EDLA - Landscape Architects’ Post

Great to see the Landscape Institute responding to the general election result. https://lnkd.in/e6Ufs6ui We fully support the Landscape Institute calling on the UK government to address challenges in climate, biodiversity, public health and housing, with connected policies that add positive social, environmental and economic value to our country. The 12 recommendations to the new government are framed under four important key themes: - Scaling up climate resilient, low carbon development;  - Driving education, awareness and skills for a greener and more resilient economy;  - Promoting a combined approach to environmental policy; and  - Championing the power of nature for health and wellbeing. More information can be found here: Landscape-Institute_Recommendations-to-Government_June-2024.pdf (landscapeinstitute.org) #government #landscapearchitecture #ukelection #landscapeiseverywhere #greenskills #peopleplacenature #chooselandscape #collaboration #greeninfrastructure

DeLeon, Graham, Jamey M. B. Volker, Susie Pike, and Bailey Affolter. 2024. “Assessing the Impact on Gentrification of Senate Bill (SB) 375 Streamlining: Case Study of Sacramento, CA.” Findings, September. This study investigates whether the development streamlining provisions in California’s Senate Bill 375 (2008) – which reduce the review required under the California Environmental Quality Act for qualifying transit-oriented development (TOD) projects – contribute to gentrification. Gentrification can have positive and negative outcomes for nearby communities, including the disproportionate displacement of marginalized communities of color and low-income residents (Drexel University Urban Health Collaborative (UHC) 2019). We use case studies of three TOD projects in Sacramento that utilized SB 375 streamlining. We find medium evidence of gentrification from all three projects, with the Sacramento Commons project showing the most signs of gentrification. https://lnkd.in/gGbzX-aB.

The UK government is pushing forward with plans to build 1.5 million homes, but how can we ensure these developments protect our environment? 🌍 The Environmental Audit Committee is diving deep into government housing reforms, scrutinising their impact on nature and the climate. As someone passionate about sustainable development, balancing housing needs with environmental responsibilities is crucial. I recall a project where we had to realign construction plans drastically to save a local ecosystem — a tough decision, but necessary. With carbon reduction, local nature recovery, and climate-conscious practices in focus, the real question is: Are we doing enough? The proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework aim to open more land for housing. Yet, we must ask ourselves if existing environmental protections are robust enough amidst this growth. What are your thoughts on integrating sustainability into large-scale housing projects? How do we balance rapid construction with ecological considerations? #SustainableHousing #EnvironmentalProtection #UKHousing #ClimateChange #ConstructionInsights 🚧🌿

Urban environmentalism is fundamentally a pursuit of health, both for the environment and the people who live in it. Yet, environmental risk factors and their impacts on health are unevenly distributed, an issue that can often be traced back to historical disinvestment and urban planning decisions. https://lnkd.in/egeYp3pz

How SIPs Can Build a Better Future for Housing, Energy, and Cost of Living? Get in touch with our team: https://lnkd.in/eQk739nB The housing, energy, and cost-of-living crises may seem overwhelming, but at Hemsec, we believe that solutions are within reach—and #StructuralInsulatedPanels (#SIPs) can play a vital role in addressing them all. As Environmental Audit Committee Chair Toby Perkins MP highlights: “Britain has a #housingcrisis, a #climatecrisis and a nature crisis. All three must be tackled in tandem and addressing one must not be at the expense of another.” This balanced, holistic approach is key. The Government’s ambitious goal of building 1.5 million homes in the next five years is significant. But we must also ensure that these homes are #EnergyEfficient, #Sustainable, and affordable to live in. SIPs are uniquely positioned to meet this challenge. Here’s how: 🏘 #TacklingTheHousingCrisis: SIPs construction is faster than traditional methods, enabling high-quality homes to be delivered at scale. 💡 #SolvingTheEnergyCrisis: SIPs are thermally efficient, reducing energy consumption and helping to meet climate goals. 💵 #EasingTheCostOfLiving: Homes built with SIPs are designed to reduce household bills, offering long-term affordability for residents. The potential for SIPs to transform the way we build homes and live in them is enormous. By aligning innovation in construction with climate and nature protections, we can truly build a #BetterFuture. Read more about how policymakers are addressing this crucial issue in the article below: 👉 MPs to investigate housebuilding targets and nature and climate goals: https://lnkd.in/eP5_z9HT Together, let’s embrace #SustainableSolutions and create homes that are not just places to live, but places that support our planet and our people. #SustainableAsStandard #JourneyToNetZero #HemsecSIPs #BuildingABetterTomorrow #ReshapingTheBuiltEnvironment #PlanForHousing

The indicators of urban prosperity consist of six main axes, which are: - Economic productivity. Infrastructure. Quality of life. Environmental sustainability. Governance and legislation. These axes include a set of indicators that will be presented later. #urban_planning #urban_prosperity #regional_planning #be_careful

Like many others, the #GreeningCities partnership was thrilled when the #NatureRestorationLaw was adopted on Monday!🌳🦋 This is especially because the objective of the partnership is to develop an implementation framework for #Green #Infrastructure at local, regional/national, and EU level, aligning with Article 8 of this recently adopted law 🚀 More info here: https://lnkd.in/eXRqEmS5 This will be done through ⤵ 💚 Ensuring knowledge (methodologies, guidelines, indicators) for deploying concrete green infrastructure (GI) solutions at city and national levels. 💚 Strengthening the integration of green infrastructure (GI) in the urban dimension of upcoming EU policies and other sectoral policies.   ➡ 5 identified actions will contribute to their objective👇 1️⃣ Need for Green: Methodology for quantifying the demand for green infrastructure at the local level. 2️⃣ Indicator System for Evaluating Urban Nature Plans. 3️⃣ Reaching Meaningful Urban Greening Targets. 4️⃣ Strengthening Structural Funding for Urban Green Infrastructure. 5️⃣ Enhancing the Use of Innovative Funding by Urban Authorities to Green Cities.   Now the partnership needs your help!   If you have experience and expertise relating to the Action Plan, we want to hear from you! ✨ Check out the Action Plan and contribute your insightful feedback in the #Public #Consultation👇 https://lnkd.in/dU8XYAcV European Urban Initiative #UrbanAgendaforEU #GreeningCities #UrbanBiodiversity #ClimateAdaptation #Cities #NatureBasedSolutions #NBS #GreenInfrastructure #SustainableCities #UrbanDevelopment #CommunityEngagement #NatureRestoration #PublicConsultation

“Our landscape policy agenda is grounded in taking a strategic approach, and linking the sustainable development of housing and infrastructure with other positive outcomes for the economy, society, and the environment. We are pleased to see evidence of this approach in the Draft NPPF, but any numerical targets it promotes must be backed up by appropriate policy for the quality, health and climate resiliency of local places.” As the government releases a Draft National Planning Policy Framework, read LI CEO Robert Hughes’ response to proposed planning reforms here. https://buff.ly/3WBweDU #landscapearchitecture #planningreform #nppf

I've expanded a recent Irish Times feature on building a climate-just city in my Medium climate solutions blog, and added in reference hyperlinks for those who want to go further and if you are interested in knowing more about the research ideas and work do get in touch?. As a follow-up to the research and Irish Times piece I've been invited to speak at the Irish Council for Social Housing conference in Sligo on October 17th, on the theme of #housing for communities over commodities, and will connect that conversation with some of the climate resilient and just, sustainable models we can see working in other European cities, and where energy retrofitting has been prioritised for the poorest and most vulnerable using low-carbon materials. We can learn from collaborations with neighbouring countries and cities, learn from their mistakes as well as their successes, but also shift from a silo-thinking, disjointed approach to connected, coordinated systems-based planning designed to meet the needs of people, places and species. Irish Times feature :  https://lnkd.in/epdt5yQd Access an expanded piece with hyperlinks here: https://lnkd.in/e_RKDTia #Cities #climateAction #Dublin #Ireland #builtEnvironment #Planning #ClimateJustice #ClimateSolutions #IrishTimes #ClimateCommunications #ClimatePolicy #Housing #HousingforAll

5 innovative actions to improve the framework of the green infrastructure implementation