Designing with Nature: Integrating Biodiversity and Resilience into Contemporary Development 

 As a team we attend numerous conferences on Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) which often include species protection, and it is clear that collaboration between landscape architects and ecologists is now more crucial than ever. This shift reflects the growing responsibility to design spaces that not only meet human needs but also actively support biodiversity, ecological connections, and climate resilience. 

While BNG compliance is essential, the path to achieving it can be complex, with tensions between onsite and offsite requirements, and landscape architects and ecologists sometimes working at cross purposes with different goals in mind. The way forward must involve these two disciplines agreeing early on the ecological objectives for the site, to streamline the process before a development layout is too far established. This is not a new concept; however, the approach of prioritising site layout and unit numbers before landscape and ecology is still commonplace. 

Striking a balance between the viability of a scheme, architectural quality, ecology, landscape, transport, and civil engineering is critical to meeting the multiple objectives set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and fulfilling BNG requirements. However, the importance of ecology and landscape has been elevated with BNG, giving it sharper teeth in the planning process. 

We know that, while the countryside is often viewed as more biodiverse, many modern farming methods prevent the establishment of diverse habitats and species. Therefore, it may surprise some to learn that brownfield land is often more biodiverse than the farmed countryside. The goal of achieving a 10% biodiversity uplift is sometimes more easily met on certain low-scoring brownfield sites. Where low-scoring habitats are present, such as hardstanding, bare ground, or certain ruderal, ephemeral, grassland, and scrub types, much can be done to improve biodiversity, often exceeding the 10% target. But when achieving this target is straightforward, do we risk treating BNG as a mere box-ticking exercise, rather than embracing it as an opportunity to enrich the environment, benefit local wildlife, and improve the wellbeing of people who will use these spaces? 

Achieving BNG should be about more than just meeting a checklist of environmental criteria. It requires a well-planned approach to site layout, habitat creation, and ecosystem management. In architectural design, building heights and massing are often reflect the surrounding context, assisted by tools like Vu.City to visualise the wider impact. Could this mindset also enhance landscape and ecological planning, encouraging ecological mosaics / stepping stones and corridors to compliment habitats and cross over the red-line boundary of a site? If a nearby site has adequate habitat, could another site then prioritise a different habitat type? Diversity and heterogeneity are vital for resilient ecosystems, encompassing not only a variety of plant and animal species but also varied landscapes and water bodies. Currently BNG falls short on this, it is purely focused at a site level and the metric does not encourage bigger scale thinking.  

Should the planning process place more emphasis on linking up hedgerows across development boundaries for ecological connectivity? This would prevent hedgerow severance from woodland in some sites and could recreate historic connections. Wildlife thrives in these environments, and dormice, for example, rely on hedgerow networks. Elevating the priority of wildlife corridors to connect fragmented habitats allows dormice to move safely across the landscape without disruption from roads. 

Ideally, site layouts should be shaped around identified habitats and priority species, using baseline data to guide an adaptive design approach that meets both ecological needs and regulatory requirements. This would ensure that transport routes work better in harmony with these elements. Involving landscape architects and ecologists from the earliest project stages reduces the risk of costly rework later in the design process. 

The increasing importance of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in landscape architecture highlights the need for early collaboration between landscape architects and ecologists. When we embrace ecological corridors, respect priority habitats, and think beyond development boundaries, we can create truly resilient and biodiverse environments that meet both regulatory standards and long-term environmental goals. Through thoughtful planning, we can foster vibrant, sustainable landscapes that not only support wildlife but also contribute positively to human health and wellbeing.  

Written by Donald Roberts