WATES LAUNCHES WATES WILDSCAPE

Dedicated to supporting nature to thrive
Providing a range of high-quality off-site BNG units

Wates Wildscape, a new business dedicated to delivering high-quality biodiversity habitat sites across the UK, has been launched by Wates. Representing a bold step in Wates’ drive to lead the way in sustainable land promotion, Wates Wildscape provides a vital solution for new developments that are unable to meet their Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) planning obligations.

Drawing on Wates’ deep understanding of the land development process, Wates Wildscape has been created to respond to the ongoing challenges and frustrations faced by developers struggling to navigate BNG. By combining expertise in planning, development and land promotion with Wates’ purpose and passion for sustainability, Wates Wildscape offers developers a trusted and reliable solution to fulfilling planning obligations while also contributing to long-term conservation and stewardship.

Wates Wildscape’s first habitat site in Ashurst sits in Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and the High Weald National Character Area. The team will turn the 17-hectare site from poor quality agricultural land into a wild and thriving landscape of grasslands, scrub, hedgerows, wet woodlands and ponds, creating over 105 BNG units for sale in the process. Bordering the River Medway, the site will also benefit from high-quality riparian planting providing much-needed watercourse units while also improving localised water quality.

Olivia Dear, Sustainability and Wates Wildscape Director at Wates Land and Development said:
“We are acutely aware that nature is struggling, and we want to play a more direct part in helping it recover. Wates Wildscape is our way of reimagining the balance between housing and habitats. It gives us a platform to use our expertise in strategic land promotion to deliver credible solutions that really work, both for nature and developers. The government has set an ambitious target for growth through building 1.5 million new homes, schools and other critical infrastructure. By creating off-site, nature-based BNG solutions, we are providing high quality, assured and sustainable options for the industry to meet its obligations and ultimately, ensure nature thrives.”

David Brocklebank, Executive Managing Director of Wates Land and Development said:
“Wates Wildscape is much more than a business initiative; it is an integral part of our sustainability strategy. We are combining our strategic land expertise, our commitment to the environment and our expert knowledge of planning and development to help our sector meet environmental targets whilst also supporting local nature recovery.

“We are fully invested in ensuring the BNG market functions properly, to improve the world around us for future generations. We look forward to completing our first habitat site and will be bringing additional sites to market in the near future. Each habitat will be designed to enhance its natural surroundings and will support our company promises of working to ensure that places, the planet and people can thrive.”

To find out more about the new Wates Wildscape solution, get in touch via: land@wates.co.uk or visit the Wates Wildscape website.