Green and Resilient Spaces Fund - Round One
About the Green and Resilient Spaces Fund
The Green and Resilient Spaces Fund is part of the Green New Deal Mission and aims to tackle the climate and ecological emergencies. It funds large-scale, innovative enhancements to green and blue spaces and the wider public realm that will strengthen London's climate resilience, increase biodiversity, improve access to green space, build green skills and promote health and wellbeing.
In March 2022 the Mayor awarded £4m of funding to 19 Green & Resilient Space projects. See more about the projects below.
Round One: main grants
Six large-scale projects will share £3.44m. Projects will start in March 2022 and be completed by March 2024.
The Canal & River Trust, Ealing Council and housing association Catalyst will deliver this health and well-being focused project linking and improving five green spaces along the Grand Union Canal towpath around Southall. This project will revitalise underused public canalside spaces by improving access, providing a better towpath for everyone and a wide range of landscape enhancements. There will be more opportunities for exploration, exercise, learning, playing, connecting, looking after local wildlife habitat and food growing. The project will also build climate resilience and create and improve wildlife habitats.
Grant: £700,000
This project aims to open up currently inaccessible waterside green space at West Reservoir for public access, allowing people to circulate around the perimeter of the water, as well as creating new reedbed habitats for wildlife. New bridges will link routes over the New River enabling more people to experience the natural and built heritage of the site. An improved open water swimming facility and other enhancements will also increase the number of visitors to the site. The West Reservoir adjoins Woodberry Wetlands (previously known as the East Reservoir).
Grant: £700,000
Large areas of Chestnuts Park are currently unusable during the winter and in wet weather due to drainage issues. This project aims to create new wetlands and swales to help with this, which will also help tackle flooding downstream. The project will also improve access to the park, add ‘play on the way’ features and new wildlife habitats. Plans will be co-designed with the local community.
Grant: £300,000
Groundwork London, in partnership with London Borough Hillingdon, are leading this series of inter-linked projects across the Pinkwell ward and surrounding green and blue spaces, greening housing, schools, parks and streets. Green Blue You aims to reduce flood risk and alleviate pollution to water courses, improving and creating habitats including woodland, meadows and rivers. The project will work with residents to create greener and more biodiverse estates and provide local young people and residents with opportunities to learn new green skills through volunteering and training. The neighbourhood will benefit from new sustainable drainage, new natural play areas and improved walking and cycling access to and within green spaces.
Grant: £600,000
Lambeth Bee Roads is a vision to provide ten miles of green highways for bees, butterflies and other pollinators across the borough, connecting places, communities, and landowners. Lambeth Council working with local communities and volunteers, will deliver a series of roadside wildflower verges on under-used land in locations suggested by local residents. The project will continue to be developed in collaboration with local communities. The project will also help better manage rainwater through sustainable urban drainage, improve walking routes, and create natural play opportunities. The project will share ‘how to’ guides with other boroughs.
Grant: £440,000
This project will transform the east side of Beckenham Place Park and provide a green link for residents from the Downham Estate along a historic green route. Extensive new landscaping of the east side of the park will provide wildlife-rich ponds and lowland meadows with space to accommodate stormwater to reduce flood risk. Over 400 properties and critical rail infrastructure will be better protected from flooding. Across the park there will be new and enhanced opportunities for play and recreation for all. The project will engage and reconnect the communities of Bellingham, Downham and Whitefoot, reaching out to a greater diversity of users and participants as well as boosting blue-green conservation skills through volunteering and training.
Grant: £700,000
Round One: project development grants
A further 13 projects have been offered £40,000 ‘project development’ grants. This will support them to work on their designs, surveys and community engagement, so they're ready to access funding in the future. Projects will run until March 2023.
Ambitious project to restore the Gores Brook through Parsloes Park and Goresbrook Park. The project would create a riverside park area through Parsloes Park with enhanced recreational and biodiversity value for local residents from the nearby Becontree housing estates. Working with Thames21 and the London Wildlife Trust, development funding will support a community engagement process and technical studies to develop the project to planning stage.
Sustrans are leading this project to make a large underused green space more accessible and welcoming. Development funding will support community co-design of a plan for the site, community research into pilot interventions to improve entrances and access through the site along with ecological survey work to ensure the project protects and enhances the ecology of the site.
This project aims to achieve an exemplar neighbourhood green space that responds to the challenges of climate change, helps communities to overcome health inequalities, and supports community cohesion and wellbeing. Key project elements include expanding the health offer of the park, improving entrances, creating sustainable urban drainage and extending green infrastructure into the surrounding streets. Development funding will support community co-design of plans for the site and updating the masterplan.
The North East London Clinical Commissioning Group and partners aim to better link Homerton University Hospital with nearby green spaces and improve the green spaces and green infrastructure both within and surrounding the hospital and East London NHS Foundation Trust sites. Development funding will help develop a comprehensive masterplan co-designed with the community and linked to the work of a new ‘nature recovery ranger’.
A project focused on improving biodiversity and tackling flood risk in this local park, serving Tottenham Hale's emerging district centre. The project also aims to link up a network of nearby green spaces, helping to increase useage and cater for new and existing communities. Development work seeks to promote a focus on community participation, green skills development and generate RIBA Stage 3 and 4 designs.
A project to open up a currently inaccessible area of woodland, scrub and brownfield land next to Hanworth Park. The aim is to create a new community cycle hub and restore a large orchard. Development work will include ecological surveys, heritage appraisal, topographical survey, soil testing, flood risk assessment and development of proposals to RIBA Stage 3 with involvement of the community.
The aim of the project is to investigate appropriate options for rewilding at Tolworth Court Farm Fields Local Nature Reserve and undertake community engagement to showcase the value of the site for people and wildlife. The project has the potential to highlight how rewilding can transform the landscape and reconnect people with the natural world, while also celebrating its rich cultural heritage. Development funding will support ecological surveys, a management plan for the site, feasibility studies and costed proposals, and community engagement.
This linear park creation project aims to bring existing Metropolitan Open Land that runs along the Grove Park railway cutting into more active use. It is a key project supported by the community in the Grove Park Neighbourhood Plan. Development funding will support feasibility and technical studies, development of a masterplan and more detailed proposals for priority sites.
The National Trust are leading this ambitious proposal to create a riverside green space in a currently inaccessible area near Colliers Wood. The project will provide access to new, nature rich, green space along this section of the River Wandle, enhancing the green route that runs alongside it. Development work is to include community engagement and co-design, ecological surveys, and obtaining relevant consents and permits for work.
This project aims to improve the accessibility and quality of a large underused series of green spaces in a very deprived area, helping to tackle public health issues. Development funding will support the creation of a comprehensive, costed masterplan for the site co-designed with the community.
This project aims to tackle flooding at Westwood Recreation Ground, helping to better protect nearby properties, through restoring the river and creating new wetlands. Culverted sections of the river will be opened up and naturalised to run through the park. Improved green links will also be made to nearby Seven Kings Park and a local school. Development work to include community engagement and co-design, ecological surveys, and developing a landscape led masterplan.
This feasibility project aims to help improve water levels and habitat in the lake cascade of the park. It will also improve access and integrate natural flood management, helping the park to be more resilient to climate change. This development funding will identify opportunities for sustainable urban drainage schemes and look at what habitat improvements could be made to the lake cascade itself by creating wetlands. It will also engage the community in the preparation of proposals for the landscape and habitat works.
This street greening project, greening the south side of Rotherhithe New Road, aims to include rain gardens, parklets, play spaces and a new walking and cycling route, which will contribute to a strategic ‘Greener Belt’ ultimately connecting the Old Kent Road to Southwark Park and Canada Water. Development funding is for site surveys, community engagement and design work to develop project to RIBA Stage 4.
Green and Resilient Spaces Fund Round Two
Round two is closed for applications and grants have been awarded.
Any questions?
If you have any queries about the fund email us at: [email protected]