Paul Roebuck, one of our London based ecologists, takes you through some basics on green infrastructure in the UK and highlights some really interesting projects we have worked on and exciting future developments.
The slides cover legislation, mitigation, habitat creation, ecology impact assessments and green roofs and walls.
4. What is Green Infrastructure?
“GI represents an approach to land use
that has a critical role in meeting many of
the challenges we face [social,
environmental and economic].
It achieves this through its multifunctional
and connected nature and is underpinned
by the concept of ecosystem services, an
approach which recognises the many
benefits that are generated by natural
ecosystems”
Landscape Institute
5. What is Green Infrastructure?
“GI is a strategically planned and
delivered network of high quality green
spaces and other environmental
features.
It should be designed and managed
as a multifunctional resource
capable of delivering a wide range of
environmental and quality of life
benefits for local communities”.
Natural England
6. Examples of Green Infrastructure & Biodiverse Design
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Living Roofs
Parks & Gardens
SuDs Features
Living Walls
Green Corridors – Rivers,
Road and Rail
• Amenity Greenspace
• Allotments
• Natural and Semi-Natural
Urban Greenspace
9. Policy & Legislation
• Historical planning policy and legislation relating to
ecology and biodiversity has been largely led by the
principles of conservation and protection
• Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981) & Habitat
Regulations (1994) as examples
• 20th Century approach?
10. • Future planning policy and legislation - Creation, Conservation &
Protection
• Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act (NERC) (2006),
the Localism Act (2011) & National Planning Policy Framework
(NPPF) (2012)
• LPAs must have „a due regard to biodiversity‟ (NERC Act) and
will expect a „net gain‟ from the development (NPPF)
• Green Infrastructure essential part of Local Plans
• 21st Century approach?
11. Additional Drivers for Green Infrastructure & Biodiverse
Design?
• Biodiversity Action Plan Targets – species and habitats
• • Building Environmental Assessment Tools – –
Building Environmental Assessment Tools BREEAM,
CfSH
BREEAM, CfSH
• • Nature Improvement Areas (NIA‟s) && Biodiversity
Nature Improvement Areas (NIA‟s) Biodiversity Offsetting
(No Net Loss) Net Loss)
Offsetting (No
• • Major Infrastructure Projects – – Require Mitigation &
Major Infrastructure Projects Require Mitigation & Design
• Common sense? “integrate the built and natural form
Design
• together” sense? “integrate the built and natural
Common
form‟‟
14. Building Environmental Assessment Tools (BEATs)
Assessment of building design performance
- using criteria and summary of overall performance.
Addresses broad range of sustainability issues
- demonstrates the environmental credentials of your building.
BREEAM - Building Research Establishment Environmental
Assessment Method.
CfSH – Code for Sustainable Homes.
BRE making revisions to Ecology section in 2014.
Complete overhaul? TEC part of task group to make
changes.
15. Benefits of Green Infrastructure
The multiple functions that GI assets provide are
underpinned by the concept of „ecosystem services‟.
In the recent UK National Ecosystem Assessment these
services were divided into four categories:
Supporting Services – ecosystem processes
Regulating Services – control mechanisms
Provisioning Services – products
Cultural Services - non-material benefits
17. Regulating Services
Provisioning
Climate
Services change – e.g reducing surface water flooding
Detoxification/purification in soil, water and air
Hazard regulation – water attenuation
Pollution control
Pollination
18. Provisioning Services
Wildlife habitats (biodiversity)
Economic productivity - land and property
value etc.
Energy production
Food production
Water supply
19. Cultural Services
Recreation
Access to nature
Social interaction &
cohesion
Aesthetic/visual quality
Improved health & well
being
Environmental education
25. Landscape Planting – Design
Selection – „right plant in the right place‟
Sustainable horticulture – planting medium, water, nutrients
Species of known wildlife value - native vs. non-native?
Provenance of native stock – Pests & diseases (ash dieback
etc.)
Planting density / diversity – do we need to take our leads from
nature?
Long-term management is key – Management Plan (BEATs),
funding/costs, grounds maintenance/contractual issues, fostering
ownership etc.
27. GI Audit - Project Background
Urban environment – 39% is buildings
75% of rainfall is surface run-off
Prediction is for a 40% increase in peak rainfall events
London Regional Flood Risk Appraisal identified
surface water flooding as the major concern
Ambition to increase green (vegetated) cover in central
London by 5% by 2030 and 10% by 2050 (London Plan)
30. Rain Gardens
Reducing the amount and rate of surface water leaving urban
sites is one of the most effective ways of managing flood risk
Rain gardens are only one part of the SuDS process
The aim is to mimic natural drainage processes
45. Rain Gardens and Green Walls
50 sites have been identified as being able to accommodate a rain
garden treatment.
30 sites have been identified as being able to accommodate either
modular or traditional green wall treatments.
68. Bat Boxes - Design Considerations
Temperature requirements (opposite to birds!):
• Summer - warm for rearing young (30ºC to 40ºC)
• Winter - cool for hibernation (0ºC to 6ºC)
Positioning
• Place where the roost will receive at least 6-10 hours of direct
sunlight a day
• Aspect and orientation - S, SW, SE (W, E, N)
• 2-7m in height
Access / Clearance
• Clear path to flight-line
• Vegetation close by for cover and foraging
69. Ex-situ provision – What works?
Wildlife needs breakfast as well as a bed!
• Individual species requirements
• Sun exposure
• Bigger is better
• Height is important
• Size of crevice width: 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm
• Ventilation slots – provide wider temperature ranges
• Multiple bat houses – group three or more together
• Mitigation close to where roost was lost
• Proximity to landscape features: For example wildflower
meadows/pasture and water – Wildlife (not just bats!)
needs breakfast as well as a bed.
70. Lots more Biodiversity Design measures and
Green Infrastructure creation not mentioned
such as:
• Street trees
• Water features – ‘Blue’ Infrastructure
• Be Creative!
71. Case Study - Crown Estates
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30 retail parks
Ecologically enhance sites:
Incorporate design measures –
multi-functional
Baseline survey and report with
recommendations.
Increase value - opportunity for
Crown Estates to act as a
“Sustainability Innovator” by showcasing green infrastructure and
SuDs features on site. This would
encourage local businesses to
adopt similar practices
72. Future & Challenges
• Lots of stakeholders – Need to work together
• New systems and mechanisms for delivery – Biodiversity
Offsetting
• Policy – Localism still early days
• Problems with delivery tools – BREEAM/CfSH etc.
• Incorporating „Biodiversity Design‟ measures for sake of
it. i.e. bird box in wrong place
• Playing it safe? Not taking risks due to costs/concerns of
implementation.
• Be inspired – be brave and take opportunities!
BAP Targets – chalk grassland (UK BAP). Vegetated shingle (Sussex BAP) - conditions on a roof mimic the field conditions on the South Downs in many ways – light/pH/moisture etc. Brownfield sites etc. (UK BAP)Global issues – Urban Heat Island Effect, storm water amelioration, energy balance–reduces temp. fluctuations+insulation and cooling/air conditioning
BAP Targets – chalk grassland (UK BAP). Vegetated shingle (Sussex BAP) - conditions on a roof mimic the field conditions on the South Downs in many ways – light/pH/moisture etc. Brownfield sites etc. (UK BAP)Global issues – Urban Heat Island Effect, storm water amelioration, energy balance–reduces temp. fluctuations+insulation and cooling/air conditioning
BAP Targets – chalk grassland (UK BAP). Vegetated shingle (Sussex BAP) - conditions on a roof mimic the field conditions on the South Downs in many ways – light/pH/moisture etc. Brownfield sites etc. (UK BAP)Global issues – Urban Heat Island Effect, storm water amelioration, energy balance–reduces temp. fluctuations+insulation and cooling/air conditioning