Green Infrastructure and the NW region.

1
Green Infrastructure and the NW region.

• Martin Moss, Senior Specialist, Regional Advocacy
  and Partnerships Team

2
Purpose

• To give an overview on Green Infrastructure.
• To outline what has been happening in the NW to
  date.

3
Structure.

• Origin
• Overall concept
• Underpinning concepts
• Key drivers and agendas
• NW Activity
• The regional GI Guide
• Progress with strategic planning
• Some future issues
• Natural England

4
Origin

• Originally a US concept.
• Thames Gateway Housing and Growth.
• NW?
• Community Forest succession.
• Linking environment and regeneration.

5
Greening the Gateway.

• Issued in 2004
• Seeks to protect and enhance the environment to
• Enhance quality of life of new and existing
  residents.
• Support and protect biodiversity.
• Create a positive image.
• By creating a network of varied greenspace
  the setting for new and existing residential and
  commercial areas.
• Landscape should be regarded as functional green
  infrastructure delivers a range of benefits.

6
Gateway contexts.

• Sustainable communities.
• Housing and economic growth in the SE.
• Urban expansion.
• Integrating greenspace networks into new
  development.
• Protection and enhancement of existing assets.

7
Characteristics of Northern Growth.

• Regeneration and re-structuring of existing
  settlements urban morphology change.
• Major land restoration tackling the industrial
  legacy.
• Housing market renewal. Also improving the
  regional housing offer.
• Public realm transformation.
• Tacking population decline.
• Boosting GVA image, investment, economic
  productivity, new business sector development.

8
Concept

• Three components
• Purpose what are we trying to achieve?
• Definition what are we talking about?
• Approach what are we actually doing about it?

9
Purpose

• The development of more sustainable and
  multi-functional urban and rural landscapes.
• By
• Ensuring socio-economic activity brings spatially
  appropriate environmental benefits.
• Developing natural environmental systems that
  contribute to providing for socio-economic needs.
• A practical means to help deliver sustainable
  development.

10
Definition Take your pick!!

• NW GI Guide.
• The regions life support system The network of
  natural environmental components and green and
  blue spaces that lies within and between the
  North Wests cities, towns and villages which
  provides multiple social, economic and
  environmental benefits.

• Natural England (Draft).
• A strategically planned and delivered network
  comprising the boadest range of high quality
  greenspaces and other environmental features.
  Designed and managed as a multifunctional
  resource capable of delivering those ecological
  services and quality of life benefits required by
  the communities it serves and needed to underpin
  sustainability. Its design and management should
  also respect and enhance the character and
  distinctiveness of an area with regard to
  habitats and landscapes.go to para 2

11
Approach

• The 5 steps
• Partnerships and priorities.
• Data audit and mapping.
• Functionality assessment now, forces for
  change.
• Needs assessment spatial issues of key initial
  themes.
• Intervention plan.

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Aiming for?

• 4 things
• Creating new GI where needed - often
  retro-fitting of new GI into old places.
• Change the function of existing GI to meet
  identified new needs.
• Recognise what is already good and ensure its
  protection.
• GI planned, delivered and maintained like other
  forms of infrastructure.

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Where is Green Infrastructure?

• Green infrastructure can be
• exposed or hidden.
• It can exist in all land use contexts its type,
  functionality and benefits will vary reflecting
  the context within which it exists.

14
Types, functions and benefits.

• Types physical kinds of green infrastructure
  resource v asset.
• Functions something the GI is physically
  capable of doing/delivering.
• Benefits what is derived from functional GI
  the outcome.
• EG

Benefit
Function
Type
Flood water storage.
Washland pasture/meadow
Flood Risk Management
Sponge water retention.
Upland blanket bog
Channel flow attenuation
Wet woodland
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The Benefits Cycle.
Selling the benefits
Buying the functions
Why? Where?
What? How?
Benefits conceptual outcome derived from GI
functions
Functions What GI is physically capable of
doing.
Type A physical form of GI that can deliver a
function.
Delivery Intervention.
Policy seeks outcomes.
16
Contexts v Types
ASSCUE Project
17
Now you see it now you dont!
ASSCUE Project
18
Green space v green infrastructure.

• What differentiates?
• GI Greenspace environmental components in
  non-greenspace land use contexts.
• GI Benefits derived from functionality.
• GI more than a space its a natural
  environmental system.
• Greenspace (Resource/Asset) GI but GI is not
  necessarily a space.

19
Green infrastructure penetration.This is the
overall GI system coverage.
ASSCUE Project
20
Versus - Naturalness and green space.This is the
green space contribution.
Green space planning and urban design.
Greater Manchester Ecological Frameworks Project
21
Key Drivers Strategic agendas

• Three key areas of policy development that have
  been driving thinking on green infrastructure.
• Sustainable communities driven by the growth
  agenda.
• Ecosystems services quest for integrated land,
  water and living resources management.
• Natural economy economic benefits of the
  natural environment.

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NW Critical Agendas

• Last 3 years have been driven by 5 main agendas.
• Economic regeneration.
• Land regeneration.
• Ecological frameworks.
• Climate change.
• Flood risk management.
• Informed the development of activities in the
  region.
• The growth and sustainable communities agenda
  growing.

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NW activity October 2007
Natural Economy
Climate Change
Potential Economic Benefits
ASCCUE
SREPs
NW CC Action Plan
Valuation models
Support Services
I - Tree
Demonstration projects
NW GI Forum
GI Think Tank
Planning and policy
GI Unit
www.greeninfrastructurenw.org.uk
Regional Policy and Guidance
Strategic Planning
Local Development Frameworks
Area Based Regeneration initiatives
Decision Support Tools
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Regional guidance.

• Purposes
• Communication.
• Guidance on process.
• Case study library.
• Advice on policy.
• A live document.
• The further in the less well developed develops
  as concept becomes applied at different scales.
• Updates via website as experience grows.

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Sub-Regional Strategy

• SREPs Programmes and priorities - The Money
  people!
• Natural Economy project influencing and
  demonstration.
• Building support for GI activities into Action
  Plans.
• City Regions Spatial policy and planning.
• Pilot strategic GI planning for the NW.
• Exploring how to go about strategic level
  planning.
• Developing a clearer understanding of
  sub-regional and local policy needs.

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Process of strategic assessment

• Lancashire
• Engagement and priorities.
• Baseline mapping of GI resource.
• Strategic position of GI in the policy and
  strategy landscape.
• Gap analysis opportunities for investment.
• Action planning.
• Delivery.
• Merseyside.
• ???????

• Manchester
• Agreement on key benefits.
• Stage 1 Data review and initial mapping. Bring
  together other work Strategic Flood Risk
  Assessment, ASSCUE, Urban Ecological Framework.
• Stage 2 develop a strategic understanding
  engagement policy advice next steps.
• Stage 3 Review stages 1 and 2 to agree on
  strategy development.

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The future -

• LDFs Core strategies Action Plans
  implementation.
• Pilot strategic GI plans should develop firm
  advice on how to use the GI concept and approach
  in LDF processes.
• ABIs Masterplanning.
• Begin to engage with ABIs (URCs, HMR etc) and
  explore detailed local application.

28
Natural England Policy.

• Inherited activities Sustainable Communities
  Project and GI activities in the North.
• Review experience and relevance of GI to
  Strategic Outcomes.
• Developing policy
• An NE view of GI, definition and principles.
• Expression in related policy documents
• Urban
• Housing and Growth
• ????

29
Natural England activity.

• Currently embedded within the Sustainable
  Communities Major Project.
• Engaged with Growth Areas, later Growth Points
  embraced City Regional work in North (Expansion
  of Growth Agenda).
• Supporting City Regional Strategic Planning.
• Seeking to develop experience in ABI
  masterplanning for GI.
• Engagement with developers to develop exemplar
  greenspace projects.
• Period of transition Expansion of Growth agenda
  Developing NE view on GI.

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Planned, delivered and maintained like other
forms of infrastructure.
31
Regional Spatial Strategy Emerging Green
Infrastructure Issues

• Matt Ellis
• Strategic Environmental Planning Officer

October 31st 2007
32
Presentation Outline

• The regional growth agenda emerging
  environmental issues
• RSS policy framework
• Green Infrastructure can help
• links to spatial planning at the local level

33
Going for growth and the regions environment

• Draft RSS heavily economically driven
• A step change in growth aspirations

• environmental infrastructure impacts
• flood risk
• water quality

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Growth and flood risk

• An increased flood risk management challenge?

35
Growth and flood risk

• An increased flood risk management challenge?
• Managing our urban drainage in the future an
  increased risk of surface water and.
• sewer flooding

36
Growth and water quality

• an increased volume of waste water to treat and
  dispose of

37
Growth and water quality

• an increased volume of waste water to treat and
  dispose of
• More frequent CSO discharges

38
Growth and water quality

• an increased volume of waste water to treat and
  dispose of
• More frequent CSO discharges
• Increased impact of diffuse pollution

39
The emerging RSSpolicy framework How does it
respond?

• RSS growth impacts on environmental and
  infrastructure capacity
• Panel report changes aimed at addressing these
  impacts and ensuring a more sustainable plan
• Of particular relevance, policies DP1-DP8, W2,
  L4, EM1 and EM5

40
GI as a sustainable development delivery
mechanism

• GI helps deliver
• Flood risk management
• Improved water quality and maximised
  infrastructure capacity
• And more.

41
GI and sustainable Drainage
42
So how does GI help?

• GI Space for SUDS

43
So how does GI help?

• GI Space for SUDS
• Larger scale flood risk management opportunities

44
So how does GI help?

• GI Space for SUDS
• Larger scale flood risk management opportunities
• Maintenance and management

45
So how does GI help?

• GI Space for SUDS
• Larger scale flood risk management opportunities
• Maintenance and management
• The multi-functionality of GI

46
GI and the spatial planning system

• Sustainable development is the core principle
  underpinning planning
• RSS Policy Framework
• But what should planners do?

47
Taking GI forward in spatial plans

• Address GI within LDF process by
• Understanding future GI needs
• Ensuring delivery - Including policies
  promoting/requiring GI

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Understanding future GI needs

• Identifying future needs
• PPS25 and SFRAs

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Understanding future GI needs

• Identifying future needs
• PPS25 and SFRAs
• Identifying a 5 year supply of deliverable sites
  early contact with United Utilities

50
Planning for future GI needs

• Identifying future needs
• PPS25 and SFRAs
• Identifying a 5 year supply of deliverable sites
  early contact with United Utilities
• Ensuring delivery policies in LDFs

51
The future?
Shade and evaporative cooling
Increased infiltration and potential for SUDS
Image and sustainable transport
Natural Flood Plains
Good water quality, healthy ecosystems and
habitat continuity
52
Thank YouAny questions?

• Matt Ellis
• Strategic Environmental Planning Officer

October 31st 2007
53
Sefton Green space strategy

• Steve Matthews
• Local Planning Manager
• Sefton Council

54
Sefton UDP

• Policy framework to require public greenspace
• NPFA standards no longer acceptable!
• But
• Open space study not complete

55
Policy approach

• Residential development requirement for
  provision on site or enhancement nearby
• Also .
• Commercial, industrial and leisure development
  
• but only
• where clear shortage of greenspace has been
  identified in a Council-approved greenspace
  strategy

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Open space study

• 734 urban greenspace sites
• benefits recreation, trees, visual, wildlife
• However
• narrow approach

57
The green space approach

• Change of direction
• Rise in profile of green space
• CABE Space
• Other authorities experience strategic
  approach gt extra funding
• Green infrastructure

58
Role of green space strategy

• Link to other strategies
• Umbrella for recreation studies
• Objectives of Sefton Borough Partnership
• Corporate approach

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Steering group

• Wide representation within and outside Council
• Green spaces v urban greenspace
• Different types of benefits health, climate
  change, involving communities, regeneration

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Developing standards 1

• PPG 17 typology
• Assess
• Quantity
• Quality
• Accessibility
• variety

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Developing standards 2

• Quantity
• Is there enough ? (too much? too little?)
• of each of the different types in PPG17?
• Quality
• Does it have the right kind of facilities?
• Is it well maintained?

63
Developing standards 3

• Accessibility 2 key aspects
• Parks and gardens
• 400 metres, 1km, 3km
• Accessible natural green spaces variation of
  Natural England model
• 400m - site of 20ha
• 2km - site of 20-100ha

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Practical issues

• Straight line v. actual distance
• Distance to boundary or to entrance
• Effect of barriers
• What is natural green space?
• Impact on extent of deficiency

66
Consultation

• Parish councils
• Community empowerment network
• Network South
• Focus groups
• Area committees
• Pitches - leagues and clubs
• Youth advisors
• After school clubs

67
Next steps

• Green space issues report
• 2 main documents
• - gspace devt SPD standards/ procedures
• - corporate gspace strategy action plan
  priorities
• Supporting both documents
• - strategies for play, open space, playing
  pitches, allotments

68
Green space strategy - opportunities

• clear priorities
• link trees money to wider green space projects
• widen scope of what is possible
• - different partners pots of funding,
  one-off funding
• respond better to local needs involving the
  community

69
The Economic Benefits of GI GI Workshop
31 Oct 07
70
The Two Parts to my Presentation
Brief explanation of what the Natural Economy
NW Programme is and our progress to date,
Summary of the findings emerging from the draft
Ecotec report on the Economic Benefits of
Investing in GI, commissioned by NENW.
71
What is Natural Economy Northwest?

• A three-year partnership programme that maximises
  the benefit from existing and new investment in
  the regions natural environment - delivering RES
  Action 113.
• A multi-agency/cross-sectoral partnership
  resourced by Natural England, the Northwest
  Regional Development Agency and the SITA Trust.
• The Shared Vision A prosperous economic future
  with a thriving natural environment.

72
RES Action 113 Develop the economic benefits of
the regions natural economy through better
alignment of environmental activities and
economic gain .
and develop a strategy for Green Infrastructure
and Transport Corridors
73
NENW Programme

• Business Plan sets out several programmes of
  activity ranging from promotional and influencing
  activity, training work, engaging with selected
  demonstration projects to commissioning reports
  and providing technical support.
• Two key strands of activity are the Natural
  Tourism Programme and the GI Programme-my focus
  from here on in.

74
NENW ORGANISATIONAL STUFF!

• Programme managed by Natural England using funds
  comprising the clever matching of a SITA Landfill
  programme with primarily NWDA funding ( with some
  from NE), which pays for the small staff team, on
  costs, plus limited budget for pump priming,
  technical support, monitoring and communications.
• Formal governance is via a small Board
  representing the key partners.
• Wider NENW Steering Group includes the key
  stakeholders- NWDA, NWRA, GONW, EnvAg, Forestry
  Comm., Community Forests and other NGOs, UU,
  Tourist Boards, Natural England.
• NENW GI Steering Group includes the above, and
  has two key roles a) to direct the GI Strand of
  the NENW prog and b) to enable increasing
  coordination between the agencies on GI in the
  Region.
• The NENW Natural Tourism Steering Group provides
  a similar function for the NENW Natural Tourism
  Strand.
• The NENW Staff are all seconded to the Programme.

75
What is Green Infrastructure?

• The regions life support system a network of
  natural environment components and green blue
  spaces that lies within and between the
  Northwests cities, towns and villages, and which
  provides multiple social, economic and
  environmental benefits.

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NENW GI Programme

• NB - NENW Formal start 15 Jan 2007
• Ecotec Policy and Economic Benefits Reviews,
  City Greens study,
• Grey Infrastructure Transport Corridors Review
• Lancs GI Strategy
• Work with the other 4 SRPs on Strategic Approach
  to GI ( support via Reg GIU)
• Strategic Funding Review
• Advice for Natural Economy Projects re maximising
  econ benefits
• Regional GI Synergy/Interagency Coordination
• Selection of 6 demonstration projects
• Parallel activity on Natural
  Tourism

78
The Ecotec Report The Economic Benefits of GI

• Currently being finalised
• Been through many iterations, including extenal
  review by reps of the NWDA,NWRA, GONW NENW
  steering Group
• Based on a thorough literature review
• Identifies 9 categories of economic benefit
• Seeks to make the link to the NWDAs Tasking
  Framework the 2 types of SAV ie what they have
  to deliver.

• For each category, encapsulates the benefits,
  sets out a model or diagram, and then summarises
  the evidence in a table, citing the references
• Also summarises the context links to key
  policies eg RES, RSS, Sub-regional Econ
  Strategies, Sustainable Communities (DCLG),
  Ecosystem Services (DEFRA), Climate Change and
  the Sub-National Review

NB Economic development budgets tend to be bigger
than environmental ones!!
79
The Economic Benefits of GI

• Flood alleviation and water management
• Enhancing quality of place
• Improved health and well being
• Increased land and property prices
  
• Creating a setting for inward investment
• New opportunities for renewable energy production
  
• Improving the tourism, recreation and leisure
  offer
• New employment in land management and
  biodiversity.
• Climate change alleviation

80
Ecosystem services and economic benefits
Improved health well being
Quality of place
Flood alleviation water management

• Supporting services 
• The services that are necessary for the
  production of all other ecosystem services
  including soil formation, photosynthesis, primary
  production, nutrient cycling and water cycling.

Climate change alleviation
Land property prices
Land management biodiversity
Tourism recreation leisure
Creating setting for inward investment
Renewable energy production
81
Ecosystem services and economic benefits
Improved health well being
Quality of place
Flood alleviation water management

• Provisioning services 
• The products obtained from ecosystems, including
  food, fibre, fuel, genetic resources,
  biochemicals, natural medicines, pharmaceuticals,
  ornamental resources and fresh water

Climate change alleviation
Land property prices
Land management biodiversity
Tourism recreation leisure
Creating setting for inward investment
Renewable energy production
82
Ecosystem services and economic benefits
Improved health well being
Quality of place
Flood alleviation water management
Climate change alleviation

• Regulating services 
• The benefits obtained from the regulation of
  ecosystem processes, including air quality
  regulation, climate regulation, water regulation,
  erosion regulation, water purification, disease
  regulation, pest regulation, pollination, natural
  hazard regulation

Land property prices
Land management biodiversity
Tourism recreation leisure
Creating setting for inward investment
Renewable energy production
83
Ecosystem services and economic benefits
Improved health well being
Quality of place
Flood alleviation water management
Climate change alleviation

• Cultural services
• The non-material benefits people obtain from
  ecosystems through spiritual enrichment,
  cognitive development, reflection, recreation and
  aesthetic experiences thereby taking account of
  landscape values

Land property prices
Land management biodiversity
Tourism recreation leisure
Creating setting for inward investment
Renewable energy production
84
Flood alleviation and water management
Increased canopy cover, increased greenspace and
'soft surfacing' and sustainable urban drainage
schemes (SUDS) reduce and control run off,
improve absorption rates provide storage
capacity, resulting in less dramatic flood events
for urban areas, thereby reducing the costs
resulting from increasingly regular
'catastrophic' events.
85
Quality of Place
Enhanced GI provides for an improved sense of
quality of place, providing opportunities
for recreation,empowerment through community
ownership, and visual amenity, improving the
attractiveness of a neighbourhood with effects
upon property prices, investment, employment
opportunities, and social capital.
86
Improved Health and Well Being
Increased Green Infrastructure provides multiple
health consequent economic benefits, through
improved air quality, reduced stress levels,
increased opportunities for informal normal
physical activity and recreation, all
contributing to the reduction of limiting long
term illness, and cost to the health services,
reducing days lost to industry through illness
improving productivity.
87
Land and property prices
Developing green space and undertaking env.
improvements in key locations has
significant benefits for housing and land prices.
Proximity to high quality accessible GI
directly impacts positively upon house prices.
Greener cities increase visitors and spend on
city centre retail and leisure, improving rental
values increasing employment opportunities.
88
Creating a setting for inward investment
The creation and development of green space and
landscaping can encourage and attract high value
industry and workers. This can provide many
benefits to urban areas in terms of improvements
in quality of life and an improved green
environment can increase opportunities for
adding GVA to local economies.
89
Renewable energy production
Increased GI provides substantial opportunities
to generate and encourage the development of
renewable sources of energy. Rural areas and the
agricultural industry undergoing structural
change are provided with diversification
opportunities to supply local markets for
biofuels and biomass, which in turn has
mitigation effects for climate change through
cleaner energy generation and reduced fossil
fuel use.
90
Tourism, recreation and leisure
GI plays a strong role in the generation of new
recreation leisure opportunities and also
stimulates economic activity within agriculture,
forestry, and public services. The potential to
create green spaces within built up areas
reconnects urban communities with the land.
Greening city centres attracts new visitors, in
turn supporting urban retail and tourism
sectors.
91
Land management and biodiversity
GI plays a strong role in supporting direct and
indirect employment in agriculture, forestry,
land management and conservation industries. The
potential to create green spaces within built up
areas reconnects urban communities with the land
and improves opportunities for local food
marketing.
92
Climate change alleviation
GI provides natural air conditioning for urban
areas (adaptation), reducing the need for power
consumption for heating and cooling, alongside
its contribution towards greenhouse gas
absorption (mitigation) and longer term benefits
in terms of managing the impacts of climate
change.
93
Woodland provides setting for tourism, biofuels
and education
GI in flood plain helps to manage risk of
downstream urban flooding
Upland grazing and moorland drainage scheme slows
and reduces run-off
Riverside walk
Visitor centre In restored mill
Riding for the Disabled centre on reclaimed
brownfield land
Allotments
Trees and green spaces in town ameliorate effects
of climate change

• Country park on reclaimed industrial site
  provides
• Healthy leisure and exercise
• Urban wildlife
• Employment

City Farm run by community
Sports pitches
Woodland improves air quality and reduces
particulates from motorway
GI adds value to adjacent properties
Cycle route on disused railway line
Housing
Pond balances storm flow
Motorway
Commercial development set within GI
Biomass operation run by social enterprise
supplies fuel to power station
Sustainable drainage system
River

• Whole landscape scale benefits of GI

94
Outstanding Issues

• Quantification and the contribution GI makes to
  GVA - how to compare the contribution investing
  in differing bundles of GI will make to closing
  the N/S GVA Gap as against other demands on
  economic development budgets?
• Free riding - how to get all the benefiting
  agencies, other beneficiaries (eg the private
  sector), to invest to secure their benefits?
• Who pays to ensure the ongoing underlying
  ecosystem services - without which??

95
The Economic Benefits of Investing in GI
96

• peter.wilmers_at_nwda.co.uk
• www.naturaleconomynorthwest.co.uk

97
LIVERPOOLS ECOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK

• Jane Hayward Liverpool City Council

98
Presentation Overview

• Liverpools open space study and green
  infrastructure
• Scope of the Space for Nature Study
• Findings of the Phase 1 and 2 Habitat surveys
• Objectives of the Ecological Framework and key
  findings
• Achievements and long term benefits
• Next Steps

99
Context Liverpool Open Space Study

• Completed 2005
• Identified a number of different open space
  typologies
• Classified land into natural and semi-natural
  open space
• Informed Space for Nature Study

100
Context - Liverpools Green Infrastructure

• Over 3000ha of open space
• 20 protected through designation as local
  wildlife sites
• 4 Local Nature Reserves
• Mersey Estuary SPA/Ramsar site

101
Liverpool Space for Nature Study

• Why? Up to date evidence base for LDF as
  required by national and regional policy
• Who? Consultants (White Young Green)
• Managed by EAS
• Input from LCC Nature Conservation Officer and LWT

102
Liverpool Space for Nature Study

• Study divided into 3 stages
• Preliminary survey of all Liverpools green space
  to Phase 1 level and identify sites for further
  survey
• Detailed botanical surveys on sites selected in
  Phase 1 and recommend sites for designation as
  Local Wildlife Sites
• Ecological Framework recommendations for
  biodiversity enhancement within the City

103
Phase 1

• 31 habitat types grassland dominant followed by
  woodland
• Connectivity between habitat patches across City
  reducing effects of fragmentation and providing
  opportunities for species migration

104
Phase 2

• Detailed botanical surveys on selected sites
• Applied Merseyside guidelines for selection of
  Local Wildlife Sites
• Recommend sites qualifying as a Local Wildlife
  Site

105
Ecological Framework

• Local representation of the Biodiversity Resource
  and Opportunity Diagram in RSS
• To identify
• Core Biodiversity Areas
• Core Biodiversity Areas with potential to connect
  to one another
• Deficiency areas

106
Liverpools Core Biodiversity Areas

• Identify Core Biodiversity Areas

107
Areas outside Core Biodiversity Areas

• Identify Areas outside CBAs that have the
  potential to improve the integrity of the CBAs
  and recommend actions for their enhancement
• Identification of ecological buffer zones
• Restricted to natural or semi-natural green space
  within 50m of CBAs
• Enhancements focussed on NMBAP priorities

108
Example Potentially suitable areas for buffers
to aquatic CBAs
109
Core Biodiversity Areas with potential to connect
to one another

• Identify existing natural and semi-natural green
  space that connects Core Biodiversity Areas
  (CBAs) to one another
• Identification of direct links between CBAs
  separated by no more than 500m, OR
• Identification of stepping stones separated by
  no more than 100m
• Identification of existing corridors or linkages
  across a wider area, e.g. transport
  infrastructure
• Recommend how green space connection among CBAs
  could be managed to support Biodiversity Action
  Plan targets

110
Example Potential linkages between CBAs - North
East Liverpool
111
Potential Linkages between Grassland CBAs
112
Deficiency Areas

• Identify areas of the City that are deficient in
  Core Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) by application of
  English Nature guidelines
• Identify areas of green space within the
  deficiency areas that should be prioritised for
  habitat creation and enhancement
• Identify areas deficient in both CBAs and natural
  and semi-natural green space, i.e. areas lacking
  the potential for enhancement
• Make broad recommendations for habitat creation
  in these areas

113
Core Biodiversity and Semi-natural green space
deficiency areas
114
Areas potentially suitable for enhancement within
CBA deficiency areas

• Most appropriate habitats will usually be
  determined by site-specific factors.
• Broad habitats which could contribute towards
  NMBAP priority habitats and species include
• Grassland
• Woodland and Trees
• Aquatic Habitats
• Heathland
• Scrub
• Roundabouts
• Green Roofs and Facades

115
Key Recommendations/ Findings

• Up to 700ha of green space has the potential to
  be enhanced to form a buffer for CBAs
• Potential to create buffers benefiting woodland,
  aquatic, grassland and parkland habitats
• Significant amount of green space in the City
  (over 2000ha) meets criteria for creating
  linkages between CBAs
• Woodland CBAs not easily linked but consideration
  should be given to role of urban trees, small
  woodlands, hedgerows and railway lines connecting
  these sites

116
Key recommendations/ findings (continued)

• Targeted management of railway lines could
  provide significant benefits
• Lack of CBAs and natural and semi-natural green
  space in and around the City Centre
• 726ha of semi-natural green space exists within
  deficiency areas which is suitable for ecological
  enhancement
• The most appropriate habitats to create in
  deficiency areas are those targeted by or which
  contribute to NMBAP including ponds, reedbeds,
  urban trees and woodland, urban grassland and
  heathland
• Novel urban landscape features such as
  roundabouts or green roofs may provide additional
  opportunities for habitat creation

117
Benefits of the Study

• The most thorough appraisal of Liverpools
  biodiversity to date
• Up to date evidence base for the LDF
• Fulfils RSS requirements
• Recommendations will enable City Council to
  contribute to NMBAP targets
• Recognises the ecological function of Liverpools
  green infrastructure and therefore contributes to
  wider green infrastructure objectives

118
Benefits of the Study

• Created a set of guidelines to enable
  consideration of biodiversity issues when
  drafting development plan documents which will in
  turn allow for
• Biodiversity to be integrated with wider social
  and economic priorities for the City
• The protection of the most important biodiversity
  areas in the City
• Green spaces outside the CBAs to be recognised
  for their contribution/ potential contribution to
  connecting and buffering sites and thus assist in
  preventing fragmentation and isolation of
  wildlife habitats
• Inform the decision making process for
  development proposals
• Assist in determining priorities for developer
  contributions for open space

119
Next Steps

• How will the framework be taken forward ?
• Area Action Plans
• Developer Contributions SPD
• Technical Policies DPD
• Land Allocations DPD
• Link findings with those within open space study

120
Key Questions

• How to balance and integrate biodiversity with
  regeneration priorities?
• The level of protection to be afforded to the
  Local Wildlife Sites
• What level of protection should be afforded to
  buffers and green corridors?
• What should the focus of biodiversity
  improvements be in the City?
• Open space priorities for Liverpool

121
Conclusion

• Biodiversity enhancements must contribute to the
  regeneration of the City as well as contributing
  to the creation of a multifunctional green
  network within Liverpool

122
Further Information

• Jane Hayward
• 0151 233 5654
• jane.hayward_at_liverpool.gov.uk
• Phase One Report available on our web site
  www.liverpool.gov.uk/ldf (Evidence, Information
  and Monitoring
• NVC surveys and Ecological Framework will be
  available once finalised.

123
Green Infrastructure for Climate Change
Adaptation- the role of spatial planning

• Dr Susannah Gill
• susannahgill_at_merseyforest.org.uk

124
Climate change context

• Our climate is changing
• Warming of the climate system is unequivocal
• Coherent changes in many aspects of the climate
  system not just temperature
• Changes go beyond natural variability
• Temperature change in last 50 years is very
  likely (gt90 chance) due to increase in
  anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations
• IPCC (2007)

125
UK Climate Changes

• Average temp increases
• High temp extremes increase in frequency
• Low temp extremes decrease in frequency
• Sea-surface temp warms
• Thermal growing season lengthens
• Winter precipitation increases
• Winter precipitation intensity increases
• Greater contrast between summer winter
• Snowfall decreases
• Summer soil moisture decreases
• Sea-level rises
• UKCIP02 High Confidence Levels

126
Average Summer Maximum TemperatureScenarios for
the North West
127
Average Summer Precipitation Scenarios for the
North West
128
Average Winter Precipitation Scenarios for the
North West
129
Climate Change Management
Smit et al (1999)
130
Mitigation the role of GI

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and
  concentrations now impacts on the magnitude of
  future climate changes
• Limited but important role of GI
• Carbon sequestration storage
• Direct fossil fuel substitution
• Material substitution
• High quality landscapes near to where people live
  reducing, alternative routes to travel - reducing
  the need to travel by car

131
Adaptation the role of GI

• Changes over next 30-40 years already determined
  by historic emissions
• Crucial role of GI
• Moderating temperature extremes, especially in
  urban areas
• Reducing volume and slowing rate of rainwater
  runoff
• Flood management
• Soil erosion
• Providing wildlife corridors
• Providing recreation spaces e.g. high capacity,
  less sensitive landscapes

132
Key Stakeholders Town Country Planning
Association (Chair) Association of British
Insurers Environment Agency North West Climate
Group Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Royal
Town Planning Institute South East Climate Group
133
Climate Change Impacts in the Built Environment

• Built environment is distinctive
• High building mass and low greenspace cover leads
  to urban heat island
• Surface sealing increases rate and volume of
  rainfall runoff
• Climate change strengthens this distinctiveness
• Urban greenspace helps to moderate these impacts
• BUT climate change will also impact on
  functionality of urban greenspace

134
Greater Manchester UMT Map
135
Evapotranspiring Surfaces
136
Urban Tree Cover
137
Maximum Surface Temperatures
For a day occurring on average twice per summer
138
Residential 10 green cover
139
If grass does not evapotranspire

• Maximum surface temperatures increase by
• 4.7-5.7C in high density residential areas
• 13.8-15.6C in schools

(Manchester Evening News, 2006)
140
Occurrence of Drought for Grass
Months/year when grass water stressed
141
Adaptation in the Public Realm
Surface temperature in tree shade here was 13C
cooler than in sun large mature tree canopies
provide more shade
142
Surface Runoff
For a precipitation event occurring on average
one day per winter, with normal antecedent
moisture conditions
143
Infiltration Capacity
A case for Conservation Areas?
144
Summary of Research Findings

• Greenspace moderates temperatures through
  evaporative cooling shading
• Mature trees critical for shading
• Most effective in regulating surface runoff on
  high infiltration soils
• Increase rainwater storage
• Opportunity to use for irrigation in times of
  drought

145
The role of spatial planning

• GI planning has an important role to play in
  climate change (especially adaptation)
• Functional importance of GI must be reflected in
  planning policy

GI functions for climate change GI functions for climate change
Mitigation Adaptation
Biofuels production Timber production Food production Carbon storage Recreation Green travel routes Shading from sun Evaporative cooling Shading from sun Evaporative cooling Water storage Water interception Water infiltration Soil stabilisation Storm protection Habitat for wildlife Corridor for wildlife Recreation
146
All levels of spatial planning

• National PPS
• PPS1 supplement
• Climate Change Adaptation by Design (TCPA, 2007)
• Adapting to Climate Change a checklist for
  development (GLA, 2005)
• Guidance for Local Authorities on Implementing
  the Biodiversity Duty (Defra, 2007)
• Regional RSS
• Local LDF
• Also important Sub-Regional non-planning
  documents

147
LDF

• GI Plan within LDF
• Climate change mitigation and adaptation
  functions a crucial part of this
• Developer contributions towards delivering GI Plan

148
GI Plan

• What is there and what functions is it providing?
• Protect - Where it is critical environmental
  capital
• Urban centres, flood plains, private gardens on
  high infiltration soils
• Create - Where there is a need / functionality is
  lacking
• High density residential and built up areas, low
  green space cover with human vulnerability
• Enhance - Where management changes could improve
  functionality
• Water storage capacity, wildlife corridors, SuDS
• Maintain - So that it continues to provide that
  function
• Overall green space cover, times of water stress

149
Example policies

• Sheffield City Council proposed green roof policy
• Required on all medium and larger developments
  (more than 15 dwellings / over 1000 m2 gross
  internal floor space)
• Encouraged on all other developments
• Must be compatible with other design and
  conservation considerations
• Must cover at least 80 of the total roof area
• Hull City Council proposing development control
  policies to reduce flooding impact flood-proof
  new development
• Remove permitted development rights to control
  loss of private gardens
• Lower development densities and higher green
  space public open space requirements
• Flood proofing built into any new development

150
Conclusion

• Our climate is changing
• Need to mitigate and adapt
• Mitigation role of GI limited but important
• Adaptation role of GI substantial
• Spatial planning has an important role to play in
  climate change adaptation
• Planning policy must reflect the functional
  importance of GI at all levels
• Need to know what we have and how it functions in
  order to protect, create, enhance, and maintain