Green infrastructure
A fifth of London’s wards require regeneration, 42 locations are designated as areas for growth and London’s population is predicted to grow to about 8.5 million by 2026.
As 20th century models of urban development become increasingly unsustainable, London will require continued improvement to its public transport infrastructure, new digital infrastructure and a network of green infrastructure.
London’s existing arrangement of parks and greenspaces are a legacy of an era when their primary function was recreation and protection of heritage – both of which are important and still valid purposes. But as the demographics and economy of the city changes, new layouts and management approaches are required to accommodate the need to promote walking and cycling, to allow wildlife to move and disperse, to accommodate the impacts of climate change and provide space for relaxation and contemplation.
Our concept of green infrastructure encourages planners, green space managers, landscape designers and others to think about the role and function of the greenspace network and how these functions can be enhanced by understanding the network as a whole rather than a series of spaces.
Current Projects and Initiatives
| Green Grid | |
|---|---|
| Summary description | Green Grid is London’s expression of green infrastructure. It provides the policy, strategy and framework for delivery of green infrastructure in London. The initial focus of Green Grid was in East London to coincide with the regeneration and renewal opportunities afforded by the Olympics and Thames Gateway. However, the current iteration of the London Plan has indicated that the concept of green infrastructure as described by Green Grid should be applied across London. |
| Latest update/progress | There is now a green infrastructure policy in the draft review of the London Plan and this will be amplified by green infrastructure supplementary planning guidance. East London Green Grid is at the implementation stage. A strategy for All London Green Grid is being developed by Design for London, GLA, Natural England, Environment Agency and others. |
| Supporting documents from NE | |
| Further information/web-links | East London Green Grid Primer (PDF)
East London Green Grid SPG (PDF)
East London Green Grid Area Frameworks |
| Natural development | |
|---|---|
| Summary description | A Natural Development is an initiative that aims to demonstrate that green infrastructure can be incorporated into developments across all scales and that the contribution of the natural environment in regeneration can move from traditional landscaping to one of providing vital spaces for people, wildlife, health, wellbeing, and climate change adaptation. The Natural Development project will provide a focus for our engagement with real sites and enable us to practically demonstrate positive planning with developers. It will work to highlight opportunities and overcome barriers to success and enable sharing of best practice to support the mainstreaming of green infrastructure in development and regeneration. |
| Latest update/progress | Natural Development was promoted at Ecobuild. |
| Supporting documents from NE | Natural Development |
| Further information/web-links | Sustainable Cities Green roofs |
| Design for Biodiversity | |
|---|---|
| Summary description | Design for Biodiversity (D4B) is an initiative that aims to bring about productive discussions between developers and ecologists that will help the plan for the needs of wildlife in design and management of new buildings and their associated public realm. Hosted by the London Wildlife Trust (LWT) it is in part it web-based resource aims to bring all of the necessary designs, innovations and expertise together under one roof. However it is much more than this being a means of forming and promoting partnerships between architects, landscape architects and ecologists to produce exemplar wildlife-friendly design that the wider development community will want to buy into. |
| Latest update/progress | A review of the website is in progress. |
| Supporting documents from NE | Design for Biodiversity |
| Further information/web-links | London Peregrines London Swifts |
| Victoria Partnership | |
|---|---|
| Summary description | Natural London are working with the Victoria Business Improvement District (BID), a partnership of local businesses within London Victoria SW1, together with the GLA, London Underground, Westminster Council , the Tree Design Action Group and London Climate Change Partnership on a green infrastructure project for the Victoria area. |
| Latest update/progress | Natural England have advised the Victoria BID on the specification of a baseline survey of existing green infrastructure within the Victoria area and the potential to retrofit new and additional green infrastructure in the area. The survey is being paid for by the Victoria BID partnership.
Natural England is currently looking to develop the second-stage of this project by securing additional external funding in conjunction with the GLA to undertake a more detailed study and analysis of the surface water drainage issues impacting upon the Victoria area. This work is intended to then lead to a detailed proposal to incorporate additional green infrastructure to mitigate the impacts of this. Further aspects of the study which are still at the scoping stage are baseline attitudinal survey, air quality and temperature studies. |
| Supporting documents from NE | |
| Further information/web-links | Victoria Partnership - Clean and Green |
