Swansea city centre residents to live on 'urban farm'

A futuristic "living" building which will be home to plants, vegetables, fish and people has been given the go-ahead by Swansea councillors. The Picton Yard scheme will transform the former city centre Woolworths store and Picton Lane to the rear. Greenhouses, terraces and rooftop gardens will sit above two floors of shops and offices and a tower at the rear will contain 44 flats, plus office and educational space lower down. The outdoor area at the rear, currently used for parking, will become a covered space for events such as cinema screenings and markets. Fish kept in tanks within the building will provide waste nutrients to feed the greenhouse vegetables and a complex system of pipes will transport rainwater around the development.

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Designs SuDs training

CIRIA is holding training events across the UK to help practitioners design and plan sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS) schemes to a global standard. For more details, click here.

Placemaking and green infrastructure

The PERFECT project, an Interreg Europe funded project on the multiple benefits of green infrastructure led by the TCPA, has published a new expert paper on 'place-making and green infrastructure' exploring how and why green infrastructure is an essential component for delivering high-quality places. The paper can be found here.

Designs principles for National Infrastructure

The UK's first ever Design Principles for National Infrastructure, developed by the National Infrastructure Commission and Design Group, seeks to embed four key considerations into planning and delivery of infrastructure projects which includes climate, people, places and value. The principles can be read here.

Green Roof Factsheet

The PERFECT project, an Interreg Europe funded project on the multiple benefits of green infrastructure led by the TCPA, has published a new factsheet on the importance of green roofs and the opportunities they give us. The factsheet examines the different types of green roof and the benefits that can be delivered through them. The factsheet can be found here.