About the course and course dates

This course runs every other month throughout the year. You’ll be part of a cohort of people from across industry taking the course at the same time; you’ll have opportunities to discuss the concepts raised in the course with your peers.

Alongside discussion and other activities, the UKGBC team will be on hand to support your learning and answer any questions.  

What does the course cover?  

Through your four weeks of learning, you’ll work through the following modules:  

Module 1: Context. In this module, you’ll be welcomed into the course and begin the learning journey by exploring why sustainability in the built environment is so critical for the future, and the role that the built environment plays in either exacerbating or mitigating climate change and broader sustainability issues. 

Module 2: Concepts. In this module, you’ll explore five key concepts of sustainability in the built environment and different building typologies including: Climate Change; Resource Use; Nature & Biodiversity; Social Value; and Health & Wellbeing. 

Module 3: Cases. In this module, you’ll delve into a variety of case studies and also be given the opportunity to develop and share one of your own. 

Module 4: Change: This is where you’ll take action! You’ll investigate the unique role that you can play in influencing the sustainability of the built environment around them. You’ll also be asked to make commitment to push your single most impactful action forward. 

Who is the course for? 

This course is designed for anyone working in the built environment and construction sectors who wants to develop their sustainability knowledge and skills.  

You may already be working in the built environment and looking to upskill in the field of sustainability, or you may have knowledge of sustainability and want to apply this to the context of the built environment. If you have limited knowledge of both buildings and sustainability and want to learn more about sustainable design and delivery, this course will give you a solid introduction 

CPD hours: 16 

Tickets 

Member tickets are £50 
Non-member tickets are: £200 
Keystone members are entitled to free places for this course. Please contact learning@UKGBC.org for more information. 
If you’re unsure if your organisation is a member, please check our Membership Directory.   

Do you want to enrol a whole team?  

UKGBC can offer this course to closed cohorts, running at a time of your convenience – please get in touch with our learning team to get more information: learning@UKGBC.org.  

Cancellation and refund policy 

Please see our website for more details on our cancellations and refunds: https://ukgbc.org/ukgbc-cancellation-and-refund-policy/ 

Biodiversity and Environmental Net Gain Project Partners

Our work on Biodiversity Net Gain and Environmental Gain is generously supported by the following organisations.

The post An Introduction to Sustainability in the Built Environment (online) appeared first on UKGBC.

The impact of the materials we use in our built environment is not limited to carbon emissions. We are in the middle of a global biodiversity crisis, with a 73% decline in global biodiversity populations since 1970 (WWF Living Planet Report). The construction industry’s role in use of extracted materials has an impact on nature the world over.  

In a world of globalised trade and supply chains, many negative impacts are transferred to sites and areas remote from the building site, such as deforestation, water scarcity, pollution, and even violent conflicts. 

We need to consider the full picture of the way we impact nature via the ways we do business. This includes ecological impacts as a result of material extraction and within our supply chains. This is what we call embodied ecological impacts.  

About the sessions  

This interactive workshop will help you understand what embodied ecological impacts (EEI) are, and what role the construction industry plays. The session will explore the basics of EEI, looking at a collection of specific materials that are widely used in construction, assessing their ecological impacts and some of the core solutions to reduce impact.  

There will be opportunities to discuss how EEI is relevant to your organisation, projects and role, and we’ll share some core actions that everyone can take to begin to reduce impacts.  

Who’s it for?  

This session is for anyone who would like to know more about EEI in the construction sector.  

Why join the course?  

1. Learn more about EEI, and the role of the construction industry.  
2. Understand the actions that industry needs to take to reduce impacts, and what you can do in your role.  
3. Meet UKGBCs subject matter expert and peers interested in this subject. 

Course hosts

This session will be hosted by Joe Pitts-Cunningham, Experiential Learning Manager and Kai Liebetanz Head of Nature, both from UKGBC 

CPD hours: 1.5 

Tickets 

Member tickets are free 

Non-member tickets start at £80 

If you’re unsure if your organisation is a member, please check our Membership Directory.   

Delivering this course for your team 

UKGBC can offer this workshop as a closed course for your team or people from across only your organisation. Please get in touch with us to discuss your requirements learning@UKGBC.org  

UKGBC cancellation and refund policy 

Please see our website for more details on our cancellations and refunds: https://ukgbc.org/ukgbc-cancellation-and-refund-policy/ 

This workshop is part of our Nature and Biodiversity Learning Programme

This programme seeks to radically change delegates view of nature, to a perspective that values and respects nature and humans’ place within the web of life.

Split into a wide number of workshops, masterclasses and webinars over several months, delegates can choose to join any number of sessions and do not need to attend them all. You are instead encouraged to engage with the question – how do I want to better connect with nature? – and seek out the learning opportunities that will help you find the answers you need.

Explore all opportunities in our programme

Organisational Partners

Supporting all four of UKGBC’s programmes Learning and Leadership, Advancing Net Zero, Resilience & Nature and Regenerative Places.

Resilience & Nature Partners

Our Resilience and Nature work is made possible thanks to our Programme Partners

Project partners

The post Embodied Ecological Impact in the built environment – an exploratory workshop appeared first on UKGBC.

FutureBuild brings together around 15k professionals committed to sustainability, innovation, and collaboration in the built environment – architect, engineer, contractor, policy makers – and offers insights, cutting-edge products, and networking opportunities to support sustainability goals. 

In partnership with: Mitsubishi Electric UK, Interface and Chetwoods Architects, we are returning to Futurebuild with our award winning stand, where you can learn more about our work, and our network.  As part of the 3-day event,  we are participating in two main stage events, and leading on three panel discussion as well as hosting a materials workshop on stand. See below for our full activity calendar.

Day 1 – Tuesday 4th March

12:00-12:45 How the circular economy and degrowth can avoid catastrophic tipping points

We have known about ‘limits to growth’ since at least 1972. We know that society’s use of materials for all purposes has increased from 7 billion tons in 1900 to 92 billion tons in 2017, and this is just not sustainable. We can recycle as much as we can but if we keep trying to grow GDP no matter the environmental and social costs, we risk missing our climate targets and triggering catastrophic tipping points. We then try to put a price on nature that doesn’t prohibit growth. Thinking ‘circular’ goes beyond waste and influences every decision that we make particularly for those working in the built environment. Time for an honest conversation about where we should be in 12 months? By 2030? by 2035?

Chair: Smith Mordak, UKGBC

Panel: Dr David Greenfield, SOENECS; Elwyn Grainger-Jones, Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute; Teresa Domenech, University College London

Day 2 – Wednesday 5th March 

13:30-14:15 How resilient is the UK built environment to climate impacts?

A session around the UKGBC Climate Resilience Roadmap, with a sneak peek at the roadmap content looking at how resilient and vulnerable the UK built environment is to climate impacts, including results of the Roadmap research as well as key insights.  We will explore ‘where should we be in 12 months / 2030 / 2035’ as we will tease the actions and recommendations. 

Chairs: Hannah Giddings, UKGBC; Macarena Cardenas, UKGBC

Panel: Ashely Bateson, Hoare Lea; Christine Cambrook, Buro Happold; Anna Oxenham, Mace

Location: Buildings Impact Stage

14:30-15:20 Material Matters Workshop delivered by Chetwoods Architects (UKGBC Stand)

Chetwoods Architects dive into all things sustainability when it comes to materials, including embodied carbon, health and wellbeing, and the circular economy. Information and exploration of a range of exciting material samples for an interactive session where you can challenge yourself to pick out the more sustainable material options, and identify the red herrings.

16:15-17:00 The Futurebuild Conversation – Achieving our low carbon future? Why aren’t we there yet? 

As we transition to our low carbon future we find ourselves at a pivotal moment as it is only 25 years to 2050 when we need to get to the legally binding target of reducing carbon emissions to net zero. So what are the opportunities and the barriers?Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning are major consumers of energy in any building and the HVAC equipment that is designed and installed over the next 5 years is likely to still be in use in 2050. That means that the decisions we all make now on both new-build, and more importantly retrofit must align with those net zero goals if clients are to avoid ending up with stranded assets.  Yet the technology that can help on the road to net zero already exists.

Chair: Dr Anastasia Mylona, Technical Director, CIBSE

Panel: Yetunde Abdul, UKGBC; Steff Wright, Gusto Group; Chris Newman, Mitsubishi Electric

Location: Futurebuild Arena

Day 3: Thursday 6th March

10:30-11:15 What is a ‘Regenerative Place’? and how do we get there? 

The word ‘Regenerative’ is being used with increasing frequency across industry, with a growing number of perspectives on what it the concept means. There is less understanding so far, of how it translates into practice and especially how we retrofit our homes and urban spaces to bring the vision into reality for UK communities.  The session will focus on Improving biodiversity and green space; offering health and social value benefits, strengthening climate resilience 

Chaired by: Joanne Wheeler, UKGBC; Anna Hollyman, UKGBC

Panel: Miles Lewis, Clarion Housing Group; Carl Walker, Hoare Lea

Location: Placemaking Impact Stage

13:30-14:15 Towards a nature-positive built environment 

A reflection on the built environment’s role in the global transition to a nature positive future. This session will outline our current understanding of what nature positive entails and focus specifically on addressing embodied ecological impacts from materials. It will showcase best practice examples and key principles to make a difference. 

Chair: Kai Liebetanz, UKGBC

Panel: Aaron Grainger, Buro Happold; Julia Baker, Mott Macdonald; Becky Gordon, Interface 

Deep Dive into Supply Chain Decarbonisation

UKGBC will be showcasing Supply Chain Decarbonisation on our stand at Futurebuild, in a series of five sessions. We will be sharing details of our work to date including the aim, scope, plans, activity to date and our desired outcomes from this workstream. UKGBC programme leads will be heading this event, with support from Partners and Task Group members in attendance.

In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to contribute to our testing of initial ideas for action, shaping our developing plans for future work. Whilst also learning how, as stakeholders in the built environment, you can get more involved in helping to drive progress.

The Deep Dive event will take place during the following time periods:
Tuesday 4 March 11:00-12:00, 14:00-15:00
Wednesday 5 March 11:00-12:00, 14:00-15:00
Thursday 6 March 11:00-12:00

The post UKGBC at Futurebuild 2025 appeared first on UKGBC.

This report summarises a range of sustainable solution trends that UKGBC has seen over the course of 2024, provides context on their use, and comments on the relevant driving forces in the UK market. The solutions discussed range from innovative new platforms and materials to transformative business models and processes. The analysis is based on engagement with innovation-focused UKGBC members (including input from UKGBC’s Solutions & Innovation Advisory Group), interviews with UKGBC topic leads, and desktop research.

UKGBC does not formally endorse any of the solutions presented in this report. It is intended as a signpost and a source of inspiration for built environment stakeholders, who should always carry out their own due diligence before adoption. While this is a summary of some of the notable solutions of which UKGBC has become aware, there are likely to be other solutions available but not mentioned. Discover more solutions in our Solutions Library. 

Solutions and Innovation

At UKGBC we take a collaborative approach to identify sustainability challenges across the built environment and help source and implement the solutions to them.

Learn more

The post Trends in Sustainable Solutions for the Built Environment – Reflecting on 2024 appeared first on UKGBC.

About the course

This self-directed online course runs every other month throughout the year. The course is a combination of reading, self-led activities, quizzes and discussion.  You’ll be part of a cohort of people from across industry taking the course at the same time; you’ll have opportunities to discuss the concepts raised in the course with your peers.  

Alongside discussion and other activities, the UKGBC team will be on hand to support your learning and answer any questions.

What does the course cover?  
Through your four weeks of learning, you’ll work through the following modules:  

Module 1: Context. In this module, you’ll be welcomed into the course and begin the learning journey by exploring why sustainability in the built environment is so critical for the future, and the role that the built environment plays in either exacerbating or mitigating climate change and broader sustainability issues. 

Module 2: Concepts. In this module, you’ll explore five key concepts of sustainability in the built environment and different building typologies including: Climate Change; Resource Use; Nature & Biodiversity; Social Value; and Health & Wellbeing.

Module 3: Cases. In this module, you’ll delve into a variety of case studies and also be given the opportunity to develop and share one of your own.

Module 4: Change: This is where you’ll take action! You’ll investigate the unique role that you can play in influencing the sustainability of the built environment around them. You’ll also be asked to make commitment to push your single most impactful action forward. 

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for anyone working in the built environment and construction sectors who wants to develop their sustainability knowledge and skills.  
You may already be working in the built environment and be looking to upskill in the field of sustainability, or you may have knowledge of sustainability and want to apply this to the context of the built environment. If you have limited knowledge of both buildings and sustainability and want to learn more about sustainable design and delivery, this course will give you a solid introduction.

CPD hours: 16 

Tickets

Member tickets are £150 
Non-member tickets are: £300 
Keystone members are entitled to 15% off this course. Please contact learning@UKGBC.org for more information. 
If you’re unsure if your organisation is a member, please check our Membership Directory.

Do you want to enrol a whole team? 

UKGBC can offer this course to closed cohorts, running at a time of your convenience – please get in touch with our learning team to get more information: learning@UKGBC.org.  

Cancellation and refund policy 

Please see our website for more details on our cancellations and refunds: https://ukgbc.org/ukgbc-cancellation-and-refund-policy/ 

The post An Introduction to Sustainability in the Built Environment (on-demand) appeared first on UKGBC.

It’s largely accepted that COP16 in Colombia fell short of what was needed. While there were some breakthroughs, such as on indigenous representation or genetic resources, it ended without significant progress on key issues like mobilising finance. The Global Biodiversity Framework Fund has secured just short of $400m in pledges from governments, woefully short of the COP15 target of $20bn per year.  

Luckily, COPs are not the only forum we have to drive change: political progress also happens outside of them. We have seen huge momentum within business, the private sector, and the built environment. Here at UKGBC, we have contributed to that momentum for several years now, with a quickly evolving line of work on nature and resource use. In September 2023, we launched our knowledge hub on Embodied Ecological Impacts to create awareness about the indirect ways the built environment affects biodiversity and ecosystems elsewhere, away from construction sites.  

On 5th November, UKGBC convened the conference “Conversations on Embodied Ecological Impacts” to meet people and expand our networks, share learnings, and ask questions. Over the day, 100 attendees discussed how to integrate EEI in projects and the role of metrics and data, as well as insights from other sectors. Here are some key takeaways from the day:

Figure out what matters

Understanding our impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems is a challenging but crucially necessary task. Understand your organisation’s relationship with nature, such as your dependencies and impacts (known as double materiality). Tools such as the Encore database provide a good starting point, and TNFD and SBTN offer valuable guidance for your first steps.  

Action over data

Metrics and data have taken centre stage in nature and biodiversity conversations, and rapid progress in that area is needed. But the most impactful thing we can do right now is act on what we know already. If you figured out what your organisations relationship with nature is, this should give you plenty to work with. Do you rely on large quantities of material being mined? Start there: minimise the need for virgin material to avoid the associated negative ecological impacts. In other words, use less stuff, apply the mitigation hierarchy, adopt a circular economy, and prioritise refurbishment and reuse. You don’t need biodiversity data for that.  

Engage with your supply chain

Compared to other sectors, the built environment’s supply chains are severely lacking in transparency, making targeted action to eliminate negative ecological impacts at the source an incredibly tricky task.  

Most of us don’t know where the aggregates in our concrete come from, whether the sand has been quarried on land or dredged at sea, or whether the iron ore for the steel has come from the Amazon or Australia, let alone what the local implications are for ecosystems. We need to start asking questions and sharing information and progress. Acknowledging the complexity of the task, starting with one material, and understanding the supply chain are good first steps.  

Other sectors, like fashion and agriculture, are ahead of the curve on transparency. What could we learn from them? What would the equivalent of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition look like in the built environment? What can we learn from food and agriculture’s farm-to-table approach when it comes to supply chain traceability?

Our EEI conference was rooted in enabling a level of honesty and openness in all conversations, because admitting our knowledge gaps is what allows us to move forward in the right direction.

If you are interested in collaborating with UKGBC on this workstream, please reach out to us. We’re eager to hear from your experience and learn from your best practice examples. Let’s keep up the momentum together.  

Embodied Ecological Impacts

The impact of the materials we use in our built environment is not limited to carbon emissions. This knowledge hub explores the global ecological impacts of the building materials we use in the UK, and how to avoid harm and maximise nature-positivity.

View more

The post What’s next for Embodied Ecological Impacts? appeared first on UKGBC.

The good news is that much of the damage is unnecessary, and the alternatives would make our economy more efficient and offer the new Labour Government a new way to solve the affordable housing crisis. 

In the debates about house building, little attention is paid to the industry’s heavy reliance on extracting materials from biodiverse regions. Globally, we extract some 100 billion tonnes of raw material out of the fabric of the planet per year – equivalent to destroying two-thirds of the mass of Mount Everest every 12 months. Worldwide, the built environment sector is responsible for as much as 30 per cent of biodiversity loss. Unsustainable mining, quarrying, and logging for timber, metals, and stone are cutting swathes through pristine rainforests, polluting watercourses, and driving untold habitat loss. All while releasing vast amounts of ‘embodied’ carbon emissions. The impact on countless communities worldwide is devastating. 

The impact on UK inflation has been damaging too. The cost of imported construction materials has soared in recent years. Yet at the same time, construction and demolition waste now makes up almost two-thirds of all UK waste.   

Time is short. The Government’s targets for new homes and new infrastructure, mean the strain on nature will only escalate unless it takes urgent action to both address the amount and the way materials are extracted from other countries. 

Two solutions are on offer – tried and tested by some of the most advanced parts of the industry. But they need government action to be adopted at scale. 

Firstly, prioritise renovating and re-purposing existing buildings over demolition. Our hollowed-out high streets are dotted with vacant offices and shuttered shops. Many are places that could be transformed into affordable, high-quality, healthy ‘new’ homes. The numbers are big. In 2023, over 10,000 shops closed, office vacancy rates reached 8%, and more than 250,000 houses in England remain long-term vacant. 

Adopting a re-use first approach could help alleviate the affordable housing crisis, create tens of thousands of good skilled jobs and breathe new life into communities across the country. It would also reduce the need for costly new roads, transport, electricity, water and sewage infrastructure to service urban sprawl. 

Secondly, Environment Secretary Steve Reed is right to have put a ‘zero waste economy’ at the heart of his plans for DEFRA. Pioneering parts of the industry have already worked out how to re-use steel and many other materials, putting a ‘circular economy’ approach at the centre of their thinking. But we lack a national strategy so that every company treats used materials as valuable resources on a finite planet, not as disposable waste.  

The next step is to mandate more use of recycled, reused, and low-impact materials, while also requiring sustainable sourcing to prevent the destruction of habitats and human rights around the world. Such measures would not only reduce the need for raw material extraction, but turbocharge innovation within the industry, driving more efficient technology and practices. 

Both of these approaches can be fast-tracked if Labour takes a smart approach to its Planning and Regeneration Bill, expected in 2025. 

In Opposition, Labour voted repeatedly to align the planning system with the Climate Change Act. This was championed by green groups, because it would mean every single planning decision would help with our climate mitigation and adaptation goals. And it was backed by over 100 industry firms because it would make decisions more consistent, predictable and less likely to be bogged down with challenges. But Labour was defeated. Now it’s in government, with a huge majority, it can put pen to paper to write this into law.  

At the same time, it could adopt the proposals tabled by the House of Lords to extend that approach to the Environment Act. This would mean planning permission would only be granted if proposals were in line with local and national nature restoration strategies, including international commitments.  

As we assess the failure of COP16 in Colombia, we should all be alarmed by experts warning that humanity is on the verge of ‘shattering Earth’s natural limits’. We have run out of time for business as usual.

Voluntary measures and market-driven approaches have shown some of what’s possible, but they are just not enough. To protect biodiversity on a meaningful scale, we need a clear national plan and regulations to drive industry action. And that requires bold government leadership.

Policy and advocacy

Since 2007, we have been bringing together some of the most influential leaders in politics, business, local authorities, civil service and NGOs to accelerate action for a green built environment.

Learn more

The post Construction is driving global biodiversity loss – it’s time for Government to act  appeared first on UKGBC.

Alongside the climate crisis, we face an ecological crisis in which biodiversity in the UK is under severe and urgent threat. With 50% of the UK’s economy linked to nature and the UK one of the most biodiversity depleted countries in the world, restoring our natural environments is critical to building our future green economy. This masterclass will help you understand and begin to implement the new Biodiversity Net Gain requirements set out in the Government’s Environment Act. There are huge opportunities for the built environment to restore nature and build more regenerative towns and cities – this masterclass will support you to do that.  

About the course

This half-day masterclass will deep dive into Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in the built environment. Focusing on the legislation and policy context in England, this course will help delegates understand the drivers behind BNG and how to achieve and surpass the mandated minimum 10% biodiversity uplift in new project.  
The course will cover the need for biodiversity recovery in general across England, contextualised against the climate and biodiversity crises. We’ll look at the principles and basics of BNG – what is BNG? Why does it matter? How is it measured? 
We’ll move on to explore the regulatory drivers for BNG with a focus on translating the Environment Act, 2021 and covering how a number of major local authorities apply the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and their own policies on BNG. Finally, we’ll cover the process of BNG from start to finish, picking up the practical steps needed within planning and construction, including how to design for BNG through green infrastructure design. 

The course will be interactive and discursive, giving you a chance to discuss BNG issues with colleagues from across the UKGBC membership, and our subject-matter expert.  

Who’s it for?
This masterclass is for developers, planners, architects, landscape architects, and any other planning/environmental professionals who need to know more about BNG within planning in England.

Course hosts Morgan Taylor, Director, Greengage. Morgan leads Greengages nature team, providing ecological and green infrastructure design input into projects enabling biodiversity net gains and complementing wider climate change adaptation measures. He provides clear and concise advice on how to manage ecology throughout planning and development. Morgan was included in the ENDS Report Power List 2023 of the most influential environmental professionals in the UK. 
Greengage is an independent sustainability consultancy with offices in London, Manchester, Sheffield, and Bristol. Established for over 17 years, we’re an award-winning team of consultants with expertise across the full spectrum of sustainability including energy and carbon management, ESG, sustainable finance, social sustainability, biodiversity and green infrastructure/urban greening. 

Other dates for this course:

Biodiversity and Environmental Net Gain Project Partners

Our work on Biodiversity Net Gain and Environmental Gain is generously supported by the following organisations.

This masterclass is part of our Nature and Biodiversity Learning Programme

This programme seeks to radically change delegates view of nature, to a perspective that values and respects nature and humans’ place within the web of life.

Split into a wide number of workshops, masterclasses and webinars over several months, delegates can choose to join any number of sessions and do not need to attend them all. You are instead encouraged to engage with the question – how do I want to better connect with nature? – and seek out the learning opportunities that will help you find the answers you need.

Explore all opportunities in our programme

The post Biodiversity Net Gain Masterclass (Birmingham) appeared first on UKGBC.

Alongside the climate crisis, we face an ecological crisis in which biodiversity in the UK is under severe and urgent threat. With 50% of the UK’s economy linked to nature and the UK one of the most biodiversity depleted countries in the world, restoring our natural environments is critical to building our future green economy. This masterclass will help you understand and begin to implement the new Biodiversity Net Gain requirements set out in the Government’s Environment Act. There are huge opportunities for the built environment to restore nature and build more regenerative towns and cities – this masterclass will support you to do that.  

About the course

This half-day masterclass will deep dive into Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in the built environment. Focusing on the legislation and policy context in England, this course will help delegates understand the drivers behind BNG and how to achieve and surpass the mandated minimum 10% biodiversity uplift in new project.  
The course will cover the need for biodiversity recovery in general across England, contextualised against the climate and biodiversity crises. We’ll look at the principles and basics of BNG – what is BNG? Why does it matter? How is it measured? 
We’ll move on to explore the regulatory drivers for BNG with a focus on translating the Environment Act, 2021 and covering how a number of major local authorities apply the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and their own policies on BNG. Finally, we’ll cover the process of BNG from start to finish, picking up the practical steps needed within planning and construction, including how to design for BNG through green infrastructure design. 

The course will be interactive and discursive, giving you a chance to discuss BNG issues with colleagues from across the UKGBC membership, and our subject-matter expert.  

Who’s it for?
This masterclass is for developers, planners, architects, landscape architects, and any other planning/environmental professionals who need to know more about BNG within planning in England.

Course hosts Morgan Taylor, Director, Greengage. Morgan leads Greengages nature team, providing ecological and green infrastructure design input into projects enabling biodiversity net gains and complementing wider climate change adaptation measures. He provides clear and concise advice on how to manage ecology throughout planning and development. Morgan was included in the ENDS Report Power List 2023 of the most influential environmental professionals in the UK. 
Greengage is an independent sustainability consultancy with offices in London, Manchester, Sheffield, and Bristol. Established for over 17 years, we’re an award-winning team of consultants with expertise across the full spectrum of sustainability including energy and carbon management, ESG, sustainable finance, social sustainability, biodiversity and green infrastructure/urban greening. 

Other dates for this course:

Biodiversity and Environmental Net Gain Project Partners

Our work on Biodiversity Net Gain and Environmental Gain is generously supported by the following organisations.

The post Biodiversity Net Gain Masterclass (London) appeared first on UKGBC.

Alongside the climate crisis, we face an ecological crisis in which biodiversity in the UK is under severe and urgent threat. With 50% of the UK’s economy linked to nature and the UK one of the most biodiversity depleted countries in the world, restoring our natural environments is critical to building our future green economy. This masterclass will help you understand and begin to implement the new Biodiversity Net Gain requirements set out in the Government’s Environment Act. There are huge opportunities for the built environment to restore nature and build more regenerative towns and cities – this masterclass will support you to do that.  

About the course

This half-day masterclass will deep dive into Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in the built environment. Focusing on the legislation and policy context in England, this course will help delegates understand the drivers behind BNG and how to achieve and surpass the mandated minimum 10% biodiversity uplift in new project.  
The course will cover the need for biodiversity recovery in general across England, contextualised against the climate and biodiversity crises. We’ll look at the principles and basics of BNG – what is BNG? Why does it matter? How is it measured? 
We’ll move on to explore the regulatory drivers for BNG with a focus on translating the Environment Act, 2021 and covering how a number of major local authorities apply the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and their own policies on BNG. Finally, we’ll cover the process of BNG from start to finish, picking up the practical steps needed within planning and construction, including how to design for BNG through green infrastructure design. 

The course will be interactive and discursive, giving you a chance to discuss BNG issues with colleagues from across the UKGBC membership, and our subject-matter expert.  

Who’s it for?
This masterclass is for developers, planners, architects, landscape architects, and any other planning/environmental professionals who need to know more about BNG within planning in England.

Course hosts Morgan Taylor, Director, Greengage. Morgan leads Greengages nature team, providing ecological and green infrastructure design input into projects enabling biodiversity net gains and complementing wider climate change adaptation measures. He provides clear and concise advice on how to manage ecology throughout planning and development. Morgan was included in the ENDS Report Power List 2023 of the most influential environmental professionals in the UK. 
Greengage is an independent sustainability consultancy with offices in London, Manchester, Sheffield, and Bristol. Established for over 17 years, we’re an award-winning team of consultants with expertise across the full spectrum of sustainability including energy and carbon management, ESG, sustainable finance, social sustainability, biodiversity and green infrastructure/urban greening. 

Biodiversity and Environmental Net Gain Project Partners

Our work on Biodiversity Net Gain and Environmental Gain is generously supported by the following organisations.

The post Biodiversity Net Gain Masterclass (online) appeared first on UKGBC.