There is a challenge in providing new homes while also protecting our precious wildlife and beautiful countryside.

However, recent developments in the UK and abroad have shown new developments can improve the environment, reduce carbon emissions and improve local biodiversity. There are significant opportunities to learn from these developments including embracing the latest innovations in housing designs as well as exploring how renewable energy can be captured and reused at the Garden Communities.

It is now a national requirement to ensure all new development results in a ‘net gain’ of biodiversity. However, the Garden Community presents an opportunity for us to go far beyond the bare minimum for example by transforming large areas of agricultural land into ‘rewilded’ woodland and other natural habitats.

We have policies set out to ensure that design and infrastructure for the Garden Community will incorporate the highest standards of innovation in energy efficiency and technology to reduce the impact of climate change, ensure water efficiency, and implement sustainable waste / recycling management facilities.

We will ensure the new development does not have an adverse effect on any European Protected or nationally important site and that it complies with environmental legislation.