by jamaicahomes 
In 2010, Dean Jones assumed the contract role of Regeneration Project Manager for Bexley Council, overseeing the ambitious Belvedere Green Links project within the East London Green Grid (ELGG) initiative. Tasked with the efficient delivery of multiple projects stemming from the London Green Grid program, Jones faced the challenge of meeting crucial milestones to secure allocated funding and prevent its redirection.
Focusing on the dual imperatives of climate change and future development, the ELGG concept aimed to establish a versatile network of strategic open spaces. The overarching goal was to enhance the quality of life for both new and existing East London residents and workers. To achieve this, Jones and his team worked to create interlinked, multi-functional, and high-quality open spaces that seamlessly connected town centers, public transport nodes, the urban fringe, the Thames, and major employment and residential areas.
The Green Grid envisioned the establishment of new public spaces, improvements to existing open spaces, and enhancements to the connections in between. Dean Jones played a pivotal role in representing the Bexley Council team at various meetings, including a memorable encounter with then-Mayor Boris Johnson at the Greater London Authority (GLA). Throughout this journey, Jones navigated project complexities, securing funding where necessary and ensuring the timely progression of initiatives critical to the success of the Belvedere Green Links project.
EAST LONDON GREEN GRID BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Strategic Summary
1. What is the East London Green Grid?
The ELGG concept aims to provide new and existing East London residents and workers with a multi functional network of strategic open space and in turn improved quality of life. This responds to the dual drivers of climate change and future development. The aim of the Green Grid is to create a network of interlinked, multi-functional and high quality open spaces that connect with town centres, public transport nodes, the countryside in the urban fringe, the Thames and major employment and residential areas. The Green Grid envisages the creation of new public spaces, the enhancement of existing open spaces and improvements to the links in between.
As a living network of open spaces, river and other corridors connecting urban areas to the river Thames, the Green Belt and beyond, the Green Grid will:
- provide new and enhance existing public open spaces, reducing areas of deficiency;
- provide public access along the major river and green areas;
- provide a range of formal and informal recreational uses and landscapes, promoting healthy living;
- provide new and enhance existing wildlife sites;
- manage water collection, cleansing and flood risk with multi-functional spaces;
- provide beautiful, diverse and managed green infrastructure to the highest standards for people and wildlife.
2. Why now?
As the density of London increases, access to the outdoors will increasingly be at a premium. Well-designed, accessible public spaces will therefore be crucial to create a healthier and more civilised London. East London will be a major focus for regeneration and development over the coming 20-30 years. The London Plan Further Alterations (May, 2006) states that a minimum of 157,000 additional homes by 2016 and 353,000 new jobs to 2026 will need to be accommodated in East London. For this scale of regeneration to be sustainable and respond to climate change a real improvement in environmental quality is required as an integrated part of proposed and existing roads, public transport, housing, commercial and community infrastructure.
The Mayor has recently made commitments to promote the ELGG concept and accelerate its delivery. Support to establish and safeguard the ELGG is outlined in the London Plan Review statement of intent December 2005 and will be strengthened through London Plan Review Process.
3. Who is involved in the East London Green Grid?
The concept has been developed in partnership with the LDA, the East London boroughs, Thames Gateway London Partnership (TGLP), Environment Agency and English Nature, who together with the GLA form the existing ELGG steering group.
It is proposed to divide the East London sub-region into six Green Grid sub-areas to provide the basic framework from which Green Grid development and enhancement projects can be delivered. Existing green space management organisations and adjacent boroughs have formed sub-area steering groups to develop each sub-area. The proposed sub-areas are:
- Lee Valley
- Epping Forest / Roding Valley
- Fairlop / Beam / Ingrebourne
- London Riverside
- Darent / Cray River
- South East London Green Chain
4. What is the role of the GLA?
The GLA Architecture and Urbanism Unit works in partnership with the east London boroughs the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), the Thames Gateway delivery vehicles and others to promote major strategic open space projects. The A+UU provides a strategic direction for project development and supports each project via advice on project scoping, brief writing, consultant selection, and design development, funding and delivery strategies.
The ELGG Delivery Plan will prioritise at least four major projects as a ‘phase one’ of delivery. Over the next funding rounds the GLA will liaise closely with DCLG and other partners to align investment programmes with the ELGG phase one. The GLA will also support major bids to various lottery-funding streams, including the Big Lottery.
5. What documents relate to the ELGG?
- Further Alterations to the London Plan will mention the ELGG
- Green Grid Framework SPG provides non-statutory guidance on the implementation of London Plan policies by providing the framework for open space enhancement in East London. The SPG identifies where stakeholders will be able to shape their policies and actions to deliver their contribution to the strategic network as an integrated part of achieving social and economic regeneration. It also includes strategic objectives for each sub-area.
- Sub-area Frameworks will help to ensure that the sub-area’s strategic projects are integrated with the borough LDFs, open spaces strategies, the London Thames Gateway Regeneration Frameworks and partner capital programmes. Alternatively, subject to partner agreement, the sub-area frameworks themselves can be prepared as joint DPSs or area action plans (AAPs) and be adopted as part of the boroughs LDF.
- Overall Delivery Plan will be collated from the six Sub-area Frameworks. This will establish a prioritised investment framework and planning mechanism for multi-functional strategic open space network in the East London sub-region. This plan will identify and develop prioritised projects for investment and will be updated every two years. The Delivery Plan will prioritise at least four major projects as a ‘phase one’ of delivery.
6. Some examples of current ELGG projects:
- The Roding Through Ilford, and now the Roding Through Redbridge projects with London Borough of Redbridge,
- The Lower Roding project, working very closely with the Environment agency.
- The Managing the Marshes Strategy (River Cray, in partnership with Bexley Council and Bexley Regeneration partnership).
- The Cross River Park, where the GLA A+UU is providing the lead in partnership with Newham and Greenwich Councils
- The London Riverside Conservation Park in partnership with LB Havering
- The Olympic Park, in partnership with the ODA and Olympic Boroughs.
Table 1 – Benefits of Green Grid
| Economic | |
| can attract commercial investment, employees, customers and services direct link to increases in residential and commercial property values, business trading and local property values potentially reduces the economic losses associated with treating health related problems | |
| Social | |
| provides access to a range of different open space types can provide public access across infrastructure barriers and open up areas for movement and recreational use encouraging pedestrian and cycle route use reduces levels of local traffic can host social, cultural and recreational activities, foster cultural identity and character, and foster community cohesion help foster a reduction in local crime and anti-social behaviour through the maintenance of good quality and well illuminated public spaces provides physical and mental health benefits, including opportunities for outdoor physical exercise, stress reduction, relaxation, clean air, shading and shelter | |
| Environmental | |
| improvement in air quality and temperatures within an established parkland area, compared to that of the surrounding urban area urban wildlife habitats in close proximity to local communities increasing biodiversity value through the correct design and maintenance of sites enhancement of ecological connectivity along and between rivers, tributaries and green corridors improvement of flood management through enhanced storage capacity and greater permeability in the public realm reduces the potential consequences of fluvial, tidal and surface drainage flood waters | |
Table 2 – Generic Green Grid Principles
| Public Access | |
| improve the quantity and quality of open space provision address the identified deficiency areas meet the needs of local communities | |
| Access and Connectivity | |
| path and cycle network should be clearly signposted, providing safe and attractive continuous routes, connecting with existing and proposed communities and public transport nodes provision for horses should be made where there is an existing or projected need routes should link the Thames Path on both banks of the river to the Green Belt and beyond key river crossings should be implemented where they support strategic requirements, particularly connecting banks of the River Thames and its tributaries | |
| Landscape Character | |
| new buildings, landscapes and structures should respect and enhance existing landscape character materials should respect the local character and differences in geology | |
| Biodiversity | |
| address the identified deficiency areas management and enhancement should contribute to establishing a connected system of habitats enhancements should connect people with London’s nature and balance nature conservation with access, archaeology and cultural heritage habitat creation or enhancement should contribute to providing ecosystem services, for example flood management, in addition to biodiversity targets | |
| Recreation | |
| development should seek to enhance formal and informal outdoor recreational uses | |
| Education | |
| promote opportunities for events and community engagement in conservation management work opportunities for the enhancement of school grounds should be sought to increase the visual quality and biodiversity value | |
| Flood Risk Management and Water Quality | |
| include flood risk management considerations within new development waterways should be enhanced by restoring heavily engineered and straightened canalised water courses to natural profiles and, where appropriate, with retention ponds, wetland and marshland habitats as part of sustainable drainage systems flood risk management proposals should address biodiversity, access and movement and healthy living agendas new development should be between 8-16 metres from a river encourage sustainable management of water resources through rainwater harvesting and grey water recycling reduce storm water run-off and pressure on storm water sewers through use of permeable surfacing within the public realm | |
| Heritage | |
| heritage features should be promoted, enhanced and interpreted | |
| Views and Landmarks | |
| significant views and landmarks should be considered settings and sequence of experiences in reaching significant viewpoints should be considered | |
| Services and Infrastructure | |
| safe and attractive facilities providing shelter, drinking water, toilets, first aid, telephones and ranger facilities at regular intervals non-intrusive, directional lighting that causes no disruption to wildlife or people should be used to provide safe, usable open spaces | |
| Health | |
| promote a range of formal and informal outdoor recreational pursuits incorporate features that provide physical and mental health benefits | |
Table 3 – Projects Prioritisation Rationale
| Aspect | Assessment |
| Deficiency | Does the Project reduce the area’s Green Space deficiency? |
| Link | Does the Project provide/enhance green infrastructure or essential links to Green Space or Sub Area |
| Flood Risk Management Gain | Does the Project increase flood storage capacity or improve the permeability of the public realm? |
| Ecology | Will the Project improve the area’s existing ecology/biodiversity levels and/or create ecological linkages? |
| Implementation | Is there opportunity for prompt Project implementation? |
| Integrate | Is the Project linked/adjacent to other priority Committed Development Sites or Zones of Change areas? |
| Ownership | Does the land tenure permit Green Grid project work? |
| Value | Does the Project provide a positive cost -benefit for the Green Space improvements gained? |
Aims & Objectives
7 Area Framework Aims
| Facilitate the planning, management and maintenance of the Green Grid |
| Integrate the Green Grid into strategic and local planning documentation |
| Identify and accelerate delivery of key strategic and local projects |
| Identify interventions that maximise the functional and economic benefits |
| secure revenue funding to create and maintain the Green Grid in perpetuity |
| Incorporate opportunities to improve green space skills training |
| Integrate skills requirements which support carbon reduction and climate change adaptation. |
8 Area Framework Objectives
| Identify local priorities that also meet broader Green Grid objectives |
| Support and coordinate stakeholder organisations and working approaches, consolidate resources, coordinate activity and facilitate cross agency working |
| Establish a comprehensive baseline understanding of our area |
| Develop strategic opportunities starting from existing and inspirational aims set out in other documents (including those suggested) |
| Develop strategic projects to reflect and deliver the strategic objectives |
| Assess the potential of each project to deliver the Green Grid vision and prioritise projects for funding submission |
| Establish the resources required to deliver projects, including GI skills development in the context of climate change |
| Ensure that the strategic objectives and projects are incorporated into the borough’s Local Development Frameworks, Open Spaces Strategies and local regeneration frameworks. |
Note: This is subject to the agreement of the partners
Programme Objectives
| increasing access to open space |
| increasing access to nature |
| managing flood risk and urban heat |
| making sustainable travel connections |
| enhancing distinctive visitor destinations and boosting the visitor economy |
| promoting healthy living |
| enhancing green space and GI sector skills |
| promoting sustainable food production |
| promoting quality of design, management and maintenance |
| enhancing heritage features and landscape character |
| improving air quality and soundscapes. |
Key words: access, nature, flood risk, travel, connections, visitor destinations, health living, improving. enhancing, green space, sustainable, food production, quality of design, heritage and landscape, air quality.
A critical aspect to this will be to achieve
| reduction in environmental risks |
| improvements to health |
| enhancing local neighbourhoods |
| enhance the attractiveness of London as a place to live, work and visit. |
Key words: environment, health, enhance/improve
