Landsec is asking developers to change their approach to urbanisation to prioritise nature and green spaces.
It comes after a poll carried out by the developer found that more than half (55%) of people living and working in UK cities plan to leave at some point in the future, and a third (33%) in the next 10 years, with more access to nature and green space cited as the top reason.
Landsec has launched a nature strategy, aimed at improving biodiversity and creating nature-based solutions to help meet net-zero targets and build resilience to climate change.
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The developer wants to improve biodiversity across its current and future projects by creating new habitats for wildlife and maintaining green spaces.
To achieve this, Landsec said it will use the Environmental Benefits from Nature tool, developed by Natural England and the University of Oxford, to evaluate the health, wellbeing, and community benefits created through improving nature across its developments.
The Urban Greening Factor measurement will be used to analyse the quality of green space in providing ecosystem services such as permeability, cooling, and air purification.
The developer will also use biodiversity net gain (BNG) to quantify the extent to which habitats have been created or enhanced. Under current legislation, developers must provide 10% BNG on all habitats within the redline boundary of their development, whether or not they are impacted.
Landsec said it will aim to make a 20% BNG for future developments on sites with existing ‘greening’ and ensure the development of two biodiversity units per hectare for sites with ‘no greening’.
