Forthcoming regulations will impact how developments are built.

An EU policy to reduce soil threats such as landslides and floods will limit the amount of concrete used on surfaces. “This will restrict city expansion, and particularly impact the design of logistics space,” says Kelly.

From early 2024, the UK’s Biodiversity Net Gain legislation will require new developments to leave biodiversity in a better state than before. 

However, with 80 percent of UK buildings that will exist in 2050 already built, there has been a push for stronger guidance and frameworks to address nature-positivity for the existing built environment and the sector more broadly.

A raft of new global guidance on nature has emerged in the last 12 months including the final Taskforce on Nature Related Financial Disclosure (TNFD) recommendations for nature-related risk management and disclosure, and science-based targets for nature which provide specific sector guidance to help businesses set relevant targets around nature.

Key to the built environment is guidance towards a nature-positive future from Business for Nature. These all provide frameworks, metrics and recommendations on how businesses can take action from understanding risk to setting targets and taking credible action.

“It is great to see greater consensus and guidance on what action the built environment can take to accelerate a just transition to a nature-positive, resilient, net-zero future. We still need pioneering measures at a city level to inform strong legislation,” says Skeldon.

City governments that develop voluntary public-private partnerships have an edge in driving large-scale innovation that can guide urban planning in other cities.

“Biodiversity is critical for cities to address if they are to build resilience against the climate impacts that could make them unliveable,” says Kelly. “Those with true collaborations between the public and private sectors will be better placed to develop robust frameworks of funding, incentives, education and advocacy that can drive city-level change and encourage stakeholders to proactively contribute to sustainability targets.”