Stantec’s work with Wokingham Borough Council and Balfour Beatty acknowledged for contributing to biodiversity net gains and mitigating impact on local wildlife and habitats
09/17/2021 UNITED KINGDOM TSX, NYSE:STN
The Arborfield Cross Relief Road project has been named as winner of the Innovation Award at the 2021 CIRIA Big Biodiversity Challenge Awards. Stantec was appointed design consultant for the Wokingham Borough Council project and worked with contractors Balfour Beatty to deliver the scheme. The Department for Transport and Local Enterprise Partnership provided funding.
The Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) launched the BIG Biodiversity Challenge in 2013 to invite the construction industry to add at least one new biodiversity enhancement to construction sites, developments or existing buildings. The Awards recognise and celebrate these enhancements and how they help the industry to reconnect with nature.
The winning project, a 2.3km single carriageway bypassing Aborfield Cross in Wokingham, included a green bridge to mitigate impacts on local wildlife, habitat and to contribute to biodiversity net gains.
Stantec designed the green bridge to mitigate for the loss of bat commuting habitat and devised an innovative monitoring survey methodology with the use of a 3D modelling to determine alterations in bat flight paths before and after the construction of the green bridge. New woodland and hedgerow planting on the bridge was also used to link existing woodland parcels and provide a crossing point for badgers. CIRIA heralded the innovative approach to monitoring of the green bridge and praised the commitment to post-construction monitoring using a scientifically robust survey protocol.
Accepting the award, Rachel Manning, Senior Associate Ecologist, Stantec, said, ‘We are thrilled that the Arborfield Relief Road project has been given the Innovation Award. Stantec is passionate about prioritising biodiversity in design and we worked collaboratively with a great team from Balfour Beatty and Wokingham Borough Council to devise this innovative monitoring approach, with the hopes that it will help inform future green bridge design guidance and scheme development. It is an honour that this project has been recognised by the CIRIA BIG Biodiversity Challenge Awards.”
Another project singled out for recognition during the awards was ’Biodiversity at Green Park’. This focused on the Green Park Biodiversity Management Plan; a plan written by Stantec and implemented by the Green Park landscape management team. Stantec has supported Green Park in achieving the Wildlife Trust’s Biodiversity Benchmark Award and the associated audit and management reporting to maintain that Award. Submitted to the BIG Biodiversity Challenge Awards by owners, Mapletree Investment, the Green Park project won the Biodiversity Legacy Award and also received Highly Commended as runner up in the overall #BIGChallenge category.
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Media Contact
Jody Prescott
Stantec Media Relations
Ph: (44) 1189-520670
jody.prescott@stantec.com
Arborfield Cross Relief Road