In celebration of the 50th anniversary of LUC, our series of successful events continued in London last week.

Our fourth event this year, entitled ‘Putting the ‘green’ into infrastructure’, took place on Wednesday 21 September at our London office. Chaired by Kate Ahern, Director of Landscape Planning at LUC, and attended by guests from leading organisations across the infrastructure sector, the evening was a huge success.

Speakers included:

• Nicholas Falk, Chair, URBED
• Mike Grace, Head of Profession, Natural England
• David Green, Landscape Assessment Manager, HS2
• Hugh Ellis, Head of Policy, Town and Country Planning Association
• Emma Luke, Principal Consultant, LUC

Following presentations from each of the speakers and a lively Q&A session, it was widely agreed that the relationship between cities and the countryside needs rethinking by planners and developers. They should not be considered separate entities but instead linked through green transport corridors and spaces. This would form a green web, which connects people and ecological environments.

The role of infrastructure as a catalyst for ‘green’ was noted as well as the importance of having green infrastructure plans in place to get the most out of new infrastructure ensuring it conserves, enhances and creates appropriate environmental benefits and services.

The three key themes of HS2 – people, place and time – could be a good focus for planners and developers in order to produce a strong relationship between urban and rural areas. The development of infrastructure and landscapes that are designed to stand the test of time and give people a sense of place, are key to maintaining existing links as well as producing new ones.

Green infrastructure has long-term strategic impacts that are beneficial to surrounding environments and the rate at which green space is currently being lost is driving further recognition of its significance. LUC’s Emma Luke highlighted that steps are being taken in cities to protect and increase green space including the London 2030 Plan, which claims to create 9,000 hectares of green space, the GLA too is focussing on investment in green space from businesses and Bristol and the borough of Greenwich are already leading the way with their work with environmentalists. Green infrastructure can support this further.

The need for ‘big ideas’ and ‘small projects’ was a resounding call from the evening.

Further events will be held in November and more details will be released on our website shortly.