A natural choice: the benefits of incorporating nature into a project

With the new laws around Biodiversity Net Gain set to come into effect from November 2023, it’s got me thinking about what the next big environmental focus will be for the built environment. For me, I think it will be Environmental Net Gain; taking into consideration how sites can contribute wider environmental benefits beyond biodiversity - like using natural drainage solutions to reduce the risk of flooding.

There are some real benefits to incorporating natural solutions into a project, both around sustainability and in other areas, which is why I think in the years to come we will see more and more innovation in this space.

Here are just some of the benefits of using nature in construction…

Enhancing technological solutions

After getting the basics right with a fabric-first approach, technology is high up on the list of solutions to help achieve sustainable buildings.

Solar shading is just one instance of nature enhancing technology to control air temperatures. In summer, the leaves on trees provide shade, helping to lower the temperature of buildings and reduce cooling and air conditioning costs. In winter, once trees lose their leaves, the sun will be able shine into the building, reducing some of the need for heating.

Similarly, green roofs can also work alongside technology to insulate buildings. By planting vegetation above a waterproofing membrane, heat loss can be reduced during winter – it’s similar to wearing a hat to limit heat lost through your head.

If temperature control systems are programmed to turn on and off automatically (and there are other control measures in place like windows not opening manually), both of these natural solutions can work hand-in-hand with systems to reduce the reliance on M&E for heating and cooling.

A green roof at 10 Brindleyplace, one of our projects in Birmingham City Centre

Future-proofing buildings

Climate change is bringing a hotter, wetter climate, which we can help to mitigate through the use of nature.

A key method here is the use of blue roofs, which reduce the likelihood of flooding by collecting and temporarily storing water. A bonus of this method is that some blue roofs allow for passive irrigation, where the water is reused to irrigate plants and lawns.

Swales and ditches are also key for sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS). They can improve drainage and lessen the chances of flooding. As a bonus, they can also provide a sustainable source of water to local wildlife or, as was the case at Birkett House SEN School in Leicester, used as a learning opportunity for students.

We can already see climate change at play in cities due to something called the urban heat island effect – this occurs in areas where there’s lots of concrete and brick, which absorbs and retains heat. This makes cities hotter than in less densely populated areas as it creates its own microclimate.

This is likely to worsen as populations grow, but green roofs can help to reduce the impact by cooling buildings down during summer. Unlike most concrete and tarmac, vegetation doesn’t retain solar heat. It also improves air quality by retaining harmful particles.

We can’t predict the rate at which climate change will develop over time, but it’s important that we start putting solutions in place that can help to reduce the impact now and in the future.

Our Nottingham Science Park project made use of a swale to improve drainage

Reducing concrete and carbon

Sometimes a solution needs to think a bit more outside the box! I’ve seen a number of examples of how nature can be used instead of the more ‘typical’ solutions – this normally comes with the benefit of reducing carbon.

One example was at our recent project - Holy Trinity Academy in Telford. We ended up using hydroseeding as a retaining wall, which would normally have been built from concrete or another high carbon option. As well as being better for the environment, the vegetated, biodegradable wall system was a minimal foundation solution that was quick to install.

Another project that springs to mind was our scheme at Lincolnshire’s Blue Light Campus. The building housed fire, police and ambulance services, so the external building needed an added layer of protection. Instead of opting for concrete bollards, we created a green bund in front of the building using some of the onsite surplus material. This was essentially a mound of soil against the building that acted as an additional barrier. As well as avoiding the use of concrete, we were also able to add plants to the top of the bund, increasing biodiversity.

Both instances removed the need for concrete – a material that accounts for 1.5% of UK carbon emissions – and instead positively contributed to the local environment.

The bund at Lincolnshire’s Blue Light Campus makes use of surplus materials instead of concrete, providing added security in a more environmentally friendly way

Improving wellbeing

An additional benefit of using nature in construction is the positive impact it can have on the wellbeing of people using the buildings. According to research conducted by the WELL Building Standard (a framework to evaluate the overall health and wellness of building occupants), the presence of nature inside a building can contribute to users’ mental and emotional health.

One of our projects in Birmingham, 10 Brindleyplace, has put a big emphasis on occupant well-being. The office space will be the first office in Birmingham to achieve Fitwel accreditation, a standard that measures occupant health and wellbeing. Part of this will be achieved by incorporating nature into the building, including green roofs that include a wildflower system, internal and external living walls, and landscaped terraces.

An internal living wall at 10 Brindleyplace in Birmingham City Centre

I certainly believe that integrating nature into the heart of a scheme will become a fundamental part of a building’s design and construction as, ultimately, supporting nature as best we can in every stage of development is beneficial not only to the planet, but to ourselves as well.

Simone Codrington is a sustainability manager at Willmott Dixon, to find out more about sustainable solutions and how we incorporate these into projects, get in touch with Simone.

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