Walthamstow before
Walthamstow after
THE STATE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE UK
According to the latest government But after decades of development - and are all prime examples of Green
figures, 83 per cent – 45 million – the subsequent erosion of biodiversity, Infrastructure in action, especially
of people in England live in urban the emergence of Green Infrastructure when all linked to a considerate
areas. It’s an astonishing number, but (GI) is breathing new life into our stormwater design to provide the blue
hardly surprising given the wealth concrete jungle, with the government element to the system.
of opportunities our sprawling cities and local authorities proposing major and towns offer.In order to cater for investment to make our cities and the surge in city living, mixed-use towns greener than ever before. spaces
But what exactly is GI and why is it Planners, architects, civil engineers
properties have become increasingly
common, with many featuring
landscaped gardens, bars, restaurants,
water features and residential space
under one roof as developers look to
exploit every square metre of land.
However, this has come at the expense
of green spaces, with air pollution,
climate change and even mental
health issues just some of the many
effects regularly blamed on the built
environment.
important? and developers in the UK are
Essentially, it is the preservation and potential. After decades of concrete,
development of natural spaces in we are starting to see the next
urban areas. generation of green living emerge.
Parks, roof gardens and even cycle
lanes can be considered part of the GI
concept. They all represent elements
of the natural world integrating
with the urban environment. And it
doesn’t stop there. Ponds, reservoirs,
football pitches and private gardens
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Landscape & Urban Design Issue 34 2018
Transforming grey places into green
beginning to harness GI’s true
Building designers are increasingly
incorporating biophilia – meaning the
love of nature – into our towns and
cities. The 15-storey, 420,000 sq ft 10
Fenchurch Avenue development in
London, for example, has placed GI at
the heart of the property.