Beyond Urban Greening

What are the solutions?

There are a huge breadth of solutions and proposals that begin to solve some of the problems outlined above. These range from simply planting more trees to city-wide strategic interventions. Our experience across the work we do has informed a number of key moves of how we think urban greening and restorative and regenerative design can be successfully implemented at a variety of scales.

Green the grey – The obvious one! In all shapes, sizes and forms - plants, trees, meadows, vertical greening, wetlands, roofscapes, living walls, rain gardens can all be added to the urban environment, but it is important to note that suitability and appropriateness is fundamental. Understanding that these are living things that respond to microclimate, soil, ecological systems and also the need for management and maintenance is critical to their long-term success.

Restrict and remove cars – Vehicles pollute the air, create larger areas of impermeable surface, divide communities, and do not promote active and healthy lifestyles. The removal of cars from urban, city centre sites is often controversial and will take time. But the prime space that vehicles once occupied must be replaced with spaces for people and nature and the promotion of active travel and investment in public transport must be prioritised.

Retrofit – Working with the existing, often the greening of grey infrastructure can provide valuable positive solutions for both the short and mid-term. In some scenarios retrofitting greening can quickly improve the urban environment for people, planet and nature and can be good value immediate solutions such as simply greening existing brick walls with climbing plants. Retrofit solutions can provide short term, or temporary options to test ideas where later bigger investment can be placed.

Use data and metrics – The world around us is filled with measurements, data, recordings, and vast quantities of information that is readily at our fingertips. This information can be used to develop research-based design approaches that respond to real-life metrics, mapping and sequencing to develop meaningful site responsive solutions.

Connect strategically – Biodiversity, green-blue infrastructure and people are not static. Places are just one point within a larger context. For maximum impact, greening solutions must be framed within a strategic context, ideally a strategic greening vision for whole neighbourhoods, new communities, boroughs or city centres.

Understand ecology baseline – To positively contribute to the biodiversity net gain a detailed understanding of the existing ecological baseline will help to develop meaningful and positive gains that are site and context specific. Understanding the value of existing trees from both an amenity but also biodiversity value can shape design proposals for the better.

How can we make a difference?

At Gillespies, we create places that seamlessly balance the needs of people and nature. This is what we do, it’s in our DNA as placemakers. Our technical expertise and proven track record in masterplanning and landscape design enable us to deliver innovative solutions for new urban development proposals, such as our recent work on the Health Innovation Neighbourhood. This world-class regenerative masterplan pioneers the creation of truly green streetscapes, where public realm and nature can be leveraged to improve health, restore the planet’s equilibrium, and, most significantly, support a thriving ageing population.

Emphasis should be placed on retrofitting and improving our existing grey concrete cities. There is not always the need, or the budget to redesign or redevelop on a big scale, but small, incremental greening improvements across a broader scale can have a significant cumulative impact on biodiversity and provide more opportunities for people to connect with nature. Our work at Canary Wharf exemplifies this approach. We developed a framework of priority areas where projects could be implemented quickly to achieve an immediate impact. Initiatives such as living walls and moveable planters were introduced to enhance the appeal of the estate and improve air quality, control rainwater runoff and increase biodiversity.

Improvements must be coordinated and strategic to join the many threads and ideas of quality regenerative urbanism. Local Authorities, often working with limited budgets, face significant challenges, but establishing a clear ‘greening’ vision is a critical first step to help support the development of nature-positive cities. Our work with Wakefield Metropolitan District Council in developing their Urban Greening Strategy illustrates this approach. By employing a site-specific strategic framework and research-based approach, we identified, viable opportunities across relevant key themes, crafting tangible proposals for how the city can be improved for people, nature and planet.

Summary

The most powerful argument to raise the agenda for regenerative urbanism and a restorative, rewilding approach and relationship with nature is our fundamental duty to safeguard our planet for future generations. In the short term, however, we must focus on creating urban spaces that are more enjoyable, beautiful, engaging, and healthier places for everyone.

At Gillespies, we design with intelligence and foresight, harnessing Earth’s natural landscape systems to craft spaces that are both restorative to the planet and enriching for people. Our approach integrates circular, regenerative principles, creating environments that sustain ecological health while providing moments of joy and social connection. By designing with nature’s rhythms, we develop places that not only improve well-being but also foster vibrant communities and contribute to a resilient, sustainable future.

If you have any questions about urban greening, restorative and regenerative landscape design or need expert support to overcome project challenges, please contact us. We can provide the guidance and solutions you need to transform your vision into a thriving reality.