Context
Many new homes are planned in potential areas of flood risk, especially those in the Thames Gateway. Every new development increases CO2 emissions and environmental damage, exacerbating long-term problems of flood risk and water shortage. Recent government papers (Foresight, Making space for Water, PPS25…) advocate an integrated approach to achieve a reduction in environmental impact and climate adaptation.
However, there is a great deal of debate regarding the notion of an ‘integrated approach’ to the planning and design of development. Specifically:- What is an ‘integrated approach’? What needs to be ’integrated’ and why? How does it work/What will it do? Were will it go? How much does it cost? What does it look like? The LifE findings are based on three masterplans that have been undertaken on three riverside sites, each identified for future (or potential future development and that are represenative of conditions that might be found on other rivers or coastal settlements in the UK. The three sites selected were: Upper Catchment - Hackbridge, Middle catchment - Peterborough and Lower catchment - Littlehampton. |
The ‘LifE project’ is one of six projects funded by Defra’s Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management - Innovation Fund, and is part of Defra’s Making Space for Water programme (MSW). The Innovation Fund seeks to improve future delivery of flood and coastal erosion risk management, by promoting innovative approaches that contribute towards the development of more holistic and sustainable policy making in the future.
The LifE project has been led by Baca Architects and the Building Research Establishment in collaboration with Halcrow, Fulcrum Consulting, LDA Design, Cyril Sweett, and support from Dura Vermeer and the Max Lock Centre. The Steering Group for the project included the Environment Agency, English Partnership, Sheffield University, The Housing Corporation, AXA insurance and CABE. |