Integrating biodiversity into development design​

Increasingly, it is recognised that integrating biodiversity into developments can deliver multiple benefits for our cities, regions and communities, helping to create desirable places to live, work and play whilst supporting climate resilience.

Buro Happold’s ecology and biodiversity management consultants help clients identify and maximise opportunities to integrate innovative design and nature-based solutions into their developments.

We help our clients incorporate biodiversity measures that address international, national and local strategies relating to biodiversity, people and communities. For example, increasing the quantity, diversity and permeability of green infrastructure is key on urban regeneration projects such as Mayfield Park in Manchester, UK, where a multi-disciplinary team have worked to create a nature park in the middle of the city centre and restore a previously canalised river bank.

We identify potential biodiversity constraints and opportunities at the early stages of planning and design. These are based on a robust understanding of the baseline, informed through desk studies, surveys and impact assessments. We also use spatial analysis of the development within a wider landscape context to help establish habitats that will contribute in a meaningful way to the wider blue and green infrastructure network.​

On a larger scale, we work on city-wide urban greening strategies to improve connectivity and enhance existing natural assets such as parks and rivers. These projects also have much wider ecosystem benefits, helping regulate microclimate, manage surface water runoff, improve air quality, and enhance access to nature.​

Biodiversity Net Gain aims to leave biodiversity in a better state than before development. This can be measured with the use of biodiversity metrics. Our team is experienced in using metrics to substantiate evidence in habitat quantity and quality across different development types, including those that are spatially constrained. Working closely with the project team, we help to develop compensation and enhancement strategies within a development’s design. By incorporating nature-based solutions and ecosystem services, we deliver long-term, meaningful benefits for people and biodiversity.​

Our ecology consultants are experts in producing mitigation and compensation strategies and plans to help demonstrate how a development will address constraints and deliver benefits for biodiversity. We also help clients monitor and evaluate these plans to document the long-term effects of developments on biodiversity.