The Building with Nature Standards is a framework of holistic design principles and the UK's first green infrastructure benchmark. Building with Nature Practitioners have a proactive approach to designing and delivering climate-positive development that balances the needs of people and wildlife, now and long into the future. By applying the Building with Nature Standards, via policy and directly to development plans, we can more effectively and consistently work with industry to bring forward development that responds to location and context and commits to management and maintenance.

This evidence-based approach helps to reduce planning uncertainty by establishing a shared framework of principles of what constitutes high-quality green infrastructure that responds to local context and character. The Building with Nature Approach is also a story-telling vehicle, creating narratives that engage local communities and local authorities and demonstrate the benefits of a living with nature design approach, linked to best practice guidance and case studies.
 

The Standards have been developed in partnership with both industry and local authorities. They have been tested and refined in multiple locations from Cornwall to Inverness, and early adopters range from inner city regeneration projects to new settlements, both residential and commercial development. We know that Building with Nature can deliver multiple benefits to both people and the natural world in a range of contexts.
 

To enable developers to demonstrate that they have met the Building with Nature Standards, we offer formal Accreditation for both policy and development. The first step to achieve a Building with Nature Award is to work with an Approved Assessor. Building with Nature Assessors work collaboratively with the project team to deliver high-quality green infrastructure that is good for people and wildlife.