The GMGI Project Francis Comyn Rochdale MBC and GMGI

Steering Group

Outline of Presentation

• Why GMGI?• Progress to date• Next steps

Why GMGI?• Greater Manchester has an ambitious growth agenda

(GMS, LIP2 etc)• Sustainable growth requires robust and intelligent

environmental infrastructure planning, delivery and management

• GI is a key component of ‘growth support’ infrastructure along with waste, energy etc

• We need to understand what we need, where and why and how it will be delivered

• Robust evidence of need and effective targeting of environmental investment is more important than ever before

GI supporting growth• Not simply looking at the amount of green space• More interested in what it does – how can we make

green spaces and water work harder and smarter?• Need to understand the big picture and how GI works at

different scales• Need to evidence growth support roles and make it clear

that GI is properly embedded in , planning, design and investment decisions - move away from traditional marginalisation of green space investment

• It won’t happen overnight • All Commissions and City Region stakeholders have a

role to play

Greater Manchester – a quick GI portrait

• Framed by the South Pennines• Penetrated by river valleys closely related to main areas of

economic activity, population and regeneration but sometimes poor access standards or routes to and through them

• Strong links between many areas of growth and regeneration and existing or potential environmental stress e.g. flood risk, urban heat, pollution

• A complex mosaic of urban greenspaces and rural/peri-urban landscapes

• Some superb destination parks and landscapes• Excellent biodiversity but weak strategic corridors and networks in

and around urban areas• Areas of poor GI including DUN land • High correlation between poor GI and areas of greatest need e.g.

health, image, resilience• Traditional perceptions of Greater Manchester still negative for many

What do we want GI to do?• Resilient growth and communities – raise quality

and reduce risk• Quality of place – local distinctiveness and

meeting community needs and aspirations• Changing perceptions of Greater Manchester to

the outside world (and within)• Quality of life – health, well being, lifestyle

choice, opportunity• Support innovative, low carbon growth and world

class city aspirations

The GMGI Project• Led by Planning and Housing Commission• Conscious of the ongoing need to further engage and

inspire other Commissions/stakeholders in the planning and delivery process – ‘we’re all in this together – the Big GI Society’

• Developing a physical GI framework for GM• Identifying and visualising how GI works as a physical,

spatial approach at different spatial scales• Identifying cross cutting values and opportunities for GI

investment and delivery• Supporting more detailed GI planning and delivery at

different spatial scales – spatial planning, land regeneration, housing growth, flood risk management etc

The GMGI Project

• Steering Group – Chaired by Rochdale with core membership of AGMA Planning Team, Trafford MBC, Manchester CC, GMEU, Natural England, Red Rose Forest

• Linkages with other stakeholders e.g. EA and HCA

• Reports to POG and PHC

The GMGI Project

• 3 main stages to date:

Stage 1 – review of existing evidence (2007)

• Review of studies, data sets and available mapping

• Lots of ‘green space’ studies• Little functional evidence/analysis beyond

biodiversity and recreational value• Virtually no multi functionality evidence• Studies tended to be district based• Lack of coverage and consistency• But – some work on the horizon e.g. SFRAs

Stage 2 – Towards a GI Framework…..

• First GM wide overview – big picture delivered by large and small actions

• Looked at strategic multi functionality – climate change, flood risk, sense of place, biodiversity, recreation etc

• Began to link GI to growth and regeneration – strategic areas of GI ‘need’ beginning to emerge

• Identified broad functional relationships beyond district boundaries• Visualised a core GI framework• Case studies to identify strategic approaches at different spatial

scales• Provided strategic evidence to support spatial planning – Core

Strategies and early thoughts on GMSF• A report ‘Towards a Green Infrastructure Framework for Greater

Manchester’ launched in October 2008

We will make our cities sustainable by a few major projects and a thousand and one small changes

From Low S. Sustainable Cities

Stage 3 – Case studies and reviewing policy context

• Case studies at different scales – looking at ‘the white bits’

• Fast changing and uncertain policy and investment context – planning, organisational, delivery

• Identifying next steps

Sustainable Growth of the City-Region is a National Priority

Education Leisure and walking

Artworks Fishing and wildlife observation

New Growth Point ?? & new PPS on green infrastructure

Total Place – £370m Investment ??

NW River Basin Plan and Flood Defence Investments ??

Low Carbon Economic Area & new PPS on low-carbon planning

Atlantic Gateway ??

• We will make our cities sustainable by a few major projects and a thousand and one small changes

• From Low S. Sustainable Cities

Insert Green Infrastructure plan for the area(still to be drawn up)

Education Leisure and walking

Artworks Fishing and wildlife observation

Heywood SUN -

Oxford Road Corridor

PlaNYC – A Greener Greater New York

Action - Attract 900,000 new residents by 2030 to achieve an avoided 15.6 million metric tons of carbon emission

1. Create sustainable, affordable housing2. Provide parks near all New Yorkers3. Expand and improve mass transit4. Reclaim contaminated land5. Open our waterways for recreation6. Ensure a reliable water and energy supply7. Plant trees to create a healthier and more

beautiful public realm

New York –

transferable ideas

•

World city

•

Similar issues of growth, ambition, brand

•

Strong leadership and buy-in across Commissions

•

Regional / Destination Parks

•

Public Realm

•

Transforming Brownfields

& Waterways

•

Making existing spaces multi-purpose and accessible

•

Co-ordination across civic boundaries

•

Strong Delivery Plan

PlaNYC

Bushwick Inlet Park

PlaNYC

Annualised Cost per gallon

Traditional

Green Infrastructure

Building Design (BREEAM)

Pilot studies in New York demonstrate the relative costs of different techniques in storm water management

GMGI4 – next steps• Review and adapt to changing planning and investment context• GMSF Topic Paper – link to investment mapping (GMS, LIP2), low

carbon economic growth objectives and strategic resilience workstreams including flood risk management, climate change adaptation etc

• Refine strategic GI map and identify key pinch points• Develop case studies with emphasis on economic value of GI• Disseminate good practice – GI projects, local GI plans etc• Identify alignment with other Commissions work programmes and

embed key actions – develop GI as a robust cross cutting GI activity• Develop understanding of key delivery opportunities and

mechanisms – spatial planning and development, environmental investment programmes, other investment streams – health, transport, economy etc

• A GMGI strategic framework and delivery plan with strong stakeholder buy in

• Advocate, champion and promote GMGI practice, achievement and opportunity

• A community of practice – GM and our neighbours/other City Regions