environmental infrastructure design guidelines...key design principles construction - figure 1.2...

ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE

DESIGN GUIDELINES

BLACK COUNTRY

CONTENTS

3

4

8

12

20

24

29

34

40

44

49

53

58

0 / Introduction

1 / Green Roofs

2 / Biomass and Phytoremediation

3 / Urban Wetlands and Street Rain Gardens

4/ Space for Food

5/ Ecological Networks

6 / Open Space and Health

7 / Canals

8/ Cycle and Pedestrian Routes

9 / Quality Places: Public Realm Improvements

10 / Economic Gateways

11 / Adaptation for Schools

Useful Links

Image on cover: Black Country Historic Landscape Characterisation

2

INTRODUCTION

0

The Black Country Environmental Infrastructure Guidance (EIG) sets out an

approach to prioritising locations for environmental infrastructure by focusing

on where it will deliver multiple social, economic and environmental benefits.

Whilst certain locations have been prioritised, environmental infrastructure brings

benefits wherever it is located, therefore opportunities should be sought to create

and enhance environmental infrastructure throughout the Black Country. The

EIG also set out eleven interventions, or types of project, that would be suitable

in the Black Country to achieve these benefits. These are:

• Green Roofs

• Biomass and Phyto-remediation

• Urban Wetlands/ Street Rain Gardens

• Space for Food

• Ecological Networks

• Open Space and Health

• Canals

• Cycle and Pedestrian Routes

• Quality Places: Public Realm Improvements

• Economic Gateways

• Adaptation for Schools

This supplementary Design Guidance to the EIG is aimed a supporting planners

and developers by providing further details as to how these projects should

come forward. This document is to some extent generic and cannot anticipate

all the neighbourhood and site specific issues that will emerge as sites come

forward for redevelopment or regeneration and local people, planners and

designers come to better understand the issues underpinning the environmental

infrastructure network. This is the beginning of a long term process with a new

holistic philosophy that will reveal new opportunities. It does however, set out:

• An introduction to the environmental infrastructure intervention explaining it

contributions

• An explanation of the multiple benefits that the intervention could bring

• Details of priority areas for delivering the intervention, and

• The key design principles to consider in delivering best practice projects.

Multiple Benefi t Prioirty Areas Legend

Black county Boroughs

Overall Priority

Higher

Lower

3INTRODUCTION

BLACK COUNTRY DESIGN GUIDELINES

GREEN ROOFS

BLACK COUNTRY ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN GUIDELINES

Green Roof: Livingroofs.org

Introduction to the Intervention Green roofs (sometimes known as living

roofs) are deliberately vegetated roofs.

Intensive green roofs are roof gardens, found

on residential and substantial commercial

buildings which are usually irrigated. Extensive

green roofs are relatively lightweight and low

maintenance with self-sustaining vegetation.

One type of extensive green roof is the brown

roof (or biodiverse roof) designed to mitigate

for the loss of habitat on a brownfield site with

open mosaic habitats. Further information

on the different categories of green roof is

available at the livingroofs.org website.1

Green roofs are truly multi-functional. Typical

extensive green roofs absorb 50% of the

rainfall that falls on them, helping to reduce

the pressure on drainage systems and the

risk of flooding. Green roofs are recognised

by the Environment Agency and CIRIA as a

valuable component of sustainable drainage

systems (SUDS). Water that evaporates

from green roofs cools down buildings and

neighbourhoods, helping people to cope

with heat waves and the urban heat island.

Green roofs save energy and reduce carbon

dioxide emissions by increasing insulation

and reducing air conditioning loads. Green

roofs can bring valuable wildlife habitat into

areas where the conservation of biodiversity is

often neglected. Roof gardens provide private

amenity and places to relax and grow food in

even the most urban locations, improving the

quality of housing and raising standards.

Multiple Benefits• Supporting Investment:

Installing green roofs helps to

support the growth of green

industry in the Black Country

• Fostering High Quality

Neighbourhoods:

Roof gardens and extensive

green roofs will help to green

districts that might otherwise

be perceived as harsh

environments

• Creating Sustainable Links:

Green roofs can act as stepping

stones in ecological networks

• Protecting and Enhancing

Biodiversity:

Extensive green roofs can be

designed to benefit birds and

rare invertebrates, including

spiders, beetles and bees. Bees

pollinate about 25% of our food

crops.

• Celebrating a Sense of Place:

Green roofs can bring a new

attractive look to otherwise

generic ‘anyplace’ buildings.

• Supporting Healthy Living:

Green roofs can bring

psychological benefits for those

who overlook or use them. Roof

gardens can be used to produce

local food

• Managing Resources

Efficiently: Green roofs

conserve energy and prolong

the life of the waterproofing on a

roof. They also help to maintain

water and air quality.

• Building Resilience to Climate

Change:

Green roofs help to reduce the

urban heat island effect and are

part of sustainable drainage

systems.

Peter Merian Haus - Basel: Gary Grant

GREEN ROOFS

1

5GREEN ROOFS


Priority AreasIt is recommended that green roofs (either on

new build or retrofitted) are installed wherever

the opportunity arises throughout the Black

Country, but there will be extra benefits in

areas where climate change is predicted to

make living and working conditions intolerable.

The average thresholds for defining heat

waves in England are 30oC during the day

and 15oC overnight. When temperatures

climb above 25oC there is increased mortality

in vulnerable people including those with

severe and chronic illness, the very young

and old. The thermal image (fig 1.1) of the

Black Country shows how temperatures are

higher in town centres and industrial areas

where sealed surfaces and dense materials

dominate and soil and vegetation is reduced

or absent. These are also places where the

preponderance of sealed surfaces creates

a heightened risk of surface water flooding.

Green roofs can help to reduce temperatures

in the hottest areas and form part of

sustainable drainage systems in the same

locations.

0 5 102.5 KmFig 1.1 Urban Heat Island

coolhot

Major Roads

Urban Heat Legend

Relative

Surface Temp.

Black county

Boroughs

Industrial and distribution buildings in Switzerland designed for

summer cooling, rainwater attenuation, nesting birds, wildflowers and

invertebrates: Livingroofs.org

Where urban areas prevent the establishing

ecological networks at ground level, green

roofs can also help by providing ‘stepping

stone’ habitats.

6

Key Design Principles Construction - Figure 1.2 shows a cross

section an extensive green roof. It highlights

the need for appropriate structural support,

roof protection, drainage and the growing

medium. Note that extra light weight green

roofs will not absorb as much rainwater which

will limit their performance in terms of drainage

and cooling. Their ecological value is also

lower. As such green roof substrate should be

no less than 80mm.

New Build - It is important to consider the

functions of the green roof before design

and specification. Is the roof required as an

accessible garden, to provide summer cooling,

reduce run-off or improve biodiversity? The

structure should be designed to support the

green roof that is most appropriate for the

situation.

Retrofitting - When an existing roof needs to

be replaced there will be an expectation that a

green roof is considered. A structural engineer

will advise on whether or not an existing roof is

capable of supporting extra weight.

Many types of building are suitable for green

roofs including residential blocks, offices,

shops, institutional buildings and schools.

Chimney Pot Park2 in Salford is an example

of roof gardens included in terrace houses.

The commercial warehouse below has been

retrofitted with a green roof. The cross-

braces were all that were needed to give the

roof sufficient structural support to hold the

additional load.

Fig 1.2 Typical Section of Green Roof

Green roof supporting structure: Gary Grant

7GREEN ROOFS


BIOMASS AND

PHYTOREMEDIATION


Aircraft Repair & Supply Center, Elizabeth City: Ryan Somma

Introduction to the Intervention The Black Country has a number of

vacant brownfield sites, most of which will

eventually be regenerated, for employment,

housing or as part of the environmental

infrastructure network. Some of these sites

are contaminated and will need to be cleaned

up before re-use. One way of cleaning

up certain categories of contamination is

to use vegetation, a process known as

phytoremediation. Phytoremediation is a

broad term used fro a variety of processes

whereby vegetation and soil microbes

break down organic pollutants or uptake or

stabilise metals, making it easier to remove

them. Examples of plants that have been

used to isolate metals are certain strains of

fescue (a grass) and poplars (a fast growing

tree). Man made wetlands can also be

used to clean up contaminated leachates.

Phytoremediation is still a relatively new

approach to clean up of contaminated sites,

but costs are a fraction of those associated

with conventional excavation, washing and

reburial.3 Phytoremediation can be used

in combination with conventional methods.

Further information on phytoremediation,

including case studies, is available from the

US EPA.4

Many sites are likely to remain vacant for

many years. There is a growing demand

for sources of low or zero carbon energy.

One possible source of this alternative

energy will be biomass as fuel for heating

or to fuel combined heat and power plants.

A popular source of biomass for energy

production is woodchips derived from

woodland management and short-rotation

coppice (SRC). SRC involves the growing

of willow and poplar trees and cutting the

woody re-growth of shoots at the base of the

plant. Sites need to be at least 3 hectares in

size to attract government grants. The latest

advice on siting and funding is available from

Natural England.5 Yields for some of the more

productive varieties can reach 15 dry tonnes

per hectare per annum. Approximately 100

hectares of SRC is required to for 1 MW

of continuous power output. The cuttings

are chipped and fed into wood-burning

furnaces that make steam to heat homes and

businesses and to drive electricity generating

turbines. SRC is popular in Scandinavia,

where it is often irrigated with waste water

from sewage treatment plans. The Black

Country has vacant sites larger than 3

hectares suitable for planting with SRC and

has many industrial areas where woodchip

fuel could be processed and stored. Other

sources of woodchip would be cuttings from

street trees and parks and waste wood from

industry and municipal waste sites.

SRC can therefore provide both a relatively

inexpensive way of cleaning up contaminated

sites, that can be more acceptable

to the public than more conventional

decontamination processes, as well as

Tree roots take in water and

pollution from the ground

polluted soil

clean soil

water table

polluted groundwaterclean groundwater

water enters tree where pollution is

cleaned up

Fig 2.1 Phytoremediation

BIOMASS AND PHYTOREMEDIATION

2

9BIOMASS AND PHOTREMEDIATION


providing a low carbon energy source.

Where a contaminated site will be maintained

as open space over the long term,

conventional woodland planting should be

considered. This can provide phytoremediation

whilst providing biomass (through thinnings)

reducing surface run-off and creating valuable

wildlife and amenity. Grants are available

for woodland creation through the England

Woodland Grant Scheme.6

• Supporting Investment:

Woodland, SRC and CHP would

create jobs and help to develop

green industry in the Black

Country.


Neighbourhoods:

Woodland and SRC provides a

green and attractive outlook.


Woodland and SRC sites can

be part of the wider ecological

network.


Biodiversity:

Woodland, SRC and phyto-

remediation sites are valuable

wildlife habitat, left to grow

during the summer to provide

nesting sites for birds and cover

for other wildlife. Willows and

poplars support insects which

attract aerial feeders like bats,

swallows and swift.


Woodland and SRC will become

a welcome addition to the

cityscape. CHP plants could be

celebrated as part of the local

industrial tradition.


Access can be provided along

tracks that cross woodland and

SRC sites for recreation and

exercise.


Efficiently:

Woodland and SRC will make a

contribution towards creating a

low carbon future.


Change:

Woodland and SRC will be

part of the wider environmental

infrastructure network reducing

urban heat islands and

attenuating surface water run-

off.

Priority AreasBiomass is likely to play an important role

in meeting carbon reduction targets. There

are limited opportunities to grow biomass

on agricultural land in the Black Country.

However, if all the brownfield and vacant sites

in the Black Country was used to grow SRC

for biomass, it has been estimated that it

could produce enough energy to heat 10,000

homes each year. Planning departments

should identify sites with potential for this as a

temporary use.

It is recommended that SRC is targeted at

brownfield sites that are level (a requirement

for operating SRC machinery), have adequate

access for farm vehicles, are likely to remain

vacant for some years and are larger than 3

hectares.

Phytoremediation techniques need to be

carefully matched to the actual contamination

found on a particular sites and this will require

further investigation.

Where contaminated sites remain, permanent

woodland creation should be considered as an

option.Derelict land in the Black Country

Multiple Benefits

10

Access - Sites will need to be accessible

to cropping machinery and transportation

(agricultural tractors and trailers)

Fig 2.3 Biomass Energy Process

Key Design PrinciplesManagement of system - Figure 2.3 shows

a flow diagram of energy production from

biomass sources, including SRC coppice that

could be grown on derelict and vacant land. To

make effective use of available sites to grow

biomass, it is recommended that a consortium

of local authorities establishes a partnership

body with landowners and other companies

active in this sector in order to develop a

supply chain that co-ordinates cropping and

processing with demand from an energy

plant. The location of the processing areas

and identification of an appropriate site for an

energy plant will also be needed.

Management of sites - Sites will also need

some coordinated management in terms of

planting, maintaining and cropping (and with

woodland, thinning).

Species - Willow and poplar are two popular

SRC species that would be suitable to grow in

the Black Country

Phasing - It takes 2-3 years for each rotation.

11BIOMASS AND PHOTREMEDIATION


URBAN W

ETLANDS

AND STREET RAIN

GARDENS


Natural water treatment, Melbourne Dock by AECOM: AECOM

Introduction to the InterventionThere are serious surface water flood

risks in the Black Country. There are also

serious water pollution issues in the canals

and watercourses. The Flood & Water

Management Act of 2010 has established

a new lead role for local authorities, which

are preparing Surface Water Management

Plans7 to bring about the capture, storage and

treatment of runoff to protect property and

waterways from both flooding and pollution.

Urban wetlands are a type of Sustainable

Urban Drainage System (SUDS) that act to

store and treat water while also providing

valuable habitat and amenity. Urban

wetlands are constructed, and can be

sized and designed to suit their contextual

surroundings8. The wetlands can be lined

and have a hard edge to suit commercial or

industrial surroundings, though the soil and

vegetation layers are specifically designed to

improve water quality.

The Black Country has many commercial and

industrial areas where water management

features with soft edges may be inappropriate.

Urban wetlands can be accommodated in

‘lost spaces’ in these areas, and can be hard-

edged, linear or irregular in shape, capturing

runoff from several surrounding properties

(from roofs and paved surfaces).

Rain gardens are a type of Sustainable

Urban Drainage System (SUDS) that capture

rainwater runoff, allowing water to trickle

through specifically designed soil layers that

help remove pollutants, and then capturing

water below the garden for either storage

or discharge. Rain gardens can look like

a normal landscaped area to the observer

and are an ideal type of SUDS for use in

residential areas of the Black Country, as they

add valued landscaping yet take up a small

amount of space. They can be well integrated

with streets, either acting as a verge, a central

median, a traffic island or a street tree pit.

Rain gardens can be provided on any street

and connect to an existing drainage system.

Street rain gardens have seen widespread

success and community support in Portland,

Oregon.9 Portland’s features and delivery

URBAN WETLANDS AND STREET RAIN GARDENS

3

Water treatment in Waitangi Park, New Zealand: AECOM

13URBAN WETLANDS


methods could be used as a blueprint for the

Black Country.

Local authorities will act as approval bodies

for SUDS, which will be required on all new

development sites under the Flood and Water

Management Act 2010, but there is a very

apparent need to also retrofit SUDS into

existing areas, particularly areas with a high

proportion of paved surfaces where runoff

volumes are considerable and water quality

poor.

Bioretention swales by AECOM: AECOM

San Francisco rain garden: AECOM Flow-through planter: City of Portland

14


Urban wetlands and rain

gardens will be a special

feature of the Black Country,

fostering a forward-thinking

image for the area.


Neighbourhoods:


gardens will be natural and

aesthetically pleasing features

that soften the grounds of

public buildings as well as

residential, industrial and

commercial landscapes.

• Building Resilience to

Climate Change:


gardens and modified street

tree pits will help to manage

the increased risk of flooding

but will also help reduce the

urban heat island effect.


Efficiently:


gardens help to manage

surface water runoff,

preventing flooding, but also

storing and treating water

locally to allow reuse.

• Celebrating a Sense of

Place:

The Black Country has a

strong industrial and canal

heritage. A number of historic

canals have now silted over,

but the reintroduction of

functional water features can

be designed to celebrate

these features and to support

heritage projects.


Biodiversity:

Urban wetlands will

provide valuable habitat in

industrialised areas, and

also can be designed near

canals and waterways to link

similar habitat types. Street

rain gardens and associated

street trees can increase

urban biodiversity and improve

ecological connectivity.


Rain gardens and street trees

will help make routes more

pleasant for walking, and can

also be integrated with traffic

calming measures.

Multiple Benefits

Bioretention, Meolbourne: AECOM

Bioretention swale for treatment and harvesting, Adelaide: AECOM

15URBAN WETLANDS


0 5 102.5 Km

Fig3.1 Permeability Mapping

Major Roads

Permeability Legend


Inland Water/Cloud/Shadow

Artificial

Mainly Artificial

Mixed Artificial/Bare

Mixed Bare/ Sparsely Vegetated

Vegetated

Densely Vegetated

Priority Areas Surface water flooding is an issue across the

Black Country due to the high proportion of

impermeable surfaces which create runoff

when it rains. Streets and roads generate

a high quantity of runoff, polluted with

sediments, oils and heavy metals, which then

drains to local waterways and canals. The

introduction of Sustainable Urban Drainage

Systems (SUDS) will help to alleviate flood

risk and lesson water pollution, and should

be implemented across the sub-region.

Street rain gardens are a type of SUDS that

should be promoted in the Black Country. The

following criteria should be used to identify

sites, streets and roads that should be given

higher priority:

- Areas that are largely impermeable (has a lot

of paved surfaces);

- Sites where an area of land is available

for permanent conversion to a constructed

wetland feature. Land could be linear (e.g.

along a property boundary) or irregular, and

be small or large (though designed to manage

runoff from a suitable catchment area);

- Areas with known surface water flooding

issues;

- Areas near canals and watercourses where

habitat connectivity could be enhanced; and

- Residential areas where a traffic calming

schemes or walking or cycling links could be

combined with rain garden projects; and

- Places where SUDS and rain gardens can

be incorporated into the wider ecological

network.

16

Streetscape Integration – Rain gardens

should be integrated into appropriate spaces

within a streetscape. Verges can be used on

either side of a street, or for more efficient

construction, one central garden can be used

Key Design PrinciplesDesign and Sizing – Urban wetlands

(including rain gardens) should be sized to

provide adequate storage of water after a

rainfall event, but also to allow for a high level

of natural water treatment to take place. As a

rule of thumb, depending on the depth of the

feature and rate of infiltration, urban wetlands

should be between 2-10% of the impermeable

area drained (the area of roofs and paved

space it will receive run-off water from). In the

case where a limited area is available, its size

can be used to determine which buildings/

what scale of area it could capture runoff from

for treatment. Even if an area is smaller than

ideal, it can still reduce flows into conventional

drains and improve water quality, so will be

worth the effort. Urban wetlands should be

designed by a multi-disciplinary design team,

including a drainage engineer, a landscape

architect and an ecologist to ensure the

features have multiple benefits. Where the

feature is located in an important public realm

or amenity area, it should be integrated with

wider landscape design, and could include

public art or geological features.Storm water harvesting Melbourne Docklands Park: AECOM

in a central reservation. Traffic islands and

roundabouts can also be converted to rain

gardens to create an attractive yet functional

landscape. Rain gardens should be carefully

sited in relation to other underground utilities.

Fig 3.3 Urban Wetland Principle

Inclusion of Street Trees – Street trees can

be incorporated into a rain garden and runoff

can therefore be used to passively irrigate the

tree. A tree pit can also be designed as a small

rain garden, gathering runoff and passing it

through vertical filter layers.

Water Treatment – The wetland should be

vegetated with plants that can cope with

both wet and dry conditions, which assist

in water treatment, which are native, and

which contribute to amenity. The soil layers

beneath the rain garden should be specifically

designed to allow rapid draining (with a highly

permeable layer on top), but also to aid

treatment (with sand filtration layers). A gravel

storage area with a perforated pipe should be

included as the bottom layer to capture water

and direct it to another rain garden or the

wider surface drainage network.

Parking lot swale: City of Portland

18

Soil Contamination – Where land is

contaminated, raingardens should be lined

with a suitable geotextile to ensure water

does not contact contaminated soil and

subsequently infiltrate groundwater supplies.

Plant Species – The urban wetland or rain

garden should be vegetated with plants that

can cope with both wet and dry conditions,

which assist in water treatment, which are

native, and which contribute to a wetland

habitat community. The types and placement

of species in the wetland should be carefully

selected. There are a range of suitable

wetland species native to the region, including

(but not necessarily limited to):

• Flowering rush Butomus umbellatus

• Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris

• Bottle sedge Carex rostrata

• Greater pond sedge Carex riparia

• Yellow flag Iris pseudocorus

• Soft rush Juncus effusus

• Purple loosetrife Lythrum salicaria

• Branched bur-reed Sparganium erectum

• Common reed Phragmites australis

Adoption and Maintenance – Under the

Flood and Water Management Act 2010,

unitary authorities will be responsible for

adopting SUDS features. Private landowners

can also take responsibility for adoption and

maintenance for installations on their own

land.

loamy sand filter

media

sandy transition

layer

addressing trip

hazardground cover

vegetation extended

detention

break in curb

protection from

traffic

road

inundation

tolerant tree

gravel drainage

layer containing

perforated

drainage pipes

connection to conventional

drainage system

Fig 3.4 Raingarden Tree Pit - Typical SectionFlowthrough planter: City of Portland

19URBAN WETLANDS


SPACE FOR FOOD


Allotments: AECOM

Introduction to the InterventionLocally grown food can reduce carbon

dioxide emissions by reducing transportation,

encourage people to exercise more, cook

more and enjoy a healthier and more

varied diet. There is a growing demand

for conventional local authority allotments,

however there are interesting examples

of local food cultivation in schools and on

housing estates and on derelict land. Space

for food growing can be a temporary use of

a vacant site where development is likely to

occur after a number of years.

The Capital Growth campaign, supported

by the Greater London Authority and the Big

Lottery’s Local Food Fund, is an example

of where recognition of the potential to

use under-utilised land for food production

in London has generated numerous food

growing initiatives. The Campaign, which

aims to have 2,012 new food growing spaces

by the time of the 2012 Olympics, supports

communities in finding space, providing

expert advice and using economies of scale

to discount seeds, tools and insurance. In

addition to the potential health benefits and

making better use or resources, there is

significant evidence to suggest schemes have

improved community cohesion.

An excellent example of urban food growing

in the Black Country is the Salop Drive Market

Garden in Sandwell,10 a unique 1.2 hectare

working market garden, which developed from

a derelict allotment site over a period of five

years through the hard work and vision of local

people.


community allotments can

promote community cohesion

and become the centre of

community activity


encouraging the growth of

vegetables and fruit can help

engender healthy eating


Efficiently: allotments are a

good way of making under-

utilised land more productive

and can promote active

temporary use of vacant sites.


Change:

Locally grown produce reduces

the need to transport good and

for packaging.

4

SPACE FOR FOOD

Multiple Benefits

Local cultivation: SMBC

21SPACE FOR FOOD


Priority Areas It is recommended that:

• More allotments are provided close to

residential areas, close to where people live

• Consultation is undertaken with residents

on existing estates to explore the possibility

of converting existing incidental open

spaces into secure plots that can be used

as vegetable gardens.

• Where new residential development is

planned, some space should be put aside

for allotments.

• Suitable derelict and under-utilised sites

close to residential areas are taken into

use. Temporary use of sites allocated for

development may be possible.

• www.landshare.net links those in search of

space to grow food with available land. It

was set up by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s

River Cottage, after helping to some Bristol

families grow vegetables on derelict land.

Now Landshare is a national movement

of more than 50,000 people including

0 5 102.5

Major Roads

Green Derelict Land Legend


Vegetated Vacant and Derelict Land

Vacant and Derelict Land

Fig 4.1 Derelict land presents opportunity areas

significant areas in the Black Country that

could offer potential.

Incredible Edible: CABE

Key Design PrinciplesRaised beds – Previously developed sites

often do not have sufficient quality top soil for

growing food, or could be contaminated. One

option to provide raised beds filled with top

soil. These should be at least 40cm deep. If

the land is contaminated, the bed would need

to be lined to prevent contaminants from being

drawn up into the plants.

Growing sacks – In some instances, such as

on contaminated land or where growing beds

might need to be moved at a later date, use

large growing sacks.

Water Supply – sites should have a

connection to a clean water supply.

Secure - Sites should be safe and secure.

Where possible they should be over looked,

have good access and be easy to move

around. If tools and equipment are to be

left on site these need to be locked in a

secure shed. Allotments should also be well

maintained and kept tidy, with waste recycled

or removed.

Link to food waste – Opportunities to

‘close the loop’ by linking food growing with

waste food should be sought. The ‘Food

Loop’ project at the Maiden Lane Estate,

Camden links their successful allotments

with a community composting scheme. Food

waste is collected from the estate and rapidly

composted using an accelerated in-vessel

composter before being used in the allotments

to support further food growth.

Raised Beds: AECOM Raised Beds: Ryan Mitchelll

23SPACE FOR FOOD


ECOLOGICAL

NETWORKS


Pond at Sandwell Valley Country Park: ‘Black Country Historic Landscape’ ‘Characterisation

Introduction to the InterventionEcological networks begin with designated

sites, which become the core areas of

the network. Core areas should then be

surrounded by buffer zones where it is feasible

to create or restore habitat. In urban areas

these buffer zones could be existing green

space or vacant sites. Green connections,

often in the form of linear sites associated

with road, rail or canals network or perimeter

strips around sites can then be improved

and linked in order to complete the network.

GIS mapping is used to identify core areas,

buffers and interconnections. Where large

scale regeneration is proposed, planners

should examine the options for buffering core

sites, restoring biodiversity to open space and

making the connections in the wider network,

by creating multi-functional environmental

infrastructure corridors that include cycle

paths, footpaths and SUDS as well as

ecological connections (fig 5.1). The network

can also be an opportunity to showcase and

increase awareness of sites of interest for

geodiversity.

Ecological networks make the landscape

more permeable to both wildlife and people.

The ecosystem services that are associated

with environmental infrastructure are provided

in a more efficient way when habitats and

open space are interconnected. Ecological

networks are primarily about the conservation

of biodiversity but they also moderate climate,

reduce flood risk and bring respite from

poor air quality. For a full discussion of the

importance of restoring an ecological network

see the Lawton Review (2010).11 In developing

the network, consideration should be given to

the Black Country Geodiversity Action Plan.12

Fig 5.1 Building an Ecological Network

5

ECOLOGICAL NETWORKS

MIT Campus: AECOM

25ECOLOGICAL NETWORKS


Multiple Benefits• Creating Sustainable Links:

The ecological network is

part of a wider network of

routes for boaters, cyclists and

pedestrians


Biodiversity:

The ecological network

is comprised of retained,

enhanced and created wildlife

habitat managed for wildlife.

This should be guided by the

local biodiversity action plan.


Habitats in the ecological

network are the most

appropriate landscapes for each

locality.


Access could be provided in

and around water bodies for

recreation.


Efficiently:

Cuttings and thinning from the

expanded network will be used

to provide energy in biomass

furnaces.


Change:

Vegetation will help reduce

flooding and help control micro-

climate.


Green cities attract more

investment. People are more

likely to want to live a work in

a green environment and are

more likely to settle down.


Neighbourhoods:

By permeating every part of the

Black Country and expanded

ecological network provides a

green and attractive outlook for

more people.

Bio-swale at Mission Bay Sports Complex, San Francisco: AECOM

26

Key Design Principles Strategic guidance - The EIG provides

an overarching strategy for key creation

and enhancement opportunities within the

identified priority areas. An example of this is

shown in figure 5.3. Consideration should be

given to working over interventions (eg urban

wetlands) into the network. Reference should

be made to the Biodiversity Enhancement

Zones and Geodiversity Consideration Zones

in the EIG Phase 1.

Local conditions - The habitats created

should be determined following a thorough

analysis of local conditions, including

topography, geology and adjacent habitats.

Suitable habitats and species - The Local

Biodiversity Action Plan should also be

referred to in order to select the appropriate

habitats and target species. Native species of

local provenance should be used.

Geodiversity – Interventions should protect,

enhance and create new geological or

geodiversity features, which will contribute to

sense of place.

Priority AreasThe greatest changes in the Black Country

will occur within the regeneration corridors so

special attention should be paid to creating

new links within the wider ecological network

within these areas (see primary opportunity

areas in fig. 5.2). The masterplan for each

project should include connection corridors

(or if this is not feasible habitat patches) to

contribute to the creation of a wider Black

Country ecological network. Priority should

be given to providing ‘missing links’ within the

network (Fig 5.2). These are indicative and

subject to revision as opportunities emerge.

Planning to extend the wider ecological

network within the regeneration corridors

should take account of the locations of

existing core areas as well as buffer areas

where restoration and enhancement can

be supported and the creation of new

connections.

The network will be comprised of a mosaic of

semi-natural habitats including open water,

wetlands, woodlands, grasslands and pioneer

communities.

0 5 102.5 Km

Major Roads

Ecological Network Legend


Wildlife corridors

Regeneration corridors

Primary Opportunity Areas

(size denotes scale of

potential intervention)

Fig 5.2 Priority Areas for strengthening Ecological Networks

27ECOLOGICAL NETWORKS


Barriers - Opportunities should be sought to

cross barriers to ecological networks, such as

major roads and infrastructure.

New development - Provides an excellent

opportunity to reinforce ecological networks.

Sometimes unexpected links can be created.

Canals and linear linkages - Will help further

extend the ecological network.

RC4.d: Identified Wildlife Corridor(Birmingham Canal)

RC4.a: Identified Wildlife Corridor(Railway line)

RC4.b: Habitat Creation

(Vacant land along canal and railway)

RC4.c: Habitat Enhancement

Fig 5.3 Proposed Networks with Regeneration areas. Example: Wolverhampton - Bilston

Area in

Regeneration

Corridor

Habitats / Land

Use

Remarks

RC4.a Broadleaved

woodland (WB3),

Scrub woodland

(WB2), Improved

grassland (GI0)

A diversity of habitats is present along

the railway line and viaduct opposite

Manders Industrial Estate including areas

of woodland, scrub and grassland. These

habitats are likely to act as a wildlife

corridor as well as providing a link to the

Wyrley & Essignton Canal.

RC4.b Industrial /

Commercial (UR0B)

Habitat creation is recommended within

brownfield sites and vacant industrial land

present along the Birmingham Canal –

Wolverhampton Level in order to improve

the ecological value and the continuity of

this wildlife corridor.

RC4.c Broadleaved

woodland (WB3),

Improved grassland

(GI0)

Habitat enhancement is recommended

for an area of improved grassland and

scattered / dense trees located between

Birmingham Canal and the railway line in

order to improve the ecological network

and wildlife corridor formed by the canal.

RC4.d Standing open water

(AS0), Calcareous

grassland (GC0),

Scrub woodland

(WB2), Broadleaved

woodland (WB3),

Improved grassland

(GI0)

A variety of habitats e.g. calcareous

grassland, scrub and woodland, and

designated sites along the Birmingham

Canal, including Birmingham Canal

SLINC and Ladymoor Pool SINC, have

been identified as a wildlife corridor.

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environmental infrastructure design guidelines...key design principles construction - figure 1.2...

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