The Landscape and Ecology Consultants with Peter Massini

Designing for Biodiversity: The Role of Landscape Architects in a Greener Future

In the face of climate change, biodiversity loss, and growing urbanisation, the role of landscape architects has never been more crucial. No longer just about aesthetic green spaces, contemporary landscape architecture is about creating living, functional environments that benefit both people and wildlife. With new legislation and shifting environmental priorities, the integration of ecological principles and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is reshaping how we approach design.

What is Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)?

BNG is a new policy requirement in England mandating that any new development must leave biodiversity in a better state than it was before. Measured through a habitat-based metric, developers are now required to assess baseline ecological value, avoid harm where possible, and enhance biodiversity either on-site or off-site through habitat creation or improvement. This allows ecology a non-negotiable part of planning and design — and places landscape architects at the heart of this shift.

Ecology & Landscape Architecture

Landscape architecture has always had an intrinsic relationship with ecology, but modern environmental pressures have turned this relationship into an essential partnership.

Using...

• Site analysis and opportunities mapping

• Habitat creation and restoration

• Species-specific design features

• Climate resilience strategies

• Management and maintenance plans

• Understanding the ecological context of a site, including its soil, existing habitats, water bodies, and surrounding landscape, allows designers to make informed decisions about what to preserve, enhance, or reintroduce

How BNG Is Integrated into Projects?

1. Habitat Mapping: Identifying existing ecological assets and constraints on a site

2. Defra Metric Calculations: Quantifying habitat value pre- and post-development

3. Green Infrastructure Networks: Connecting new habitats to existing ecological corridors

4. Nature-Based Solutions: Integrating sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), wildflower meadows, wetlands, and green roofs

5. Habitat Banking & Off-Site Offsetting: Where on-site gains are not achievable, off-site habitat creation ensures the net gain requirement is met

6. Long-Term Management Plans: Essential for ensuring ecological enhancements deliver lasting benefits

7. Design Challenges & Considerations

   
   

Complexities of integrating design:

1. Urban density pressures mean that space for green interventions is often limited

2. Client education is essential; not all stakeholders understand the long-term value of ecology-first designs

3. Ecological timescales differ from commercial timescales — trees take decades to mature, while some habitats evolve slowly

4. Balancing access with protection; some sensitive habitats require minimal human disturbance

5. But with these challenges come creative opportunities: turning underutilised spaces into rain gardens, incorporating green walls in tight urban plots, or creating multi-layered planting schemes that provide year-round interest and habitat

Why This Matters

The statistics speak for themselves:

• Wild animals now make up just 40% of Earth’s biomass

• Over 50% of people worldwide live in urban areas — in the UK, it’s over 80%

• The disconnect from nature is growing, contributing to mental health challenges and biodiversity decline

• Landscape architects have the tools, vision, and skills to reverse this. By bringing nature into cities, designing with ecosystems in mind, and ensuring every project delivers ecological value, we can transform urban environments from biodiversity deserts into thriving green networks