RootSpace
Structural soil cell system for creating large underground soil volumes beneath pavements.
RootSpace Structural Soil System
RootSpace is GreenBlue Urban’s flagship structural soil cell
system, designed to create large volumes of uncompacted soil
beneath paved environments while supporting the structural
loads of surrounding pavements and infrastructure.
With more than 95% void space, the system maximises available rootable soil volume while maintaining the strength required for streets, public realm and development environments.
RootSpace enables urban trees to establish extensive root systems and achieve longterm canopy growth without compromising pavement performance.
The Challenge of Urban Tree Growth
Urban trees often struggle to establish in paved environments where soil becomes compacted and restricted beneath hard
surfaces. Without sufficient volumes of uncompacted soil, root systems cannot develop properly and trees fail to reach maturity.
RootSpace was developed to address this challenge by creating
structural soil volumes beneath pavements while maintaining the
load-bearing capacity required for surrounding infrastructure.
Key
Characteristics
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More than 95% void space for maximum rootable soil
volume
Continuous structural framework beneath pavements
Open lattice structure allowing roots access to the full soil volume
Flexible layouts around utilities and services
High lateral structural strength for demanding urban
environments
Manufactured in the UK from 100% recycled material
Multiple depth configurations to suit project requirements
Benefits of RootSpace
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Maximising Rootable Soil Volume
Structural Performance
Installation and Soil Placement
Maximising Rootable Soil Volume
RootSpace provides a structural framework that protects soil from compaction while supporting pavement loads above. With more than 95% void space, the
system maximises the soil volume available for root development within the planting zone.
The open lattice leg structure allows roots to access the full soil volume within the system while supporting healthy soil biology and long-term tree growth.
Structural
Performance
The interlocking grid system and lateral infill panels create strong lateral stability, allowing the system to distribute loads effectively through the surrounding pavement structure.
This enables RootSpace to be used in streets, highways and public realm environments where pavements must withstand repeated loading.
Installation and Soil
Placement
The open modular configuration allows installers to work within the structure during soil placement, enabling soil to be placed and compacted progressively throughout the system.
Lightweight modular components allow efficient transport, handling and assembly on site, helping reduce installation time and construction complexity.
Flexible Around Utilities
Configurable Soil Volumes
Flexible Around
Utilities
RootSpace modules can be configured around pipes, ducts and other utilities while maintaining continuous soil volumes beneath the pavement.
The modular structure also allows sections of the system to be reexcavated where future access to services is required.
Configurable Soil
Volumes
This flexibility allows designers to achieve the soil volumes required for healthy tree growth across a wide range of urban planting conditions.
Part of Integrated Tree Pit Systems
RootSpace is frequently used as the structural soil framework
within larger tree pit and SuDS systems.
RootSpace is frequently used as the structural soil framework within larger tree pit and SuDS systems.
When combined with ArborSystem, it provides structured tree pit infrastructure at the pavement
interface while maintaining continuous soil volumes
beneath the surface.
Where sustainable drainage is required, RootSpace can also form part of ArborFlow tree pit systems, allowing structural soil volumes to contribute to stormwater management.
Technical Guidance for Designers and Engineers
CPDs, design guidance and technical documentation used during specification and project delivery.
RootSpace technical data sheet
Installation Guide
Tree planting CPD resources
Technical design guidance
GreenBlue Urban provides technical guidance to help designers integrate tree planting systems within SuDS strategies
GreenBlue Urban combines engineering performance, landscape
expertise and practical installation knowledge to deliver tree
planting systems that perform reliably in complex urban
environments.
Our systems are used by designers, engineers and contractors
worldwide to create urban landscapes that support long-term
tree growth.