Utrecht completes city-wide ‘green roof’ project for bus stops

In this column, edie often features a new standalone building or development with particularly impressive sustainability credentials. This week, however, a good news story concerning a city-wide network of “living” roofs for bus stops has caught the attention of the editorial team.

The scheme, which was this week completed in the Dutch city of Utrecht, has seen 316 of the municipality’s bus stop roofs replaced with alternatives that play host to wildflowers and grasses. Undertaken by the city’s local council, the scheme aims to boost biodiversity – specifically by attracting bees – and reduce air pollution. The bus stops have also been fitted with rainwater capturing technology, energy-efficient lighting and bamboo benches.

Utrecht already provides subsidies and support for households and businesses looking to install their own “living roofs”, but its council hopes the bus stop scheme will boost uptake. Moreover, it serves to highlight the fact that the city is targeting “completely clean” public transport by 2028, starting with an order for 55 fully electric buses, due to be delivered later this year.