Pol MacDonald, a director of the Place team at SLR Consulting, says that traditionally people tend to choose to live somewhere due to its affordability and simple practicalities, however, through education we can change people’s thought process to consider an area’s sustainability when deciding on where to live.
People are constantly told to make better environmental decisions, whether that is purchasing an electric car, utilising public transport, or simply recycling, but what if we put choosing where to live at the forefront of our environmental choices? Increasing the understanding and awareness of blue-green infrastructure in masterplanning can encourage society to make a more conscious decision about where they live – and essentially, choosing to live sustainably.
Understanding blue-green infrastructure
While being a commonly used term in the built environment, more needs to be done to increase awareness and understanding of ‘blue-green infrastructure’ among the general public.
Addressing the question of why blue-green infrastructure is important when helping people to understand why these spaces are essential in development. Blue-green infrastructure has a significant impact when considering the adaptations to climate change, particularly the effects that implementing this infrastructure has on water and wildlife. By raising awareness of nature’s rhythms and the seasonal dynamics of water movement and wildlife habitation, we can highlight the benefits of living in harmony with our environment while at the same time creating distinctive places to live.
This increased knowledge will empower people to make more informed choices about their living situations. By selecting homes in areas designed to support the environment, residents can contribute to a more sustainable future, just by being mindful of where they decide to live.
We want to encourage people to strive for a living environment that promotes harmony, while addressing a wide range of climate challenges. To make real impact, this goal would need to be adopted when considering all new development options.
Creating places where people can ‘be’
Incorporating blue-green infrastructure typically results in a more beautiful environment by blending natural green elements, like plants and trees, with water features such as streams and lakes. However, its impact goes beyond its beauty – blue-green infrastructure also creates spaces where people can truly thrive, be that areas for gathering, sitting, walking, and connecting with others through inviting pathways that link communities. The goal is not just to make spaces accessible, but to create places that local residents embrace, making them part of their daily lives contributing to their physical and mental well-being.
The concept in terms of masterplanning
SLR is currently working on a project in Kingsgrove, Wantage, which demonstrates how this approach works seamlessly. We led the masterplan and developed designs that include a popular park at the edge of the countryside, where locals enjoy running, walking their dogs, and playing with their children – all while making a positive contribution to the environment. The space itself has now become a favourite because residents can step out of their homes and immediately access nature.
Blue-green infrastructure in masterplanning tackles two fundamental challenges in site development. The first is technical, ensuring the site operates effectively—not only in construction but also in managing biodiversity, water flow, and water quality. After establishing these connections and enhancing biodiversity, the focus shifts to the second goal: creating distinctive and attractive spaces that enrich the environment. This not only enhances the beauty of the area but also directly impacts the health and well-being of people who live, work, and play there.
To effectively address both challenges, it is essential to adopt a unified approach. For instance, technical components like new roads, drainage systems, and wildlife improvements should be closely aligned with community benefits that uplift the area. Research indicates that these types of environments contribute to improving residents’ wellness, as well leading to greater commercial success for the area.
Value as a whole
One of the main benefits of blue-green infrastructure is that it simultaneously positively impacts both social and commercial value – something which is often difficult to achieve in the built environment.
By designing spaces which benefit the environment and the local community, you create a more commercially viable product, one which people will aspire to be a part of, and other places can use as a benchmark.
A question which continuously runs through the construction industry is ‘how do we meet the ongoing need in terms of housing, while still putting our green foot forward and doing right by the environment?’ Well, by understanding that a blue-green approach can provide a solution to both housing and climate, those in the built environment can provide their essential services in the most environmentally-friendly way while creating spaces which people can be proud of.