Green Infrastructure
Green Infrastructure (GI) represents an approach to land use that emphasises multifunctional and connected green spaces and ecosystem services. Watch the video for a two-minute introduction to GI and the local benefits it can bring.
Local Green Infrastructure: helping communities make the most of their landscape (2011)
Building on our 2009 statement on Green infrastructure, the LI's new guidance is aimed at inspiring local decision-makers and communities to make the most of their land, while helping wildlife to flourish, reducing flood risk, providing green open space for all, and delivering a wide range of economic, health and community benefits.
Download booklet (pdf)
Request print copies
Case studies
The booklet features eight case studies from across the UK where GI has been woven into the fabric of local communities, bringing a wide range of benefits: Eastern Curve, Dalston, London | Leeds City Region GI Strategy
Manor Fields Park, Sheffield| | Phoenix Park Gateway Gallery, Cheshire
Dalzell Estate, North Lanarkshire | Betjeman Millenium Park, OxfordshireGreening for Growth in Victoria, London | Bury Mount, Northamptonshire
For more GI projects, go to the full list of all GI schemes in the case studies library
Illustration
Click on the illustration for an animated example showing of key GI elements
Green Infrastructure: connected and multifunctional landscapes
Policy position statement (2009)
The LI argues that green infrastructure (GI) needs to be taken as seriously as the more familiar ‘grey infrastructure' of roads, railways and power lines.
We are faced with a wide range of environmental, social and economic challenges - developing housing to meet demographic changes, ensuring that our environments are resilient to a changing climate, maintaining adequate supplies of water, managing flood risk, securing food and energy supplies and safeguarding against biodiversity loss. If we are to meet these challenges, everyone concerned with the planning, design and management of places needs to consider a green infrastructure approach.
This position statement:
- explains the many benefits of GI and the policy objectives it can help achieve
- shows the vital role of landscape practitioners in developing GI
- demonstrates how GI works in practice
Case studies
Landscape schemes featured in this policy statement:
- Newlands, the Mersey Forest and the Weaver Valley Initiative
- Crewe Business Park, Cheshire
- Ingrebourne Hill, London
- The River Ray Corridor, Swindon
- The Royal Parks, London
More about the LI's work on Green Infrastructure
The LI champions GI and the role of landscape architects in implementing it, through our events for members, media and PR work, and responses to government policy consultations.
Events
Videos and presentations by speakers at GI events in 2010-11
- Speeches by government ministers Richard Benyon MP and Bob Neill MP at the launch of the Green Infrastructure Partnership
- GI seminars (presentations)
- Ecobuild 2011 seminars - GI and investing in landscape (videos)
Consultation responses
The LI's responses to public consultations on GI issues:
- National Planning Policy Framework CLG, 2011
- Natural Environment White Paper DEFRA, 2011
- Local Flood Authorities' contribution to sustainable development DEFRA 2011
- Planning obligations CLG, 2010
- A living Wales : a new framework for our environment, our countryside and our seas Welsh Assembly, 2010
- Draft PPS: Planning for a natural and healthy environment CLG, 2010
- Planning Policy Statement for ecotowns CLG, 2009
Press releases
- Ecobuild seminars - Why Invest in Landscape? Green Infrastructure and Localism February 2011
- Draft planning policy fails to demand strategic approach to green infrastructure June 2010
- Landscape Institute helps put green infrastructure at the heart of climate change policy March 2010
- Green infrastructure to be taken as seriously as grey infrastructure argues new Landscape Institute publication May 2009
Updated November 07 2011
Ministers endorse Local Green Infrastructure booklet
Bob Neill MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at Communities and Local Government said at the launch of Local Green Infrastructure:
"I welcome the Landscape Institute’s publication and the eight case studies it highlights. A clear message from the examples is how vital green infrastructure is where it has been effectively integrated into where and how we live – helping to underpin our growth ambitions, by attracting investment and helping to ensure new houses and business premises are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.
Expert bodies such as the Landscape Institute, RTPI and TCPA, and networks of green space at the local level will have an important role in advising and equipping planners on how to integrate the natural environment into urban and residential areas to meet the challenges of growth, climate change and environment deprivation".
Read full speeches by Bob Neill and Defra Minister Richard Benyon MP at the launch of the Green Infrastructure Partnership
Photo credit: Paul Tanner
