After completing the training course and case study assessment, Amanda Taylor – a Director in our Placemaking team – was over the moon to qualify as a Building with Nature (BwN) Approved Assessor. This enables her to support clients in achieving a BwN Accreditation for their nature-friendly schemes and development, and qualifies her to assess layouts by others to see if they make the grade.
Building with Nature puts nature at the heart of new development in a way that’s good for people and for wildlife. It does this through 12 Standards, which provide evidence-based, how-to guidance on delivering high-quality green infrastructure.
To enable developers to show they have met the Standards, an accreditation scheme is managed through the network of Building with Nature Assessors. The scheme uses the BwN Standards to recognise development projects which to go beyond the statutory requirements to deliver more for people and wildlife.
Through a BwN accreditation, developers and other built environment professionals can show their commitment to the design and delivery of high-quality green infrastructure. It can also help reduce planning uncertainty for developers while engaging local communities and attracting those who value the benefits of living with nature.
The Standards can be applied to every type and scale of project, and from residential and commercial projects to community infrastructure development. Amanda’s Building with Nature Assessor status means she is qualified to provide clients with the support and guidance they need to put their project forward for a BwN accreditation.
Commenting on her new qualification, Amanda said: “There’s no doubt about the importance of green infrastructure to people and wildlife alike. From a placemaking perspective, Building with Nature sets the standards to show ‘what good looks like’ – these standards are helping improve physical development for people, wildlife and the climate. It’s also important to continually raise the bar in professional practice, which is why I’m thrilled to be part of this valuable network of Building with Nature Assessors.”
