Beyond Compliance: Leading the Next Chapter of Biodiversity in Infrastructure
Matt Tompsett, Head of Sustainability, Kier Infrastructure
As the UK’s infrastructure sector continues to evolve, biodiversity is no longer a peripheral consideration—it is becoming a defining measure of project success. Over the past decade, the bar has been steadily raised through legislation such as Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in England. Yet, through my experience as a long-standing member of the CIRIA Biodiversity Community of Practice (CoP), one thing is clear: the most impactful projects are those that go beyond compliance.
The CoP plays a vital role in enabling this ambition. It brings together practitioners across infrastructure, ecology, planning, academia, and policy to share knowledge, challenge convention, and accelerate best practice. My contribution—as both a sustainability leader and active CoP member—has always been rooted in bridging sectors. By sharing learning from highways, construction, urban regeneration, and utilities, we help ensure that innovation in one area is rapidly applied in others. This cross-pollination is critical if we are to deliver meaningful, scalable gains for biodiversity.
Moving Beyond Minimum Standards
Compliance should be seen as the starting point—not the destination. The projects recognised through the Biodiversity Challenge Awards consistently demonstrate what’s possible when teams push beyond statutory requirements. Whether it’s delivering habitat connectivity that extends well beyond site boundaries, or embedding biodiversity into early design thinking rather than treating it as a late-stage mitigation exercise, these projects redefine expectations.
The key lesson here is leadership. Project teams that succeed are those willing to ask a different question: what does nature need from us here—not just what is required of us?
Designing for Long-Term Value
One of the most important themes championed through both the CoP and the Awards is the need to think long-term. Biodiversity interventions are not one-off deliverables; they are living systems that require ongoing stewardship.
Too often, projects succeed in the short term but falter due to inadequate maintenance or funding strategies. The best examples, however, take a whole-life approach—embedding management plans, securing funding, and aligning responsibilities well beyond project completion. This is where collaboration becomes essential, particularly with asset owners, local authorities, and communities who will ultimately inherit these landscapes.
Small Interventions, Big Impact
A common misconception is that biodiversity enhancement requires large areas of land. In reality, some of the most compelling projects demonstrate the opposite. Small, well-designed interventions—green verges, living walls, pollinator corridors—can create vital stepping stones for wildlife, particularly within urban environments where space is limited.
Within the CoP, we regularly share examples that showcase how constrained sites can still deliver meaningful biodiversity outcomes. These projects remind us that scale is not just about size—it’s about connectivity and intent.
Reimagining Infrastructure as Ecological Networks
One of the most exciting developments in recent years has been the shift towards integrating biodiversity across the full breadth of infrastructure. Roads, railways, drainage systems, and public spaces are increasingly being recognised not just as functional assets, but as components of wider ecological networks.
This systems-thinking approach is central to the CoP’s work. By sharing case studies and lessons learned, we are helping the industry move from isolated interventions to connected landscapes—where infrastructure actively supports nature recovery.
Unlocking Biodiversity in Urban Environments
Urban areas remain one of the most challenging contexts for biodiversity delivery—but also one of the most important. Delivering space for nature within dense, highly constrained environments requires creativity, collaboration, and a willingness to challenge traditional design assumptions.
The projects that stand out are those that embrace multifunctionality—where biodiversity is integrated alongside flood management, active travel, placemaking, and climate resilience. These schemes demonstrate that with the right mindset, biodiversity is not a constraint on development but a driver of better outcomes.
People at the Heart of Success
At the core of every successful biodiversity project are people. The Biodiversity Challenge Awards rightly recognise the individuals and teams who make these outcomes possible—often going above and beyond to overcome constraints and deliver real change.
Equally important is the role of communities. Genuine engagement builds ownership, supports long-term stewardship, and ensures that projects deliver benefits beyond ecology—enhancing health, wellbeing, and local identity. Nature-rich places are not just better for wildlife; they are better for people.
The Role of the CoP: Sharing, Challenging, Leading
Through my involvement in the CIRIA Biodiversity Community of Practice, I have seen firsthand the power of shared knowledge. By bringing together diverse perspectives, we challenge each other to think differently and raise the standard of what “good” looks like.
My role within the CoP has been to contribute practical insights from infrastructure delivery while learning from others working in very different contexts. This exchange is invaluable—it ensures that innovation is not siloed and that we collectively move faster towards a more nature-positive built environment.
A Collective Responsibility
As we look ahead, the direction of travel is clear. Biodiversity must be embedded at the heart of how we plan, design, and deliver infrastructure. The Biodiversity Challenge Awards provide a powerful platform to showcase what is possible—and to inspire the wider industry to follow.
But recognition is only part of the story. The real challenge—and opportunity—is to make this level of ambition the norm.
By continuing to collaborate, share knowledge, and support one another through forums like the CIRIA CoP, we can accelerate progress and ensure that infrastructure plays a defining role in reversing biodiversity loss.