Parsons Brinckerhoff helps deliver London’s first net-positive biodiversity offset scheme for Network Rail
London, United Kingdom (17 December 2013) – UK Environment Secretary, Owen Paterson, launched an innovative biodiversity offset project on Streatham Common in south London today. Such schemes aim to ensure that new natural sites are created or developed when the unavoidable loss of other sites occurs due to development elsewhere.
The project is being led by Network Rail's Thameslink Programme in partnership with London Wildlife Trust and the London Borough of Lambeth, with support from Parsons Brinckerhoff. The scheme will see native species of trees, shrubs and other natural habitat planted at carefully selected areas on Streatham Common. As Streatham Common is both a nature reserve and public park, this scheme will add to the conservation value of Streatham Common and its enjoyment by the public.
As a Defra demonstration project, the project will contribute towards London Wildlife Trust’s aim to restore sections of the Great North Wood, a dense forest which once grew across a large part of south London. In addition to the use of Defra’s new metric for calculating biodiversity loss and the associated level of compensation needed, the project has been designed for the Thameslink Programme to have a net positive impact
Dr Julia Baker, Biodiversity Team Leader at Parsons Brinckerhoff, said: “At Parsons Brinckerhoff we have developed an approach to ensure that biodiversity offsetting is undertaken appropriately and robustly with strict protocols and measures in place. By applying this approach to our work for the Thameslink Programme, careful planning has ensured that this biodiversity offset is being delivered as a partnership among industry, conservation and local government to generate long-term benefits for nature and the neighbouring communities.”
Carlo Laurenzi OBE, Chief Executive of London Wildlife Trust said, “Large development projects such as the new Thameslink service inevitably lead to the loss of some natural habitat, but biodiversity offsetting ensures that nature doesn’t lose out. The creation of new woodland on Streatham Common will provide a rich wildlife environment and improve the park for local residents and visitors.”
Nick Welsh - Parsons Brinckerhoff
Tel: 01483 528568; Mob: 07770 832838; welshn@pbworld.com
Thameslink has a vision for sustainable development ‘by delivering transport benefits to budget that represent value for money and creating an overall positive effect on the community and the environment’. As part of the programme’s commitment to sustainable development, Thameslink has an objective to ‘maintain and enhance biodiversity’ and a target to ‘enhance our habitat footprint to achieve a net biodiversity gain via the mitigation hierarchy,’ in addition to the requirements conditioned on programme through the Transport and Works Act Order.
The Thameslink service, which runs from Bedford to Brighton through central London, is one of the UK’s busiest commuter routes. The Thameslink Programme is Network Rail's largest infrastructure enhancement project at £4.6 billion, which will increase accessibility to, from and within central London by providing longer and more frequent trains.
Thameslink, with support from Parsons Brinckerhoff, applied Defra's new metric to develop the offset as the last stage of its commitment to deliver a net gain in biodiversity in-line with its strict protocols on the ‘mitigation hierarchy’. The Thameslink offset will deliver over 40 biodiversity units of woodland creation and enhancement at Streatham Common and Brockwell Park, which is an important 24ha green space in Lambeth. Lambeth Council is committed to enhancing Streatham Common and, as one of the least wooded boroughs in London, the Thameslink offset will make a significant contribution not just to Streatham Common but also to the Borough.
Parsons Brinckerhoff is a leader in developing and operating infrastructure around the world, with approximately 14,000 employees in 150 offices dedicated to meeting the needs of clients and communities in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Americas, Asia and Australia-Pacific regions. The firm offers skills and resources in strategic consulting, planning, engineering, program/construction management and operations for all modes of infrastructure, including transportation, power, mining, buildings, water and community development projects. Parsons Brinckerhoff is the professional services division of Balfour Beatty, an international infrastructure services organisation that also provides construction services, support services, and infrastructure investments (www.pbworld.com).