Policy information sourced from the Richmond Upon Thames Local Plan

Policy 38 Urban Greening

A. All development proposals should integrate green infrastructure and provide for urban greening. It is necessary to consider green infrastructure at an early stage of the design process and incorporate this as part of an integrated design approach.

B. Major developments are required to:

  1. Conduct an Urban Greening Factor (UGF) assessment in accordance with the methodology set out in the London Plan;
  2. Achieve an UGF of a minimum of 0.4 for developments that are predominantly residential;
  3. Achieve an UGF of a minimum of 0.3 for developments that are predominantly commercial.

C. All other developments are required to include urban greening elements, although no UGF calculation has to be submitted. Applicants will be required to provide the following information:

  1. Appropriate information which provides sufficient detail on the type(s) of green infrastructure proposed;
  2. Justification indicating why the type(s) of green infrastructure have been proposed for the development;
  3. The UGF calculation and score (for major developments); and
  4. Appropriate information on how the urban greening elements will be maintained and managed over the lifetime of the development.

D. Any new urban greening element should focus on tackling the climate emergency and/or help avoid or mitigate the impacts of the proposed development on biodiversity by providing locally relevant greening that complements the site’s existing wildlife value and that will achieve an overall gain in biodiversity.

Green roofs

E. Biodiverse green roofs should be incorporated into developments with roof plate areas of 100sqm or more, where technically feasible. At least 70% of any potential roof plate area should be used as a biodiverse green roof.

F. Developments proposing the installation of roof level solar technologies are required to incorporate the panels over a green roof area to form a ‘bio-solar roof’, where the overarching biodiversity and drainage functions of the green roof will not be adversely affected. Integrated solutions are available for both new build construction and retrofit projects, which would allow for the entire roof area to qualify as a green roof, and if a biodiversity vegetation finish is elected for, this can further enhance the BREEAM credit rating for the roof element (see Policy 6 ‘Sustainable Construction Standards ‘).

G. The onus is on an applicant to provide evidence and justification if a green roof cannot be feasibly incorporated.

H. Developments involving the extension of existing buildings are strongly encouraged to retrofit extensive green roofs on existing roof areas where feasible, in addition to providing green roofs on the extension where technically feasible.

I. The use of green walls is also encouraged and supported.

For more information please see the Richmond Upon Thames Local Plan