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London Squares Go Green to Beat Heat and Floods
1 Aug
Summary
- Grosvenor Square's £25mn redesign aims for climate resilience.
- The square now acts as an 'urban sponge,' absorbing 1.4mn litres of rainwater.
- Non-native plants chosen for resilience to warmer, drier urban climates.
Grosvenor Square has been transformed into a climate-resilient urban garden, a £25 million project by the Grosvenor estate to combat climate change impacts like heatwaves and urban flooding. The square, which reopened recently, now features significantly more trees and vegetation, providing a cooler environment and acting as an "urban sponge" capable of absorbing 1.4 million liters of rainwater.
The redesign involved extensive planting, including native and non-native species selected for resilience to drier conditions, and the creation of new wetland areas. This effort is part of a wider initiative across London to adapt urban spaces for a future with more extreme weather.
Inspired by a 2021 flood event and a 40C heatwave in 2022, the Grosvenor estate is integrating climate risk into its long-term planning. Other London estates and landlords are also implementing similar measures, such as adding greenery, improving building insulation, and installing solar panels.
These adaptations are seen not just as environmental efforts but as crucial commercial planning for long-term resilience, safeguarding businesses and public spaces in central London against increasing climate pressures. Efforts also include advocating for easier implementation of climate-friendly upgrades to historic buildings.
