Manchester, UK – Biodiversity Units UK is proud to announce its successful collaboration with Galliford Try in providing a compliant Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) solution for the Brentwood Special Needs School project in Manchester. With a critical deadline looming, Galliford Try required 8.48 habitat units to meet planning conditions set by Trafford Council, ensuring the timely start of construction.
Galliford Try, one of the UK’s leading building constructors, turned to Biodiversity Units UK for a fast, effective solution. Working in partnership with the Iford Estate, one of only seven projects officially registered on the government’s DEFRA platform at the time, Biodiversity Units UK sourced the necessary BNG units and swiftly completed all required legal paperwork. This enabled Galliford Try to discharge the planning conditions and proceed with construction in time for the school holidays.
Michael Cook, Senior Design Manager at Galliford Try, commented:
“We worked with Biodiversity Units UK on our Brentwood Special Needs School project in Manchester. We needed a compliant BNG solution fast in order to hit our construction timelines. They found us suitable BNG Units and a solution which enabled us to quickly discharge the planning conditions to meet the client’s timescales.”
Supporting Biodiversity at Iford Estate
The Iford Estate, located in the South Downs National Park and managed by the Robinson family for over 125 years, has long prioritized environmental stewardship. The estate has been a pioneer in exploring new land use strategies, and in 2020, it was selected as one of Natural England’s statutory biodiversity credits pilot sites in preparation for mandatory BNG.
The funds generated from the sale of biodiversity units are being directly invested into restoring and enhancing local habitats, ensuring a long-term impact on biodiversity in the region. By engaging in habitat creation and enhancement projects, the estate is helping to restore nature, promote biodiversity, and increase the presence of rare species on the land.
Ben Taylor, Managing Director at Iford Estate, added:
“We were delighted to be able to offer a solution to Brentwood Special School’s BNG requirement. This transaction proved that the processes we have developed over the last 4 years are robust and enable us to quickly respond to BNG requests. The proceeds will help progress Iford Estate’s 800ha habitat restoration vision.”
Ian Hambleton, Founder of Biodiversity Units UK commented:
“We’re incredibly proud to have supported Galliford Try on this important project, ensuring that biodiversity net gain is not only achieved but embedded as a core part of the development. At Biodiversity Units UK, we believe that sustainable development and nature recovery should go hand-in-hand. By working with visionary partners like the Iford Estate, we are able to provide real solutions that benefit both the environment and the communities who depend on it. The Brentwood Special Needs School project is a perfect example of how BNG can help deliver vital infrastructure while enhancing the natural world for future generations.”
For more information about Biodiversity Units UK and their approach, visit biodiversity-units.uk