ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the various clues and evidence that can be gathered during site visits to enable informed decisions to be made about site interventions and appropriate tree selection. Laing O'Rourke were contracted by Yorkshire Water to survey the existing water mains and design a cost-effective programme of refurbishment and replacement. Access space required during demolition and construction can easily be underestimated, and careful consideration should be given to retained trees at all stages of the design process. Existing closed-circuit television cameras should be mapped as part of the site assessment procedure, and the operator contacted to ensure that proposed trees can be planted without conflicting with the camera view-cone. The environmental benefits and ecosystem services provided by urban green infrastructure are widely understood and generally accepted. However, an appreciation of cost—benefit analysis modelling tools can be beneficial when engaging with stakeholders with an interest in fiscal matters.
