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How to use the London Green Infrastructure Framework (LGIF)

The London Green Infrastructure Framework (LGIF) brings together key London-wide green infrastructure data in one place. You can use it to evidence, plan and prioritise the green infrastructure Londoners need.

Use this page to:

  • get a basic introduction to the LGIF web-map
  • learn how you can use the LGIF
  • find further resources for your GI work.

Visit the main page to read an introduction to the LGIF.

Go to the web-map site to start exploring the LGIF.

Understanding the Objectives

The LGIF brings together data on ten GI ‘Objectives’ in London in a series of maps. These Objectives relate to the benefits that GI provides to Londoners – for example, improved access to green space, or urban cooling. It also includes data that shows health and social equity.

Each Objective has a map that shows analysis of: 

  • areas in greatest need of GI for that Objective (the GI ‘Need’) 
  • how much GI is already there that addresses the Objective (the GI ‘Provision’). 

There is also a combined version featuring all objectives plus health and social equity needs.

The LGIF gives examples of GI interventions that you could consider for achieving the Objective. A summary of these is set out below.

Objective

Recommendation

Improved access to green space
  • Consider creating new parks and other publicly accessible green spaces, including pocket parks, and creative use of highway space in areas where space is limited.
  • Consider opportunities for community gardens and food growing.
  • Consider new access points into existing green spaces to improve their accessibility.

Improved access to blue space
  • Consider opening up inaccessible waterside or improving existing access through measures such as new or improved waterside footpaths or improved wayfinding.

Nature recovery
  • Create, improve and connect habitats and boost wildlife populations using evidence from the LNRS (Local Nature Recovery Strategy) and other local sources to identify relevant biodiversity priorities and actions. Depending on the location, this could include activity such as tree planting, watercourse restoration, provision of nesting sites, or other appropriate actions.

Flood control
  • Consider opportunities for 'greening the grey' by introducing rain gardens, swales and roof gardens to capture and hold rainwater in hard surfaced areas.
  • Consider opportunities to open up or naturalise watercourses through green spaces to slow the flow of water into the drainage system.

Clean water
  • Consider opportunities to introduce 'buffer' planting adjacent to watercourses (such as reedbeds) to filter out pollution or the use of rain gardens and swales to intercept road run-off.

Urban cooling
  • Consider opportunities to plant trees to provide shade and increase the amount of green and planted space in the area.
  • Consider combining tree planting with rain gardens to provide added benefits.

Clean air
  • Consider opportunities for carefully designed roadside tree and shrub planting, using pollution tolerant species.

Noise reduction
  • Consider opportunities for wide buffer planting of trees and shrubs adjacent to road and rail lines and the potential for earth mounding to reduce noise intrusion, particularly in residential areas.

Greener active travel routes
  • Consider opportunities for tree planting and other urban greening adjacent to existing footpaths and cycleways.

Greener high streets
  • Consider opportunities for all types of greening including tree and shrub planting, pocket parks and rain gardens to improve the quality of high streets and increase visitor dwell time.
  • Consider ways to better connect high streets to existing parks and green spaces.

Learn more about the Objectives on the LGIF web-map site and in the LGIF technical methodology reports. 

Find more resources to support your GI work

See more resources

How the LGIF can help you

Choose the description that best fits your role to see what the LGIF can help you with.

The LGIF can help you:

  • Provide evidence (alongside extra local evidence and detail) to inform and sense-check GI strategies and Local Plan policy development.
  • Show a strategic approach to GI, as required for delivery in the National Planning Policy Framework and London Plan.
  • Assess whether development proposals respond well to strategic GI priorities.
  • Understand the extra benefits targeted GI interventions can achieve – for example, providing nature-based solutions to tackle challenges like flooding, over-heating and air pollution.
  • Provide evidence on tackling inequalities through targeted GI investment in areas with greatest need in your borough.
  • Secure wider benefits from development to achieve multiple policy outcomes.

Get started

  1. Select your area of interest in the LGIF, such as your borough.
  2. Consider which of the LGIF Objectives are most relevant to your area of interest.
  3. Use the LGIF maps to analyse and understand the need vs provision analysis for each of the relevant objectives.
  4. Synthesise the LGIF findings with any local, more detailed data to identify local priorities, policies and actions.

The LGIF can help you:

  • Understand opportunities and priorities for GI within a project site or area.
  • Understand the varied benefits targeted GI interventions can achieve – for example, providing nature-based solutions to tackle challenges like flooding, over-heating and air pollution.
  • Make the case to clients and funders for GI investment to tackle specific challenges in an area.
  • Identify the most impactful GI interventions for an area and achieve good practice in design and management.

Get started

  1. Select your site or area of interest in the LGIF.
  2. Review the LGIF Objectives to identify which are most relevant to your project or site.
  3. Use the LGIF maps to analyse and understand the need vs provision analysis for each of the relevant objectives.
  4. Synthesise the LGIF findings with any local, more detailed data to identify the types of GI intervention that will have the most impact.

The LGIF can help you:

  • Meet GI requirements in the National Planning Policy Framework and London Plan. This includes requirements for the Urban Greening Factor, Biodiversity Net Gain and others.
  • Create attractive and desirable developments that local communities accept and speed up the planning process.
  • Make the best use of land by using the many different GI benefits, such as sustainable drainage, nature recovery and amenity.
  • Identify the most impactful GI interventions for an area.

Use your LGIF findings alongside any detailed local data to identify the most impactful types of GI interventions that align with policy requirements.

Get started

  1. Select your site or area of interest in the LGIF.
  2. Review the LGIF Objectives to identify which are most relevant to your project or site.
  3. Use the LGIF maps to analyse and understand the need vs provision analysis for each of the relevant objectives.
  4. Synthesise the LGIF findings with any local, more detailed data to identify the types of GI intervention that will have the most impact and align with policy requirements.

The LGIF can help you:

  • Understand opportunities and priorities for GI within a project site or area.
  • Make the case to local decision-makers and funders for GI investment. You can highlight the wider benefits to tackle specific challenges in an area.
  • Ensure your project is targeted and based on evidence of local needs.
  • Identify the most impactful GI interventions for an area.

Use your LGIF findings to evidence project proposals for GI interventions.

Get started

  1. Understand the range of benefits included in the LGIF.
  2. Select your site or area of interest in the LGIF.
  3. Review the LGIF Objectives to identify which are most relevant to your project or site.
  4. Use the LGIF maps to analyse and understand the need vs provision analysis for each of the relevant objectives.
Map of London made up of colourful pixel dots of orange, brown and blue

Explore the LGIF

Visit the LGIF web-map to find more information and start exploring London-wide green infrastructure data.

Explore the data

Further GI resources

Find other key resources to support your GI work in London.

Find resources for different types of GI below.

More on the LGIF

London Green Infrastructure Framework (LGIF) FAQs

Find detailed information and answers to common FAQs on the London Green Infrastructure Framework.

London river

Explore the London Green Infrastructure Framework

Find more technical information and start exploring London-wide green infrastructure data.

Map of London made up of colourful pixel dots of orange, brown and blue

London Green Infrastructure Framework

Find key London-wide green infrastructure data in one place. Use it to plan and prioritise the green infrastructure Londoners need.

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