Landscaping & External Works


Landscaping & Outside Communal Areas Feature


Across social, local authority, supported living, care, retirement and new build residential development, we can maximise the value of outside spaces for people and nature


GSAB’s recent consultation programme found that, with early engagement, community groups who access outside space are effectively encouraged to reconnect with nature. However, traditionally neat borders are what people like to see. So, it’s


important to carry out consultation with residents when implementing biodiversity enhancement at scale. Our advice is to make the biodiversity, wellness, and tree planting gains


you are hoping to achieve part of a neighbourhood management standard that all stakeholders have bought into. You will avoid time on heavy red tape later in the process. We should not underestimate the importance of engaging and co-producing


with a diverse range of stakeholders, defining how holistic ‘value’ will be judged. Nor should we miss the opportunity to ‘piggyback’ outside space as a conversation starter for broader conversations about sustainability.


REVENUE GENERATION From November 2023, developers will have a legal requirement to leave nature in a better state than when they found it and deliver a minimum of 10% biodiversity net gain over a 30-year period (measured in biodiversity units) – although many planning authorities are aspiring towards a 20% requirement. Tose who are not able to achieve a positive impact towards nature can


purchase offsite biodiversity credits to make up the difference. While offsets are the bottom of the mitigation hierarchy and should be seen as the last resort, it is anticipated that the creation of offsite high value wildlife sites


will be required for many developers to achieve 10% BNG. Tis presents housing association landlords with the opportunity to make


areas of habitat available as an offset site and to monetise available land as BNG credits (currently £25k per unit). We’re working with many housing association clients to help unlock the value


in their estate, undertaking preliminary biodiversity value assessments on sites across the UK.


ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT REGIMES In ground maintenance, the emphasis is on a less intensive mowing and hedgerow cutting regime. Tis provides double gains for housing sector clients because it’s good for biodiversity, and when managed smartly, can deliver positive results for nature that are self-funded through a reduction in maintenance visits. Te nature-positive transition is something that is actively encouraged to


champion sustainability and deliver better environments. Even if you have an urban site – by introducing wildflower borders,


community gardens, and edible herb borders – while at the same time considering how to dial down intensive mowing and cutting – you’ll be maximising the opportunity to boost biodiversity, wildlife, health, wellbeing sand so much more. THE FUTURE OF OUTSIDE SPACE As a housing sector, we must prove ourselves equal to the nature challenge by ensuring that both existing communal green spaces and new build communities maximise the benefits of parkland, woodland, verges, scrubland, gardens, lakes and canals – moving the sustainability agenda beyond housing stock to the vast areas of open space we can bring to bear for carbon capture, nature’s recovery and resident wellbeing. Our future is about embracing new styles of active stewardship: woodland


creation, biodiversity enhancement, wildlife habitat improvements, and empowering resident engagement events all have a role to play in making outside spaces that work for people and nature for generations to come.


Jack Potter is biodiversity manager at Ground Control 46 | HMMFebruary/March 2023 | www.housingmmonline.co.uk


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