Land development in the UK is becoming increasingly influenced by environmental sustainability. There is more of a shift from land development that simply minimizes harm to the environment, towards land development that improves the environment.

This has resulted in an increased focus on sustainable land use and regenerative development, which focuses on creating long-term solutions as well as ecological and community benefits. 

What Is Sustainable Land Use?

Sustainable land use is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising this ability for future generations. It is development that balances the need for environmental protection, economic viability, and social benefits. Rather than just focusing on building, sustainable land use thinks about how the land will function in the future.

Sustainable land use includes:

• • Making efficient use of available land
  • Reducing the impact on the environment
  • Linking in with existing infrastructure
  • Withstanding future changes in the environment

Planning policies in the UK encourage development that meets housing and economic needs while protecting natural systems.

Regenerative Development: Moving Beyond Sustainability

Although sustainability aims to reduce damage, regenerative development takes this further with the objective to create a positive improvement to the environment.

Regenerative development improves:

• • Natural habitats during the process of development
  • Systems of soil and water use
  • Biodiversity, such as areas of land that were degraded

Development can, in some cases, leave the land in a better condition than it was before the start of the process.

Biodiversity Net Gain

One of the most significant recent policy developments in England is Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). This principle requires that, for the most part, new developments must leave the environment in a better condition than it was before the start of the process.

BNG requires a net biodiversity gain of at least 10%. This must be achieved through the creation of new habitats or the improvement of existing ones.

This policy and environmental surveys has changed how land is assessed during early project planning, playing an important role in development strategy.

Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Communities

Sustainable development also includes how people interact with their environment.  One of which being how green infrastructure is integrated into new development, such as parks, green corridors, drainage, and accessible open space.

These all play an important role in building a healthier, more resilient environment. For example, well-designed green infrastructure can improve flood management, reduce excess heat, and promote local biodiversity.

Guidance on how to achieve this is included in planning documents, such as the National Planning Policy Framework.

Why Environmental Policy Matters for Land Development

Environmental considerations are now considered primarily in the planning system. As a result, land development often requires an assessment of its sustainability before it can be carried out.

For both developers and investors, this will be an important consideration to ensure that development fits into planning policy.

For research-led approaches to land sourcing, such as those of London Acreage, considering environmental factors will typically be included when assessing development potential.

Conclusion

Sustainable and regenerative development is becoming an increasingly important consideration for land development within the UK. With biodiversity net gain and green infrastructure, the way in which land is planned, designed, and delivered is changing.

Future articles will discuss the influence of ecological surveys, infrastructure planning, and policy on site selection.