The UK experienced its wettest 18-month period on record up to March 2024, with England particularly hard hit. Recent weather patterns highlight how unprepared our cities are for the challenges of climate change. Achieving net zero, driving regional growth, and building environmental resilience demands bold action.

Enter EcoBIDs – a transformative idea from Civic inspired by the Business Improvement District (BID) model and our work designing and delivering nature based solutions, to help us weather the storm. EcoBIDs unite businesses to fund vital climate-resilient urban infrastructure, tackling flooding and creating healthier, greener neighbourhoods. By pooling resources and setting clear local objectives, communities can turn tarmac into trees, rooftops into rain gardens, and parking spaces into pocket parks.

At UKREiiF, our CEO Stephen O’Malley brought together key players from across the built environment including Homes England, the Crown Estate, and the Landscape Institute, to explore how EcoBIDs could address flooding issues,  reshape urban areas and provide a more climate resilient future. The roundtable addressed challenges while showcasing successful water catchment collaborations, nature-based solutions, Biodiversity Net Gain, and public-private partnerships as crucial tools for success.

Read a summary of the roundtable conversation here. To discuss further ideas with Stephen or to join our next roundtable discussion contact Katrina Davis at katrina@team-civic.com.