BREEAM Infrastructure: Stakeholder Engagement and Ecology on a Linear Project
A 15 km highway improvement scheme is being assessed under BREEAM Infrastructure (formerly CEEQUAL). The project involves widening the carriageway, adding a new junction, and constructing a cycle path. The route passes through a mix of agricultural land, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and a village. The project team has conducted stakeholder engagement, but the local community is concerned about noise, air quality, and loss of green space. The ecology survey found protected species (bats and great crested newts) and ancient woodland that will be partially affected. The client is committed to achieving a 'Very Good' rating. The team is considering using a section of the ancient woodland for a temporary construction compound to save costs. The assessor must advise on how to address the stakeholder concerns and the ecological impacts while meeting the BREEAM Infrastructure requirements.
1. What are the key BREEAM Infrastructure credits related to stakeholder engagement and ecology, and how should the project address the community concerns and ecological impacts?
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Key credits include: Man 01 (Stakeholder engagement), Man 02 (Environmental management), and Ecology credits (e.g., Eco 01, Eco 02, Eco 03, Eco 04). For stakeholder engagement, the project should demonstrate ongoing consultation, including with the local community, and show how feedback has influenced the design. For example, noise barriers or altered working hours could address noise concerns. For ecology, the project should follow the mitigation hierarchy: avoid, mitigate, compensate. The ancient woodland should be avoided if possible; using it as a compound would be unacceptable if it causes damage. The project should implement measures such as bat and newt surveys, habitat creation, and green bridges. The assessor should advise the client to avoid the ancient woodland and find an alternative compound location, as this would likely be required to achieve the ecology credits and maintain stakeholder trust. The project should also consider air quality monitoring and community liaison. The assessor should ensure that the project meets the BREEAM Infrastructure requirements for stakeholder engagement and ecology, which include evidence of consultation and ecological enhancement.
2. How should the assessor evaluate the trade-off between cost savings and ecological impact in the use of ancient woodland for a temporary compound?
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The assessor should evaluate the trade-off by considering the BREEAM Infrastructure principles, which prioritize sustainable development and environmental protection. Using ancient woodland for a temporary compound would likely result in irreversible damage, loss of biodiversity, and negative stakeholder reaction. This would conflict with the ecology credits and potentially the stakeholder engagement credits. The cost savings are short-term, but the long-term environmental and reputational damage could be significant. The assessor should advise that the ancient woodland is avoided and that alternative sites are sought. If no alternative exists, the project must demonstrate that the compound will not cause lasting harm and that compensation measures are in place, but this is unlikely to meet the higher ratings. The assessor should also consider the client's commitment to 'Very Good' and whether this decision aligns with that goal. The assessor should recommend a cost-benefit analysis that includes environmental and social costs, and advise the client to choose the option that minimizes ecological impact, even at a higher cost.