Tackling CSO Overflows with Nature-Based Solutions
Aging combined sewer networks across the UK face mounting pressures, with recent data highlighting the complex challenges water authorities are navigating. Last year, analysis by the BBC showed approximately 6,000 incidents in 2022 where Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) happened during dry weather conditions across England – situations that often result from system limitations. CSOs were […]
Rethinking Risk, Responsibility and Design in Urban Green Infrastructure
Urban trees are widely acknowledged as difference-making infrastructure; vital for climate resilience, biodiversity, public wellbeing and placemaking, and also potentially a useful element in expediting a smoother planning process. Yet their inclusion in new developments still remains fraught. Despite mounting evidence of their ecological and social value, trees – in particular those located in or […]
The Commercial Case for Landscape-First Development Planning
There’s no denying that in these increasingly eco-conscious times, the direction of travel is towards green-blue infrastructure, with both urban greening and nature-based Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) becoming considered more desirable and important in UK developments for myriad reasons – including, crucially, climate resilience in the face of increasingly frequent and extreme storm events. From […]
Could the City of London’s Updated Sustainability Planning Document Set a New Standard for Urban Development?
The City of London Corporation has recently updated its comprehensive Sustainability Planning Document (SPD), which provides guidance on how applicants should approach environmental sustainability along with key actions and measures for developments in the capital. As the bar is raised for sustainable development in the city, could other London Boroughs or even local authorities follow […]
Building Resilient Streetscapes: Infrastructure Endorsed by Test Data Offers Best Value
Urban trees are fundamental to vibrant and sustainable streetscapes, offering shade, reducing air pollution, enhancing biodiversity, supporting community wellbeing, and contributing to the efficacy of nature-based drainage systems. However, while the stability and resilience of these trees in urban environments is critical, it is often overlooked. Changing weather patterns, heavy traffic and poor soil conditions […]
Why Green-Blue Infrastructure is a Win-Win for New Developments
UK construction sector insiders have been paying close attention to government announcements over the past week or so – there have been quite a number of them – and preparing to ramp up as a result. From the new homes target of 1.5 million by 2029, to the New Hospital Programme, via National Planning Policy […]
How to Design for Urban Trees That Thrive (Part 1)
Picture this: A landscape architecture firm has been awarded the bid for the landscape design of Main Street in the prominent metropolis of Big City, USA. The city’s goal is to establish large-canopy urban trees that will line the streets for generations to come. The benefits are clear – from increased property values to cleaner […]
2025: The Year of Green-Blue Innovation
Last year, 2024, was meant to be a threshold moment for sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), with the long-awaited implementation of Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 in England poised to transform how new developments manage surface water. The year began with optimism, fuelled by rising awareness of (and urgency around) climate […]
COP29: The Critical Role of Water Management in Climate Resilience
The COP29 Declaration on Water for Climate Action, signed by 57 countries at the recent UN Climate Summit in Baku, highlights the essential role of water management in tackling climate change. As SuDS specialists, we’re encouraged by its strong alignment with the principles of Sustainable Drainage Systems. Here’s how we feel the Declaration’s key themes […]
Greener Towns and Cities: Highlights from Natural England
Natural England’s recent webinar focused on the growing importance of green infrastructure (GI) in urban areas, highlighting new tools and policies to integrate nature into urban planning. Here’s a summary of the insights shared by leading experts. Alan Law, Chief Officer for Strategy, Natural England Alan Law discussed the government’s focus on balancing economic growth, […]