We conducted a detailed site survey to assess all opportunity areas located at ground level, on walls and at rooftop. This then created a list of options ranging from green and blue roofs to increase habitat and capture rainwater, to green walls that improve air quality and reduce urban heat, to more ecologically friendly planting in existing planters. We also proposed rainwater harvesting features and planted rills within courtyards to capture surface water and reuse water for irrigation. Each intervention was considered for its ecological value, maintenance implications and educational potential, with a bespoke scoring method developed to aid the Mercers decide which options they would like to take forward.
Our technical work included recommending ecologically friendly planting palettes, feasibility of each opportunity, maintenance guidance, illustrative visuals and costed options to help leaseholders and landowner understand the implications of each opportunity.
The proposals were designed to deliver measurable biodiversity uplift, improved thermal comfort for visitors, and a tangible demonstration of how nature-based solutions can be integrated into high-density urban environments in ways that are practical and educational. We also utilised the Urban Greening Factor (UGF), a common planning tool used by the Greater London Authority (GLA) to assess the impact the identified opportunities would have on the overall greening of the site.
