The critical role of green infrastructure in creating healthy places

by Paul Morris, director at Civic Engineers

At the recent Quality of Life Symposium, the discussion centred on how to go beyond housing numbers and create places that truly support health, wellbeing and happiness. As an engineer, my perspective on this is clear: green infrastructure is crucial. 

If we are to meet the ambitious housing targets set out for the future, particularly in urban areas, we must focus on developments that don’t just provide homes but also include the right infrastructure and green spaces to support thriving communities.

Building for density: a new urban reality

As urban areas continue to grow, high-density developments are becoming a necessity. To meet housing demands, we’ll need to make the most of our urban spaces, which means increasing the density of our towns and cities. But the success of these developments hinges on more than just the buildings themselves – it’s about the surrounding environment too. Critical to making these high-density areas liveable is the inclusion of well-designed open spaces and green areas where people can gather, relax, and connect with nature.

The value of green spaces in urban life

Urban green spaces are vital. Whether it’s large public parks, smaller community gardens, or retrofitted spaces in our streets and squares, these areas provide places for people to unwind, meet friends, engage with nature and walk their dogs. They create opportunities for social interaction, physical activity and mental relaxation—all of which contribute to better health and wellbeing.

Examples of these spaces can be seen in projects like Mayfield Park, which has revitalised a former industrial area into a vibrant urban park; green infrastructure in Oldham and Altrincham Town Centres; Glasgow’s transformative ‘Avenues’ project and the public realm at Gascoigne Estate in London, to name just a few. Even in existing urban environments, planting trees and introducing green spaces, like we have at Kingsway in Stretford, plays a pivotal role in enhancing urban life.

Partnerships and strategic planning: key to infrastructure success

Delivering the necessary infrastructure for these developments is not a simple task, and it certainly cannot be done in isolation. It requires partnership working and strategic planning. Through frameworks such as strategic regeneration plans, we can ensure that infrastructure is delivered alongside housing in a way that benefits entire communities.

Partnerships across sectors—between local authorities, developers and communities—are essential. Working collaboratively ensures that the burden of delivering infrastructure doesn’t fall on a single party but is shared in a way that meets the needs of both new and existing residents. Through this collaborative approach, we can ensure that high-density developments are more than just places to live—they become communities where people thrive.

Why infrastructure can’t be an afterthought

When we talk about housing targets and real estate development, it’s easy to focus on the buildings. But without the necessary infrastructure, even the best-designed homes will struggle to support a happy and healthy community. Green spaces, active travel routes, and social hubs are what make urban living enjoyable, and they cannot be an afterthought. They are critical to ensuring that as we build more homes, we also create vibrant, sustainable places where people want to live.

As we look to the future of urban development, infrastructure must remain at the forefront of our plans. High-density developments are here to stay, and if we want them to succeed, we must prioritise the creation of well-designed, inclusive spaces that enhance the quality of life for everyone. Only through strategic planning, partnerships, and a commitment to infrastructure will we achieve the kind of urban environments that support both housing targets and happier, healthier lives.