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Case Study

Meon Vale

BNG Ecology

Client: St Modwen Homes

Sector: Mixed use Developments

Tyler Grange supported St Modwen Homes on the delivery of Meon Vale, a flagship 190ha mixed-use development at Long Marston comprising over 1,000 homes, public open space and leisure facilities. The site was a former MoD brownfield location with largely low ecological value but with notable constraints, including protected species (water vole, bats, great crested newts) and modified watercourses. The brief was to embed ecological design into the green infrastructure strategy, delivering measurable biodiversity net gain while enabling development, managing contamination constraints, and creating a high-quality environment for future residents.

Our team:

Julian Arthur – Technical Director Ecology

Anneliese Walker – Landscape Director

Charlotte Eva-Fenton – Associate Ecologist

Strategy

A collaborative, evidence-led approach was adopted, working closely with Warwickshire Ecology Service, the Environment Agency and Natural England. The scheme was one of the first to apply Warwickshire’s pilot biodiversity metric to demonstrate quantifiable gains. Key interventions included:

  • Creation of over 4ha of wetland habitat and wildflower meadows
  • Re-meandering 550m of watercourse and restoring culverted channels
  • Delivery of floodplain and SuDS features integrated with ecological design
  • Enhancement of woodland structure and improved public access
  • Targeted species mitigation including water vole translocation and bat roost creatio

A robust Ecological Management Plan (secured via S106) ensures long-term habitat management and adaptability.

Challenges

  • Delivering biodiversity enhancements on a contaminated, low-value brownfield site
  • Balancing flood risk management and development land take with ecological
    objectives
  • Managing protected species constraints, including complex translocation and
    licensing requirements
  • Coordinating multiple stakeholders to agree an innovative, metric-led approach

Despite this, the scheme delivered a ~38% biodiversity net gain, with monitoring confirming habitats are meeting or progressing towards target condition. The site now supports a diverse range of species, including rare and notable birds and bat populations, while providing a high-quality green infrastructure network that enhances place-making and long-term value.