2023 saw the launch of our new Greengage nature team, offering services and expertise across ecology and natural capital. During 2024, we’ve grown our offering within the northern (Sheffield and Manchester) teams, strengthening regional experience and knowledge throughout the nature, planning and real estate space – from complex master planning and local authority planning review, to advisory services for nature strategy and Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) implementation.
Biodiversity net gain (BNG)
As biodiversity net gain (BNG) became established within the planning system during 2024, we’ve had the opportunity to develop bespoke and innovative solutions for our clients, achieving:
- On-site BNG units through design advice and workshops with clients and the design team.
- Habitat banking from high-level, strategic desk top advice, ground truthing and bespoke management plans, including habitat management and monitoring plans (HMMPs).
- Off-site solutions through local market analysis with habitat banks, off-site providers and within a client’s own land ownership.
- Monitoring specific habitat and species types to determine whether BNG interventions have been successful.
- Looking at strategic solutions for BNG delivery in London boroughs where space is at a premium.
In addition, we have developed our range of services to support throughout the BNG process, including: ecological constraints and opportunities plans (ECOP) designed to inform site viability at pre-purchase and early scheme design stages; options appraisals to trial site design/layout options linked to scheme viability and explore off-site solutions; and trialling auto-generated site baseline data, providing time and cost saving for our clients.
Holistic nature strategies and thought leadership
Going beyond the implications of nature within the planning system, we continue to support a range of clients across the UK and beyond in the production of holistic nature strategies. These holistic strategies recognise that nature impacts go beyond land ownership and consider our interface with the natural world throughout the value chain. We certainly expect 2025 to be the year of embodied nature impact as we move towards definitions and approaches for nature positivity. We have acted as thought leaders in this space, including authoring the Better Buildings Partnership Guidance for TNFD within the Real Estate Sector and presenting learnings from trialling embodied ecological impact assessment tools at the recent UKGBC Embodied Ecological Impacts Conference.
The nature team has continued to lead on numerous CPD sessions (notably on BNG) for clients across the country and has received fabulous feedback on the value of this training.
With decades’ worth of regional knowledge, not just about planning, BNG and ecology, but also landscape restoration, we have also contributed to the local nature recovery strategy (LNRS) process in Cheshire and Yorkshire. Attending workshops alongside a host of other representatives from LPAs, NGOs, and public bodies gives us the opportunity to help shape the future of nature recovery in these regions. Contributing to species and habitat specific discussions focussing on targets for nature restoration, we welcomed this first of its kind chance to input into long-term positive change for nature.
In addition, we have produced two articles focusing on opportunities presented by Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) for ecologists and showcased the results of our groundbreaking study in partnership with the Royal Parks and London Wildlife Trust on below ground soil carbon storage potential for urban parks.
Looking ahead
Looking to the future, it seems likely that nature disclosure and financing will become more prominent in the market, especially given the recent recommendations from Treasury for banks to consider nature-related risks. 2025 will be a year of continued learning from BNG within planning and the beginning of mainstreaming nature transition planning, considering our interface within and well beyond the red line, for a more prosperous and resilient future.
