Our cities through green-tinted glasses | WSP Skip to content
  • Who we are

    We exist to future proof our cities and environment.

    We change the landscape, helping societies thrive, and continually challenge the status quo, asking: “What if we can?”

    Read more
    Who we are
    • What We Stand For
    • Our Story
    • Corporate Responsibility
    • UK Leadership
    Corporate Responsibility
    • Communities
    • Corporate Governance
    • Diversity and Inclusion
    • Ethics and Integrity
    • Health and Safety
    • Sustainability
    • UK Policies
  • What We Do

    We shape the communities of tomorrow and help society thrive.

    Our understanding of local, regional and national needs enables us to deliver solutions that better connect people with places, now and in the future.


    View All

    • Sectors
    • Services
    • Projects
    What We Do
    • Property and Buildings
    • Transport and Infrastructure
    • Environment
    • Water, Energy and Industry
    • Planning and Advisory
    Featured Content
    butterfly thn

    Protecting nature

    How can we safeguard our natural environment?

  • Insights

    Our experts offer compelling insights that provide new perspectives.

    Read inspiring articles that challenge the status quo by reframing current issues, sparking fresh ideas and conversations.

    View all
    Insights
    • Climate
    • Mobility
    • Places
    • Resources
    • Society
    • Technology
    Featured Content
    Emeka bnr

    Profiling our people – Emeka Okorocha, Technical…

    As our combined responsibility to design and build sustainable infrastructure is recognised and…

  • Careers

    Help us shape the future

    Join a collaborative team of experts that thrives on complex challenges and unconventional thinking.

    See more
    Careers
    • Early Career
    • Experienced Professionals
    • Why choose WSP
    • Job Opportunities
    Featured Content
    BNR_Careers_Why_Choose_WSP

    Why you should work for us

    Live a full life, enjoy the rewards you deserve and be part of a business that plans, manages and…

  • Who we are
    • What We Stand For
    • Our Story
    • Corporate Responsibility
      • Who we are
      • Accountable for Tomorrow
        • Communities
        • Corporate Governance
        • Diversity and Inclusion
        • Ethics and Integrity
        • Health and Safety
        • Sustainability
        • UK Policies
    • UK Leadership
  • What We Do
    • Property and Buildings
    • Transport and Infrastructure
    • Environment
    • Water, Energy and Industry
    • Planning and Advisory
  • Insights
    • Climate
    • Mobility
    • Places
    • Resources
    • Society
    • Technology
  • Careers
    • Early Career
    • Experienced Professionals
    • Why choose WSP
    • Job Opportunities
Back

We are locally dedicated with international scale.

United Kingdom - English

International

  • Global
    English - Français

Americas

  • Canada
    English - Français
  • Chile
    Español
  • Colombia
    Español
  • Mexico
    Español
  • Panama
    Español
  • Peru
    Español
  • United States
    English

Africa

  • South Africa
    English

Asia

  • China
    中文(简体) - English
  • Hong Kong
    English
  • India
    English
  • Malaysia
    English
  • Philippines
    English
  • Singapore
    English
  • South Korea
    한국어(대한민국) - English
  • Thailand
    English

Europe

  • Denmark
    Dansk
  • Finland
    Suomi
  • France
    Français
  • Germany
    Deutsch
  • Greenland
    Kalaallisut - English
  • Netherlands
    Nederlands
  • Norway
    Norsk
  • Poland
    Polski - English
  • Romania
    English
  • Spain
    Español
  • Sweden
    Svenska - English
  • Switzerland
    Deutsch - English
  • United Kingdom
    English

Middle East

  • Kuwait
    English
  • Oman
    English
  • Qatar
    English
  • Saudi Arabia
    English
  • United Arab Emirates
    English

Oceania

  • Australia
    English
  • New Zealand
    English
Worldwide Offices
    • Investors

      Discover our diverse business, financial results and strategic ambitions.

      We are committed to delivering sustainable value to our shareholders and exceptional professional services to our clients.

      Read more
      Investors
      • Corporate Governance
      • Press Releases
      • Reports & Filings
      • Stock Information
      • Shareholder Information
      • Presentations and Events
      Corporate Governance
      • Audit Committee
      • Board of Directors
      • Business Conduct Hotline
      • Constating Documents
      • Governance Documents
      • Governance Ethics and Compensation Committee
      • Mandates
      Reports & Filings
      • AIF
      • Annual
      • Information Circular
      • Quarterly
      • SEDAR Filings
      • Sustainability
      Stock Information
      • Analyst Coverage
      Shareholder Information
      • Acquisitions
      • Dividends
      • Drip
      • FAQ
      Featured Content
      Thn-Web-Q42020-Results

      WSP's Q4 and 2020 Results

      We released our 2020 fourth quarter and fiscal results on February 24, 2021 after market close.

    • Investors
      • Corporate Governance
        • Investors
        • Corporate Governance
          • Audit Committee
          • Board of Directors
          • Business Conduct Hotline
          • Constating Documents
          • Governance Documents
          • Governance Ethics and Compensation Committee
          • Mandates
      • Press Releases
      • Reports & Filings
        • Investors
        • REPORTS & FILINGS
          • AIF
          • Annual
          • Information Circular
          • Quarterly
          • SEDAR Filings
          • Sustainability
      • Stock Information
        • Investors
        • Stock Information
          • Analyst Coverage
      • Shareholder Information
        • Investors
        • Shareholder Information
          • Acquisitions
          • Dividends
          • Drip
          • FAQ
      • Presentations and Events
    • News

      Progress happens quickly.

      Stay up to date with our projects, news, events and more.

      News
      • Latest News
      • Press Releases
      Featured Content
      Zero carbon photo 1920 x 750

      WSP to provide UK Government with technical advice…

      WSP will support the design of CCUS work programme and will advise BEIS on how to…

    • Contact us

      We are dedicated to our local communities and driven by global talent.

      We solve problems for our clients and the communities we serve, meeting the needs of today and tomorrow’s challenges. Contact us to find out how we…


      Follow us

      Contact us
      • Send a Message
      • Offices
      Featured Content
      Going net zero wind turbine 563 x 220

      Solutions for a net zero carbon future

      With the UK committed to a Clean Growth Strategy and becoming the first major economy to commit to a…

    • Investors

      Discover our diverse business, financial results and strategic ambitions.

      We are committed to delivering sustainable value to our shareholders and exceptional professional services to our clients.

      Read more
      Investors
      • Corporate Governance
      • Press Releases
      • Reports & Filings
      • Stock Information
      • Shareholder Information
      • Presentations and Events
      Corporate Governance
      • Audit Committee
      • Board of Directors
      • Business Conduct Hotline
      • Constating Documents
      • Governance Documents
      • Governance Ethics and Compensation Committee
      • Mandates
      Reports & Filings
      • AIF
      • Annual
      • Information Circular
      • Quarterly
      • SEDAR Filings
      • Sustainability
      Stock Information
      • Analyst Coverage
      Shareholder Information
      • Acquisitions
      • Dividends
      • Drip
      • FAQ
      Featured Content
      Thn-Web-Q42020-Results

      WSP's Q4 and 2020 Results

      We released our 2020 fourth quarter and fiscal results on February 24, 2021 after market close.

    • Investors
      • Corporate Governance
        • Investors
        • Corporate Governance
          • Audit Committee
          • Board of Directors
          • Business Conduct Hotline
          • Constating Documents
          • Governance Documents
          • Governance Ethics and Compensation Committee
          • Mandates
      • Press Releases
      • Reports & Filings
        • Investors
        • REPORTS & FILINGS
          • AIF
          • Annual
          • Information Circular
          • Quarterly
          • SEDAR Filings
          • Sustainability
      • Stock Information
        • Investors
        • Stock Information
          • Analyst Coverage
      • Shareholder Information
        • Investors
        • Shareholder Information
          • Acquisitions
          • Dividends
          • Drip
          • FAQ
      • Presentations and Events
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Press Releases
    • Contact us
      • Send a Message
      • Offices
  1. home
  2. Insights

Our cities through green-tinted glasses

EU Green Week will be taking place from Monday 21st May to Friday 25th May and will explore the ways in which the EU is helping cities to become better places to live and work.
map marker United Kingdom | 21 May 2018
Reading Time : 6 minutes

Our cities are alive! And not just with fantastic theatres, concert halls, businesses, museums, galleries and vibrant communities. Our cities are the newest ecosystem on our planet, with birds, butterflies and bees, wild flowers and spreading trees.

Just as we are starting to see our cities as potential havens for nature, we are beginning to understand just how important nature is to each of us as well.

Many of our cities are getting hotter and have poor air quality. Those of us that live there are increasingly feeling lonely and isolated, and our health and wellbeing is suffering.

Recognising and enhancing nature in our cities can help us tackle these modern day social and environmental problems. Green rather than grey cities have clean air and nature breathing life into our outdoor living spaces, providing natural sanctuaries for people to spend time with friends and family.

Achieving green cities can include cleaning up waterways and redesigning them to be more natural and visually appealing or allowing vacant land to be claimed by nature. Street trees can provide shade and shelter, while creating sky gardens and green walls can reduce local temperatures thus making our cities cooler.

Life in the city….

Building nature into our cities provides multiple social and environmental benefits that allow our societies and businesses to thrive:

  • Biodiversity in the City, a White Paper released by WSP in 2017, demonstrated that integrating biodiversity into our cities can regulate surface water runoff, alleviate high inner city temperatures, reduce air and noise pollution, improve water quality and contribute to human health and wellbeing.

  • Bringing nature into workplaces can increase employee engagement, reduce stress and improve productivity.

  • Green spaces can provide natural sanctuaries and safe areas for people to relax, relieve stress and rest in comfort, improving our mental health.

Already we are seeing many examples of where the UK in particular is taking action to green cities:

  • As part of their drive to create sustainable places to live, Barratt Development Plc creates multi-functional, nature-rich greenspaces within their urban developments. Through their work with landscape and biodiversity experts, including the RSPB, their developments have naturalised rivers, created green roofs, planted orchards, created natural sustainable urban drainage systems and provided outdoor learning centres. At the same time their residential dwellers can experience natural outdoor areas to relax, improving their health and wellbeing

  • The Quaggy River was an underground river system with flooding problems due to the lack of natural floodplain. Working with the local community, a restoration project saw the river brought back into the open air. Riparian planting increased biodiversity, helped clean up the river and greatly increased flood water storage. The project successfully employed nature to reduce flood risk and made it a safer and more beautiful place to live.  

  • Sheffield City Council worked with Sharrow Primary School and experts to create a green roof for play and outdoor teaching. The roof helps to control storm water runoff, humidity, noise, heat and pollution as well as providing important habitat for biodiversity, teaching children the importance of nature and sustainability and contributing to the urban green space.

It is critical that experts in design engineering, landscape, air, soil, water and biodiversity work together with local communities and developers to design cities, and other urban spaces which work for business and people. Greener, healthier cities provide a range of economic and environmental benefits and, most of all, provide us with more beautiful places to live and work.

This blog was written by Vikki Patton, Jenny Merriman and Tom Butterworth


More on this subject

thn-wp-alliance-contracting

February 2021

Leveraging Project Procurement and Delivery Approaches for Positive Outcomes

White Paper
Mobility , Places , Resources , COVID-19 , Resilience
Indigenous Cultures-Thumbnail

February 2021

Embracing Indigenous Cultures to Address Infrastructure Needs

Feature
Places , Resilience , Society
GB-amirsheikwarak-04022021-563x220

February 2021

How does a structural engineer eliminate carbon?

United Kingdom
Feature
Resilience , Resources , Technology
thn-Winners-without-losers-better-normal

February 2021 | 8 minutes

Net Zero: Can We Have Winners Without Losers?

Blog
Places , Resilience , COVID-19
thn-Web-Maritime_Reefer

February 2021

Setting sail for more efficient and greener trade by sea

Feature
Climate , Mobility , Resilience
GB-ChantelleMartin-27012021-563x220

January 2021

An hour in the life of a Business Support Partner

United Kingdom
Feature
Society
thn-what-else-Net-zero-better-normal

January 2021 | 11 minutes

What Else Can Net Zero Do For Us?

Blog
Resilience , Resources , Society , COVID-19
Manchester urban planning 1563 x 220

January 2021 | 10 minutes

Planning for Recovery: In conversation with Sean Anstee CBE

United Kingdom
Feature
Resilience , Society , Places
Change Makers Rebranded-51

January 2021

An hour in the life of an occupational health and safety advisor

United Kingdom
Blog
Resilience , Society
Hydrogen hot air 563 x 220

January 2021 | 5 minutes

Hydrogen’s potential is not just hot air

United Kingdom
Blog
Climate , Resilience
the-key-to-creating-social-value-is-leaving-a-tangible-outcome-focused-legacy-thn

January 2021

The key to creating social value is leaving a tangible, outcome-focused legacy

United Kingdom
Feature
Places , Climate , Society
GB-Luke Livermore-16122020-563x220 (2)

December 2020

An hour in the life of an interconnector design engineer

United Kingdom
Feature
Resilience , Technology

Share this page

  • Share on Facebook - Warning, this link will open a new tab.
  • Share on Linkedin - Warning, this link will open a new tab.
  • Share on Twitter - Warning, this link will open a new tab.
  • Share on Skype - Warning, this link will open your Skype application.


Related themes and tags

  • Society (165)

  • Places (180)

  • Resilience (236)


  • Buildings (93)
  • Wellbeing (46)
  •  
  •   Page will open in a new tab
  •   Page will open in a new tab
  •   Page will open in a new tab
  •   Page will open in a new tab
  • Who We Are
  • What We Stand For
  • Our Story
  • Future Ready
  • UK Leadership
  • Our Offices
  • What We Do
  • Sectors
  • Services
  • Projects
  • Insights
  • Climate
  • Mobility
  • Places
  • Society
  • Resources
  • Technology
  • Careers
  • Job Opportunities
  • Spontaneous Application
  • Corporate
  • Sustainability
  • Health and Safety
  • Investors
  • Business Conduct Hotline
  • News
  • Corporate Governance
  • Ethics and Integrity
    ©2021 WSP
    • The WSP Logo
    • Privacy Notice
    • Anti-Spam Commitment
    • WSP Slavery Prevention Policy
    • UK Corporate Governance Statement
    • UK Gender Pay Report
    • UK Modern Slavery Statement
    • Cookie Policy
    • Terms of Use
    ©2021 WSP

    Exiting our Website

    You are about to leave WSP.com and are being redirected to a job opportunity at Louis Berger, which has been recently acquired by WSP in the US.