www.naturalengland.org.uk

West of England

Opportunities for Green Infrastructure

Joint Scrutiny Committee, Item 9, 22 January 2010

Gerry Hamersley, Area Manager, Natural EnglandSteve Grainger, Chief Executive, Avon Wildlife Trust

Green Infrastructure?

• Strategic network of green space and environmental features with multiple functions

• Established and new in urban areas and rural hinterland

• Operates at all spatial scales – local to wider countryside

• Parks and Gardens, amenity and semi-natural green space, allotments, churchyards, river and canal side corridors, functional space (SUDS and flood storage)

The Benefits

• Health and wellbeing in the Community• Food production and productive landscapes• Climate change mitigation and adaptation• +• Promoting sustainable transport and reducing the need to use cars• Community cohesion and life long learning; volunteering• Habitat provision and access to nature• Landscape setting and context for development• Flood attenuation and water resource management• Energy production and conservation

Health and Wellbeing

How Stress can be seen as a major public Health Problem

Chronic Stress

Anxiety and Depression

Raised Inflammatory Markers

DiabetesCardiovascular Disease Lung Disease

Cancer

Physical inactivity and Obesity

Social IsolationReduced access to

GreenspaceSocial Inequalities leading to environmental

injustice

How surrounding vegetation help children cope with stress

Physical Activity & Obesity

Only 40% of men and 28% of women reach 30 X 5 target of Physical Activity.

Physical Inactivity Costs the NHS £1.8 Billion

In the UK rates of obesity have tripled in the past 20 years.

By 2050 60% of population and 1 in 4 under 16 year olds will be obese.

Total cost of obesity to society will be £45 billion by 2020.

Physical activity and land use

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Road Greenspace Gardens

BOYS cpm

GIRLS cpm

BOYS time (hrs)

GIRLS time (hrs)

Generalised Land Use Database – classifies features in OS Mastermap Topography

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

Low High

ObesityPhysical Activity

Greenery

Odds R

atio

A Ellaway

S Macintyre

BMJ 2005;331;611-2

Association of greenery with obesity? N = 6919

Green Infrastructure and local food production

• Opportunity to showcase ‘relocalisation’ of sustainable food production and consumption

• Can forge food supply chain links between residents, local food producers, processors and distributors

• Ensure greater access to garden allotments, city or school farms

• Can encourage local farmers markets, community garden centres

• Promote the local economy, community interest and cohesion

STOKE PARK – the Natural Environment, Access and Local Food

Climate Change - Manchester Heat Map

Green Infrastructure and Climate Change

• Providing a natural cooling effect to mitigate the urban ‘heat island’.

• Sustainable urban drainage to absorb excess rainfall. • Providing space for renewable energy resources, such as

ground source heat pump installations and biofuel production. • Allowing species to migrate and adapt to the effects of climate

change. • Reducing the effects of air pollution by providing vegetation to

store carbon.• Encouraging alternative modes of transport such as walking and

cycling, thus helping to reduce carbon emissions. • Providing attractive, cooler and shaded outdoor areas in hotter

summers.

www.naturalengland.org.uk

Planning Policy Statement 12: Creating strong safe and prosperous communities through Local Spatial Planning (June 2008) defines green infrastructure and makes

clear that it is necessary to ensure that sustainable communities are delivered.

Draft Regional Spatial Strategy for South West (April 2006) contains Policy GI1 making clear that the development of networks of green infrastructure is a requirement

and that provision for them should be incorporated in spatial planning documents.

Bristol Development Framework Core Strategy Publication

Version (November 2009) Green infrastructure features in the vision and overarching objectives which

are translated into a specific Policy BCS9. There is also a section on green infrastructure

policy delivery.

Bath and North East Somerset Spatial options consultation (October 2009) includes green

infrastructure as a Key Infrastructure and Delivery

Requirement. It sets out the main elements of a proposed policy

framework for Green Infrastructure.

South Gloucestershire Core Strategy issues and options for consultation (April 2008)

Green infrastructure is included within Key Issue 7 on improving health and

wellbeing. Reference is made to the importance in terms of

community benefits and urban cooling.

North Somerset Futures Local Development

Framework Core Strategy Consultation Draft (November

2009) includes green infrastructure within a Living within Environmental Limits

theme as Policy CS9. Specific priorities are identified

Planning policy context for green infrastructure in the West of England

Community planning context for green infrastructure in the West of England

The West of England Multi Area Agreement (August 2009) includes a specific section on green infrastructure

and states “The West of England is seeking to inform decision-making and

more joined up thinking to support urban and regional environmental planning

through work that informs from a sub-regional perspective the provision to be

made for green infrastructure.”

Bath & North East Somerset Local Strategic Partnership Sustainable Community Strategy 2009 - 2026

includes improved green infrastructure as part of the vision. And explains that

strategies that will help deliver this vision include a green infrastructure strategy

North Somerset Sustainable Community Strategy 2008 - 2026

makes clear that green infrastructure is a requirement of all regeneration and

development plans under a maintain and improve environmental quality in urban areas aim. and aims for better green infrastructure (including allotments) in

urban and rural areas under “improvements we want to see”.

South Gloucestershire’s Sustainable Community

Strategy 2008 has a priority to enhance South Gloucestershire’s attractiveness with well-managed and maintained streets and green

spaces

The 20:20 Plan - Bristol’s Sustainable City Strategy (in prep)

does not refer directly to green infrastructure. However, green

infrastructure has a role in delivering all 4 primary priorities - stronger, safer communities; reduce health

and wealth inequalities; raise aspiration and achievement of young

people and families and make our prosperity sustainable.

www.naturalengland.org.uk

What’s already being done?

• Initial Scoping Study into Green Infrastructure in the West of England

• West of England Green Infrastructure Toolkit

• West of England Green Infrastructure Pathfinder Project

• Avonmouth/Severnside HRA Study

Taking it forward in the West of England

• A cross boundary approach at all levels is essential

• Common vision and principles for GI within Core and other Strategies and Plans in the West of England

• Clear strategic spatial links with GI networks in adjacent Unitaries

• Bring together relevant organisations to support collaboration and delivery

• Bring in appropriate funding sources for capital works and management

• And energy!

www.naturalengland.org.uk

Thank you