SuDS in London - a guide

2.9 London’s green
infrastructure
London is one of the greenest cities in the
world with 47% green space and 22% tree
canopy cover.
The green and blue infrastructure of the
Capital includes commons, parks, gardens,
fields, street trees, woodlands, green roofs,
green walls and water bodies, including the
River Thames and all its tributaries.
Together, these assets define much of the
character of the city. Their environmental,
economic and social benefits include:
• intercepting rainfall
• attenuating surface water flow
• maintaining soil permeability
• reducing urban heat island effect
• improving air and water quality
• flood mitigation
• providing amenity space
• space for walking and cycling
• enhancing biodiversity/
ecological resilience
• creating a sense of place
Many of these benefits overlap with the
aims of SuDS interventions. It is therefore
vital to protect London’s existing green
infrastructure when designing SuDS in
the Capital.
Trees in the public realm of the
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
2.10 Trees
London benefits from a legacy of Victorian
tree planting that contributes significantly
to its canopy cover while intercepting
rainfall. These trees were established in
much more favourable, less engineered,
conditions than today’s high-performing
pavements where space above and below
ground is often at a premium. Tree planting
has, however, continued in London with
initiatives such as the Mayor's Street Tree
Initiative, where over 10,000 trees were
planted in 28 boroughs from 2012 to 2015.
SuDS schemes in London should retain
existing trees where possible. Specialist
advice should be sought at an early stage.
Further information:
Greater London Authority (2015), Natural
Capital: Investing in a Green Infrastructure
for a Future London, Green Infrastructure
Task Force, London, UK.
Landscape Institute (2013), Green
Infrastructure: An integrated approach to
land use, Position Statement, London, UK.
Treeconomics London (2015), Valuing
London’s Urban Forest: Results of the
London i-Tree Eco Project, London, UK.
All London Green Grid SPG 2012.
TDAG (2014) Trees and Hard Landscape:
A Guide for Delivery
25 2 The London context