Peel creates Salford ‘biodiversity bank’
More than 86 acres of brownfield have been set aside by the developer to be used for improving local habitats.
The ‘biodiversity bank’ from Peel L&P is set on a former landfill site that borders the Bridgewater Canal in Boothstown.
The site could be used by Peel when the developer is unable to meet a 10% biodiversity net gain standard in a project. Peel said it would voluntarily meet this 10% figure.
- READ MORE: Manchester outlines biodiversity strategy
Starting in November 2023, however, 10% BNG will be a requirement for all developments as part of the government’s Environment Act 2021.
When the 10% figure cannot be met on site, developers will be allowed to offset by investing in biodiversity at another location. In Peel’s case, this may be its Boothstown biodiversity bank.
Peel has worked with Greater Manchester Ecology Unit, Natural England, and ecologists FPCR to develop a 30-year habitat management plan for the biodiversity bank site. As part of the plan, Peel will engage in work to enhance the grassland and woodland habitats of the area.
“We are really excited to make this firm commitment to starting our very first biodiversity bank and to work in partnership with local and national stakeholders to better understand how biodiversity banking can work for landowners, developers and the environment in the North of England,” said Jo Holden, sustainability director at Peel.
- READ MORE: Holden spoke at Place North West‘s Net Zero event in March. See what she had to say.
Holden went on to describe the developer’s other biodiversity initiatives.
“In addition to biodiversity banking, we are implementing a Ten-Year Biodiversity Action Plan at MediaCity, Salford, and our homebuilding division, Northstone UK, voluntarily submitted one of the first planning applications with a BNG assessment to the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit, for our new sustainably-designed Airie community in Bolton,” she said.
“The BNG assessment compared baseline conditions to the plans for development and concluded that the plans will provide a net improvement to the biodiversity of the site, increasing biodiversity by 11%. At Peel L&P, we are now demonstrating a minimum of 10% BNG on all new projects as standard.”
Peel is not the first to introduce the concept of a biodiversity bank. Adlington Estate is working with ecological consultants Tyler Grange and surveyor Meller Speakman to offer 68 acres of land for developers to use to meet future BNG requirements.
Natural England is also creating a registry of approved sites for BNG offsetting.
This green washing at its finest. Peel have gone out of their way to build on every scrap of green space/ greenbelt in Salford over a long period of time.
By Anonymous
Doesn’t offsite habitat creation have to be within the local context of the development site?
By Anonymous
Hi Anonymous! Peel is looking at using the biodiversity bank site for its projects in the Salford area. – J
By Julia Hatmaker
Just another mechanism to maximise land values at least cost to the developer’s bottom line
By Bilbo
They make is sound like this is about caring for the environment when we know really its about making money out of land they cant build on.
By DMT
Is this what Peel are doing with Liverpool Waters as most of the land is still fallow after 15 years.
By Anonymous