Ecology and biodiversity
Minimising negative impacts
Development can obviously have a destructive impact where species-rich land is replaced. But it can also increase biodiversity where, for example, true industrial brownfield land is replaced with homes which include gardens or public amenities such as parks.
We try to minimise ecological damage as far as possible, protecting plants and wildlife and, where we can, taking advantage of our projects to enhance biodiversity.
We implement project environmental plans for every project which includes biodiversity considerations. We identify the protected trees and wildlife on site as well as taking into account the ecological requirements of our clients and stakeholders.
Ensuring responsibility
Each site has a “biodiversity champion” who makes sure the appropriate method statements are produced, that licences and permits are obtained where environmentally sensitive works are planned, and who promotes biodiversity awareness on site using toolbox talks (organised morning meetings), other site meetings and the environmental notice board.
We also work hard to ensure that we stop pollution, minimising risk through best-practice site procedures and ensuring all our employees are appropriately trained in order to protect local habitats from degradation and damage.
We ask all our clients to score us on biodiversity as part of our monthly client surveys and last year scored 8.63, a 2% gain over the 2009 score of 8.5. Thirteen out of the 146 completed sites scored a perfect 10 and no individual monthly score fell below our acceptable minimum standard or 7.5.
Click here to see our eKPI 2010 document
As part of our 10 point plans, we are targeting ever-higher Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) scores and on a higher percentage of sites every year. This scheme includes marks for protect plants, trees and wildlife; minimise noise, light, water and air pollution; cover wildlife issues within inductions and provide ecological benefits to the area. We currently score 35 against an industry average of 31.
Green roofs on our schemes
Several of our major projects have been fitted with sedum roofs including: