Green Infrastructure
Worcestershire is widely recognised as an outstandingly green and pleasant place to visit, work and live. The W6 development site was identified early in its gestation as a county ‘Game Changer’ site which meant that it should be an exemplar for outstanding performance not just economically but also environmentally.
Green Infrastructure (GI) is the network of multi-functional green space and green features, both urban and rural, which deliver quality of life and environmental benefits for all. Worcestershire’s GI Partnership worked with developers to deliver a clear vision for the protection and promotion of the site’s natural and historic environmental assets including its archaeology, biodiversity, rights-of-way, recreational assets, quality landscapes and flood resilience. GI includes rivers, streams, street trees, green roofs and sustainable drainage systems which provide multi-functional benefits for visitors, occupiers, customers and communities.
Good quality Green Infrastructure can:
- support people’s mental and physical health
- encourage active travel
- cool urban areas during heat waves
- attract investment
- reduce water run-off during flash flooding
- provide carbon storage services
- provide sustainable drainage
- benefit biodiversity
This site has ancient woodland and traditional floodplain meadows literally at its heart, within a central ‘green spine’ which formed part of the site’s environmental credentials throughout its masterplanning process.
It was through pro-active engagement with Worcestershire’s Green Infrastructure Partnership that a cohesive and long-term GI Concept Plan was drafted and led the site masterplanning work to secure:
