How infrastructure management can be a positive force for nature

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Are we doing enough to protect our planet’s biodiversity? For too long, nature has been seen as a background consideration in development. But that mindset is changing fast. Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements mean businesses throughout the UK must adopt new strategies to address the environmental impact of infrastructure.

At Amey, we see biodiversity not as an obligation but as an opportunity to drive innovation and long-term resilience. It’s a chance to deliver better outcomes for nature, for people, and for the future success of our business.

Nature must be built into the heart of how we plan, design, and deliver infrastructure.

A turning point for nature

Biodiversity is the foundation of a healthy, functioning planet. It sustains the ecosystems we rely on for food, water, clean air, and climate stability. The UK Government has recognised the urgent need to reverse biodiversity loss, and in 2024 it mandated a minimum 10% net gain for new developments under the Environmental Act.

This isn’t just a regulatory change – it’s a signal that nature must be built into the heart of how we plan, design, and deliver infrastructure.

Image of colleagues working — This isn’t just a regulatory change – it’s a signal that nature must be built into the heart of how we plan, design, and deliver infrastructure.

The role of infrastructure: innovating for nature

Businesses like Amey are uniquely positioned to make a difference. Beyond compliance, we can rethink how land is used, how infrastructure supports ecosystems, and how investment in nature delivers measurable value.

One example is Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) credits—a mechanism that allows developers to meet environmental targets by funding nature improvements off-site when on-site enhancements are not possible. This opens up a market-driven approach to restoring habitats, generating new revenue streams while achieving biodiversity uplift.

BNG goes beyond credits, it drives innovation. It’s about designing infrastructure that works with nature, not against it, forging partnerships between Government, industry, and communities, and embedding biodiversity into decision-making at every level, from boardrooms to tangible projects on the ground.

We are transforming how traditional grounds maintenance is delivered.

How Amey is leading the way

At Amey, we are exploring the potential of BNG through a proof-of-concept initiative focused on enhancing communal grounds at a military housing site. Developed in line with BNG principles, the project highlights how infrastructure providers can generate biodiversity units with the potential for future credit creation.

To support this, our biodiversity experts have undertaken a detailed habitat survey to establish a baseline biodiversity score using recognised industry metrics, specifically the Defra 2024 Statutory Biodiversity Metric, in line with BS 8683:2021 and CIRIA’s Good Practice Principles; by rethinking traditional grounds maintenance regimes, we can simultaneously reduce costs and increase biodiversity, all while working towards the realisation of BNG credits.

Planned interventions include woodland management through thinning and restocking, adjusting grass-cutting regimes to encourage natural regeneration, and creating an orchard and wildflower meadow. These efforts are complemented by community engagement initiatives, creating opportunities for families to connect with nature through educational and recreational activities linked to the project.

At our Bramble Woods site, in partnership with e50k, we’ve welcomed 919 event attendees in 2024/25, planted 6,737 plants, and received £80,513 worth of gifts in kind from local businesses. We’ve also had the support of 47 active volunteers, and since 2021, we’ve paid £145,052 in wages to Defence spouses.

Image of family walking in the woodlands — At our Bramble Woods site, in partnership with e50k, we’ve welcomed 919 event attendees in 2024/25, planted 6,737 plants, and received £80,513 worth of gifts in kind from local businesses.

Biodiversity improvements will be quantified using certified metrics, with the aim of achieving formal BNG credit certification. A targeted marketing strategy will support the promotion of these credits to developers seeking to meet their biodiversity obligations.

This initiative aligns closely with the MOD’s Climate Change and Sustainability strategic approach, reinforcing our client’s commitment to sustainable land management. By leveraging BNG legislation as a framework, we are transforming how traditional grounds maintenance is delivered – moving from routine upkeep to proactive nature enhancement.

Aligning biodiversity with broader ESG goals

Amey’s commitment to nature and biodiversity is part of a wider ESG strategy that puts sustainability at the centre of everything we do. Whether it’s achieving net zero, supporting under-represented communities, or building a resilient supply chain – we know that long-term success means doing business differently.

Across our Defence services, we’re developing biodiversity actions plans assigned to specific estate and operational needs. We’re also transitioning our fleet to electric vehicles, embedding circular economy principles with key suppliers, and piloting biodiversity improvements at scale.

Now is the time to set new standards and drive real impact.

From compliance to leadership

The future of infrastructure depends on bold leadership. Now is the time to set new standards, drive real impact, and make biodiversity a cornerstone of business strategy. With the right approach, infrastructure can deliver for nature, people, and bottom lines, demonstrating how environmental responsibility can be embedded into operational delivery while creating measurable, lasting value. Amey will soon be releasing its own Nature Positive Strategy which will set out its commitment to embed Nature Positive principles across all operations, that not only meet regulatory requirements but deliver long-term environmental and economic value.