Living roofs help limit the impacts of climate change, reduce energy use, enhance biodiversity, reduce flood risk by absorbing heavy rainfall, provide insulation and improve the appearance of our cityscape.

 

New construction techniques allow for many different types of 'living roofs', from natural meadows, brownfield habitat and allotments to formal gardens arranged with planters and seating space and even rooftop farms. However, living roofs are not as common a feature in London as they are in other European cities.

 

Design for London has led a campaign to promote the benefits of usable roof space. We published a technical document in February 2008 investigating the benefits of living roofs and the barriers to their implementation to inform planning policy development.

 

The GLA group is also leading by example with projects such as Transport for London's West Ham Bus Garage, which incorporates a sedum roof and rain water harvesting and the London Development Agency's zero-carbon development at Gallions Reach, where food production will take place on the roof.

Download:
1_Living_Roofs_statement.pdf
2_Living_Roofs_statement_text_only.rtf
3_Living_Roofs_case_studies.pdf
4_Living_Roofs_case_studies_text_only.rtf
5_Living_Roofs_technical_report.pdf
6_Living_Roofs_technical_report_text_only.rtf