Living Roofs and Walls, from policy to practice
On 10 April 2019, Livingroofs.org published Living Roofs and Walls, from policy to practice, 10 years of urban greening in London and beyond revealing the growth in green roof space in London during the past 10 years.
The report was launched by Shirley Rodrigues, London’s Deputy Mayor for the Environment, at the European Urban Green Infrastructure Conference (EUGIC). It assesses the delivery of the Living Roofs and Walls Policy that was included in the London Plan in 2008 and how the policy has encouraged uptake in the absence of any financial incentives or mandatory requirement. It was published by the European Federation of Green Roof and Green Wall Associations and Livingroofs.org on behalf of the Greater London Authority and was written by Dusty Gedge and Gary Grant, internationally recognised authorities on urban green infrastructure and authors of the original London technical report.
The report includes:
- A review of types of green roof, including biosolar green roofs and blue green roofs.
- The latest evidence on the benefits of green roofs and walls.
- A review of the total area and density of green roofs in London.
- An overview of policies in other cities around the world.
- The first complete map of green roofs in London and a detailed infographic of the Central Activity Zone (CAZ).
The report marks the next step in making the case for urban greening. It will be supported by:
- New case studies in London and the rest of the UK.
- New case studies of green roofs and walls in European cities and beyond.
- Articles focusing on specific cities in Europe and beyond.
- Reports investigating the planning, implementation and maintenance of green roofs and walls.
In the foreword to the report Shirley Rodrigues wrote:
“I was privileged to be leading the Greater London Authority’s Environment Team when the first green roof policy was included in the London Plan in 2008. In the intervening 10 years I have been delighted to witness the patchwork of green roofs and walls spreading across London’s skyline, alongside the establishment of a world-class industry that is working towards the greening of London and other cities and which is, moreover, supporting our objectives on air quality, climate resilience and biodiversity.
“We have introduced an Urban Greening Factor into the London Plan to ensure that all new major development includes an element of greening which contributes to making the city healthier, wilder or more resilient. This is urban greening as infrastructure not as ornament, and it is essential if we want to create the sustainable cities of the future that we urgently need.”
You can read the report in full at: https://livingroofs.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/LONDON-LIVING-ROOFS-WALLS-REPORT-2019.pdf
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Combating burnout.
The 5 elements of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke.
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.
A brief history from 1890s to 2020s.
CIOB and CORBON combine forces
To elevate professional standards in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Amendment to the GB Energy Bill welcomed by ECA
Move prevents nationally-owned energy company from investing in solar panels produced by modern slavery.
Gregor Harvie argues that AI is state-sanctioned theft of IP.
Experimental AI housing target help for councils
Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records.
Comments