Ecology
This theme seeks to assess how the we are protecting the local environment and ecology.
Great Places is committed to creating developments that support biodiversity, strengthen green infrastructure and improve long-term environmental resilience.
Our Design
Quality Guide makes this clear by setting an ambition to promote ecology and biodiversity while consciously limiting environmental impact across all schemes.
We prioritise green spaces and biodiversity across our developments, going beyond minimum Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements through our design guidance and Employer’s Requirements. This is embedded in a clear biodiversity hierarchy:
- Avoid biodiversity loss
- Minimise impacts
- Restore habitats on-site
- Enhance biodiversity within the local community
- Offset via BNG banks or off-site contributions as a last resort
Each site is subject to a preliminary ecological appraisal and BNG assessment to understand baseline conditions, identify protected species, and assess ecological value. This ensures that biodiversity considerations are embedded from the earliest design stages.
Our landscaping approach reflects the principles set out in our Design Quality Guide, which promotes accessible, well-designed green spaces that enhance health, wellbeing and biodiversity. Planting strategies prioritise native, climate-resilient and low maintenance species, with a move away from traditional lawns towards wildflower, clover or moss alternatives to increase biodiversity and reduce maintenance demand.
Across developments we integrate, where suitable, a range of ecological enhancements, including:
- Bee bricks, swift bricks, and bat boxes
- Hedgehog highways and wildlife corridors
- Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) designed as biodiversity features
- Native planting and habitat creation within public and private spaces
In line with our wider sustainability approach, we also consider SuDS integration and flood-resilient landscape design to respond to climate change and support ecological networks.
Reducing pollutants
We take a proactive approach to protecting environmental quality and reducing pollution risks.
This integrated approach ensures our developments not only enhance biodiversity but also protect ecosystems and environmental quality over the long term.
- All developments comply with relevant environmental and pollution legislation, with no reportable pollution incidents recorded during 2025/26
- SuDS-linked parking areas incorporate fuel and oil interceptors to protect watercourses
- Robust site investigations are undertaken in line with Employer’s Requirements to identify and remediate contamination risks prior to development
- Deleterious materials are excluded from specifications
- Building systems are maintained in line with manufacturer standards to ensure efficient performance
- Extensive condition surveys are carried out to manage indoor environmental quality and minimise risks such as damp and mould
