Biurbs: valuing biodiversity in multi-functional urban development and environment

Lead Research Organisation: University of Manchester
Department Name: Social Sciences

Abstract

Biurbs - valuing biodiversity in multi-functional urban development and environments

The UK Government's Nature Positive 2030 report recommends businesses, organisations, cities, and local authorities adopt targets to become Nature Positive - putting the crises of biodiversity loss and climate change on an equal footing. There is a gap between this national level ambition to enhance biodiversity and implementation on the ground, particularly evident in urban environments.

Densification or the compact city approach is a main strategy for urban development. Urbanisation and densification have resulted in environmental degradation and severe habitat fragmentation in towns and cities. This impacts the resilience of remaining bio-diversity pockets and diminishes the effectiveness of proposed enhancements. The failure to move towards a system of net environmental gain in development risks undermining the government's plans for a green recovery.

Biodiversity may benefit other eco-system services, such as sustainable drainage, outdoor recreation, and noise and heat attenuation, yet the economic value of biodiversity is undercounted in existing planning tools. Furthermore, there is a need to understand the spatial needs of the eco-system services and different types of biodiversity to ensure that they function as intended and are resilient over the long-term. Such an integrated approach will recognise both synergistic benefits and trade-offs that will be critical in understanding local vs national or global benefits.

Biurbs is co-led by a multi-disciplinary team of leading researchers from across the country and innovative architecture and green infrastructure practitioners. The research engages with decision makers and stakeholders, to help inform practical, well-grounded tools and guidance. The research assesses the economic value of these benefits to different land-uses. It considers different biodiversity conservation practices as part of an integrated suite of eco-system services, and where these practices may be best implemented through new development/regeneration. The research examines micro (site) and meso (local neighbourhoods) spatial scales and examine land-uses within these areas, namely: residential, industry & commerce, community & public buildings, transport & infrastructure, outdoor recreation. Twenty exemplary real world urban sites will be examined, and lessons learned. Two sites are to be examined in-depth to assess how the state-of-the-art approach to biodiversity improvement can be integrated into planning and how this impacts the economics of urban land-uses.

The project involves extensive collaboration with UK stakeholders to ensure the work is relevant to decision making in practice and addresses the Government's nature conservation and greening objectives as well as wider societal factors including adapting to climate change and social cohesion. Improved understanding of the economics of biodiversity within greenfield and brownfield spaces will empower decision makers including communities, built environment professionals and local authorities to protect and enhance the natural capital in urban areas.

The research will be connected through four work packages that link to two themes of the call: Biodiversity in decision making and Management tools for decision makers. The results will be disseminated through non-technical reports to improve understanding and uptake across the sector and supported by in-depth economic and technical assessment work.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description Green Infrastructure Framework and its integration with Biodiversity New Gain
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
Impact raised awareness of the project and BNG issues to practitioners in the built environment
 
Description Biurbs: valuing biodiversity in multi-functional urban development and environment
Amount £789,539 (GBP)
Funding ID NE/X002349/1 
Organisation Natural Environment Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 07/2022 
End 02/2025
 
Description BiUrbs stakeholder survey on practitioner tools 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Information gathering survey on practitioner tools that are commonly used in for making decisions on biodiversity/nature recovery.
Attendees online.
Sectors: local government, regulatory body, private sector developers, housing association, ecological consultancy.
To gather participants' experience on tools that are used for valuing biodiversity and their impact in assisting local. Regional, and national connectivity and conservation in practice.
Approximately 40 people completed the survey.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description BiUrbs stakeholder workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Introductory workshop for the Biurbs project . Attendees in person and online. Sectors: local government, regulatory body, private sector developers, housing association, ecological consultancy. To brief stakeholders and engage potential participants in the project. Approximately 35 people attended.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description BiUrbs stakeholder workshop on practitioner tools 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dissemination and information gathering workshop for the tools that are commonly used in practice when making decisions on biodiversity/nature recovery.
Attendees online.
Sectors: local government, regulatory body, private sector developers, housing association, ecological consultancy.
Briefed participants of the survey on the results and explore further lived experience on the use of tools.
Detailed information on the use of practitioner tools and the Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Treats of the four most common tools.
Approximately 10 people attended over two sessions.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023,2024
 
Description Futurebuild 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Information and discussion session at the Futurebuild event, including a panel of experts.
Session was used to discuss the BiUrbs project and the importance of the new mandatory biodiversity net gain regulation for new developments.
Attendees in person. Sectors: local government, regulatory body, private sector developers, housing association, ecological consultancy, and interested parties.
To brief stakeholders on the project and implications of emerging best practice. Approximately 35 people attended.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Presentation for the CIRIA Biodiversity Community of Practice steering group meeting, 28/11/2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Th steering group is an opportunity for the construction industry industry to form a practitioners' network which will generate more focused collaboration and enhance knowledge transfer aimed at improving and beneficially managing biodiversity across transport, utilities, housing and development sectors. This network of academia, private and public entities provides the thought leadership which could lead to key guidance resources through collaboration.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.ciria.org/CIRIA/Research/Projects_underway2/Community_of_practice_-_BIG.aspx
 
Description TCP article - delaying biodiversity net gain - frustrating; and how much will it help? 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Column for the TCPA journal . Danielle Sinnett considered our level of preparedness for the introduction of Biodiversity Net Gain
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.tcpa.org.uk/journals/
 
Description Wossink , Ada (2023) Presentation on the Biurbs project, session 'Biodiversity on Campus', UniversitiesUK online conference "Universities, sustainability and the climate emergence, 26 January 2023. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact An overview of the research project (policy background, research aim, project partners, stakeholders, research approach, expected outcomes) was presented in an on line webinar of 45 main min (presentation followed by Q&A)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/latest/events/universities-sustainability-and-climate