SuDS, Ecology & Biodiversity Net Gain Masterclass

SuDS, Ecology & BNG Masterclass 

This masterclass explores how to design SuDS, or influence SuDS design, to optimise benefits to wildlife and how this fits with the new mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements that came into force in early 2024. 

Drawing on decades of dedicated SuDS and ecological design, delivery, guidance and policy-making, we will share industry-leading knowledge and experience in an interactive and engaging masterclass with practical, applied learning activities. 

Who is this masterclass for? 

• Landscape architects: learn how to design SuDS that genuinely creates meaningful habitat and contributes significantly to BNG scoring. 

• Ecologists: learn how to positively influence SuDS design to unlock its potential for wildlife and effectively evaluate SuDS designs within the BNG metric. 

• Engineers: learn how to anticipate the impacts of designing for wildlife on SuDS designs and collaborate with landscape architects and ecologists to unlock the fourth ‘pillar of SuDS’. 

• Planners and council officers: learn the principles of good SuDS design for biodiversity to empower you to enhance policy, guide project objectives and effectively evaluate applications. 

• Anyone else with an interest: All of the above! 

SuDS and wildlife 

The ability of well-designed SuDS to generate valuable habitat for wildlife is one of its core strengths but is sadly often overlooked or poorly designed.   

Now that BNG is a mandatory requirement, this multifunctional quality of SuDS is more tangibly valuable to developers, and sought by planners, than ever. 

The delivery of wildlife benefits in SuDS depends directly on sound core principles of both SuDS and ecological design, combined with careful design detailing, supervised construction and considered maintenance.   

It is not the type of SuDS feature that delivers habitat – a swale for example – but how it has been designed to be protected from pollution, exhibit the correct conditions, contain appropriate plant species, avoid conventional drainage features that K*ll wildlife, and connect to other habitat areas. 

What’s covered in the course? 

• Principles of designing SuDS for ecology 

• Masterplanning for SuDS and ecology 

• Designing, demonstrating and evaluating BNG habitat typologies in SuDS 

• Understanding the SuDS management train and how it impacts landscape conditions relating to habitats 

• Protecting from threats to wildlife  

• Maintenance for SuDS and ecology 

• Case study projects 

• Practical, collaborative design exercises and group discussion. 

Host or Publisher Robert Bray Associates Ltd