Alex Meek

Members can watch our webinar where we explored the new Biodiversity Net Gain requirements, the guidance, challenges and opportunities for the built environment, from public and private sectors. Watch here! 📹 https://lnkd.in/eBH95WRJ #NLATechnical

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Habitat banks as a new nature-related infrastructure investment opportunity 🦋🌻 With nature under unprecedented threat, we discuss the benefits of habitat banks on biodiversity net gain in our case study for Principles for Responsible Investment. The formation of #habitatbanks was prompted by the UK Government's Environment Act 2021, which mandates that developers achieve at least a 10% increase in biodiversity value on all new projects. If this is not possible onsite, #biodiversity units can be purchased from providers who create and maintain habitat banks on unproductive, low-yielding land. Our case study highlights Emberton habitat bank, a proposed site near Milton Keynes which will connect existing ancient woodland and local wildlife sites within the surrounding area. Over the next 30 years, the site aims to be maintained as a high-quality habitat, delivering net gains in biodiversity, as well as returns for investors. https://lnkd.in/eW9cy6Pn #naturalcapital

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Introducing Spatial and Temporal Modelling (STeM), our solution to empower local authorities in strategic #NetZero planning.  We developed STeM, alongside the North East & Yorkshire Net Zero Hub, to enhance understanding of the essential tools, data, and skills necessary for spatial, dynamic, and visual planning at a local level. The aim of this is to give local areas the ability to make more informed decisions about where they are on the Net Zero planning journey, and which toolset may be most suitable for their needs. Dive into the case study here: https://lnkd.in/eZjkBwjP 

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🌎 Mapping land use support systems to reach net zero LUC is excited to share our latest study for ClimateXChange. We’ve worked with Scotland's #ClimateChange centre of expertise to map land use support systems. The Scottish Government’s ambitions to reach #NetZero by 2045 require transforming land use and reducing #GreenhouseGasEmissions. Our research aims to understand the factors that influence engagement with land use transformation support systems, to guide policy and speed up the pace of change. Through interviews and a literature review, we wanted to understand how stakeholders make decisions and access funding. We established how rural land managers interact with systems and services and the barriers they encounter. Key findings: 📖 The public sector grant system is logical but has a high administrative burden. 🤝 Trust in the source of advice is key for land managers’ decisions. 🙇‍♀️ The breadth of support sources is confusing for some. To speed up land use transformation, simpler processes, better payment rates, and more training are crucial. Read the full report here 👉 https://lnkd.in/exeEaZWF

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A survey commissioned by Mott MacDonald in partnership with Energy Live News explored the measures that businesses believe are necessary to stimulate #growth. My key takeaway is that nearly two-thirds of participants wanted to see more support for the deployment of low carbon fuels, such as #hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel. This reflects that while companies see the benefits of sustainable fuels, the private sector alone is unable to deliver the #infrastructure to make the #transition viable.

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Biodiversity is key in enriching new developments in our towns and cities. With the adoption of NPF4 in February 2023, it is no surprise that the Scottish Government placed a greater emphasis on delivering biodiversity enhancement as part of its commitment to tackle the climate emergency. https://hubs.ly/Q02BnBwL0

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Wow, that was quick! Reeves removes the two planning policy tests for onshore wind in England that operate as a "de-facto" ban; and promises an upcoming consultation on bringing large onshore proposals into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regimes. Bold statements on mandatory housing targets and recruiting 300 new planning officers (during a green skills shortage). I'll be keeping a keen eye out for the updated NPPF and future policy statements. #onshorewindengland #rachelreeves #infrastructure #onshorewind #planningreform

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A recent letter from the Environment, Farms and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) Committee to Environment Secretary Steve Barclay, argued that the provision of green infrastructure should be a much higher priority in government spending. ♻️ The letter calls on the government to explore avenues for unlocking private and public investment in public green spaces, as well as establishing a central government organisation for green infrastructure. It also calls for a ‘retrofit’ approach to both buildings (reducing the pressure on open space) and to existing green spaces (improving their biodiversity or accessibility). 😀 Architects’ Journal We Are Spaces Creative Interiors | Sustainable Futures 🏢 🌏 #article #retrofitting #esg #sustainability

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Talk about moving quickly...footnotes 57 and 58 of the NPPF no longer apply, effectively ending the moratorium on onshore wind ! 🌬🙌 The key extract from the Policy Statement below: "3. These policy tests no longer apply. The removal of these tests from planning policy means that onshore wind applications will be treated in the same way as other energy development proposals. 4. These changes take effect today (8 July 2024). The government will confirm this position to Parliament on 18 July, following the State Opening. These changes will also be reflected in the forthcoming NPPF update." #Onshorewind #Renewables #Planning #Energy https://lnkd.in/eMqF5M8m

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Resources and waste policies in political manifestos are increasingly important, reflecting growing public and political concern for sustainability, waste reduction, and environmental protection. These policies are scrutinized for their potential to drive significant changes in resource management and waste reduction practices.

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🌍 New insights on #BiodiversityNetGain from @MottMacDonald! This guidance is a must-read for anyone committed to environmental sustainability. Dive into the details below.

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What is the cost to our economy due to the lack of biodiversity? Nature has been undervalued in how we construct our built environment. Sarah Walker (Alder) from Travers Smith shares her insights on current legislation and what comes next. #LDEresi Travers Smith ESG and Impact

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We are thrilled to share that one of our Ofwat innovation projects - Enabling Whole Life Carbon in Design - has been shortlisted in the Carbon Reduction Programme category of the #NationalSustainabilityAwards2024. In 2021, Anglian Water Services, as lead water company alongside Affinity Water, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and its project partners, #SwecoUK and Skanska, came together to support the industry to move forward on its carbon and cost reduction journey.  Ultimately, this project supports organisations in exploring how they can deliver low whole-life carbon and cost solutions. Aligned to #PAS2080, it provides the detail on the processes, systems, behaviours and culture needed to be in place to ensure whole-life carbon and cost information can be used by engineers and decision-makers to enable sustainable solutions. Sweco's UK water director Lindsey Taylor reflects: "As project executive I am immensely proud to have worked with a team who have spearheaded an industry-first initiative that places carbon reduction on equal footing with cost. By integrating whole life carbon management into design and decision-making processes, we have helped pave the way to revolutionise infrastructure delivery and empower the entire sector to achieve its #net zero targets." #TransformingSocietyTogether #GreenTransition #WaterTransition #DigitalTransformation #AssetManagement #OperationalTechnology #WaterInfrastructure #WaterConsultancy #WaterCareers #CriticalInfrastructure #NetZeroTransition

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NWG (Northumbrian Water Group) has completed its procurement for AMP8 with the appointment of 33 partners to deliver a £3.bn AMP8 capital investment programme. #AMP8 will see aim to meet #netzero by 2030, decrease sewage overflows and minimise the effect of climate change. NWG are pledging to spend 60p in the pound with regional suppliers, including with new entrants to the water sector with a view to increasing capacity to the industry. Great news for the engineering and construction sector in the North East. Major skills shortage are likely to continue in the region, particularly around civils, mechanical and structural engineering. #water #utilities #amp7 #amp8 [email protected] A E Yates Ltd. Absolute Civil Engineering Ltd Applebridge ARM Pipetek BCE NORTHERN LIMITED Britcon (UK) Limited Enisca Esh Group G&B Civil Engineering Galliford Try GLC Projects GOWLAND AND DAWSON LIMITED IES Utilities Group Ltd. Integrated Water Services M&E J MCCANN & CO LIMITED Jackson Civil Engineering Keltbray Kilnbridge Knights Brown Land & Water MGL Group Network Plus Rainton Construction (Scotland) Ltd Rhodar Specialist Enabling Works S&B Utilities Sapphire Utility Solutions Ltd Seymour Civil Engineering Stonbury Story Contracting Limited VolkerLaser WorkFlow Services Ltd

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The need to develop more diverse governance models is integral to modernising the pattern of land ownership in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Our latest Land Focus paper takes the first steps in examining barriers to small scale land ownership, management and use with a view to developing work around collaboration, public sector leadership, crofting, and policy and finance that improves access to small scale opportunities. You can read the Land Focus paper, authored by Land Governance Adviser, Miranda Geelhoed, on our website. https://lnkd.in/eNRJ2p9W

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Non-governmental Major Landowners (MLOs) manage a significant proportion of England’s land area, and hence represent an opportunity to accelerate the delivery of Government’s environmental and climate objectives through land use change. There is keen interest from these organisations to align their ambitions and actions with the Government’s environmental objectives, and so in July, the LUNZ Hub hosted a workshop to examine the role that MLOs can play in driving land use change across England, the barriers they face, the potential for greater collaboration and the role the government might play in supporting this transition through a variety of different policy mechanisms. The workshop was attended by representatives of some of the principal categories of landowners (utilities companies, legacy landowners, third sector, institutions- see Annex 1), as well as participants from DEFRA and the LUNZ Hub. We're glad to announce that this is the first policy call-down request to be made public, so please take a look at our website for both a summary of the findings and the full report: https://lnkd.in/exQgPPbr

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On this #WorldEnvironmentDay, learn about our significant collective #investment in #ClimateAdaptation and resilience in the Global South, a partnership between the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and IDRC. https://bit.ly/3VirtAf CLARE - CLimate Adaptation & REsilience: https://bit.ly/4aKt0TW #ClimateAction #ClimateCrisis #GenerationRestoration #CLimateAdaptationREsilience

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Great write-up by Elizabeth Meager on today's King Speech. The execution of the Clean Power 2030 mission will require a transformative change in mindset across government departments, particularly DESNZ, Ofgem, and (N)ESO. Once the dust has fully settled, the new government can expect to quickly face pressure to deliver results. Namely, the delivery of offshore wind, transmission upgrades and carbon capture and storage infrastructure. #wearearup

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Getting to net zero requires an unprecedented expansion of electricity generation and transmission infrastructure across Great Britain. Delivering this expansion at the necessary pace and scale demands a strategic plan. Developing the UK's first ever spatial energy plan was a key recommendation from Nick Winser CBE FREng in his report last year on accelerating the deployment of electricity transmission infrastructure. The UK government accepted the need for such a plan, one that mapped the optimal location of energy infrastructure to deliver net zero and energy security. This is an exciting stage in the UK's energy transition journey. To explore how spatial energy planning can help deliver net zero, Aldersgate Group are hosting a panel discussion tomorrow in London with UK energy leaders including our own Jonathan Brearley. Title: Why do we need spatial planning for energy in the UK and how can it help us hit net zero by 2050? Date and time: Tuesday 23 April, 11:15am – 12:15pm (arrivals from 10:45am) Location: Aldersgate Group, Sustainable Workspaces, County Hall, 5th Floor, Belvedere Road, SE1 7PB Registration details are in the link below. https://lnkd.in/eSiHPxkm

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