What is Green Infrastructure?

Green infrastructure refers to a network of natural and semi-natural areas, features, and systems within and around urban and rural areas, but most usually within towns and cities. These “green” elements are strategically planned and managed to deliver a wide range of ecosystem benefits, such as improving air and water quality, reducing heat and flooding, enhancing biodiversity, and providing recreational spaces for communities.

Some examples of green infrastructure include:

  • Green roofs: These are roofs covered with vegetation, which help insulate buildings, manage rainwater, and create habitats for wildlife. (Read More)
  • Blue Roofs: Roofs designed to tempoarily hold water and slow its release to help mitigate flooding. (Read More)
  • Urban parks and gardens: These provide open spaces for people to relax, exercise, and interact with nature.
  • Green/living walls: These are vertical gardens that can improve air quality and provide aesthetic benefits. (Read More)
  • Street trees: Trees planted along streets can provide shade, reduce the urban heat island effect, and improve air quality.
  • Wetlands: These areas help manage stormwater, reduce flooding, and support diverse plant and animal species.
  • Bioswales & Rain Gardens: Landscaped water resistant areas designed to filter or remove debris and pollution from surface runoff water. (Read More)

Green infrastructure aims to create more resilient and sustainable environments by integrating nature into urban planning and development. It not only benefits the environment but also enhances the well-being and quality of life for people living in these urban areas.

“Improvements can be delivered as part of new development via the planning system, upgrading of existing green infrastructure, and retrofitting of new green infrastructure in areas where provision is poor.”  Natural England

What is Biodiversity Net Gain in Relation to Green Infrastructure and Urban Greening?

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is an approach to development, land and marine management that leaves biodiversity in a measurably better state than before the development took place. It is a guide to future large scale development and land management that balances the inevitable impacts of development on biodiversity by not only mitigating those impacts but also creating or enhancing habitats to ensure an overall increase in biodiversity.

Additional Reading on Green Infrastructure

“Multi-functional urban green infrastructure can deliver nature-based solutions that help address climate change, while providing wider benefits for human health and biodiversity. However, this will only be achieved effectively, sustainably and equitably if Green Infrastructure is carefully planned, implemented and maintained to a high standard, in partnership with stakeholders.”

From – A menu of standards for green infrastructure in England.

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educational style picture showing different types of green infrastructure
Rubens Hotel one of the biggest living walls London
Rolls Royce green roof Chichester