On 10th December 2012, the All London Green Grid (ALGG) was launched, with publication of the 11 Area Frameworks and the announcement of the Big Green Fund.
The aim of the All London Green Grid is to deliver a broad and deep green infrastructure across London, improving and linking the existing network of green spaces.
The Grid should help to bring about major enhancements for the capital’s wildlife habitats, and help more people to get to know enjoy their benefits.
The ALGG also presents a key opportunity for securing tangible benefits for species dependent on landscape-scale enhancements, such as water vole, bats, fish and butterflies
The All London Green Grid (ALGG) is the green infrastructure strategy for London. It sets out a vision for the existing networks of green and blue spaces across London, and opportunities to enhance this though a series of projects across a number of area frameworks. It identifies a wide range of functions that can be delivered by a healthy natural environment, ranging from: ‘adapting to climate change’ and ‘promoting healthy living’ to ‘conserving biodiversity and increasing access to nature’ and ‘enhancing heritage features, geodiversity and landscape character’.
A green infrastructure strategy
The ALGG stems from the earlier East London Green Grid, and is built around four key elements. London’s existing river and other key landscape corridors, including the Thames; established open spaces and identified opportunities for creating new parks, such as the Wandle Valley Regional Park; existing and proposed green connections and corridors, such as the proposed London Riverside Link; and, the designated and protected landscapes that are generally located at the boundary of London and flow across administrative boundaries to neighbouring areas and often include areas of degraded urban fringe.
The ALGG aims to promote a shift from ‘grey to green’ infrastructure in order to secure environmental, social and economic benefits. It progresses a common perception of London as a city punctuated by parks, green spaces and surrounded by countryside, to an appreciation of this network as part of the city’s fundamental infrastructure. This connected network will improve the function, use and performance of our current green infrastructure. By being connected, the value and function of the ALGG is significantly enhanced so that it can be used in many different ways including by pedestrians, for water management, for cooling the grey urban spaces and as an ecological corridor.
A series of projects that will deliver the ALGG are set out in 11 Area Frameworks, which are due to be formally launched in July 2012. These are:
1 Lee Valley and Finchley Ridge
2 Epping Forest and Roding Valley
3 Thames Chase, Beam and Ingrebourne
5 River Cray and Southern Marshes
6 South East London Green Chain Plus
7 London’s Downlands
8 Wandle Valley
8 Wandle Valley
9 Arcadian Thames
10 River Colne and Crane
11 Brent Valley and Barnet Plateau
12 Central London
Links to the London Plan
· Protect, conserve and enhance London’s strategic network of green and open natural and cultural spaces, to connect the everyday life of the city to a range of experiences and landscapes, town centres, public transport nodes, the countryside in the urban fringe, the Thames and major employment and residential areas;
· Encourage greater use of, and engagement with, London’s green infrastructure; popularising key destinations within the network and fostering a greater appreciation of London’s natural and cultural landscapes; enhancing visitor facilities and extending and upgrading the walking and cycling networks in between to promote a sense of place and ownership for all who work in, visit and live in London;
· Secure a network of high quality, well designed and multifunctional green and open spaces to establish a crucial component of urban infrastructure able to address the environmental challenges of the 21st century – most notably climate change.
This aims are in line with the emerging green infrastructure approach to the design, planning and management of landscape resources developing rapidly in Britain, Europe and North America. The objective of this approach is to plan and manage networks of natural and cultural landscapes and open spaces strategically so as to conserve ecosystem functions and provide a range of benefits for people.
The ALGG provides a framework that can connect with other Mayoral and regional initiatives and strategies, including the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, and the London Tree & Woodland Framework.
The ALGG SPG provides guidance on the implementation of all the policy framework set out in the London Plan and is the green infrastructure strategy for London. It will be a key document for delivering improvements to the green infrastructure network and to facilitate the identification and delivery of programmes and projects promoted by the boroughs and their partners. The approach can also provide an opportunity to identify and develop green space jobs and skills training for Londoners via volunteering programmes and increasing the demand for skilled green space workers. It will also help encourage local communities to become engaged, in line with the Government’s localism agenda, by highlighting projects in which communities can become involved.
The SPG does not, however, make any specific reference to front or back gardens. This is not to deny their importance but it recognises that many of the decisions made by individual homeowners about changes to their gardens often fall outside the scope of the planning system and thus are beyond the remit of the Guidance.
See also
http://www.wildlondon.org.uk/News/the-all-london-green-grid-is-launched (thanks to London Wildlife Trust for text above http://www.wildlondon.org.uk/all-london-green-grid
ALGG---algal? paint it with......shall we say yoghurt and watch it go green
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