an environmental audit of liverpool

An Environmental Audit of LiverpoolData Provided by Partners Coordinated by Alex Nurse, Department of Geography and Planning, University of Liverpool

ForewordLiverpool lies at the centre of England's most renewable energy rich region. Currents of air and

sea can yield a harvest of power that has yet to be fully realised. The universities are at the

forefront of research into the science of climate change and the impact on the oceans. Regional

businesses are going green and exploiting the international markets for green technology.

Schools are educating our young people in sustainability. Faith groups and churches are waking

up to the imperative to care for the earth. New hospitals are realising that trees and parks are

the best setting for pathways to health. The local authorities of the City Region of Liverpool

are working with the third sector to green our urban landscapes with carbon crunching trees. All

this is happening around us here on Merseyside. The future is green. At least, the future could

be green.

The five W's: Wind, Waves, Water, Weather, Waste. These are the big issues that face us. There's

a sixth W: Willpower! It's down to us all to press forward to make the future green. Liverpool's

in a race with other British and European cities to prove that it really means business in building

a sustainable city. If we don't we shall be left behind. People will vote with their feet and those

who can will go to live in healthier places leaving Liverpool to lag behind.

This Green Audit of Liverpool points the way forward. It shows what can be done both to

retrofit the city for a green future and to plan strategically so that transport, housing and all the

city's infrastructure can benefit from the latest green wisdom and technology.

The vision is that one day soon Liverpool could become the Green Capital of Europe. Will you will it?

Bishop James JonesJune 2013

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Foreword

An Environmental Audit of Liverpool

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Contents

Introduction 7

Section One: Local Contribution to Addressing Global Climate Change 11

Section Two: Local Transport 15

Section Three: Green Urban Areas Incorporating Sustainable Land Use 19

Section Four: Biodiversity 23

Section Five: Quality of Local Ambient Air 26

Section Six: Quality of the Acoustic Environment 29

Section Seven: Waste Production and Management 31

Section Eight: Water Consumption 34

Section Nine: Waste Water Management 37

Section Ten: Eco-Innovation and Sustainable Employment 41

Section Eleven: Environmental Management of the Local Authority 45

Section Twelve: Energy Performance 48

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Contents

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IntroductionIn 2010, Liverpool University produced the report ‘Building the Low Carbon Economy on

Merseyside’ . Out of this report came two central recommendations; that ‘Low Carbon’ be made

a fundamental driver of all of Liverpool’s strategic economic ambitions as set out in the so called

transformational actions around the low carbon economy, super-port, visitor economy and the

knowledge economy; and that the City consider a future bid for the European Green Capital

award.

For the last 18 months this process has been supported by an emerging ‘Liverpool Green City

Partnership’ comprising of key institutions including the University, Liverpool Chamber of

Commerce, Liverpool Vision, Liverpool Primary Care Trusts (PCT), Mersey Forest, and private and

third sector partners, with active support from the City Council, and Local Enterprise partnership.

The Partnership’s work has been supported by funding from the Economic and Social Research

Council (with contributions from Liverpool Vision and Chamber of Commerce) and Liverpool PCT.

In autumn 2012, the Green City Partnership decided to work with its partners to establish a

baseline audit of Liverpool’s (and the City Region) current environmental performance. This

Audit is reports on the criteria used as part of the bidding process for European Green Capital,

and reflects the same criteria that winning cities have used (see below for more details). This

model was selected as it provided a robust template for measuring environmental performance

across a number of areas.

Addressing 12 areas, the Green Capital bid criteria reflects the broad nature of sustainability in

modern cities. Although still containing more traditional areas such as green spaces and

biodiversity, the inclusion of energy performance and eco-innovation reference the new

challenges facing cities in the 21st century. Conversely, the Green Capital bidding process

might ask for data on issues that are not priorities for the city, or on which it might have little or

no control. The advantage of this model is less in the specifics of the data provided than in the

benefits of the audit process itself.

The audit process allowed the partners to examine and compile data that they each hold, in

order to establish how Liverpool compares against the UK Core Cities (considered to be

Liverpool’s main economic competitors), and against the best European practice as a means to

discover where the city performs well, and how it can improve performance.

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Introduction

1 Funded by the ESRC as a knowledge exchange partnership between Liverpool Vision, Liverpool Chamber ofCommerce and the University to explore how Liverpool was developing its Low Carbon Economy.

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Principally, the data presented in this report relates to the City of Liverpool (i.e. within the

boundaries of Liverpool City Council). However, Liverpool lies within a wider city region, and as

such cannot be considered in isolation with regard to a number of environmental performance

criteria including economic activity, transport, waste and biodiversity. Most importantly,

Liverpool’s most defining geographical feature is the River Mersey which does not conform to

designated borders. Consequently, the audit also examined data from across the wider

Merseyside area – comprising the districts of Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and

the Wirral.

Data Collection The audit was completed as a collaborative effort by members of the Green City Partnership,

with partners providing both data and narrative for appropriate sections, and commenting on

cross-sectoral aspects.

In doing so, and reflecting the multi-disciplinary nature of environmental performance, data was

provided by the following partners and organisations;

l ARUP

l Eldonian Group Ltd

l Environment Agency

l Liverpool Chamber of Commerce

l Liverpool City Council

l Liverpool Local Enterprise Partnership

l Liverpool Primary Care Trust

In undertaking the audit, an assessment was undertaken to map out plans and strategies in

place for Liverpool, and the City Region, that address the European Green Capital’s twelve

criteria. Table one below shows this;

It is clear that Liverpool has a wealth of strategies in place across the broad range of Green

Capital criteria. The results of the audit provide more detail, examining how the city performs

against these criteria and the factors specified within each sub-section. This includes detailed

contributions from the relevant organisations/stakeholders across the city and city region that

have provided detailed technical information on performance.


l Liverpool Vision

l Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service

l Mersey Forest

l Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority

l Mersey Travel

l United Utilities

l University of Liverpool

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Introduction

Table One - Existing Liverpool and City Region plans and strategies

ECG Criteria Coverage

Local Contribution to Climate change l Liverpool Climate Change Strategic Frameworkl Covenant of Mayorsl Mayoral Development Zone/Mayoral Development Corporationl Centre for offshore energyl Sustainable Energy Action Planl NHS Carbon Reduction Plans

Local transport l Local Transport Plan

Green urban areas incorporating l Liverpool Green Infrastructure Strategysustainable land use l Greenprint for Growth

Nature and biodiversity l Liverpool Green Infrastructure Strategyl Biodiversity Action Plansl Ecological Frameworkl Greenprint for Growth

Quality of local ambient air l Air Quality Action Plan

Quality of the Acoustic Environment

Waste production and management l Waste Management Plan

Water consumption l North West River Basin Management Planl Lower Mersey & Alt Catchment Abstraction Management Plan

Waste water treatment l Mersey Estuary Catchment Flood Management Planl Alt Crossens Catchment Flood Management Planl Local Authority Strategic Flood Risk Assessment

Sefton, St Helens, Knowsley, Halton, Liverpooll Merseyside Community Risk Register

Eco innovation and sustainable employment l LEP Low Carbon Economy Action Planl Decade of Health and Wellbeingl Green Deall Low Carbon Liverpooll Green Ambassadorsl International Festival of Businessl Smart Cityl Mayoral Development Zone/Mayoral Development Corporationl Centre for Offshore Renewable energyl Greenprint for Growthl Sustainable Energy Action Plan

Environmental Management of the Local Authority

Energy performance l LEP Low Carbon Economy Action Planl Green Deall International Festival of Businessl Smart Cityl Mayoral Development Zone/Mayoral Development Corporationl Eldonians Energy transfer Hubl Centre for offshore energyl Sustainable Energy Action Plan

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The audit was undertaken in three parts by identifying;

I) Current environmental performance, based on existing data

II) Details of targets met and an explanation of what has contributed to the current situation

III) What plans and proposals will achieve to change and improve current performance?

Full details of the European Green Capital programme, providing further information on the

bidding process and from winning cities, can be found at

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/Summary

AnalysisTo provide an assessment of Liverpool’s environmental performance across a wide range of

indicators a simple traffic light system was adopted, based on an analysis of the city’s

performance against best UK and international practice, operating as follows;

n Green – Good/ExcellentThe city performs well against European Green Capital winners and/or UK competitor cities.

n Yellow – AverageWhilst not indicating bad performance, the city does not excel in this area.

n Red – PoorThe city is underperforming against European Green Capital winners and/or UK Core Cities.

While the underlying data on the city’s environmental performance is provided by the partners

and is robust, the use of any scoring system for analysis is unavoidably subjective in its nature,

what is good or not good performance is of course debatable. The purpose of the audit is to

provide an ‘at a glance’ illustration of Liverpool’s environmental performance and the traffic light

system represents the best way of doing this, in a simple and easy to understand way. The

partners have reviewed and agreed the audit’s assessment.

In providing analysis, it has been noted that some areas provide easier comparison than others:

for example, purely numerical outputs such as CO2 emissions per capita or recycling rates allow

for direct comparison against other cities. However other, areas such as the competitiveness of

the city’s eco-innovation strategy in comparison with other cities is not as easy.

This audit is a snapshot in time provided by the partners, and should be used to decide how the

city, and the city region, can improve its environmental performance to enable it to compete

successfully with other cities.


Section One: Local Contribution to AddressingGlobal Climate ChangeThe DataSince 2005, statistics demonstrate that there has been a reduction in both energy consumption

and overall CO2 emissions. With regards to energy consumption there has been a reduction of

15.44% from 9,984 GWh (2005) to 8,613GWh (2010). In terms of CO2e emissions a total of

461kt CO2e has been saved at a rate of 92ktCO2e a year. This equates to a 16.7% reduction by

2010 and indicates that carbon savings targets are being achieved at a higher rate than that

required for a 20% reduction by 2020.

In terms of overall performance, Liverpool’s per capita emissions (CO2 tonnes) are decreasing in

every area. Total emissions have decreased by nearly 10% in the period 2005-2010. Amongst

the Core Cities Group, Liverpool has been consistently ranked as the 3rd best performing city,

yet, over time, other competitor cities are showing bigger rates of improvement. Liverpool’s

figures also compare favourably with other Green Capital winners, with, for example, Liverpool’s

CO2 emissions being approximately 1 tonne lower than Vitoria-Gasteiz for the same period.

Table 1.1 – Liverpool’s Per Capita Emissions (CO2 tonnes) (by type)

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Total 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.2 5.6 5.8

Electricity 1.02 1.04 1.04 0.98 0.87 0.89

Gas 1.37 1.3 1.24 1.27 1.11 1.21

Road Transport 1.4 1.37 1.39 1.36 1.31 1.29

Liverpool’s performance with regard to CO2 emissions arising from the use of domestic

electricity remains consistent and mirrors trends from all other areas measured (i.e. a longer

term trend towards reduction). In terms of comparing Liverpool with English competitor cities,

here the picture is less favourable, as Liverpool is consistently the worst performer of the core

cities in this regard.

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Section One: Local Contribution to Addressing Global Climate Change

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Emissions arising from the use of domestic gas are similar to those for domestic electricity, with

long term reductions, although Liverpool is ranked as the 3rd worst performer of the seven core

cities in this regard.

Liverpool’s CO2 emissions from road transport indicate that between 2005 and 2008 road

traffic emissions remained stable at 1.4(t)CO2 per capita, before dropping to 1.3 tCO2 per capita

in 2009 and stabilising at that level. This makes Liverpool the 3rd best performer of the Core

City Group.

Plans and StrategiesThe city appreciates the need for clear evidence, coupled with business case examples to inform

its decision making processes. However there is recognition of the need to focus on long-term

climate change predictions and increase in extreme weather events (e.g. heat-waves and heavy

rainfall). There is a need for the city to recognise the risks that these changes bring and adapt

to these extremes by encouraging resilient developments. The Liverpool Climate Change

Strategic Framework, Green Infrastructure Framework and ‘Green Print for Growth’ strategy will

be essential tools for planning and delivering climate change adaptation and building resilience

into the city. Liverpool City Council has also collaborated with the University of Liverpool in

order to consider more precisely the likely scenarios (i.e. flood risk) to stem from climate change

and increased volatility in weather patterns. Over the past two years the city has developed

and commenced implementation of an integrated flood management plan, and authorised new

governance structures to review the effectiveness of this work in practice.

The Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has made a Low Carbon Economy one of its four key

priorities and resources new structures and posts to facilitate development around this. Other

work being undertaken around the city includes the University of Liverpool’s Stephenson

Institute which researches renewable energy, as well Liverpool Community college which has

been granted status as a national Low Carbon Skills Hub, providing bespoke training facilities for

students and local employers alike

There have also been notable successes across Liverpool which reflects the latest building

design requirements. Examples include sustainable urban drainage systems used in new

business parks, St Pauls Commercial Quarter Liverpool South Parkway, The Echo Arena and

Convention Centre, St.George’s Hall and the green roof and oil and grey water recycling at

Liverpool One.

Led by the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, in 2009 Liverpool launched a Green Business

Ambassador Programme and published Liverpool’s Little Green Book; a directory of local green


businesses and a business support guide for those businesses seeking to improve their

environmental performance. This is now supported by the ‘Little Green App’, which provides

similar functions using mobile phone technology. The directory is updated regularly; however

there has been a significant decline in the amount of hands on business support available.

However, there is now a significant gap in terms of business support, with key organisations

offering direct support such as Groundwork Merseyside, Envirolink no longer in place.

Liverpool can also point to a number of local community actions addressing climate change,

including;

l Project Dirt: an innovative social networking site that groups can use to raise awareness,

contact and learn from each other has over 70 local groups involved.

l Transition Towns: Liverpool’s branch of the global Transition Towns network, which

advocates local scale solutions to climate change mitigation.

l Merseyside Environmental Trust: An environmental advocacy group, aiming to increase

public awareness of environmental issues in Liverpool and to influence the public policy

process.

l Liverpool Echo Environmental Awards: this awards ceremony celebrates local successes

from both the public, private and community sector.

Traffic Light Score

Total Emissions

CO2 from domestic electricity

CO2 from domestic gas

CO2 from transport

Grams of CO2 per kWh used No Data

Details of targets achieved or not

Plans to meet/revise targets

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Section One: Local Contribution to Addressing Global Climate Change

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Data ConfidenceData relating to climate change and CO2 emissions was obtained from national level DECC

databases, whilst plans and strategies were principally outlined by Liverpool City Council. We

can report the data for climate change with a high degree of confidence.

CommentaryLiverpool’s performance on its climate change mitigation/carbon reduction commitments is good.

The City can demonstrate long term trends in reduction across all areas, and the evidence

suggests that it is well placed to meet its carbon reduction targets moving forward.

The areas where Liverpool performs less well are emissions emanating from domestic gas and

electricity. One of the reasons for this has been identified as the poor energy performance and

age of Liverpool’s housing stock resulting in higher levels of energy consumption during cold

periods, especially during severe winters.


Section Two: Local TransportThe DataThe proportion of public transport classed as low emissions is 22.57% of buses and 100% of

Merseyrail Electrics’ trains. Network Rail has recently signed a new 10 year deal with EDF

energy to supply low carbon electricity for the UK’s electrified rail network. This deal also

includes new electrification schemes such as the Liverpool Manchester and North West

Electrification. Based on current calculations, 98.9% of Liverpool's population lives within 300m

of an hourly or better bus service.

For journeys under 5km, private cars account for 41.5% and 46.8% of journeys in Liverpool and

Merseyside respectively, when combining figures for drivers and passengers. Whilst this is high,

this compares to both Nantes and Hamburg.

Liverpool has a total of 108.5km of cycle lanes in the city. This is split between 22.3km of on-

road advisory, 6.2km of on-road mandatory, 23.6km of bus lanes and 56km of off road (i.e.

routes through parks). This includes the 16km of loop-line, a disused railway designated as a

mixed use leisure facility, including cycling. For Liverpool, this means that each kilometre of

cycle lane is shared by 4292 residents. Or, alternatively, there is 23cm of cycle lane provision

per capita. The city compares poorly with the cities of Hamburg and Stockholm, who have 1m

and 0.99m of cycle lane per capita respectively. Compounding this, Hamburg has over 1500km

(88%) of mandatory cycle lanes, compared to Liverpool’s 11km (11%). This means that the best

performing European cities far outstrip Liverpool for cycle lane provision not only in terms of

quantity, but also quality.

Plans and StrategiesA low carbon economy is a central theme of the current Merseyside Local Transport Plan (LTP).

The aim of the LTP is to contribute to a City Region committed to a low carbon transport

network and mobility culture that positively contributes to a thriving economy and the health

and wellbeing of its citizens and where sustainable travel is the option of choice. The LTP

recognises that clean cities are prosperous cities and, in doing so, integrates wider housing,

health, environmental, education and other policies in the region and Nationally, supporting the

continuing regeneration and economic development of the Liverpool City Region. One of the six

priorities of the LTP is to provide and promote a clean, low emission transport system which is

resilient to changes in climate and availability of oil.

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Section Two: Local Transport

2http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/News-Releases/7288/Ten-year-deal-powers-Britain-s-biggest-rail-electrification-programme-in-a-generation

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In January 2012, the Department of Transport established the Local Sustainable Transport Fund

(LSTF), worth £560m. Partners in the Liverpool City Region have since been successful in

securing almost £25m of this funding for projects in the area. The fund aims to support local

economic growth whilst addressing the urgent challenges of climate change. Funding will be

used across the City Region to develop schemes to help individuals to travel to employment,

thus supporting Merseyside's continued economic regeneration. Schemes include provision for

increasing cycling, with £1.5m going towards a cycle hire scheme, which will see 1000 bikes

available for hire from 60 stations located across the city. The Linking Places Fund, will also be

accessed and used to help to fund further cycle improvements, including provision for a Lime

Street cycle hub and improved cycle parking at Liverpool South Parkway. A travel plan has been

developed to promote access to the station by sustainable transport - this will be expanded to

further stations on the Merseyrail network in the future.

Currently 22% of the bus fleet can be classed as low emission (Euro V and above or using

alternative fuels) and Merseytravel aim to increase this through:

l Supporting fleet operators in using alternative fuels and low emission technology in their

fleets to reduce carbon and improve air quality

l Setting minimum Euro engine standards for vehicles used on supported services and

Statutory Quality Partnerships.

l Merseytravel Bus Stations departure charges based on the environmental performance of

the vehicles.

To reduce emissions from vehicles, Freight and Taxi Partnerships have been established to

develop low emission options. An Electric Charging Infrastructure Strategy is also being

developed to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles by transport operators and individuals.

In recent years bus operators such as Arriva and Stagecoach have invested in new vehicles for

their bus fleets, thereby helping to improve the quality of the bus service in Merseyside.

A Green Bus Fund bid, submitted by Arriva was successful in securing £3.46m for 33 Volvo

hybrid vehicles, to operate on the cross-river services between Liverpool and Wirral. This builds

on the success of the previous round of funding, with 'Cumfy Bus' getting new hybrids for the

supported Liverpool city centre circular services, building on existing full electric and sustainable

bio-fuel services already in operation.


Merseytravel set minimum Euro engine standards for vehicles used on supported services,

Statutory Quality Partnerships (SQPS) and commercial operators using bus stations via a

departure charge systems. SQPS have been developed with the bus operators and other

partners for several key corridors in Merseyside. Merseytravel are also developing a new real

time information system for the bus network, and continue to improve ticketing via the Walrus

smartcard.

The delivery of these schemes will be supported by changes to the governance structures for

transport in the Liverpool City Region which, from 2013, will enable better co-ordination and

delivery of transport priorities across the region, in line with existing policy.

Traffic Light Score

Cycle Lanes

Population living 300m from a bus stop with an hourly or better service

Proportion of journeys under 5km made by car

Proportion of public transport classed as low emission


Reduction of overall demand

Reduction of individual motorised transport

Promotion of less environmentally damaging modes of transport

Data ConfidenceData for Transport can be reported with a high degree of confidence, reflecting detailed data

provided by Merseytravel and Liverpool City Council.

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Section Two: Local Transport

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CommentaryThe evidence emerging from Liverpool with regards to transport are mixed. The fully electrified

Merseyrail train network is excellent, a status which should be strengthened as forthcoming

strategies are realised. Equally, the connectivity of the city’s bus network is excellent.

Whilst progress is being made on the environmental efficiency of buses operating in Liverpool,

improvements are required to meet the standard set by other European cities.

However, the real weakness in this regard is cycling, where Liverpool fails to meet a good

European standard both in the quality and quantity of its cycle lane provision. It should be

noted that other European Green Capital winners began with, and improved from, a

comparatively low baseline and the proposed Cycle Hire scheme, alongside other initiatives

brought forward under the LTSF should help to improve Liverpool’s performance in this regard.


Section Three: Green Urban AreasIncorporating Sustainable Land UseThe DataThere are 507 areas of open space in the city, comprising some 3006.07 Ha, and equating to

27% of Liverpool’s total area. Of this, 636.02 Ha comprised 11 city parks, 234.92 Ha comprise

16 district parks and 164.14 Ha comprise of 56 neighbourhood parks. This equates to

30,060,000 meters squared of open space which, in turn, means that each of the 466,400

residents in the city has access to 64m2 of open space. This compares very favourably with

other European Capital winners, e.g. Hamburg (17m2) and Nantes (57m2).

Approximately 70% of the population live within 300m of public green urban areas of at least

2ha in size. By comparison, 80% of Copenhagen’s citizens, 89% of Hamburgers, and 100% of

Nantes’ and Vitoria-Gasteiz’s citizens live within 300m of a public green space of any size.

The population density of the city is approximately 35 inhabitants per hectare. If green

infrastructure figures are omitted, the population density is calculated as approximately 91

inhabitants per hectare. This compares somewhat favourably to Vitoria-Gasteiz (101.51 in/ha)

and is far outstripped by Copenhagen (847.2 in/ha).

Taking the EU’s definition of soil sealing as ‘permanent covering with impermeable layers of

buildings, asphalt roads, parking lots and so on’ , there is approximately 110m2 of sealed soil

per capita in the city. This compares with 117m2 per capita for Vitoria-Gasteiz and 150m2 per

capita in Copenhagen.

Plans and StrategiesLiverpool’s Core Strategy provides for the protection and enhancement of green infrastructure in

relation to new development. This includes encouraging developments which incorporate

sustainable features such as green roofing, sustainable urban drainage systems and opening of

culverted water courses. Further to this, development is supported which encourages citizens

to use local parks and open spaces, minimising travel usage. New development is also

encouraged to include ‘green routes’ which encourage and facilitate sustainable travel and

improve the quality of Liverpool’s existing green infrastructure. With development being

concentrated on the urban cores, the Core Strategy also encourages the development of green

infrastructure in the city centre, including use of green roofing and tree/shrub planting.

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Section Three: Green Urban Areas Incorporating Sustainable Land Use

3 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/soil/sealing.htm

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Liverpool also has several high profile examples of where high quality urban design and

Green/Blue Infrastructure have interfaced. This includes;

l Liverpool One: the latest major addition to the shopping area of the city centre was

opened in 2008, consisting of 1.6million sq ft of retail space and 230,000 sq ft of

restaurants, cafes and bars. Including a Green Flag standard park (built on the site of

Chevasse Park) which is also, in essence a green roof – one of the largest of its kind.

Going further, all the water features used in the area are driven by grey water, reused

from within Liverpool One.

l Stonebridge and Estuary Business Parks: Located in the Northern and Southern extremes

of the city respectively, Stonebridge and Estuary business parks have incorporated

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDs). In particular Stonebridge has utilised reed

beds, which have created flood storage mechanisms as well as increasing biodiversity and

an improving water quality in the nearby River Alt.

Development plans that are in place will improve Liverpool’s green infrastructure, bringing it

further into the heart of Liverpool’s economic strategy. This includes the Greenprint for Growth,

which seeks to develop the North of the city into an investment ready space for future

development. In doing so it will;

l Create the Greenest City Park in the UK within 10 years

l Create new jobs and training opportunities

l Deliver 10 large projects and 1001 small projects

l Plant 10 new trees for each resident every 10 years

The recently published Strategic Regeneration Framework which sets out the vision for

redevelopment of Liverpool city centre for the next 15 years also includes provisions for the

improvement of green infrastructure through the opening up of public realm areas throughout

the city, creating more ease of movement and improving perceptions of the city centre.


Traffic Light Score

Proportion of areas within the inner city/on city boundaries

The distribution across the city

Size of areas

Fragmentation

Soil sealing

Proportion of population living 300m from green space

Percentage of green areas/water areas/industrial economic areas.

Residential areas/brownfields

New developments (proportion of brownfield sites) No Data

population density in built up areas

Population density for new developments No Data

Minimising the total area of derelict and contaminated land No Data

increasing or sustaining population density while protecting green areas

renovating urban land and renewing urban design

Limiting urban sprawl through cooperation with

neighbouring municipalities No Data

Integrating current and future changes such as economic growth

People’s quality of life and recreation

Additional ecosystem services No Data

Rehabilitation of brownfield sites No Data

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Section Three: Green Urban Areas Incorporating Sustainable Land Use

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Data ConfidenceData has been provided by Mersey Forest, MEAS and Liverpool City Council. There is data

outstanding, principally relating to urban development/densities, for which Liverpool City Council

is the principal data holder.

CommentaryThe quality and quantity of Liverpool’s green space is one of its real strengths. Liverpool is

highly competitive at a European level with regards to the amount of green space available to

its citizens, albeit with some improvement required in how this space is distributed in the north

of the city.

Equally there are excellent examples of where the urban and environmental landscapes have

interfaced – e.g. Liverpool One and the Estuary Business Park. The GreenPrint for Growth, if

realised, also presents an excellent opportunity for Liverpool to continue to lead in this regard,

whilst simultaneously addressing the issues of green space distribution.

Despite this, until data gaps regarding how Liverpool is reducing and reusing its areas of

brownfield land are available, a full commentary on Liverpool’s performance in this regard is not

possible.


Section Four: BiodiversityThe DataBiodiversity Action Plans (BAP) set targets for the maintenance, restoration and expansion of

locally occurring UK Priority Habitats, including through the delivery of green infrastructure (GI)

projects. Liverpool has clearly identified habitat and species priorities (2008) which have now

been integrated into the Ecological Framework.

The Liverpool City Region falls into two Biodiversity Action Plan areas:

l North Merseyside (Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens)

l Cheshire (Wirral, Halton and Warrington)

Within this, key habitat priorities include:

l Increasing Lowland deciduous woodland from 166ha prior to the Mersey Forest

commencement in the early 1990s. Protection and management of three Ancient Semi-

Natural Woodlands and protection of woodlands through Local Nature Reserves or Local

Wildlife Site designations;

l Protection and management of Lowland Wood-Pasture and Parkland e.g. Croxteth and

Calderstones Parks, Sefton Park, Speke Hall, Calderstones Park veteran trees (Allerton

Oak);

l Urban Trees, Liverpool has an estimated 12,300 park and street trees and 2550 privately-

owned trees are covered by Tree Preservation Orders

The Liverpool City Region Green Infrastructure partnership has worked over the last 3 years to

develop a framework for the City Region. In doing so they have recorded that:

l 80% of the area is Green or Blue Infrastructure;

l 16,000 businesses in GI sector in the City Region;

l £700m/yr GVA for the economy;

l GI provides some fundamental services for our economy and way of life – worth up to

£100bn;

l The three largest GI components are agricultural land (21%), private domestic gardens

(12%) and coastal habitats (12%);

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Section Four: Biodiversity

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l The GI Framework (2013) identifies grassland, heath land, moorland or scrub as a major GI

typology in the City Region. This is predominantly grassland and is likely to include some

agriculture land; and

l Woodland cover at 5.27% is below the national average (8.4%), however there has been

significant woodland cover increase over the past fifteen years with over 5 million new

trees planted.

Plans and StrategiesThe institutional framework and environmental delivery priorities are changing within Liverpool

and the LCR following formal Government recognition of the Local Nature Partnership (LNP) of

which Liverpool is a key member. Furthermore both the Ecological and GI Frameworks are in

early implementation phases. This provides the City Region with a very strong framework for co-

ordinated action for biodiversity.

The LNP has identified a new set of priorities for action which will ensure that outputs will be

ecologically coherent. The LNP is developing guiding principles to further integrate natural

environment priorities into strategic planning and decision taking. Plans for the future include:

l Implementation of both Ecological Framework and GI Framework;

l Co-ordinated programme of priority projects to benefit from and influence the 2014-2020

European Funding Programme for Growth and Rural Development;

l Wider engagement and communications;

l Co-ordinated programme of action of green spaces including public parks;

l Support to the City Region Deal including River Mersey Task Force and Regulatory Pilot

including improvements to baseline monitoring of European Sites and supporting habitats.

The emerging LCR Ecological Framework is being used as part of the Local Plan evidence base

by all six districts within the City Region. Based on Lawton principles of ecosystem services and

connectivity, the Ecological Framework it is being developed to enable employment and housing

needs of the City Region to be met whilst also delivering greater resilience and connectivity

between habitats and designated sites. The next stages of its development will include more

detailed mapping of opportunities for biodiversity enhancement and improvement habitat

management. Implementation will also ensure that Liverpool meets is duties under the Natural

Environment White Paper 2010 and National Planning Policy Framework.


Traffic Light Score

Details of the most recent action plan



Data ConfidenceData for biodiversity is reported with a high degree of confidence, reflecting the submissions

made by MEAS, Mersey Forest and Liverpool City Council.

CommentaryLiverpool and the wider City Region’s performance with regards to biodiversity is excellent and

should be considered as a central pillar of the city’s environmental credentials. However, care

must be taken that progress is maintained moving forward.

25

Section Four: Biodiversity

26

Section Five: Quality of Local Ambient AirThe DataIn the period 2007 and 2012 Liverpool City Council has had four Air Quality monitoring stations

in operation. They are located as follows:

l Islington: Particulate Matter <10 micron (PM10), Ozone, Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

l Old Haymarket : Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

l Queens Drive Walton: Particulate Matter <10 micron (PM10), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

l Speke: PM10, PM2.5, Ozone, Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2).

The number of days in which the EU limit values for PM10 was exceeded was low. Although no

clear trend emerges from any of the stations, the numbers are low and bear comparison with

other similar European Green Capital winners such as Hamburg.

Again, the overall number of days in which the EU limits for ozone were exceeded appears to be

low, with the Islington station reporting 0 days exceeded in 2010. However, while Liverpool

does compare favourably with past European Green Capital winners, the figures compare on the

higher side.

The data for all the sites indicates no real trend in the concentration of NO2, however

comparison with other European Green Capital Winners indicates that the numbers are slightly

higher for Liverpool.

Data provided by the city’s sole PM2.5 station indicates that levels have remained stable since

monitoring began in 2009.

Plans and StrategiesLiverpool City Council, in keeping with other Local Authorities in England & Wales, has

undertaken reviews and assessments of air quality across the city since 1999.

In 2003 two Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) were declared by Liverpool City Council

(LCC):

l AQMA1 – Liverpool City Centre

l AQMA2 – Liverpool M62 / Rocket Junction


The selections were based on a failure within these two areas in meeting the annual average

nitrogen dioxide (NO2) objective of 40μg mP-3 and subsequent forecasts of public exposure

toNO2.

The actions that were included in the Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) were based on consultation

between LCC and a variety of key stakeholders inside and outside of the Council including

members of the public. The final version of the AQAP was submitted to, and approved by Defra,

in 2005. Given the impact of transport on local air quality the AQAP was fully integrated into

the Local Transport Plan.

A range of twenty three measures to reduce pollution concentrations was developed, contained

in the following six packages:

l Reduction of vehicle emissions;

l Traffic management;

l Alternative transport modes;

l Development planning;

l Dissemination of information; and

l Working with and lobbying other agencies and central government.

Key actions identified in the Action Plan were intended to reduce traffic related emissions by

15% in the City Centre and to reduce traffic related emissions by almost 10% at specified

locations within the previously designated AQMAs.

Actions in the AQAP included the following:

l Bus Quality improvements

l Bus Lane enforcement

l Bus Routing/Scheduling improvements

l Park and Ride Schemes

l Better Freight Management

l Walking & Cycling initiatives

l Travel Plans implementation

l City Centre Management System (CCMS)

l Increased use of intelligent transport systems (SCOOT)

l Engine idling reductions

l Increased Air Quality considerations through Planned Development

27

Section Five: Quality of Local Ambient Air

28

In 2008, referencing the need for improvement across the city, Liverpool City Council declared a

city-wide AQAP.

Information to the general public has been made available via the Liverpool City Council website

with additional links being included within the AQAP. The City Council web pages on air quality

show air quality data in real time at four monitoring locations within the city. In addition to this

links to external air quality information through the UK Government have also been made

available

Traffic Light Score

PM10

Ozone

NO2, PM10, PM2.5

Existence and Implementation of an Air Quality Management Plan

Local measures taken and their effect

Information provided to the public


Data ConfidenceData for Air Quality is reported with a high degree of confidence, owing to complete figures

being provided by Liverpool City Council Officers.

CommentaryPoor air quality in Liverpool emanates from a number of sources, including domestic and

industrial uses. However the majority of the air pollution, especially relating to NO2 is

associated with transport sources in particular; buses, heavy goods vehicles and taxi fleet.

Efforts from across the city, including moves to improve the quality of the bus fleet will assist in

improving air quality levels, particularly in the city centre. However, more can be done to ensure

that rather that loosely comparing to other cities, Liverpool’s air quality begins to consistently

demonstrate high standards.


Section Six: Quality of the AcousticEnvironmentThe DataWhen considering noise generated by road traffic, 96.4% of Liverpool’s population are exposed

to day time noise values above 55 decibels (db), with 84.6% of the population being exposed to

noise levels above 50db at night. This makes Liverpool the worst performing of all the Core

Cities for day time noise levels, and only Manchester performs worse for night time levels.

Liverpool’s performance in terms of noise generated rail is average. The city has the 3rd highest

population (of the 7 core cities) exposed to 55-59 db and 50-55 db during the day and night

respectively, before falling to 5th once 65 db are reached for daytime figures and 55-60 db for

night-time figures.

Liverpool’s industrial noise level performance is good. While its ranking (consistently 4th

amongst core cities for both day and night time figures) indicates only average performance, the

figures suggest that it is in line with the better performing cities.

Plans and StrategiesAt present, there is no statutory requirement for local authorities to produce, or maintain, an

overall strategy for the reduction of, and prevention of exposure to, heightened noise levels.

Nonetheless, Liverpool City Council has taken a lead in the improving the quality of their

acoustic environment. One such example is the City Council’s ‘Night Noise Team’ which has

been in place since 2007. They were awarded thek Noise Abatement Society’s prestigious John

Connell Award for innovation. Much of the team’s work focuses on two wards: Riverside and

City Centre. Although representing only 6% of the city’s total wards, in 2011 they accounted for

26% of all noise related complaints in the city, owing in large part to the high concentration of

bars/nightclubs and being the principal site of Liverpool’s night-time economy.

The City Council has appointed a ‘City Centre Licensed Premises Coordinator” to act as a focal

point between licensees, their local community and its representative groups, and internal

partners such as Environmental Street Nuisance, Planning, Licensing and the City Centre

Management team. This included proactively visiting 203 of the City’s 260 bars. As a result of

this work the Night Noise Team has reported both a reduction in burden coupled with a marked

decrease in the number of recorded noise incidents. By way of comparison, in the period June

’10-’11 there were 151 recorded incidents, which in the period June ’11-’12 there were 74

incidents representing a 51% drop.

29

Section Six: Quality of the Acoustic Environment

30

Traffic Light Score

Population exposed to >55db (Day)

Population exposed to >45db (Night)



Data ConfidenceThe non-statutory nature of noise measurement and reduction in the UK makes it difficult to

report data with the same high degree of confidence as other sections. However, data is

available for all areas thanks to work undertaken by Defra.

CommentaryThe fact that the measurement of noise pollution measurement is non-statutory makes it

difficult to make a meaningful assessment of Liverpool’s performance particularly since, given

the backdrop of cuts noise is not seen as a high priority.

Nonetheless, Liverpool appears to perform well against UK competitor city rivals, with the

exception of road transport, where the city sits at the lower end of the scale. Liverpool City

Council has also been presented with awards for the work of its Night Noise team, focusing on

the city centre, indicating that despite not being a high priority, the city has some good stories

to tell.


Section Seven: Waste Production andManagementThe DataThe data shows a sustained decline in household waste arisings across the city region from a

total of 821,785 tonnes in 2007/08 to 713,710 in 2011/12. This trend is reflected in

Liverpool’s collected waste arisings which have dropped from 191,202 to 183,807 tonnes over

the same period, despite a spike in arisings in 2010/11.

There has been a steady increase in recycling performance across the city region from 29% in

2007/8 to 37% in 2011/12, but with a recent slower rate of increase. This is reflected in

Liverpool’s performance which has increased from 22% to 26% through this period, but with a

levelling off of performance over the last 4 years. However, Liverpool’s performance has

improved significantly over the last 10 years, with recycling performance as low as 1.9% in

2002/3.

Landfilling of household waste has steadily declined across the city region from 584,170 tonnes

in 2007/8 to 448,754 in 2011/12. As part of this trend, Liverpool’s collected household waste

sent to landfill has also reduced from 148,911 to 135,657 tonnes over the same period.

Plans and StrategiesIn 2012, MRWA and the 5 Waste Collection Authorities (WCAs) in Merseyside, including

Liverpool, agreed a new Joint Recycling and Waste Management Strategy (JRWMS). Halton have a

separate but aligned strategy. The new JRWMS, called ‘Resources Merseyside’, sets high level

aims and objectives for moving waste management up the waste hierarchy with a much greater

focus on waste prevention and towards greater resource efficiency, taking carbon reduction,

economic growth and wider sustainability issues into account.

Key resource management driven aims include:

l Reducing the carbon impacts of waste management

l Maximise sustainable economic activity associated with waste management

l Reduce the ecological footprint of waste management activities

l Promote the use of renewable energy, and

l Promote resource efficiency.

31

Section Seven: Waste Production and Management

32

The 2005 Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy (JMWMS) for Merseyside was developed

in a context of year on year increases in waste arisings and set targets of reducing waste

growth to 2% per annum by 2010 and 0% by 2020. The 2008 update of the Strategy set a

more challenging 2010 target of 0.4% growth. However, actual performance figures for

Liverpool, Merseyside and the City Region have all shown actual reductions in waste arisings

over the last 5 years and through the target year, rather than just a reduction in the rate of

growth. Similar reductions in arisings can be observed in other waste streams (Commercial &

Industrial, Construction & Demolition) in the City Region.

Central Government introduced statutory recycling performance standards for 3 separate years

(2003/4, 05/06 and 07/08) in order to push recycling performance upwards as part of the UK

response to the challenge of achieving the requirements of the EU Landfill Directive. The

figures show that both Liverpool and the wider sub-region struggled initially to meet the targets

with Liverpool starting from a very low recycling performance of 4% in 2003/4. The targets

stimulated the progressive improvement of recycling services and investment in larger scale

infrastructure, in particular Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs). The first Merseyside MRF came

on-stream in time to support achievement of the 2007/8 target at both Liverpool and City

Region levels. Over the 5 year statutory target period Liverpool’s recycling performance

improved by over 5 times.

The 2008 Joint Merseyside Waste Management Strategy (JMWMS) included a 2010 target to

reduce landfilling to 52% of Merseyside waste arisings. This was a challenging target

considering the fact that that recycling rates were still below 30%. Although landfilling rates

were continuing to decline, the target was missed with just over 60% of waste still being sent

to landfill. Local Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA) targets for landfilling

reduced to 60% in 2011/12 taking into account the lack of energy recovery capacity for residual

waste diversion from landfill. Landfilling rates reduced to 61% that year. MRWA is currently

procuring a Resource Recovery Contract which should lead to significant diversion from landfill

post 2015.

The JRWMS includes new and revised targets including:

l Reduce waste arisings by 8% by 2030

l Achieve a 50% recycling rate by 2020

l Reduce landfill to 10% of waste arisings by 2020 and 2% by 2030

l Demonstrate continuous improvement in the reduction of carbon emissions from the

municipal waste service and review every 5 years

l Demonstrate continuous improvement in reducing the ecological footprint of the

municipal waste service.


Traffic Light Score

Waste per capita

Total/biodegradable sent to landfill

% Recycled

Reduction of waste produced

amount of waste sent to landfills

Measures which have promoted awareness raising

Plans to meet/revise

Data ConfidenceData for Waste Production and Management is reported with a high degree of confidence,

reflecting the submissions made by Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority.

CommentaryLiverpool’s current recycling rate is one of the main areas in which the city is currently

underperforming. Sitting last amongst competitor cities, and beaten by European Green Capital

Winners at the time of their bid, Liverpool has some distance left to travel in this regard.

Moving forward, MRWA have ambitions places to improve performance. This indicates that not

only will waste prevention and recycling rates improve, but also land-filling will substantially

decrease. The onus is now on Liverpool and the other members of the Merseyside and Halton

Waste Partnership to realise this strategy and continue to improve on one of the city's

historically weaker areas of performance within the context of improvements in performance

across the wider city region.

33

Section Seven: Waste Production and Management

34

Section Eight: Water ConsumptionThe DataIn their 2009 Water Resources Management Plan, United Utilities estimate that 621,000 homes,

or 21% of the 2.94million households they serve in the North West, will be subject to domestic

metering. This is expected to rise to 60% by 2035 by metering all new households (estimated

to be 800,000 across the North West and the addition of over 700,000 households becoming

part of the free metering scheme. These figures are poor given that Hamburg, Vitoria and

Nantes have all have almost 100% of urban water supply subject to metering.

United Utilities estimate that around 87% of non-domestic properties currently have water

metering in place.

In 2006 United Utilities estimated that the water consumption per capita per day was 139

litres. This was estimated to fall to 133 litres by 2014 and to 129 litres by 2035.

This is higher than the 110 litres in Hamburg, but significantly lower than Vitoria’s 248 litres

(albeit for a warmer climate).

The water leakage for the Integrated Water Resource Management Zone (of which Liverpool is a

part, along with Manchester and much of the urbanised North West) was subject to 442.4 Ml/d

of leakage in 2006/07, which was expected to drop slightly to 441.9 Ml/d. Between 1992/93

and 2007/08 United Utilities has reduced water leakage by over half, from 960Ml/d to 462 Ml/d

respectively. Much of this work has been to achieve targets set out by OFWAT, the UK water

industry regulator.

Water can be abstracted directly from surface and ground water sources for public and industrial

use. A return to more sustainable abstractions is being managed by the Environment Agency,

who hold the responsible for issuing licences for the abstracting of water (>20m3/day). There

are currently 21 licensed abstractions within Liverpool, all bar one are from the underlying

groundwater resource.

In terms of water quality, there are 47 waterbodies classified under the Water Framework

Directive in Liverpool City Region, including:

l 42 rivers and artificial waterbodies;

l One coastal waterbody (the Mersey Mouth);

l Four transitional waterbodies (Mersey, Alt, Ribble and Dee)

l 78% of waterbodies are classed as moderate for water quality, 11% poor, 9% good and

2% bad.


75% of waterbodies in Liverpool City Region are classed as heavily modified or artificial. (Under

WFD, waterbodies designated as heavily modified or artificial ‘achieve good ecological ‘potential’

rather than ‘status’).

Plans and StrategiesThe first North West River Basin Management Plan set out a number of measures to be

completed by 2015. Some of these measures are North West and nationwide ‘generic’ measures

but others are water body specific. There are 237 measures that apply to water bodies in LCR

and 137 have been completed to date, with the remaining to be completed over the next two

years. A number of projects have also been undertaken, including the ‘’Merseyside Diffuse

Pollution Project’, which has focused on tackling pollution from towns, cities and transport in 12

WFD river sub-catchments.

Many of the water quality issues in Liverpool City Region are currently being identified as part

of the planning process for the next river Basin Plan. Those identified to-date can be attributed

to pollution from urban areas and transport, physical modifications and pollution from waste

water. These issues are likely to be exacerbated as the population of LCR is expected to grow

by around 20,500 people and number of households expected to increase by approximately

41,000 by 2027.

The Lower Mersey & Alt Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy sets out how the

Environment Agency will manage water resource and provides information on water availability

for further abstraction. The strategy reflects that groundwater levels within the Lower Mersey

catchment have shown signs of recovery over the last twenty years. However, the historic

saline intrusion issues close to the Mersey Estuary are still a concern, particularly in light of the

Water Framework Directive that requires a programme of measures to reverse trends of

increasing salinity. Therefore, there is a strong presumption against any new consumptive

abstraction close to the estuary that may exacerbate existing problems.

35

Section Eight: Water Consumption

36

Traffic Light Score

Urban Water supply subject to metering

Water consumption per capita

Water loss in pipelines

Compliance with EU water framework directive

Leak management

Network Rehabilitation

Non-domestic Metering

Byelaw implementation in relation to efficiency in water use No Data

Efforts to use the tariff system to improve water supply

Awareness raising campaigns


Data ConfidenceWith much of the data taken from plans produced by United Utilities, but relating only to the

North West, data can only be reported with a limited degree of confidence. This can be

strengthened by deepening the involvement of United Utilities in the partnership process

moving forward.

CommentaryWater consumption remains a quirk of the nature of governance in the UK. With minimal city-

level control, there is a limit to the amount that Liverpool City Council can do in this regard.

Broadly, Liverpool (as part of the North West Catchment area) performs well on water

consumption. However, the level of water metering is poor. Even if United Utilities’ strategy for

water metering is realised (leaving the city with 60% metering by 2040), Liverpool will still

remain 40% behind European cities which often have 100% metering coverage.

A rise in groundwater levels has caused problems in some parts of the City, with the underground

rail system within Central Liverpool now requiring active dewatering of groundwater undertaken

by Network Rail to ensure the rail network is not adversely affected by rising groundwater. This

risk will continue to be monitored and it will be important to strike a balance between saline

intrusion and the need to protect the public from the risk of groundwater flooding.


Section Nine: Waste Water ManagementThe Data14% of properties in Liverpool City Region are at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or surface

water. The main threat comes from surface water flooding, with 12% of properties in the City

Region at risk of flooding in a 1 in 200 year scenario. Liverpool and Sefton have the most

number of properties at risk of surface water flooding.

There are over 4,000 properties at risk of flooding from rivers and the sea in Liverpool, and a

further 11,500 at risk in the wider City Region. The main sources of river flooding include:

l Sankey Brook, affecting St Helens and Rainford;

l Netherley Brook, affecting areas in Knowsley and Halton;

l River Birket and Fender, affecting Birkenhead and Wallasey;

l Ditton Brook, affecting Widnes and Prescot.

There are a total of waste four water treatment works (WWTWs) located in the Liverpool area.

This includes the Sandon Dock site, which is the largest in the area with a Dry Weather Flow

(DWF) of 234 Ml/d. All four of the sites offer a full biological treatment, before discharging into

water courses feeding into the Mersey Estuary. The same four WWTWs also provide various

levels of sludge processing and treatment, with the majority being recycled to land upon

completion of the treatment process. Across the City Region, United Utilities also extract

energy from their WWTWs. Most notably, this includes 13.5gw from the Sandon Dock site in

2012/13.

Liverpool’s record on industrial pollution in the last ten years is good (see figure 9.X). There has

not been a pollution incident recorded since 2010 and, of the 24 incidents recorded since 2001

only 2 incidents were classed as category 1 (Major impact) which, with the exception of

Manchester made it the best performing Core City. The majority of Liverpool’s ‘significant’

pollution incidents were land based, while 14 and 16 incidents were found to have had no

impact on air and water respectively. Besides Manchester, Liverpool is the best performing Core

City in terms of overall pollution incidents, with only a tenth of the number of incidents reported

by Leeds and a fifth of those reported by Sheffield respectively (the two cities with the highest

pollution incidents).

Section Nine: Waste Water Management

37

38

Improvements in the quality of water treatment and waste water infrastructure also have a

positive impact on bathing waters designated under the Bathing Waters Directive and Revised

Bathing Waters directive. Bathing waters have improved considerably over the last 20 years,

with no failures since 2005 (the wet weather experienced in 2005 impacted on results). Wet

weather in 2012 reduced the standards of four bathing waters in Liverpool City Region when

compared to 2011, but overall the trend is positive.

Plans and StrategiesThe Environment Agency reports to OFWAT on the environmental performance of the water

industry. The only non-compliance with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD)

was at Sandon Dock, otherwise known as Liverpool Waste Water Treatment Works. This works is

currently undergoing a £200m extension which will allow treatment of 11,000 litres of waste

water per second, improving compliance with UWWTD and Environmental Permitting Regulations

(EPR). The outfall pipe will also be moved, allowing greater dilution and compliance with the

Habitats Directive.

Improvements to treatment are usually suggested as part of United Utilities Asset Management

Plan (AMP). There are 33 AMP5 improvements due to be delivered by United Utilities by 2015,

although schemes can be moved onto the next AMP phase.

Liverpool City Region is covered by two Catchment Flood Management Plans. These cover

relatively large areas, to reflect the catchment nature of water management, and set out policies

for managing flood risk from rivers and the sea. In broad terms, the policies in the plans reflect

that flood risk in the City region is already managed where needed, but some areas along the

coast may need further action taken to ensure future protection.

Liverpool, together with Sefton, has been identified as part of a significant flood risk area under

the Flood Risk Regulations; this means there are more than 30,000 properties at risk in a

contiguous. Under the aforementioned legislation the authorities will produce flood hazard

maps in 2013 and Flood Risk Management plans in 2015. Both areas have also produced

Surface Water Management Plans and are also undertaking a number of studies and schemes

with partners to alleviate flood risk from surface water.


In 2011, Lord Heseltine and Sir Terry Leahy published their report ‘Rebalancing Liverpool: Policy

or Slogan’. Commissioned by the LEP, the report focused on the opportunities for growth in the

city region over the next two decades. The report praised the progress of the clean-up work

carried out on the river, providing the basis for a potential economic resurgence. However, it

noted that the EU requires Member States to aim to bring all inland and coastal water to ‘Good

Ecological Status’ by 2015 and that only 27% of water bodies in England and Wales currently

achieve this - and the Mersey is not one of them. To remedy this, the Heseltine report proposes

that all concerned aim to make the river Mersey the world’s cleanest and most ecologically

diverse river in an urban setting by 2045.

In early 2013, ENWORKS began developing an ESTA project aimed at developing further

understanding of the water technology research, innovation and industrial capacity across

Liverpool City Region. As this continues, this will identify improvements in performance, as well

as suggesting appropriate funding streams and projects to realise them.

Traffic Light Score

Access to Service No Data

Flood Occurrences and Management

Economic Sustainability No Data

Infrastructures (Treatment Capacity, Treatment Level)

Environmental Sustainability (energy efficiency, sludge treatment)

Integration into water management in general closing the cycle No Data



Data ConfidenceAlthough data has been provided by the Environment Agency and United Utilities, there are still

some outstanding data gaps, particularly relating to the waste water treatment provision. Thus,

while the data we have can be reported with high confidence, there are gaps which, at present,

make it difficult to present a complete picture.

39

Section Nine: Waste Water Management

40

CommentaryLiverpool and the wider Mersey Catchment area perform well on incidents of flooding and

pollution. The aim should be to continue this progress.

However, the real jewel in the crown of Liverpool’s environmental credentials lies in the River

Mersey and its clean up. Once heavily polluted and unsuitable for most wildlife, the river is now

home to numerous species and supports a host of habitats. This effort, over 25 years, to clean

up the river should form one of Liverpool’s main stories in how to deal with an industrial past in

the best possible way. Indeed, in this regard Liverpool can truly stand as a global exemplar.

Liverpool should also note the Heseltine-Leahy report, which recommends that the City continue

to support work to clean up the river in order to meet even higher EU standards, thus

strengthening the case of the Mersey as an exemplar for the UK and abroad. A task force has

been set up to take this forward and report to Government on progress.


Section Ten: Eco-Innovation and SustainableEmploymentThe DataThere are currently 400 businesses in the Energy & Environmental Technologies sector,

employing 8700 people and worth £1bn annually to the Liverpool City Region (LCR) economy.

In 2005, the city’s energy use was 10,300GWh of which 19GWh came from renewable or waste

resources. Since April 2010, a total of 1.92MW of renewable energy generation has been

installed in 570 separate installations and using a variety of technologies. These are in addition

to larger-scale installations such as the 11MW onshore wind farm in the city docklands (with

plans to install a further 19MW) and eight existing CHP plants, the largest of which generates

10MWe of electricity and 37MWth of process steam.

In 2012 Liverpool Community College and the Mersey Maritime Group formed a partnership with

Peel Ports Mersey (the Liverpool port authority) to establish a new Low Carbon/Superport

University Technical College delivering technical education to 14-19 year olds. Liverpool

Community College is the low carbon skills hub for the north-west region and has established an

Environmental and Sustainable Centre of Excellence. The City of Liverpool works in partnership

with the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce to encourage business leaders to act as ‘Green

Champions’. The Enworks program has supported more than 2,000 local businesses introduce

environmental technologies and actions which have helped to create or safeguard 600 jobs and

more than £27m of sales in assisted businesses. Across the region it has provided training and

skills development to more than 3,600 people in ways that help support sustainable

employment.

There are 133,130 vehicles registered in Liverpool of which 0.36% are either electric, hybrid or

new fuel technology powered.

Liverpool has supported social businesses since the early 1990s, including the establishment of

the Liverpool School for Social Entrepreneurs which ran an ‘environmental entrepreneurs’

program in 2008. Leading social businesses include the FRC Group’s ‘Bulky Bob’s’ that collects,

reuses and recycles bulky household waste while providing employment and training

opportunities for people from long term unemployment. In 2011 Bulky Bob’s diverted 2500

tonnes of waste from landfill. The Elixir Group recycles uPvc from the building trade while

employing and training ex-offenders and substance abusers, and in 2010 recycled 6,000 tonnes

of waste.

41

Section Ten: Eco-Innovation and Sustainable Employment

42

Plans and StrategiesThe primary Strategy for Low Carbon economic developlement is the LEP Low Carbon Economy

Action Plan. The Plan unites public and private partners and the city’s knowledge base around

innovation-and jobs-based growth. Targets for growth include:

l Offshore and Onshore Wind – Liverpool is home to a UK-designated Centre for Offshore

Renewable Energy (with 13.6MW already installed onshore) and base for Irish Sea

windfarms with a generating capacity of 4,200MW and potential to create 3,000 jobs.

l Micro-Generation – Liverpool has ambitious plans for the creation of 4,070 jobs through

energy-from waste, district heating networks and other micro-generation projects,

supported by partnership agreements with educational institutions and private sector-led

consortia and pathfinder businesses. There have already been 1,200 solar pv

installations (for instance) with a generating capacity of 4MW.

The broad range of identified activity, the adjoining timescales and costs is outlined in the

table below:

Activities Estimated Estimated Economicdelivery date cost (if known) benefits to 2015

Round 2 and Round 3 Irish Sea offshore wind projects 2012-2026 £18bn 3,000 jobs(Dong/RWE/Centrica)

Significant scale roll-out of microgeneration technologies 2012 £100m 1,480 jobs(PV/wind)

Port based biomass power stations and Energy from 2018 £600m 940 jobsWaste plants

Develop nuclear supply chain activities and nuclear 2015 £50m 1,040 jobsinspection and audit

Mersey Estuary Tidal Energy Power plant 2020 £3bn £260 jobs

Smart Grid roll-out into communities and private 2015 £300m £1,200 jobswire networks

Develop a technically secure and commercially viable 2020 TBC 450 jobsheat network

Develop sustainable supply chain to support low 2020 TBC 700 jobsemissions vehicles production

Support the development of low carbon building stock 2020 £3bn 2,230 jobsthrough supply chain activity

Source: LEP Low Carbon Economy Action Plan


The ambition of the Low Carbon Economy Action Plan is to add 12,000 new jobs in the low

carbon sector by 2015, a rate of 900+ jobs per year. If achieved, this total would form forming

3.5% of Liverpool’s workforce.

North Liverpool will be the site of a pilot smart district and green community initiative

developing low carbon solutions to the social and environmental problems of the area. The

Strategic Regeneration Framework for North Liverpool has provided the foundation for this

ambition but will be re-worked to make North Liverpool a green business and technologies zone

in partnership with educational institutions. At the heart of North Liverpool will be a local

energy district providing locally-produced energy both for existing housing and premises and as

a stimulus to new development and regeneration through the offer of a secure energy future.

This will create energy-generating capacity of 12MWe to 20MWe under community ownership

and control.

In 2014 Liverpool will host an International Festival of Business, attracting investors and

businesses to the city. As part of this, ’Low Carbon’ will feature as one of the thematic strands

of the event – highlighting that the low carbon economy is central to Liverpool’s economic

future.

Liverpool can point to a wealth of social enterprises and community led schemes which are

pioneering work on self-sufficiency and energy performance. One such example is the L8 Living

Sustainably project. Beating 200 applicants to win £900,000 of lottery funding, the scheme

aims to make a deprived part of Liverpool more energy- and food-secure through a community-

led partnership which will also support housing retrofit programs in an area of extreme fuel

poverty.

43

Section Ten: Eco-Innovation and Sustainable Employment

44

Traffic Light Score

Material Security

Environmentally friendly technologies

Social innovation

Jobs created in green sectors

Share of energy from renewables

Hybrid or fully electric cars



Data ConfidenceData has been provided by Liverpool Vision, in the first instance, with further contributions from

the LEP and Liverpool City Council. However, significant gaps remain in this section, particularly

relating to Liverpool’s current performance and the existing strength of its low carbon economy.

This makes it difficult to present a full and accurate picture of how Liverpool’s work in this

regard is being achieved, or otherwise. This will need to be remedied.

CommentaryDirect comparisons with other cities on eco-innovation are difficult to make. This is made harder

by the fact that like most green economies, Liverpool’s is in its infancy. However, with the

designation of the Centre for Offshore Renewable Energy (CORE) (west coast), the University

Technical College for Super-Port and Wind, as well as the hosting of the 2014 international

Festival of Business amongst others, it appears that Liverpool is making steps in the right track

in this regard. However, moving forward, the city must seek to maintain this momentum and

realise all of its emerging strategies. If it does not, it risks being left behind on a major

economic growth area.

Beyond the economics, one of Liverpool’s strengths lies in the quality of its social enterprise and

innovation. The city can proudly point to a number of organisations, operating at a variety of

scales, which are undertaking excellent examples of eco-innovation both in conjunction with,

and independent of, the City. We should seek to celebrate these organisations and, wherever

possible, support them as much as possible.


Section Eleven: Environmental Managementof the Local AuthorityThe DataLiverpool City Council has been accredited with ISO14001 status since 2008. There are a

number of council-affiliated businesses in the city that have attained the relevant ISO14001

accreditations including:

l Civic Halls (St Georges Hall and Liverpool Town Hall)

l Print Facilities

l Liverpool Direct Limited

l Culture Liverpool

l ACC Liverpool

l Enterprise Liverpool

Liverpool City Council and many major institutions across the city region are part of DECC’s

mandatory CRC (Carbon Reduction Commitment) energy efficiency scheme. Of all those

participating, Liverpool City Council is ranked 109th nationally out of over 2100 institutions,

although Sefton Council and Wirral Council, amongst others, are ranked last. Liverpool is also

host to one of the institutions ranked first: National Museums Liverpool.

Liverpool City Council has ensured that its own activities are conducted in an environmentally

sound manner across several areas. This includes:

l A commitment to ensuring that the paper used by the council in its printing is 100%

recycled.

l Mandatory duplex (two-sided printing) as default on City Council Printers.

l Use of ‘Night-watchman’ computing systems to automatically shut down computers that

are idling, and thus minimise energy consumption.

l A move towards electronic invoicing.

l Unwanted office furniture is reused in the community for continued use.

l The city’s Christmas lights have been replaced with LED lighting to reduce energy

consumption

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Section Eleven: Environmental Management of the Local Authority

46

The City Council has installed smart meters throughout its estate, allowing access to 24/7 real-

time data, which in turn can help to reduce both waste and costs. This has resulted in £250k pa

in utility rebates. All council buildings and traffic lights are supplied with 100% green

electricity.

.

The City Council currently (January 2013) operates a fleet of 248 vehicles, of which 11 (4%) can

be classed as low carbon (i.e. Electric or Hybrid). Of the 248 vehicles on the fleet, 67 are cars.

33 of those cars (49%) are under 130g/km of CO2; the Government threshold for classifying low

carbon cars.

Plans and StrategiesSustainable procurement within Liverpool City Council is operated under two key principles. The

first is that all stated outcomes must be realistic, implementable and deliverable so as to

effectively marshal its resources. The second is the importance that stated outcomes must be

measurable, so that performance can be monitored, adjusted and expanded.

In this light, alongside existing strategies and delivery vehicles, there are proposals to instigate

new measures to increase the sustainable consumption and improve the environmental

management of the local authority. This includes;

l Stationary/office supply stock optimisation: A moratorium on stationary purchases in

order to utilise existing stock, especially in instances of excess supply. Once this period is

complete, stock can be re-ordered and managed in a way that reduces costs and reflects

sustainable usage.

l A move to expand the default ‘duplex’ printer setting to one of ‘two sides per page’. This

will result in 4 sides being printed per piece of paper.

l ‘Grey’ paper (i.e. recycled to a higher standard and without bleach) will become standard

across Council print facilities.

In 2009/10 the City Council was selected to participate in the DfT Low Carbon Vehicle

Procurement Programme which was created to provide grants to councils that could demonstrate

a commitment to reducing and managing carbon from vehicles. The council was invited to

participate due to its operation of electric/LPG cars and vans over a period of 10 years. The

council received a grant to meet the marginal costs of acquiring 11 ultra low carbon vehicles

over a 3-year period. The City Council has recently joined the Energy Saving Trust's (EST)

Motorvate scheme which will assist to compare initiatives with other councils and monitor CO2.

The corporate Driver Handbook relating to risks and driving guidance also contains a section on

clean driving to ensure that Council staff are aware of the impact that driving has on health and


the environment. In 2010 the council arranged for 250 staff to receive "Smarter Driver" training

through the EST, during which staff were briefed on how to improve driving in a more

environmental friendly manner.

There is also a growing commitment towards increasing the sustainability of procurement with

regards to services, not just products. To this end, the Council is attempting to create a local

supply directory whereby locally run businesses are able to apply for council tenders, increasing

local employment levels whilst simultaneously improving environmental performance.

Traffic Light Score

Municipal departments with ISO14001/EMAS

Sustainable procurement



Data ConfidenceLiverpool City Council is the principal data provider for this section. Progress in this regard can

be reported with a high degree of confidence. However, if taking a partnership view, input from

other Green City Partnership actors would add to the strength of data.

CommentaryThe aim of this section is to establish whether the bid city is ‘fit for purpose’ to host the

European Green Capital award by considering how it leads by example.

In short, the city has some way to go here. There are some excellent examples of work being

undertaken by the city, often by dedicated individuals. This includes the environmental

management of some of the city’s older buildings including the 300 year old town hall. Yet this

area, more than most, is a victim of budgetary tightening. Some good practice is being allowed

to lapse due to lack of financial support. In some cases, good practice continues without official

designations, but this is difficult to monitor and even harder to showcase.

If the City wants to show that it is serious about the ‘green agenda’ then it should seek to place

these issues at the heart of its thinking moving forward. This includes a commitment to

sustainable procurement and the management of its building stock.

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Section Eleven: Environmental Management of the Local Authority

Section Twelve: Energy PerformanceThe DataThe Data

Since 2005, energy consumption and CO2 emissions in Liverpool have reduced significantly.

Energy consumption has reduced 15% from 9,984 GWh (2005) to 8,613 GWh (2010), and a total

of 461 kt CO2e have been saved, at a rate of 92 kt CO2e per year. This equates to a 17%

reduction in CO2e by 2010 and indicates that carbon savings are being achieved at a higher rate

than the 42 kt CO2e per year Liverpool needs to make in order to meet the EU minimum target

by 2020.

At present, less than 1% of Liverpool’s total energy consumption is from renewable energy

sources, although this figure is not unusual for a UK city or city region. In the Liverpool City

Region and its hinterland (i.e., Warrington) there are 21 electricity generators accredited under

the Renewables Obligation. They have a total generating capacity of 2,127 MW. However, none

of this installed and operational capacity is located in Liverpool. Heat generating plants with a

capacity greater than 20MW output generally participate in the EU-ETS. For Liverpool some of

these sites include gas CHP plants, including E.On’s Port of Liverpool CHP (30 MWe) and Eli

Lilly’s CHP at Speke (10 MWe) and the University of Liverpool. In addition there are 589 micro-

renewable installations within Liverpool with a generating capacity totalling 2.1 MW. As of

December 2012, they all have feed-in Tariff accreditation. The vast majority of these

installations are domestic PV. In addition, the DECC CHP Focus database identifies two CHP

plant installed and operational in Liverpool with a generating capacity of 262 kWe.

Liverpool City Council currently operates 29 buildings which have a Department for Energy and

Climate Change (DECC) rating, which monitors the energy efficiency rating of the building. The

most energy efficient buildings are classed as ‘A’ on a descending scale. The Breakdown of

those buildings is as follows:

Rating A B C D E F G N/A

Number 0 3 6 8 6 2 2 2

The city council’s buildings are primarily clustered in the C/D/E categories, with 3 buildings

holding B status, including the 250 year old, Grade I listed St George’s Hall, one of Liverpool’s

heritage and architectural centrepieces. In the next round of appraisals, St George’s Hall is

anticipated to rise to an ‘A’ standard, making it one of Liverpool’s leading buildings in this regard.

48


Plans and StrategiesThe main mechanism for delivering the activity needed is the Liverpool SEAP. The SEAP defines

the activities and measures set up to achieve the 20% reduction target, together with time

frames and assigned responsibilities. The Liverpool SEAP builds on the Liverpool City Region

SEAP and sets out a wide programme of supply and demand side low carbon energy projects.

The City Region aims to meet, and where possible exceed the 20:20:20 target through a

strategic approach that implements local actions that will be delivered together with national

actions to decarbonise the UK energy system. The SEAP covers the domestic, transport,

commercial and industrial sectors and provides a policy and programme framework for the City.

The adoption of the Liverpool City Region SEAP together with initiatives such as Liverpool

Smart City and Liverpool’s Covenant of Mayors signatory status provide the city with the policy

basis and momentum to develop a cross cutting, long-term strategy that delivers economic

growth and carbon reduction. This also recognizes the importance that Liverpool creates a

position as an early adopter of green energy. In partnership with the City Region it will

develop an effective delivery model based on true public-private partnership working,

knowledge transfer, smart procurement, commercial awareness and sustainable outcomes.

Key City Region strategies that influence Liverpool include the Low Carbon Economy Action

Plan, Merseyside Local Transport Plan, the Joint Recycling and Waste Management Strategy for

Merseyside, the Liverpool City Region Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP), Low Carbon

Liverpool’s 'Building the Low Carbon Economy on Merseyside’, and the evolving Liverpool Smart

City strategy. Also, there are a wide range of public, private and third sector stakeholders

actively pursuing and delivering low carbon projects across the city, all with different drivers and

objectives that will ultimately deliver outputs that should result in a Low Carbon Economy being

achieved in Liverpool. But at the moment they are not coordinated under one common vision.

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Section Twelve: Energy Performance

50

Traffic Light Score

Energy Consumption and performance of Municipal buildings

Development and Goals for Renewable energy share

Strategy for renewable V non-renewable mix

Integration and performance of renewable energy technology

in municipal buildings and homes

development of compatible integrated systems

Increasing the energy performance of buildings

maximising the use of renewable energy in municipal buildings

and homes No Data

Measures to improve overall energy demand performance


Data ConfidenceData for Energy Performance has been principally provided by ARUP, with additional input from

Liverpool City Council. Although much of this data can be reported with a high degree of

confidence, there remain gaps relating to municipal housing that must be addressed in the near

future.

CommentaryMuch like eco-innovation, energy performance remains in its infancy. Thus, while the city has

some good strategies in place, the key is now that they be realised. Only by fulfilling the

potential outlined in strategies such as the SEAP, will the City remain a credible performer in a

future green economy.

This will also deliver massive cross-benefits into other sections, particularly the contribution to

climate change. Better energy performance will see Liverpool’s emissions reduce, but should

also focus on the quality of housing, delivering the city’s residents from fuel poverty at the

same time.


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