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Identifying the Value of Regenerative Development

A whole-systems approach to the built environment emphasises the connections between all its various components – energy, buildings, transport, ecosystems, people, water, waste and so on.

The value and opportunities we can derive from regenerative development are directly related to how far we are prepared to integrate those components.  That is, the more connected a built environment is, the more it will facilitate and support a whole-systems approach to development.  For example, the more interactions between buildings and transport, or infrastructure and buildings are recognised, the more they will be built upon for even more effective planning.  More effective planning then leads to more sustainable outcomes for the built environment.  This is known as a virtuous cycle, where positive actions are reinforced through feedback.

Table 2 shows some of the major benefits regenerative development delivers, compared with the business-as-usual approaches of conventional and eco-efficient design.  The benefits are expressed qualitatively rather than quantitatively because more work needs to be done to measure their economic value.

Table 2: Environmental, economic, social and cultural benefits

Read a description of this table

Conventional Eco-efficiency Regeneration Benefits of eco-efficient and regenerative design approaches Environmental Economic Social Cultural
 
x
1. Works within current mode of thinking.
x
 
x
x
 2. Reduced environmental impact.
x
x
x
x
 
x
x
 3. Increased human physical health.
x
x
x
x
 
x
x
 4. Increased psychological well-being.
x
x
x
x
 
x
x
 5. Reduced economic costs (over life cycle).
x
x
 
x
x
 6. Increased economic value of project.
x
x
 
x
x
 7. Increased innovation in projects.
x
x
 
x
 8. Positive environmental outcomes.
x
x
x
x
 
x
 9. Building/development becomes a potential source of income.
x
x
 
x
 10. Changing relationship to nature.  ‘Deeper and more enduring’.
x
x
x
 
x
 11. Manageable and strategic approach to global issues such as climate change through a place-based approach.
x
x
x
 
x
 12. More integrated and therefore accurate knowledge of place.
x
x
x
x
 
x
 13. Mutually beneficial relationships are created between people and place.
x
x
x
 
x
 14. Increased robustness, flexibility and adaptability in the built environment.
x
x
x
x
 
x
 15. Creates stronger, more equitable communities.
x
x
x
x
 
x
 16. Increased creation and celebration of rituals of place.
x
x
x

The blue boxes on the right of the table show whether each benefit has environmental, social, economic and/or cultural dimensions.  For example, the first benefit – works within current mode of thinking – is largely an economic benefit, while benefit seven – increased innovation in projects – has both social and cultural dimensions.

It is expected that, while eco-efficient design shares up to seven of the same benefits as regenerative development, the benefits would be more pronounced with the latter.

Table 2 shows that the only benefit regenerative development does not deliver is that it works outside the current mode of thinking on design, and economic and legal frameworks.  There may therefore be an initial delay as people develop their understanding of the new way of working, and this could have economic impacts if it extended a project’s timeframe.

Proponents of the shift to regenerative development advocate that the possibility of additional short-term economic cost is no reason not to act, for two main reasons.  First, the true economic and environmental costs of business-as-usual development are often hidden, but will still need to be paid for some time in the future.  Second, there are significant benefits of moving to a place-based way of thinking that sees human development as a way to improve ecosystem health and create stronger, healthier and more equitable communities.  It is also a potentially useful strategic response to climate change.