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U.K's Biggest Green Roof Refurbishment Project

Posted: 07/06/2005

The Ethelred Estate, in Central London, has recently undergone a programme of building work to produce an inspiring community environment. The green roofs are part of a phased programme with works starting on 10 of the medium-rise residential buildings, which comprises 253 flats. The works are part of a £5.3m grant which was provided via the Government Office for London (GOL), with additional funding from the London Borough of Lambeth and contributions from the estate’s leaseholders.

At the design stage, the Environmental Projects Officer for Lambeth Housing, Matt Prescott, suggested using a green roof as a way of getting both value for money and environmental improvements giving a win-win situation. Keen to secure a better future for the estate and add value for the community, the Ethelred Tenants Management Organisation (TMO) opted for the green roofs which provided best value in terms of whole life cost.

The tenants supported the scheme from the onset. Concerns about improved biodiversity were addressed and resolved with the recognition that the seeds from the planted roof would attract small garden birds, a very welcome visitor to the estate, without adding to the pigeon problem whose main source of food is discarded human food.

The higher cost of a green roof was overcome by two basic solutions. Firstly, the GOL grant encourages innovation, and with many green roofs already successfully established within London, the sheer size of Ethelred estate demonstrated that all parties involved were forward thinking. Secondly, the green roof provided the best whole life cost, a key component in 'best value'. Adjacent to the Thames, the positive biodiversity impact of Ethelred becomes even greater as species will use the roofs as ‘green tiles’ to migrate inland to other green spaces.

In the summer of 2004, 600,000 tonnes of untreated sewage spilled into the Thames following an intense storm now typical of the English summer. The Victorian sewage system can no longer cope, and furthermore is unlikely to be replaced. The overburden due to the storms resulted in tens of thousands of fish being killed, all starved of oxygen. In such a key location close to the river, with mostly impermeable surfaces, the reduction in the speed with which rainwater will enter the drains at Ethelred will have an appreciable effect on alleviating similar future events and sets an example to all development in London, particularly along the river.

As a social landlord, local authorities and housing associations are in a position not only to consider whole life costs over a long period, but also to place greater ‘investment’ in the well-being and satisfaction of their residents. The increase in quantity of green-space through the installation of the green roof has added to the residents sense of well-being. Internal thermal management providing more comfortable living conditions make the flats at Ethelred warm, dry and affordable to run, helping to address fuel poverty.

For more about Green Roofs, see the next issue of 'Building For A Future' magazine, out soon.
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