BUILD FOCUS: PUBLIC REALM
BUILD FOCUS:
PUBLIC REALM
This month, we shine a light on urban greening and how we can re-use storm- and rainwater to irrigate trees, plants and roofs, and keep city centres and housing developments green.
MICHAEL WHITE IS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AT POLYPIPE CIVILS & GREEN URBANISATION
GREEN STREETS: A GROWING TREND Proposed changes to legislation will see more trees and planting in housing developments and city centres. Let’s re-use storm- and rainwater to keep them green, urges Michael White, Development Director at Polypipe Civils & Green Urbanisation. POLYPIPE CIVILS & GREEN URBANISATION
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n March this year, the Government set out its proposals for a reform of the planning system. As well as the prospect of speedier planning decisions and the promise of cash to pump prime brownfield developments, there is the promise of tree-lined streets and urban greening. “We will look to take forward… recommendations, which include calling for urban tree planting and giving communities a greater opportunity to influence design standards in their area,” says the Planning for the Future document outlining the proposals. “This will put tree-lined streets at the centre of future plans, so that they become the norm, not the exception.” FC&A – DECEMBER – 2020
The proposed planning reforms, which will be fleshed out later in the year in a white paper, are the latest in a series of planned new legislation – at national and local level – which aim to introduce more green assets into the built environment. Urban greening brings with it a raft of benefits: increased biodiversity, reduced heat island effects, lower pollution and a boost to health and wellbeing. There is a great opportunity here to think holistically, deploying systems that can re-use rainwater to irrigate 28
trees, plants and roofs. By storing surface water very close to where it falls, in underground tanks or in engineered structures just below the surface, it can be re-used when it is needed. As well as supporting urban greening, these sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) reduce the burden on sewers and lower the risk of flooding downstream.
Biodiversity net gain The inclusion of more greenery in new housing developments has long been on the Government agenda. The Environment Bill, which was first introduced at the end of 2018, includes a mandate that new housing developments must deliver a biodiversity net gain. This goes beyond current planning guidance, which says that new developments should increase biodiversity where possible.
