decline of nature and allow everyone to live within 15 minutes’ walking distance of a park or water. It will also transform how nature and development can work together for communities’ benefit.
How does Biodiversity net gain look in practice?
In the last five years, the UK-based construction company Berkeley Group built 19,600 homes of various types and tenures across London, Birmingham, and the South of England. This contributed PS13.8 billion to the UK’s economy. The company was founded in 1976 and has been building homes for nearly 50 years. They have also helped to strengthen communities, improve people’s lives, and revitalize large brownfield sites.
Berkeley Group is a specialist in building successful places in partnership with local councils and people to create communities that thrive, where people can live a high quality of life. They do this by creating a masterplan locally inspired with houses designed individually.
Berkeley Group, the only developer who voluntarily committed to biodiversity net gains in 2016, has 54 projects on track to achieve BNG. All Berkeley Group sites have been prioritizing BNG over the last seven years. This has resulted in a majority of sites exceeding the 10% threshold for the sector. The Group’s portfolio will include 550 acres in new or improved natural habitats. This consists of 55 acres of living roofing, 235 acres of woodland, and 150 acres of nature-rich grassland.
Berkeley Group CEO Rob Perrins said: “Biodiversity Net Gain is a positive move for the homebuilding sector and will bring back nature to our towns and city.”
We’ve learned that natural landscapes are more resilient to climate change and are more engaging than traditionally designed green open spaces. They have become a real source of joy, pride, and community activism of the most uplifting kind. We have learned that natural landscapes can be more resilient to climate change and more engaging than traditionally designed green open spaces. They are a source of joy, pride, and community activism.