Calculators

Urban greening factor

The Urban Greening Factor (UGF) is a tool developed by the Greater London Authority that evaluates and quantifies the urban greening proposed in new developments.

 

The UGF works by assigning a factor score to each surface cover type proposed in a planning application. Scores range from 1 for semi natural vegetation, through to 0 for impermeable sealed surfaces.

Instructions

  • Use the greening factor from earliest stage of your design.
  • Use a qualified landscape professional from the outset. 
  • The UGF should always be calculated on the total site area, equivalent to the red line boundary;
  • Adjacent areas of land under the ownership or management of the applicant but not subject to the planning application must
    not be included
  • Retained surface cover types should be included in the calculation.

Quick Calculator

Enter the square metres of each following surface types:

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RESULTS

Battery Park New York by Marvel Designs ©Nathan Sayers

Semi-natural vegetation

This is trees, woodland, species-rich grassland maintained or established on site

wetland in housing project UK

Wetland or open water

Semi-natural and not chlorinated, maintained or established on site

Boningale-Greensky Intensive green roof

Intensive green roof

Green roof or vegetation over structure. Substrate minimum settled depth of 150mm

connected tree pits in Battery Park

Trees in connected pits

Trees planted in connected pits. Must have a minimum soil volume equivalent to at least two thirds of the projected canopy area of the mature tree

Extensive green roof by Bridgman and Bridgman Landscapes

Extensive green roof

Green roof with substrate of minimum settled depth of 80mm (or 60mm beneath vegetation blanket) – meets the requirements of GRO Code 2014

ecological garden planted with perennials in Somerset gardens illustrated

Flower-rich perennial planting

Rain_Garden from Earthwatch

Rain gardens

Includes other vegetated sustainable drainage elements.

mixed hedgerow

Hedges

line of mature shrubs one or two shrubs wide

street tree pit

Trees planted in pits

Trees with soil volumes less than two thirds of the projected canopy area of the mature tree.

Green wall at Deansgate Station by Simpson Haugh

Green wall

Wall –modular system or climbers rooted in soil

Hortham Village Bristol by Barratt Homes

Groundcover planting

amenity grassland mowed

Amenity grassland

Species-poor, regularly mown lawn

Green roof lawn by Iguana Architects

Green roof

Extensive green roof of sedum mat or other lightweight systems that do not meet GRO Code 2014.

unplanted detention pond in uk

Water features

chlorinated or unplanted detention basins

permeable paving

Permeable paving

Extensive green roof of sedum mat or other lightweight systems that do not meet GRO Code 2014.

sealed surface

Sealed surfaces

concrete, asphalt, waterproofing, stone

Calcuation example for urban extension residential project

Residential Urban Greening Factor: 0.64

Total Site Area: 197,000sqm

Amenity grassland: 47%

(public space grass and garden grass areas)

Semi-natural vegetation: 27%

(natural mature trees and species rich grassland)

Sealed surfaces: 26%

(roads, driveways and building footprint)

Select a surface cover type:

Permeable paving options