Overview 

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Located within a densely urban area, the project aimed to balance the delivery of new homes with meaningful environmental enhancements. Existing trees and green spaces were recognised as key ecological assets, forming the foundation of the site’s biodiversity value.

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TMA worked collaboratively with the wider design team to assess existing habitats and tree stock, informing the layout of new buildings, open spaces and planting proposals. Ecological surveys and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessments were undertaken alongside detailed arboricultural input to ensure a coordinated approach to landscape design.

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Challenges

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Delivering biodiversity improvements within a compact urban development presented several challenges. Mature trees represented the most valuable habitats on site and required careful integration within the proposed layout.

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Achieving measurable Biodiversity Net Gain while maintaining realistic habitat proposals was also essential. The design needed to accommodate residential density, public accessibility and construction constraints, while protecting existing trees and providing space for new planting.

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Our Approach

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TMA’s arboricultural team prepared Arboricultural Impact Assessments, Tree Retention and Removal Plans, and Tree Protection Plans in accordance with BS 5837:2012 – Trees in Relation to Design, Demolition and Construction. Technical advice was provided throughout the design process on root protection areas, canopy management and construction constraints.

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Working closely with the ecology team, tree data and canopy cover were incorporated into the BNG calculations using TMA’s in-house GIS platform, MyTrees. This enabled efficient mapping of tree assets alongside other habitats and supported optimisation of biodiversity outcomes.

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Outcomes

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The scheme successfully integrates tree retention, new planting and habitat creation within a dense urban redevelopment. Biodiversity units increase from 1.14 baseline units to a predicted 1.94 units, demonstrating measurable ecological improvement.

A coordinated approach to arboriculture and ecology has helped preserve important trees, guide targeted planting and support the creation of green corridors such as the Woodland Walk, contributing to a greener and more resilient neighbourhood.

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