Alice Kilner

BIODIVERSITY NET GAIN CALCULATIONS FOR PLANNING APPLICATIONS Since 2nd April 2024 all new planning proposals in England must adhere to Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) conditions. This means that you must demonstrate that your proposed development increases biodiversity by at least 10%. https://lnkd.in/e_327gDC #planning #biodiversity #FCG

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Some updates about current situation in the domestic retrofit market, key critical points: - Retrofitting Needs: 29 million UK homes need retrofitting by 2050, with at least 15 million needing upgrades by 2030 (UK Green Building Council). - Challenges: There is a lack of capacity and skills shortages in supply chains, with no national policy or strategy to address these issues. - Historical Issues: Between 2012 and 2022, at least 30 retrofit schemes were introduced, often short-term and conflicting, which harmed supply chains and reduced the number of upgraded homes. - Future Priority: The next government should focus on developing coherent, consistent, and long-term support for home upgrades. Read entire article, here:

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How can developers approach Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)? BNG enables sustainable development whilst leaving the natural environment in a measurably better state for people and nature. Watch our video to see how it's being achieved at Thakeham, and how others can do it too. ⬇️ #BNG #BiodiversityNetGain #HousingDeveloper

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Yesterday was a great day at the Water Infrastructure Forum 2024! Senior representatives from water companies and industry leaders across the UK gathered to share the latest plans for delivering a resilient network.   Here are just some of the key themes explored:   Current policy and next steps to support infrastructure development – Martin Woolhead, Deputy Director, Water Sector Delivery at DEFRA outlined the government’s twin track approach to securing future supply and lowering consumption. He also announced that a new independent commission, led by Jon Cunliffe, will provide recommendations on how to improve the water sector regulatory framework by Q2 2025, with the government set to publish its response by July next year. Successfully delivering large-scale water infrastructure – Water companies revealed their progress with the vital new projects needed to meet increasing demand. Anglian Water is planning two major water reservoirs in the East of England: Fens and Lincolnshire Reservoirs. Both projects are expected to reach RAPID Gate 3 in March 2025 and September 2025, respectively. Affinity Water is working on the Grand Union Canal Transfer Scheme, which will use a combination of existing infrastructure and new pipes to move up to 115 million litres of water per day from the Midlands to the Southeast. Best strategies for improving asset health and ensuring leakage reduction – Enhancing infrastructure performance through faster response and recovery is a key part of building resilience. Ben Ward, Head of Regulatory Planning & Innovation at South West Water provided practical insight on avoiding long-term deterioration and wider system failure, while Jeremy Heath, Innovation Manager at SES Water shared four crucial areas to focus on for effectively managing leakage: prevent, aware, locate and mend. A final thank you to our speakers and attendees for their valuable contributions. What were your key takeaways from the event? #waterinfra24

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🟠Balancing tight project deadlines with environmental compliance is no small task. Our Ecology team provides expert advice and services, ensuring your projects stay on track while meeting all UK biodiversity regulations. Learn More about our Ecology Services: 🔗https://lnkd.in/eYbrbZ29 #Ecology #EnvironmentalCompliance #ProjectManagement

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Great case study below. Want to learn more about how #EdinburghNapier supports multiple industries & organisations through consultancy & collaborative projects? 🤔 Visit our Innovation Hub today! >>> https://lnkd.in/ePvXz_m3 #MustbeNapier

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Congratulations Year 1 graduates A.Vogel (UK & Ireland) Ltd! They've been working with us as part of our North Ayrshire 1 Accelerator Cohort to meet their #NetZero ambitions. It's not just responsible to start decarbonisating your operations, it's necessary for an empowered organisation. With businesses that are breaking down their #Emissions seeing abundant new opportunites for growth and savings. Here's to collaboration, good businesses that are good for business and the year to come! #ClimateChange #ClimateAction #ESG #SustainableBusiness #NetZeroAccelerator #YearOneGraduates

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*Scotland's natural assets contribute more than £𝟰𝟬 𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙤𝙣 to the economy and support 𝟮𝟲𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗷𝗼𝗯𝘀* We're pleased to share this work, completed with WSP in the UK for The Scottish Government, outlining nature's key role in the Scottish economy: The Importance of Natural Capital to the Scottish Economy report, released Monday, shows that Scottish nature: ✅ supports #agriculture, #fisheries, #forestry, #water, #food, #renewables, and much more ✅ is a key source of employment ✅ contributes billions to the economy ✅ is a worthwhile investment... which is now a top priority for the Scottish Government's National Strategy for Economic Transformation Read more here: Executive summary: https://lnkd.in/dA7XjCuH Press release: https://lnkd.in/e6ymRQV4 Full Report: https://lnkd.in/dtwHav5r Thanks to our partners, including Ashira Perera, PhD, Jenny Merriman, Adarsh Varma, and team, inluding Ian Dickie, Karli Jeffery, Paul Chung, #Scotland #Nature #economy #naturalcapital #valuation #economics

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Resourcing Scotland is excited to announce that Alex Quayle, Team Leader - Recycling at the The Scottish Government, and Pam Walker, North East Waste Projects Manager at Aberdeen City Council, will be leading the "Recycling Targets - Setting the Right Targets to Deliver Real Change" breakout session at this year's conference.   This interactive session will take a look at the targets that have been used in the past and think about what they should be in the future. Join the panel - chaired by Duncan Simpson - to discuss this key policy area and consider what opportunity there might be around target setting and measuring Scotland’s recycling performance ♻️ Join this topical and relevant discussion to explore:   ❓What should the targets be – is it time for something different? ❓What metric should be used? ❓What materials should be included? ❓Who is responsible for delivering the targets? ❓How do we get there? 🎟️ Make sure you don’t miss out by securing your ticket now 👇 - ticket sales will close on Friday 11th October so don't leave it too late! https://lnkd.in/ea4JgvdD

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News | £14 million in funding announced for five research projects into land use and Net Zero 👉 https://lnkd.in/eDYchftc United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) have today announced the next phase of the Land Use for Net Zero Nature and People (LUNZ) Programme, co-led by the University of Leicester, which aims to mobilise and support research that works in partnership with government and industry to tackle net zero through action in the UK land sectors. Funding has been granted for five separate consortia of stakeholder and research organisations, that will carry out cutting-edge research into the interlinking themes of soil health, agricultural systems and land use change. #CitizensOfChange | Land Use for Net Zero Nature and People (LUNZ) Hub

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Our first ever Grants Funding Report is here! Find out how our grant funding has empowered communities and protected historic places all over Scotland. We award an average of £13.5 million annually on behalf of the Scottish Government to projects that safeguard our nation's historic environment️. Dive into the report for information on: - Grant expenditure breakdown: Gain insights into how our grant funding is allocated. - Decision-making transparency: Understand how we make funding decisions. - Project impact highlights: Discover the positive transformations funded projects have achieved. - Areas for improvement: Explore opportunities to adapt our grant programs. This report serves as a valuable resource for anyone interested in the impact of our grant funding on Scotland's historical treasures and vibrant communities. https://ow.ly/lLC750SE89W

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Designs progress for £2.2bn Fenlands reservoir Anglian Water Services and Cambridge Water have released updated #design proposals for their new £2.2bn #reservoir in the #Fenlands ahead of a second phase of consultation. #AnglianWater unveiled plans for the reservoir along with plans for another reservoir in south Lincolnshire in summer 2022. At that point the two schemes were projected to cost up to £3.3bn. A report by Ofwat in March this year put the new estimated capital cost of the Fens Reservoir at £2.2bn, while it put the estimated capital cost of Lincolnshire Reservoir at £2.6bn. At least two more consultations are expected to follow, with a second phase of public consultation on the reservoir proposals due to take place from 30 May to 25 July. Anglian Water and Cambridge Water will look to submit a development consent order (DCO) application for the reservoir in 2026 with a view to construction starting in 2029. The DCO would also grant the water companies powers to compulsorily purchase land and property required for the project. The Fens Reservoir forms part of the companies' long term water resources management plans, which seeks to make the East of England region more resilient to drought. Projections from the Met Office show that the region will become hotter and drier in summer, and wetter in winter. As such, the water companies have said that there is a pressing need to store winter water to cope with summer droughts. Anglian Water head of supply demand Geoff Darch said: “In a future with more people but less reliable rainfall the reservoir will have a crucial role to provide future water supply. “However, our aspiration goes beyond a reservoir for public water supply. Our intention is to design a reservoir that the local community can be proud of, and that will encourage people to visit and enjoy its surroundings.” During the forthcoming consultation, a range of information, including an interactive map and master plan, project brochures and an educational animation will be made available on the project website. Cambridge Water director of quality and environment Natalie Akroyd said: “Engaging with local communities and wider stakeholders is an important part of how we are developing our plans and we look forward to updating the public on other key aspects of the project at our upcoming consultation.” The proposed reservoir in the Fens is part of a multi-billion investment programme from Anglian Water. The water company is currently building a network of pipelines to bring water from wetter to drier parts of the region, which will help to secure water supplies. Anglian Water’s proposed reservoir in Lincolnshire is located around 6km south-east of Sleaford, in the North Kesteven district of the county. It will have a storage capacity of 55M.m3. https://lnkd.in/eyyefrwY

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Interested to see this statement from Wildlife and Countryside Link about tightening up #BNG rules. The concern about the misuse of the current de minimis exemption seems to me to be a really insignificant issue. In my experience the 25 square metre de minimis threshold is often too small rather than too large. Very many small developments are having to fund off-site net gain of just 0.1 or 0.2 units because of the loss of 30 or 40 square metres of amenity lawn and an immature garden tree. Yes, a handful of developers will play silly games and try to game the de minimis rule to their advantage, but the areas of habitat involved are tiny and could be offset by a simple tariff system to fund local nature conservation projects. Surely there are bigger issues to address to ensure #NatureRecovery?

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🚀 Need Help with Retrofit Assessments for SHDF Wave 2.2? 🚀 We've completed over 1000 Retrofit Assessments for Wave 2.2 projects across the UK, working with our wonderful Assessors to deliver top notch surveys. As you navigate the complexities of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) Wave 2.2, staying on top of project schedules is crucial. 🏡🔧 Feel free to reach out to discuss how we can support your SHDF Wave 2.2 projects, and help you keep your Retrofit Assessments on track✅ #Retrofit #SHDF #Sustainability #Housing #LocalAuthority #EnergyEfficiency #ProjectManagement

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This fits very nicely with recent carbon capture state of the art guidance https://lnkd.in/gC8GBH58

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Further to that previous post... some things where I see new traction. 1. Nature repair. I think how we repair nature is now front and centre. Whether that's finacialisation (for the market-focused), conservation (for the purests), community work, research... I don't think there is a more important task now. 2. The grand carbon and energy transition. Whether it's heat pumps, or electric woks, or hydrogen export facilities, or the economic diversification plan for fossil-fueled economies, or EV-charging, or sustainable finance. This thing is immense and it touches everything. Hard to wrap your arms around. But each decision that swaps out a fossil fuel for an electron, is a step forward. 3. New, needed, answers. Aviation, shipping, lab-grown protein. Any small movement here has long echoes dow the line. 4. Capital programs in the non-governmental sector - most from knowledge to implementation in a stream parallel to both governments and capital. Traction on delivery in the Global South is tricky, and impetus from the NGO sector towards implementation will be a critical part of it, I think. 5. The never-ending quest for compact, walkable, leafy, urban places. Other suggestions welcomed.

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