main content Business and Development Project

SUN – Business and Development Project

The Business & Development Project is looking to engage businesses, planning consultants, developers, building firms, architects and landscape design firms in biodiversity action. To achieve this we will encourage the use of approaches and designs, which will benefit wildlife. We also aim to undertake at least one proactive project on an urban business/industrial site. Employers and employees will get involved in enhancing their grounds or surrounding areas for biodiversity. The ultimate aim is to encourage key stakeholders to automatically think about the possible negative and positive impacts on biodiversity on sites or projects with which they are involved.

Background

Business can play a positive role in biodiversity conservation. All companies, even those situated in urban areas, can make a positive contribution to biodiversity. Many businesses have buildings and landholdings that could be enhanced for biodiversity, some of which are situated alongside areas of wildlife value. Within these businesses there is the potential to raise awareness of local biodiversity amongst employees and to encourage their involvement in helping biodiversity.

During the planning process too, nature conservation, or biodiversity, is a material consideration and as such must be weighed up against other considerations. Five main objectives can be achieved through the planning process: protection, enhancement, mitigation, compensation, enforcement and monitoring.

Many businesses and developers are taking positive steps to help biodiversity, but even more is possible. More guidance and training is becoming available on the opportunities to work with biodiversity, rather than against it.

Project Elements

effort will be made to draw together and promote flagship/good practice examples from across the Borough/SUN Partnership on our website. These will include building/landscape design or development sites that promote biodiversity;
efforts will be made to engage building firms/businesses/architects/developers and invite established business/trade/commerce groups to get involved;
at least one proactive project will be implemented and used as an example to others;
biodiversity opportunities available to stakeholders will be publicised via SUN webpage's;
the project will encourage participation in the Bromley Environmental Awards;
the project aims to contribute its experience, in association with other organisations, as part of a relevant seminar, workshop or conference in the region.
To get involved please refer to our SUN Project guide for further details.