Delivering Network Rail’s Biodiversity Plan Across the Eastern Region

Project Overview

Network Rail, one of the UK’s largest landowners, manages 6,000 km of railway track and more than 15,000 hectares of land across its Eastern Region—stretching from London to the Scottish border.

Recognising its responsibility to protect and enhance biodiversity across this vast estate, Network Rail were set ambitious targets by The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) and Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to achieve no net loss in biodiversity by 2024 and deliver a 10% biodiversity net gain by 2035.

To help realise these goals, Network Rail commissioned The Wildlife Trusts Consultancies to develop and deliver a biodiversity plan. EMEC was appointed to lead the project, drawing upon our ecological expertise, proven delivery capabilities, and ability to engage stakeholders on a national scale.

The Challenge

The Eastern Region represents one of the largest and most complex parts of Network Rail’s estate, incorporating:

• Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
• Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Delivering a coherent biodiversity strategy across such an extensive and ecologically diverse area required overcoming several challenges:

• Coordinating biodiversity planning across 6,000 km of track
• Engaging a wide range of stakeholders, including conservation charities, local authorities, and major landowners
• Gathering accurate ecological data to inform long-term management

Network Rail needed a partner capable of combining specialist ecological knowledge with strong stakeholder engagement to produce meaningful and practical biodiversity plans.

The Solution

EMEC led a collaborative delivery model alongside four other Wildlife Trust Consultancies (EcoNorth, Future Nature, Wildscapes, and Wilder Ecology). Together, we assembled a dedicated project team consisting of:

• Eight ecologists
• A dedicated engagement manager
• A project manager
• The reach and expertise of 16 local Wildlife Trusts

The engagement manager spearheaded stakeholder involvement through tailored webinars and surveys, focusing on land within a 1 km buffer of the railway. This approach engaged more than 1,700 stakeholders, including landowners, conservation organisations, and local authorities—ensuring that local knowledge was embedded into the strategy.

Using ecological surveys, GIS mapping, and stakeholder input, EMEC and partners developed:

• Habitat Management Plans (HMPs)
• Sectional Asset Plans (SAPs)
• Biodiversity Asset Plans (BAsPs)

These outputs provided Network Rail with the tools and insight needed to integrate biodiversity enhancement into long-term management and investment decisions.

The Outcome

The project demonstrated how national coordination, and local expertise can be combined to deliver large-scale biodiversity improvements.

Key achievements include:

• Engaging 1,700+ stakeholders across 16 counties
• Mapping biodiversity-rich sites across 6,000 km of railway
• Producing actionable, locally informed habitat management strategies

By embedding ecological and conservation expertise into its long-term planning, Network Rail’s Eastern Region is now well positioned to meet its biodiversity net gain target by 2035.

Why EMEC?

This project demonstrated EMEC’s proven expertise in delivering large-scale and complex biodiversity programmes. Our team combined scientific knowledge with hands-on habitat management experience, enabling us to design and implement practical, effective solutions.

By engaging stakeholders at every stage, we ensured the outcomes are locally relevant and sustainable.

We brought added value through our ability to:

• Establish biodiversity baselines and apply innovative GIS mapping
• Develop clear frameworks, templates, and systems to support consistent delivery
• Harness technology to streamline monitoring and reporting
• Integrate ecological knowledge with pragmatic land management strategies

The successful delivery of this project has reinforced EMEC’s reputation as a trusted partner, helping organisations to achieve ambitious biodiversity goals while driving collaboration, innovation, and positive environmental change.