We are incredibly proud to be part of the Low Line Commons team who recently won two awards at the New London Awards at the end of November. Not only did Low line win the planning category it won the OVERALL WINNER too.
A huge congratulations to everyone involved!
Low Line Commons - Project Overview
This sustainable vision and strategy is part of the Low Line scheme to create a green corridor along the Victorian railway viaduct meandering through Bankside, London Bridge and Bermondsey. The Low Line Commons, commissioned by Low Line partners, will connect people with nature and increase environmental resilience along its length by promoting innovative greening and sustainability projects that mitigate climate change. It celebrates the diversity and heritage of each neighbourhood with a series of hubs to encourage communities to unify and share a ‘sense of place’.
The streets and spaces around the viaduct currently divide neighbourhoods, block access, and create dark and oppressive spaces. Whilst the viaduct is a common element, the surrounding areas also each have their own unique characteristics. The strategy will tie these areas together into a coherent whole whilst celebrating the diversity and unique characteristics.
A toolkit solution of 12 components is designed to be used to provide the best response to each unique neighbourhood. Elements centre around establishing biodiversity and ecological connectivity, building climate resilience and connecting people with each other and nature. Responding to scale is also key so spaces can be knitted together to function as a coherent place. Included are pocket parks, wildlife micro habitats, SuDS, planters and street trees, overhead habitats, productive private green spaces, sensory play areas, pedestrian priority, lighting, canopies, seating and pop-up uses.
Whether large or small, by great visionary designers or through local acts of love and care, together they can make up a 3.5 km, cultural resource. The value of which is the Commons approach, where residents and businesses coexist.Shared action by the Low Line Partners – Better Bankside, Team London Bridge, Blue Bermondsey, Southwark Council and The Arch Company – with Friends of the Low Line, residents, businesses, landowners and developers, can deliver this coherent ‘green seam.’ The ambition is for 50,000 sqm biodiverse roofs, 500 new trees, 30 SuDS raingardens, 10,000 plants, 100 new wildlife habitats, 1,000 sqm wildflower meadows, 500 sqm ‘grey to green’ de-paving projects, 30 pocket spaces supporting social interaction and 3.5 km carriageway transformed to support green business and active travel.
2022 Civic Trust Regional Finalist for Sustainability
We are also proud to announce that the 100 Liverpool Street project we are involved in has been named as a 2022 Civic Trust Regional Finalist for sustainability. Fingers crossed!
100 Liverpool Street - Project Overview
Greengage acted as the sustainability coordinators throughout the design and construction of the 100 Liverpool Street office redevelopment works within the Broadgate estate. The project demonstrates exemplar sustainability performance including BREEAM ‘Outstanding’, WELL ‘Gold’ and is Broadgate’s first ultra-low carbon building.
Greengage coordinated the project’s sustainability brief throughout the project, regularly reviewing and monitoring targets with the team to maximise performance. This also included working with the contractor on specific sustainability requirements and material procurement. Selected sustainability highlights achieved include:
- Retention of 32% of the existing steel frame and 49% existing concrete retained or reused;
- Over 99% landfill diversion of construction waste;
- Project FSC certification; and
- 40% of water demand from recycled sources, including rainwater collection and greywater reuse.
Greengage also produced the habitat management plan for the extensive planting on the 24,000sqft of outdoor terraces, providing a significant biodiversity enhancement as well as outdoor amenity space.
