BNG for Valor's new London commercial development
Environment Bank supported Valor Real Estate Partners in their recent project to transform a former gas works site by supplying vital Biodiversity Units to help meet Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements.
About the development project
A large site in Newham, close to the banks of the River Thames, was to be transformed into external storage. Part of Gemini Business Park, the site would allow for flexible external use for tenants currently on the park or new tenants who have specific external storage needs.
The developer, Valor, working in conjunction with planning consultancy Quod, sought to redevelop the land with a forward-thinking approach to biodiversity and the surrounding environment. The site was to be used as a straightforward hardstanding intended for external storage.
Firstly, Valor aimed to reduce the risk of flooding to the site from the River Thames, providing a net benefit in flood capacity. Secondly, fencing was designed specifically to include sections with climbing plants to help the development blend into the surrounding area and support some biodiversity on-site. There are plans for additional housing nearby, so the climbing plants featured will be a bonus for those who call the area home.
Due to its inner-city location in London, there was no room on-site to create or enhance any habitats, so off-site Biodiversity Units were required to satisfy Valor’s BNG planning condition for this project.
Environment Bank’s team were excellent collaborators on the project right from the first point of contact. They understood our requirements and quickly offered to support us throughout. Because of Environment Bank’s efforts, we found the perfect off-site BNG solution for our project to go ahead.
Max Freeman
SVP – Head of Construction
Valor Real Estate Partners
Delivering off-site BNG for an inner-city development
Planning consultancy Quod reached out to Environment Bank on Valor’s behalf for assistance. Environment Bank worked closely with Quod to fully understand the impact of the development and source suitable Biodiversity Units from a BNG Habitat Bank in our national network.
Quod was proactive in its approach and got in touch with us well in advance of the projected on-site start date, which helped ensure a smooth process for Valor. Quod received support from Environment Bank throughout the process, and we were able to allocate the required Biodiversity Units onto the biodiversity gain site register within a week of final payment.
Supporting large-scale habitat restoration
We sourced the specific Biodiversity Units required for Valor’s development – mixed scrub and lowland meadows – from our Witchampton Habitat Bank which is also home to rivers and grasslands.
Covering almost ninety acres, Witchampton Habitat Bank sits in an area known as the ‘water meadows’ where a wide range of native flora and fauna are found. The extensive work being done to create new habitats here is helping to increase the soil’s water storage capacity, making land more resilient to the effects of climate change, and reducing the risks of flooding – just like the Valor’s new development by the River Thames.
Thank you to all at Valor and Quod who brought this project to Environment Bank and worked with us to deliver it – we were impressed at their commitment to biodiversity and sustainability at every stage, and we’re so glad we could help move the project forwards.
Lloyd Collins
Strategic Account Director
Environment Bank
