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April/May 2007
guest feature
The Green Roof Centre
- Sheffield, UK
By Jeff Sorrill, Project Manager
All Photos Courtesy The Green Roof Centre
The
Green Roof Centre is a new venture undertaken by the University of
Sheffield and Groundwork Sheffield, an environmental trust. The
Centre was borne out of the fact that the UK is lagging behind many
other part of the world, especially the US and Scandinavia, in its
applications of green roofs.
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The
Moorgate Croft, Rotherham, UK, Business Centre features both
semi-extensive and extensive green roofs. |
The Greenest City in the UK
Based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, the
Green Roof Centre’s primary remit is to engage and inform construction
professionals of the possibilities and benefits of green roofs.
The centre is in the process of establishing an extensive demonstration
site where architects, planners and designers alike can experience and
understand the opportunities green roofs offer.
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The Royal
Plaza Intensive Greenroof in Sheffield; All Photos Courtesy The Green
Roof Centre |
Sheffield City Council will be the first
planning authority in the UK to have statutory legislation regarding
Green Roofs, if a proposed planning brief is accepted in the summer of
2007. The proposal includes the motion that all ‘medium and large’
new builds should be required to install green roofs. Sheffield is
already regarded as the Greenest City in the UK, with the highest level
of green space per head of capita. The acceptance of this new
legislation will further strengthen that reputation.
Through its close partnership with the University of Sheffield and Dr.
Nigel Dunnett, The Green Roof Centre will carry out research previously
not undertaken in the UK to establish the cost saving, environmental
implications and full life cost benefits of green roofs. Training
is also being provided and will continue to be provided for construction
professionals and designers to build the confidence in the materials and
process of green roof technology.
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The City
Hall CH3 Bus Shelter Extensive Greenroof was a temporary
display and in place for only one week, but it did a huge
amount to raise the profile of greenroofs in Sheffield. |
The Green Roof Centre is also keen to
work in partnership with existing green roof specialists and
organisations to deliver the best possible solutions for clients and
customers. For further details please visit
www.thegreenroofcentre.co.uk.
Press Release: Raising the Roof with Innovation Awards
The Green Roof Innovation Awards
are offering architects and planners the opportunity to design and build
innovative green roofs that challenge the way we think about the
environment and architecture.
The Awards are being run by The Green Roof Centre: - established by the
University of Sheffield and Groundwork Sheffield, with part-finance from
the European Union’s European Regional Development Fund. The Centre aims
to establish South Yorkshire as a leader in green roof expertise, with a
full range of demonstration roofs for people to come and visit,
alongside training and advice. A research test-bed is also under
construction for the recording and monitoring of performance data.
Much of the current data that exists is based on figures from Germany,
whereas this will provide UK specific information.
The Green Roof Centre is looking to fund roofs that will inspire and
stimulate their wider uptake on public and private buildings.
Sheffield is already leading the way with the country’s first Green Roof
Forum, which strives to increase the uptake of green roofs across South
Yorkshire. As a result of the forum’s efforts, Sheffield already has
over 30 green roofs either built, under construction or in the pipeline.
“We are really keen to support more green roofs,” says Sheffield
Council’s Environmental Planning Manager, Keith Missen, “they bring a
number of environmental and economic benefits as well as contributing to
Sheffield’s credentials as the UK’s greenest city.“ Rotherham
Borough Council is also planning a number of green roofs to feature on
two new business incubation centres, following the success of the
Moorgate Crofts Business Centre which features both semi-extensive and
extensive green roofs.
Registered architects or design teams (public or private) with projects
in South Yorkshire, which can complete construction by June 2008, are
eligible to apply for the awards. There is a total of £45,000 to
be awarded and the award must not exceed 50% of the total roof costs.
The Green Roof Development Manager, Wendy Bussey says, “we are very
excited to be launching these Awards. Often the best way to
stimulate uptake is by getting on and doing it – and this is just what
we aim to do. In places such as Germany green roofs are in regular
use so people are more confident with their application. In the
UK, there are fewer examples so their uptake has been rather limited but
with the recent escalation of energy prices, new legislation and
increased pressure on businesses to meet social responsibilities, green
roofs are part of the answer.”
Closing date for applications: 31st May. Download the
Green Roof
Awards PDF, and for full entry details visit:
www.thegreenroofcentre.co.uk or contact Wendy Bussey on 0114
2636422.
Jeff Sorrill is the Project Manager
of The Green Roof Centre, Sheffield. Jeff's primary objective has
been establish The Green Roof Centre as a brand and to priorities the
key functions of the centre. The first of these has been to
initiate the construction of the demonstration and research sites.
Jeff has extensive knowledge of the construction industry with a
particular interest of appropriate technology in developing countries.
Jeff can be reached at:
The Green Roof Centre
ICOSS Building
219 Portobello
Sheffield
S1 4DP
Tel: 01142 227131
Mob: 07984 155650
Publisher's Note - Update from Sheffield City Council of 7.6.07:
"As far as we know, Sheffield has become the first planning
authority, outside greater London, to make the bold step of taking a
green roof policy to Council for incorporation into planning
regulations, resulting in the first UK authority to require green roofs
to be included in new development. The Green Roof Policy is one of a
suite of environmental policies that work together including policies on
incorporating biodiversity, sustainable drainage and renewable energy
into new development.
The policy is currently out for consultation and will benefit
from the support of interested parties. Sheffield City Council
has created and placed their proposed Green Roof Policy out for
Consultation on the
Green Roof Centre website; here is your chance to comment on
the policy.
Comments must be sent to
sdf@sheffield.gov.uk before the 20th July."
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