May 2014: A new Arup study Cities Alive – rethinking green infrastructure – “shows how the creation of a linked ‘city ecosystem’ that encompasses parks and open spaces; urban trees, streets, squares; woodland and waterways can help create healthier, safer and more prosperous cities. To realise this vision, green infrastructure has to now take a more influential role in the planning and design of cities and urban environments.”
A number of London green infrastructure initiatives are touched on including:
- The new Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park; which forms part of,
- Plans for an All London Green Grid
- The High Line for London competition which encouraged ideas for new green infrastructure in London
- The New London Landscape project
- The Mayor of London’s 100 Pocket Parks project (further details on GLA press release and on the Project Dirt website
- the Bankside Urban Forest
- The Greater London i-Tree project led by the Forestry Commission and the Greater London Authority, to be launched in 2014, undertakng an assessment of London’s urban forests.
The report also looks at how green infrastructure can help cities adapt to increasing temperatures as a result of climate change. All in all an interesting read!