Transport for London’s New Green Plan
Previous TUGC Client Transport for London has published its detailed Green Infrastructure and Biodiversity Plan, which supports the mayor’s ambition for London to be carbon-neutral by 2030 and to tackle the current climate crisis head on. The plan was developed following a wide range of engagement within and also outside the organisation, including the London boroughs.
Healthy green infrastructure benefits both wildlife and people and Transport for London is one of London’s biggest landowners, responsible for more than 2,300 hectares of land, of which a third is green and home to more than 1,000 animal species and almost 700 plant species. This includes almost 25000 street trees, land which intersects two Special Areas of Conservation, six Sites of Special Scientific Interest, eight Local Nature Reserves and 139 Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation.
The new plan will ensure Transport for London hits a range of targets to further enhance, support and protect green infrastructure and biodiversity across London, including:
- Achieving a 10 per cent biodiversity net gain on applicable schemes (for instance, planning system projects and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects) from February 2024
- Delivering a net gain in biodiversity across TfL’s estate by 2030, compared to the 2018 biodiversity baseline.
- Boosting tree canopy cover across TfL by 10 per cent by 2050, compared with the 2016 baseline
- Doubling wildflower verges to 260,000 square metres in 2024, and developing a longer-term plan to continue their introduction across London
- Ensuring 5,000 square metres of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), such as rain gardens, are installed on TfL’s road network each year
- Further reduce the use of pesticides across TfL and eliminate where operationally and financially feasible.
The Urban Greening Company has previously provided green roofs and biodiverse planting for Transport for London. You can read more about Transport for London‘s new plan and download a copy here: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/green-infrastructure-and-biodiversity . Or please contact us if you have a project or installation you would like to talk to us about. We are always happy to discuss your plans with you without obligation.
