Turning things green sends the right signal

Let’s create safer spaces

Throughout history the building of roads and car parks has been viewed as a blot on the landscape, so it is heartening to see examples of automotive infrastructure that make space for nature. Green walls are becoming a common sight on car parks, such as the new Riverside Sunderland multistorey, as seen in this issue. Planted beds are also appearing in surface lots and at the kerbside. The creation of parklets is an idea welcomed by Kendra Inman, a principal urban design advisor at Transport for London, who told the Landor LINKS’ Liveable Neighbourhood conference that surplus parking spaces on residential streets could be replaced with green infrastructure.

There are encouraging signs that the electric vehicle infrastructure that will supersede the existing fossil fuel garage network can be designed in a manner that brings nature back into towns and cities. Chargepoint network operator Be.EV has just received planning permission to convert a former Manchester petrol station into an EV forecourt and community hub. Trees, a wildflower garden and areas planted with herbaceous perennials, shrubs and grasses are an integral part of what Be.EV calls a ‘Charging Oasis’. If done well, a project such as this could revitalise EV drivers’ spirits while they charge their cars.

Mark Moran Editor