The Shady Lanes Project’s Post

As covered by Inside Housing - Southern Housing has recently published their Biodiversity Pathway to 2030. This document outlines the plans of the 78k home housing provider over the coming years in order to facilitate nature recovery across 150sq hectares of land which makes up 12% of their communal land portfolio along with an additional 26k properties with private gardens. These plans have been co-developed with tenants and their feedback indicates that biodiversity and green open spaces are important to tenants. These plans will also work towards reducing flood risks and lowering air and noise pollution. This project therefore tackles a number of issues around environmental concerns and relevant legislation along with the recent tenant satisfaction measure requirements from the Regulator of Social Housing which all housing providers with over 1k homes need to follow. With such an array of legislation and requirements placed upon social housing providers, we're seeing capital spend becoming more holistic and efficient. Net Zero initiatives are no longer just addressing CO2 levels, but improving tenant satisfaction, reducing energy bills for tenants, tackling damp and mould among other aspects that combined improve the living standards of tenants. HOMES UK and Unlock Net Zero Live is on the horizon and will address Net Zero housing along with asset management, procurement, building safety and repairs & maintenance. This is a great opportunity for commercial organisations to meet with housing providers to support them across these topics and potentially offer holistic solutions which provide more efficient capital expenditure. Do reach out to learn more about this exhibition and see how we can connect you with housing providers. #biodiversity #unlocknetzero #netzero #assetmanagement #sustainability #homes #tenantengagement #tenantsatisfaction #retrofit #socialhousing https://lnkd.in/eYX8kp2d

The The State Journal-Register reported recently that Chicago is the third-most sustainable city in the US (after NYC & LA). The Most Sustainable Cities study, ranking 500 cities across the United States, was conducted by LawnStarter for World Environment Day on June 5. LawnStarter, a company that connects customers with lawn care services, ranked the cities based on their sustainability scores across five categories: - Policy - Sustainable Development - Pollution - Transportation - Food Production Cities in Illinois following Chicago were Evanston, Naperville, Champaign, Cicero, Elgin, Peoria, Bloomington, Aurora, Springfield, Arlington Heights, Waukegan, Schaumburg, Rockford, Joliet, and Bolingbrook. Look at the report here: https://lnkd.in/gmE95JFz The article: https://lnkd.in/gfwdF6fw #CleanCities #CleanCitiesandCommunities #SustainableCities #Chicago #IACT

We just bought an abandoned farm and we have a major problem. Our land is overrun with invasive Port Jackson trees, an alien species rapidly choking out the native vegetation. I visited the farm on the weekend and just saw a sea of yellow flowers signalling their spread, a challenge, but an opportunity for innovative problem-solving. Today, we began the process of removing these trees. It's a delicate balance - some might question cutting down any trees, but this action is crucial for restoring our local ecosystem. By repurposing the felled trees as firewood, we're transforming a threat into a resource. This project on the farm mirrors our work with Strawtown in many ways. Both require us to challenge conventional thinking and find creative solutions to complex problems. Just as we're developing modular housing to help millennials enter the property market, here we're pioneering sustainable land management practices. As we clear these invasive species, I can already envision the resurgence of native plants. It's a tangible representation of the positive change we aim to create, both in this ecosystem and in the housing market through Strawtown. Both endeavours share a common goal: creating spaces where people and nature can thrive harmoniously. It's a powerful reminder of why I do what I do - to drive meaningful change, whether it's in how we live or how we take care of our environment.

Transforming city rooftops into lush organic farms is a forward-thinking solution to many urban challenges. It addresses environmental issues like the urban heat island effect and stormwater management, while also providing economic, social, and aesthetic benefits. With thoughtful planning, community engagement, and supportive policies, rooftop farms can make our cities cooler, greener, and more livable. As we look to the future, embracing such innovative urban agriculture practices will be crucial in building sustainable and resilient urban environments.

I'm excited to be presenting the Witchcliffe Ecovillage (www.ecovillage.net.au) case study at the UDIA State Conference (https://lnkd.in/gxe34gxh) in Bunker Bay on Friday, March 8. I'll be joining an impressive list of very accomplished leaders in the property industry; looking forward to learning from the best! Key topics that I'll cover in my talk: - How can specific design configurations naturally encourage social connections and the formation of sense of community? - Is it possible for a community to be self-sufficient in power, water, wastewater, and fresh fruit / veg? If so, what are the benefits of this and should we be striving for this in other developments? - What are the strongest reasons buyers are flocking to the Ecovillage model (hint: it's not the tech)? - How can we adjust the planning system to promote (and afford) sustainable communities? - In considering affordability, we should think about 'affordable living' rather than simply reducing the cost of the home... And much more...I hope to see you there!

Best Practice Playbook: Revitalizing Kansas City's Rock Island Bridge The Rock Island Bridge in Kansas City, originally commissioned in 1905, is being transformed into an entertainment and dining destination, highlighting adaptive reuse in urban environments. Revitalizing the Rock Island Bridge illustrates how cities can repurpose aging infrastructure to enhance community engagement, historical preservation, and economic growth. This project demonstrates a successful collaboration between public, private, and philanthropic entities, showcasing a "4P" partnership model. By connecting neighborhoods and creating a multifunctional public space, the bridge fosters a dynamic interaction with the urban landscape and promotes environmental resilience through its integration with trail systems and parks. Innovative projects like the Rock Island Bridge exemplify how cities can creatively repurpose historical structures to benefit communities. While not every city has a bridge to transform, this project inspires thinking outside the box to develop unique, impactful urban spaces.

Expanding the Green Vision to Small Towns The transformative power of greening is not limited to buzzing metropolises; it extends its roots deep into the heart of small towns, where the impact is felt just as much as in large cities. Small towns may not have concrete jungles in their urban centers and more natural green spaces. Still, this narrative of revitalization and community-building through green spaces holds equally profound significance in the urban centers of small towns. Read more: https://hubs.ly/Q02sggXf0 #GoGreen #SmallTown #GreenSpaces #SmallTownBigIMPACT #IMPACTParks #CityParks #CityRecreation #OutdoorRecreation #ParksAndRecreation

🌱 Exciting News from Greener Growth! 🌱 We're thrilled to share a groundbreaking initiative that perfectly aligns with our mission at Greener Growth - transforming underutilized areas into vibrant food-producing community resources. The World Resources Institute highlights the transformative power of urban green spaces, not just for beautifying our cities but as a crucial step towards social equity and environmental sustainability. In their latest piece, the spotlight is on the multifaceted benefits of urban parks and green infrastructure, illustrating how they can significantly uplift communities by improving air quality, enhancing local biodiversity, and, most importantly, offering fresh, locally-grown produce to residents. This approach not only addresses food security but also strengthens community bonds and fosters a sense of ownership and pride among local residents. At Greener Growth, we see this as a clarion call to expand our efforts. By converting more unused spaces into productive green areas, we can contribute to a healthier, more sustainable, and equitable future for everyone. Let's embrace the challenge and transform our neighbourhoods, one green space at a time. Join us in making our communities greener, healthier, and more resilient! Read more about the impact of urban green spaces here: World Resources Institute: https://lnkd.in/e9rpt5CH #GreenerGrowth #UrbanGreenSpaces #CommunityGardening #SustainableCities #SocialEquity #EnvironmentalSustainability #FoodSecurity

A fantastic newly relandscaped public garden was opened to the public this week at the junction of Cheapside and New Change. Formerly known as the Sunken Garden, the area has been transformed into a fully accessible and greener place, with a 25% increase in planting for enhanced biodiversity and climate resilience, providing opportunity for activation for the benefit of local residents, workers, visitors and tourists. Following the initiation of the City Corporation’s Climate Action Strategy, the new garden was designed to pioneer a multi-faceted, sustainable approach to create public spaces that are more resilient to climate change. Sustainability and circular economy were at the heart of the project when designing, choosing materials and deciding methods of construction. Over 150-year-old granite stones, salvaged from the Thames River Wall, were used to create the new benches, with recycled timber from fallen London Plane trees for the backrests. New permeable paving lets rain drain freely into the ground, storing it for trees to use later, and reduce pressure on the sewer system. The new plant species have been selected with local wildlife in mind, combining a range of pollinator-friendly species to help biodiversity and create interest all year round. This project forms part of wider enhancements in the Cheapside area to develop the local environment and improve air quality, particularly through new green spaces and tree planting. Funding for the project has come from a mix of the City Corporation’s Climate Action Fund, as well as private sector contributions from the Cheapside Business Alliance (the local Business Improvement District) and C Hoare & Co, Britain’s oldest private bank which has deep historic ties to the site.

🌍 Bringing Nature Back to Our Cities 🌿 Have you ever walked through a city and felt like it was missing something? We at GHCJ believe that cities should be vibrant and alive, not just concrete jungles. That's why we recently tackled a project focused on transforming an urban area with blue-green infrastructure. Here’s what we did - 🌳Transformed a 10,000 sq ft area into lush green spaces featuring green rooftops and restored wetlands. 🏞️Reduced stormwater runoff by 30%, helping to manage flooding risks and protect local waterways. 🦋Created habitats for local wildlife, leading to a 25% increase in urban biodiversity, including pollinators like bees and butterflies. 🧑🏼🏫Engaged the community through four workshops, where over 100 residents learned about sustainable practices and the importance of green spaces. The best part? By adopting these nature-based solutions, we’ve shown that sustainability can save costs in the long run. Our project not only enhanced the area’s beauty but also proved to be a 20% reduction in maintenance costs compared to traditional infrastructure. What can we do together? Restore: Let’s revitalise our local ecosystems. Engage: Join us for workshops to learn how you can contribute to a greener future. Innovate: Share your ideas about making urban spaces more livable. We would love to hear your thoughts! What steps can we take in our cities to bring nature back? Let’s spark a conversation! Thanks to our superstar illustrator @Mei-ling Tan #NatureInTheCity #UrbanTransformation #SustainableLiving #CommunityEngagement #GreenInfrastructure #EnvironmentalImpact #GHCJ #ESG #ClimateAction