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About us

€4.6 million EU funded IGNITION Project sets target to uplift green infrastructure in Greater Manchester and develop business models for investment in Nature-base Solutions (NBS). The role of its NBS Living Lab at University of Salford is pivotal to achieving these targets as it provides a retrofit installation that showcases a variety of NBS climate mitigation solutions and delivers evidence to inform stakeholders on investment schemes based on real-time data, and raise awareness of economic, environmental and well-being benefits of such technologies for communities.

The installation integrates a green-blue roof, living wall, SUDS trees and rain garden with a connected water management scheme linking all elements, providing greater benefits as an integrated system.

The Living Lab exhibits a repository of lessons learnt from the journey towards creating innovative NBS solutions in an existing urban context. This complements IGNITION Project’s pipeline of business and engagement approaches and tools for NBS innovation

Download Living Lab Brochure

IGNITION Living Lab Team

IGNITION Project Partners

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), University of Salford, Business in the Community (BITC), City of Trees, Environment Agency, Groundwork, Manchester City Council, Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), Salford City Council, United Utilities, University of Manchester and UK Green Building Council (UKGBC).

Links, Contacts and Supporting Resources

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Phase 1 Award and Kick-off Meeting with SEL Environmental – March 2020

Phase 1: Start of the works – August 2020

Water passively moves from the raised deck planters to the adjacent top spoil intervention through the featured design

Green roof installation process at University of Salford

The Living Lab Rain Garden situated on the University of Salford’s Peel Park Campus. Showcasing experimental green infrastructure, like the green wall and raised planters

Retrofit living wall placed over an existing building by the rain garden

Green infrastructure installation process at University of Salford

In a prime location, Peel Park and IGNITION project offers rest bite to those consumed in city life; experimental green infrastructure minimalizing the current contrast

An illuminated view from the raised amenity decking, highlighting the accessible features of the garden through the use of ramps

Rain garden installation after completion (phase 1 of living lab design)

Caption: Introducing more biodiversity for research within the rain garden

Phase 2 Award and Kick-off meeting with SEL Environmental – August 2020

Green Wall at University of Salford

Rain garden and living wall on University of Salford's campus

The Living Lab Rain Garden situated on the University of Salford’s Peel Park Campus. Showcasing experimental green infrastructure, like the green wall and raised planters

Sustainable trees on the University of Salford campus

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