Green Infrastructure & Biodiverse Design

TEC Breakfast Briefing 14.11.2013Paul Roebuck MIEEM MSc BSc

Content

Background

Introduction

Policy / Guidance

Practical Delivery Tools

Case Studies

Future & Challenges

Conclusion & Discussion

• Golden Age for Infrastructure Development?

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

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

Examples of Green Infrastructure & Biodiverse Design• Living Roofs• Parks & Gardens• SuDs Features• Living Walls• Green Corridors – Rivers,

Road and Rail• Amenity Greenspace• Allotments• Natural and Semi-Natural

Urban Greenspace

Green Infrastructure – Key Principles

Who is involved?

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?

• 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?

Additional Drivers for Green Infrastructure & Biodiverse Design?

• Biodiversity Action Plan Targets – species and habitats

• Building Environmental Assessment Tools – BREEAM, CfSH

• Nature Improvement Areas (NIA’s) & Biodiversity Offsetting (No Net Loss)

• Major Infrastructure Projects – Require Mitigation & Design

• Common sense? “integrate the built and natural form together”

• Building Environmental Assessment Tools – BREEAM, CfSH

• Nature Improvement Areas (NIA’s) & Biodiversity Offsetting (No Net Loss)

• Major Infrastructure Projects – Require Mitigation & Design

• Common sense? “integrate the built and natural form’’

Guidance – General Overview

Guidance – Focused Design

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.

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

Soil formation

Nutrient cycle

Photosynthesis

Supporting Services

Regulating Services Provisioning Services Climate change – e.g reducing surface water

flooding

Detoxification/purification in soil, water and air

Hazard regulation – water attenuation

Pollution control

Pollination

Wildlife habitats (biodiversity)

Economic productivity - land and property value etc.

Energy production

Food production

Water supply

Provisioning Services

Recreation

Access to nature

Social interaction & cohesion

Aesthetic/visual quality

Improved health & well being

Environmental education

Cultural Services

Case Studies – Thames Green Bridge

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.

GI Audit - London Bridge Area - Land-use

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)

GI Audit - Project Background

Climate Change Reality - Tooley Street

Climate Change Reality - Tooley Street

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

Lyon Rain Gardens

Lyon Urban Wetlands

Hackney Urban Swale

Hackney Urban Swale

Hackney Urban Swale

Potential Rain Garden?

Potential Rain Garden

Potential Rain Garden?

Potential Rain Garden?

Rain Gardens 50 sites have been identified as being able to accommodate a rain garden treatment.

Living Walls

Living Walls

Bermondsey St. Potential Green Wall

Bermondsey St. Potential Green Wall

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.

Living Roofs

Living Roofs – Types (Right Roof Right Place)

Intensive – deeper soils, garden style, heavier

Extensive – shallower soils, low growing vegetation

Semi-intensive – half way between the two, typical approach for ‘biodiverse roofs’

Living Roofs – Types

Extensive Semi-intensive Intensive

Use Ecological Landscape

Garden/Ecological Landscape Garden/Park

Vegetation Moss-Sedum-Herbs-Grasses Grass-Herbs-Shrubs Lawn/Perennials,

Shrubs, Trees

Depth of substrate 60 - 200mm 120 - 250mm 150 - 900mm

Weight 60 - 150 kg/m2 120 - 200 kg/m2 180 - 1100 kg/m2

Maintenance Low Occasional Frequent

Irrigation No Occasionally Yes

Extensive Living Roofs – First ‘Brown Roof’ in London

Living Roofs – Case Study 2Over 70 plant species

Extensive Living Roofs – Sedum Systems

Semi-Intensive Living Roofs – Biodiverse Roofs

Intensive Living Roofs

Green Roofs – London Bridge

Biodiversity Design: Species - Invertebrates

Invertebrates

Lendlease HQ Roof Garden

Lendlease HQ Habitat Wall

Intentional Provision of Artificial Roost Sites is Vital

Bird Boxes

Bird Boxes – What to consider?

Open fronted – black redstart, grey wagtail

Hole fronted – blue-tit, robin

Communal – house sparrow

Nest bowl – house martin, swallow

Bespoke – swift, peregrine falcon, owls

Presence of bird / collect baseline data / BAP targets

Attachment / orientation – away from direct midday sun

Foraging habitat Size of hole / predation Maintenance

Integrated Bat Boxes

Norfolk bat brick

Ibstock enclosed bat brick

Roofblock

Schwegler bat tube

Forticrete

External Provision

Kent bat box Schwegler bat box

Ex-situ Provision

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

Bat Boxes - Design Considerations

Ex-situ provision – What works?

• 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.

Wildlife needs breakfast as well as a bed!

Lots more Biodiversity Design measures and Green Infrastructure creation not mentioned such as:

• Street trees• Water features – ‘Blue’ Infrastructure • Be Creative!

Case Study - Crown Estates

• 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 show-casing green infrastructure and SuDs features on site. This would encourage local businesses to adopt similar practices

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!

paul@ecologyconsultancy.co.uk

Thank You Any Questions?