Southwest
Environmental LimitedSouthwest
Environmental Limited| London |
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| Exeter |
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Given time it is likely you yourself could write a living or green roof specification, and draw (pens and paper) a plan to describe your proposed living or green roof, to planners. But many will not have the time, or perhaps the inclination to do this. If you do then please follow the below guidance and we wish you luck and good success. If you would like SWEL do do the paper work for you we would be happy to provide a quotation for doing so.
Roofs aimed at replacing or replicating habitats are becoming more common in the UK. These roofs are sometimes referred to as: biodiverse; brown; rubble; brownfield; eco; habitat or even by the name of the species they are aimed at i.e. black redstart roof.
Common to any green roof:
The aim of a biodiverse roof is to replicate as far as is practical the ecological requirements for the local area. The natural habitats created are designed to support a variety of plants, birds, animals and invertebrates. The careful design and construction of these habitats is key to conforming to the local Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP).
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Buglife publish an excellent guide on the specification of green roofs or living roofs to encourage invertebrates. The roof should be considered from early stages of project as it will have structural and design implications. There has been a trend for the installation of sedum roofs which are typically "extensive" in nature. These are thin substrates planted with drought tolerant succulent plants.
A thin substrate restricts the diversity of the plants one can incorporate on a roof. "Normal Plants" such as grasses may not grow on an extensive room with a thin substrate, and as such you are limited to sedums. The resulting lack of plant diversity and habitat diversity means that these systems do not constitute a bio-diverse roof.
The creation of habitats, the addition of habitat features and management can maximise the potential of bio-diverse roofs to support invertebrates and other wildlife such as birds. Many other factors, including the roof angle, aspect, size and height, will also have an influence and should be taken into consideration. Inclusion of bug hotels is another trick to boost surface area.
The inclusion of Sedum plants on a bio-diverse roof can be useful – but should normally comprise no more than 30% of the species composition. There is some anecdotal evidence that drought tolerant Sedum species and other succulents can aid the establishment of wildflowers.
There are lots of living roof layouts that you can choose from. Typically they all incorporate some form of unplanted area, these serve a useful purpose for ecological purposes and also give a walk way for maintenance etc. The layout will large depend on you preferences, it may be dictated by roof top infrastructure such as roof lights or ventilation ducting.
It is a very common situation to have both a living roof and solar panels. The problem is that solar panels mounted low down to avoid visual impact, coupled with a green roof / living roof planted with shrubs is not a happy union. Often upon visiting a roof after a number of years the shrub have grown over the solar panels, and they are no longer working effectively.
For flat owners with solar thermal panels this can mean cold showers even in the height of summer, and for landlords or property management company's with a roof full of solar PV tied to land lords supply you can find that you ROI is reduced. The key is to pick the correct species for planting, and maintain regularly.
We "invented" the below mix as it suites most living roofs even when they have solar panels.
Grasses |
Flowers |
Sedums |
|
Armeria maritime Helictotrichon sempervirens Nassella tenuissima |
Birdsfoot trefoil Yarrow Sea thrift |
(no more than 30% by coverage) S. reflexion S. spathulifolium S. album hybrids S. aizoon |
The following photographs were taken at a project site in London. This installation is classified as a brown roof; however, it exhibits varied colonization, appearing green in numerous sections and supporting active biological life throughout several areas.
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On this specific living roof in Camden, solar thermal panels and established shrubbery occupy the same space. Due to a thick substrate, varied plant species have flourished, some of which began overshadowing the solar arrays—a factor that can reduce energy generation efficiency.
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This image highlights a safety rail system designed for use as a secure anchor point while working at height. This is a critical infrastructure component for ongoing maintenance and ecological monitoring.
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At the time of inspection, this roof was approximately three years old. Larger flowering species had successfully established themselves, though they were not yet widespread across the entire surface area.
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When a roof-top terrace was proposed for this area, we drafted a technical specification to include a living wall. This served to offset the ecological area lost to the new trafficable surface, satisfying local planning requirements.
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A view demonstrating how green roof planting integrates with essential building services, including satellite equipment, lift shaft heads, light wells, and thermal solar panels.
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For multi-level living roofs, access ladders are essential for maintenance. The perimeter drainage channel visible here serves two functions: efficient water removal and creating a boundary to prevent unwanted plant encroachment into structural margins.
Planting patterns are typically designed to align with substrate depth. While grasses and wildflowers require a thicker substrate for deep root systems, sedum species can thrive in as little as 20mm of growing medium.
The below section was written by a machine.
This technical resource provides guidance on the specification and design of green and bio-diverse roofs to support planning applications and environmental performance. A correctly specified living roof serves as a multi-functional asset, enhancing biodiversity while contributing to the wider sustainability profile of a development.
Living roofs must be designed with structural integrity and long-term viability in mind. Key technical considerations for any green or brown roof include:
The primary aim of a bio-diverse roof is to replicate local ecological requirements and support targeted species. This is often a critical component of satisfying Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements.
It is increasingly common to integrate living roofs with solar energy systems. This "biosolar" approach requires careful design to ensure vegetation does not overshadow low-mounted panels.
Southwest Environmental Limited provides the professional expertise and accreditation required to prepare detailed specifications for planning applications. By integrating living roof designs with Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and broader sustainability strategies, we ensure technical compliance and ecological success. With a 15-year track record and over 900 projects delivered across the UK, we offer the technical authority needed to navigate modern environmental requirements.