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 […]
Sustainable Tree Pit Solutions for a Greener Middle East
Over the past 50 years, the Middle East has experienced some of the fastest-growing urban populations globally, with growth rates consistently higher than those in China or Africa. This rapid urbanisation has transformed cities like Dubai, Riyadh and Doha into major international hubs, presenting unique challenges in sustainable urban planning. As the region continues to […]
Pioneering Green Infrastructure in Saudi Arabia
With the recent announcement that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 FIFA World Cup for the first time, investing in green infrastructure around developments will do more than create a wow factor. New stadiums in the Middle East will be under immense pressure to impress, and green spaces will be essential given the intense heat […]
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 […]
Smart, Scalable SuDS: Strength in Numbers
Climate change and urbanisation are pushing our drainage networks to the edge of their capabilities – and beyond. A combination of a preference for impermeable surfaces, population growth and more intense rainfall events (owing to climate change) has left our sewer networks struggling to cope. The result? More frequent surface water flooding, overwhelmed wastewater treatment […]
Are Sponge Cities the Future of Urban Resilience?
The concept of the sponge city has emerged as a sustainable way to tackle the mounting challenges of climate change, including the mitigation of urban flooding and offsetting the increasing difficulty of living in urban areas. By enabling the flow of natural water cycles through the use of sustainable drainage solutions (SuDS) installed on a […]
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 […]
Research Data Proves ArborFlow Tree Pit Efficacy
There’s a strong case for including trees in urban streetscapes, thanks to a wide variety of community wellbeing advantages, from providing shade to pollution reduction. In addition, attenuation and water treatment benefits can be maximised by using tree pits to improve tree health, within a SuDS. But is it really worth specifying tree pits? Our […]
Raingardens: SuDS for flood prevention and community wellbeing
Raingardens have been gaining a much higher profile, lately. They’re not just talked about by local authorities, water companies and professionals working in relevant fields, but by the public, too, and especially by gardeners and garden designers. This sustainable method of stormwater management is now reaching a tipping point, where the driving factors for installation […]
Rooting for resilience: trees in stormwater management
This week is National Tree Week (23rd November – 1st December), which has always marked the start of the planting season, but this year there’s been another timely reason to give particular thought to tree planting: flood mitigation. Flooding has been in the news again in recent days, with Storm Bert resulting in more than […]
Celebrating 25 Years of Knowledge and Innovation: The European Forum for Urban Forestry Shines in Krakow
The 25th anniversary of the European Forum for Urban Forestry was held this year in Krakow, Poland, and was extremely well attended by visitors from around the world. Sharing knowledge, innovation, research and practical evidence of successful urban forestry, the event goes from strength to strength, giving academics, specifiers, clients, and practitioners the opportunity to […]
Connecting Britain
Across the world, travel is changing, with better interconnections between different modes being made easier, and sustainable travel is encouraged. The road and rail network in Britain is undergoing significant improvement work to better connect the country and support economic growth. New services and connections are being established to better connect communities and businesses, including […]
