HOUSING PROVIDER (SOUTH )
Paradigm Housing Group, a leading provider of affordable housing, embarked on a project to enhance biodiversity across its extensive estate. With over 16,000 homes and numerous communal gardens, amenity spaces, and diverse land types under its management, Paradigm is committed to maintaining and improving its environmental impact in line with its Biodiversity Policy and Environmental Sustainability Strategy.
The primary goal of this project was to establish a comprehensive biodiversity baseline for Paradigm’s natural capital, including amenity spaces, habitats, and hedgerows. This baseline assessment was designed to support Paradigm's new Grounds Maintenance contract and guide future improvements to ensure compliance with Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements. The project also aimed to explore opportunities for generating offsite Biodiversity Units and cost mitigation for new developments within its existing land holdings.
The project aimed to establish baseline data through a thorough survey of Paradigm’s estate, assessing the current biodiversity value using Defra’s Statutory Biodiversity Metric. By identifying improvement opportunities, we sought to propose actionable plans for biodiversity enhancements and create a detailed improvement plan with clear outcomes and KPIs. This process also aimed to support Paradigm’s sustainability goals by providing a robust process to evaluate, create and sustain Biodiversity Units and provide a solid foundation for reliable public disclosures on nature-based ESG reporting.
Our methodology involved a multi-phase approach. Initially, we conducted extensive surveys and data collection across Paradigm’s diverse land types. Practical methodologies ensured comprehensive coverage and accurate data collection, prioritising areas based on biodiversity potential and current ecological value. We then analysed the collected data to establish the baseline biodiversity value and modelled potential biodiversity unit gains.
Developing the improvement plan involved outlining specific actions, responsible parties, and timelines. We included plans for monitoring and managing suggested biodiversity gains to ensure long-term sustainability. Stakeholder engagement was crucial; we worked closely with Paradigm’s leadership to ensure alignment with organisational goals and secure necessary approvals.
The project delivered several key outputs. We conducted comprehensive site surveys on 11 priority sites, capturing and identifying site opportunities, considerations, and habitats.
We created detailed Gain Plans for five high-potential sites, outlining landscape layouts, intervention implementations, monitoring, and management requirements.
Multiple workshops were conducted to understand Paradigm’s processes, assess the scale of the survey, and inform KPI targets. These sessions provided strategic insights and guidance for further actions.
A tool was developed to enable Paradigm to evaluate the indicative biodiversity gain potential of any given site based on the results from the priority site samples. Additionally, we created a comprehensive toolkit to help Paradigm staff evaluate potential, design interventions, and implement Improvement Plans. This included a process guide, design guide, and template for landscape-based interventions.
Suitable measures and KPIs were identified to assist with target setting and ESG reporting, ensuring that Paradigm can track and demonstrate improvements effectively.
The Biodiversity Net Gain Baseline Study for Paradigm Housing Group exemplifies our commitment to enhancing biodiversity and supporting sustainable development. Through meticulous data collection, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement, we have laid the groundwork for Paradigm to achieve its environmental sustainability goals and leave a positive legacy for the communities it serves.