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Biodiversity

By enhancing local ecosystems our properties are more attractive places to work, live in and visit, and are thus more attractive to occupiers

The British Land Biodiversity Programme, published in 2005, promotes the consideration of biodiversity at each stage of the property lifecycle. Through Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs) we plan, implement and monitor measures to manage and enhance biodiversity at our properties. Our Urban BAP contains generic measures for properties with hard landscapes and our Soft Landscape BAP contains measures for properties with areas of planting and grass. Our site-specific BAPs enable us to manage and enhance biodiversity at properties with varied habitat or species requirements, such as Meadowhall Shopping Centre, Regent’s Place and Teesside Shopping Park.

Our occupiers, community members and employees benefit from improvements our biodiversity initiatives make to the local environment. Many of them also participate in biodiversity activities, for instance installing nesting boxes to encourage bird and bat life.

As part of the Regent’s Place Plan in 2006 we began an experimental green roof design trial. The trial roof was tailored to enhance local ecological value, for instance, by providing an attractive habitat for Black Redstarts, a protected bird species present locally. It was seeded with a cornflower and London-based wildflower meadow mix, and planted with a small number of plug plants for instant ‘greening’. As well as improving biodiversity, green roofs can reduce noise levels, increase the life expectancy of a roof and improve thermal insulation, all of which is good for occupiers.

At Teesside Shopping Park there are six floating islands which provide roosting and nesting areas for waterfowl. There are also Kingfisher perches on the three ponds at the Park, which are used by Kingfishers to search for fish and aquatic insects, nesting in burrows on the river and pond sides. In 2007 the Teesside team is working with Stockton Borough Council to install information boards along the Thornaby trail to raise awareness of biodiversity.

2007 feedback from occupiers

"The opportunity to be able to escape from the pressures of the day, simply by stepping out the back door, and be able to relax in the calm where the only noise is birdsong is a great thought when the stress of the day is building up."

“We welcome British Land’s biodiversity initiatives. The extensive parkland and nature trail make the place a more pleasant area to work in and provide a good space for our people to relax during their lunch breaks so that they come back to work in the afternoon refreshed and revived. They also encourage wildlife and the growth of different habitats which is a good thing for the environment.”