Current Requirements

A range of national and local planning policies are being adopted around the country requiring living roofs on new developments. The first, firm policy in the UK was put in place by the Greater London Authority (GLA) requiring: major developments to incorporate living roofs and walls where feasible The GLA draft Essential Standard calls for: provision of either intensive, extensive or recreational roof space (or a combination of these)on all new development.

This requirement clearly goes beyond just planted roofs and: At least 25 per cent of the total roof space in any one development should be accessible to residents and/or workers calling for attractive, safe and sustainable hard surfaces. The Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) and BREEAM recognise the ecological and other benefits of living roofs but CSH also provides 1 credit for external areas allowing all occupants to sit outside. Similarly, BREEAM for Multi-Residential buildings requires outside space easily accessible to: all potential users of the building, regardless of age, disability or gender.

With new draft legislation demanding sustainable drainage (SUDS) on all new developments within 2 years, elevated landscapes will increasingly play an essential source-control role at the head of the SUDS management train to attenuate and reduce rainwater runoff or enable water harvesting. SUDS techniques such as this are also recognised in CSH and BREEAM.