From 9 to 20 November, COP31 will take place in Antalya, Türkiye, with Australia leading the negotiations under a shared presidency. A global climate summit can feel far removed from a site appraisal in Leeds or a masterplan in Kent. But the direction proposed at COP often shows up in UK policy, investor expectations and planning requirements not long afterwards. Here’s what developers should be watching, and what you can do about it now.
What’s on the agenda?
Expect a practical summit. COP31 is promised to focus on implementation and climate finance, with follow-up on the fossil fuel transition and deforestation roadmaps launched under COP30.
For the construction and development sector, the spotlight is clear. The COP31 Presidency has included building decarbonisation and resilience among its ten priorities, and work is under way on an Antalya Buildings Pact. GlobalABC will also host a Buildings and Cooling Pavilion, bringing governments, industry and finance together to discuss how the sector delivers on climate goals.
Adaptation and nature: the thread from COP30
Held in Lisbon, Portugal, COP30 laid the foundation for committing to triple adaptation finance by 2035, and countries approved 59 voluntary indicators to track progress on adaptation. The indicators are voluntary and don’t create legal obligations; however, they point in one direction: resilience is becoming measurable. Industry commentators also noted clearer recognition of the role of nature in the built environment. Find out more about COP30 and the key outcomes here: COP30 in Belém: Key Outcomes and What They Enable Next +2
For developers, the message is that nature, climate-proofing and carbon are increasingly being considered together rather than as separate phases of a project.
Why it matters for UK schemes
Developers should see COP31 as a domino effect on day-to-day practices, with one big decision trickling down to new legislation, operations, and key considerations during project planning. The UK’s 2035 target is to cut all greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81% compared with 1990 levels, and one industry estimate suggests around 25% of UK emissions come from the built environment.
At the same time, the nature side of the planning system is moving quickly:
- The Planning and Infrastructure Act became law on 18 December 2025 and sets up a Nature Restoration Fund across England and Wales. Secondary legislation was laid before Parliament on 18 June 2026.
- Biodiversity Net Gain requirements for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects are confirmed from November 2026.
- Further BNG changes are planned in phases over the second half of 2026.
- The new Nature Restoration Levy doesn’t relieve developers of their BNG obligations.
COP31 won’t change these rules overnight. What it does is reinforce the direction of travel: environmental evidence is expected earlier, and treated as part of good design rather than a late-stage compliance task.
Planning ahead
Our advice is to keep things practical:
- Start early. Ecological input at the feasibility and masterplanning stage is the most cost-effective way to protect a site’s value and avoid costly redesign later.
- Design in resilience. Flood risk, drainage and green infrastructure now sit alongside biodiversity in many briefs.
- Keep BNG flexible. With the rules still being adjusted, consider your on-site and off-site options before your Biodiversity Net Gain Plan is fixed.
- Check how the requirements fit together. The Nature Restoration Fund and BNG are separate obligations and need to be planned side by side.
- Review once the outcome is known. Final COP31 decisions won’t be confirmed until 20 November, so it’s worth revisiting your pipeline afterwards.
How Thomson can help
At Thomson, we offer developers a one-stop route through the environmental side of a scheme. Our ecologists provide Preliminary Ecological Appraisals and Biodiversity Net Gain assessments, supported by our award-winning geospatial team for accurate, rapid calculations. Our habitat management specialists can then deliver the habitats on the ground, from wildflower meadows to ponds and native planting, so what’s designed on paper is achievable in practice.
Dan Reynolds, Thomson’s Director of Business Development says: “For developers, the key takeaway from COP31 is likely to be a focus on preparedness rather than waiting for policy changes. The businesses that succeed in the future will be those that build biodiversity, climate resilience and sustainability into project planning from the outset, rather than trying to address them later in the consenting process”.
Get in touch to discuss how the changing policy picture affects your next project.
