Atlantic Gateway Parklands The Landscape for Prosperity
Version 1.0 — June 14 Contents
Part 1: Introduction – Accelerating Growth City Growth 8 Adding Value Through Partnership 10 Atlantic Gateway: Priority Themes 12 A Timeline of the Atlantic Gateway Parklands Region 14 Atlantic Gateway Investment Priorities 18
Part 2: Altantic Gateway Parklands The Context 20 The Evidence Base 22 The Approach 32
Part 3: Parklands PLACE and Projects Parklands PLACE 34 Strategic Environment Initiatives 36 Emergent Environmental Initiatives 42 Existing Landscape Assets 44 Strategic Flood Defence 46 Water Quality Investments 48
Part 4: Next Steps Delivering the Benefits 50 Community Environment Fund 52 Conclusion 54 Map 59
2 3 Preface
“If anywhere in the UK can develop the Greening supports growth critical mass and momentum to become What can the landscape and sustainable development an alternative growth pole to London, it is offer Atlantic Gateway and its great towns and cities? Atlantic Gateway.” How can we use the environment and our natural assets to underpin sustainable growth? The economy Lord Heseltine and Sir Terry Leahy is the wholly owned subsidiary of the environment: Our ‘Landscape for Prosperity’ centres on the concept that nature can support growth if it is seen as an opportunity Atlantic Gateway – a sustainable future and not a constraint. Atlantic Gateways’s coast, rivers, canals and land are valuable assets: the key to smart Manchester and Liverpool were at the epicentre of and resilient development. the world’s first Industrial Revolution. Now they are leaders in the transformation from grey to green. Only Resilience 50km apart, the cities have global reach and impact. The Liverpool-Manchester corridor – Atlantic Gateway The environment can support adaptation to, and – has a £50bn economy, a population of six million and mitigation of, climate change and flooding. Wildlife and ambitious plans for 250,000 jobs and £14bn of new natural systems deliver direct benefits by cleaning our investment by 2030. air and water, benefitting the visitor economy. Nature makes places look better, encouraging investors and Atlantic Gateway Partnership prioritises five themes to attracting the best knowledge workers. It can form focus the acceleration of growth over the next fifteen spaces for play, and for leisure; leading to healthier years: communities and reduced costs of illness. It’s where we grow food, manage water, and source our raw 1. Growth materials.
2. Connectivity Improving the environment employs people, supports business and creates jobs. And there are a host of 3. Infrastructure secondary industrial sectors that rely on sustainability and a healthy environment for their water supplies, 4. Sustainability energy and raw materials, or which can be badly disrupted when things go wrong. 5. Skills and training This prospectus makes the case for Atlantic Gateway ‘Atlantic Gateway Parklands – the Landscape for Parklands – the Landscape for Prosperity. Prosperity’ sets out the vision and ambition to make places investable and liveable through an exceptional environment. Making the best of the assets on our doorstep will unlock barriers to sustainable growth. “The issue of sustainability is here to stay.” Lord Heseltine “Entrepreneurs look for talented workers and the amenities that these workers like.”
Richard Florida
Photography: Mark Louden© www.markloudon.com Atlantic Gateway Parklands - the landscape for prosperity 4 5
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Atlantic Gateway Projects Parklands Opportunities Labelling key
1 Liverpool2 9 Sci-Tech Daresbury Environmental Emerging Landscape Strategic Flood Defence Water Quality Major rivers Motorways and canals 2 Liverpool Waters 10 Warrington Waters Initiatives: Assets: Investments: Investments Places not visible on the map 24 3 Wirral Waters 11 Port Warrington 18 Irwell River Park Bold Forest Park 28 Northwich 31 Winsford Nantwich and Crewe 25 4 Mersey Tidal Power 12 Omega 19 Port Salford Greenway Cheshire Saltscape 29 Warrington 32 Northwich, Oakmere and Burscough Major Railways HS2 5 Liverpool John 13 Northern Hub 20 GM Wetlands 26 Port Sunlight River Park 30 Salford Cuddington Hesketh Bank roads Lennon Airport 14 Port Salford 21 Mersey Gateway Nature Park 27 Upper Mersey Valley Forest Park 33 Billinge Whaley Bridge 34 6 Ince Park 15 MediaCityUK 22 Bridgewater Way Sandon Dock 7 3MG 16 HS2 23 Greenpoint for Growth 35 Oldham / Royton www.atlanticgateway.co.uk 8 17 39 Altrincham 6 Mersey Gateway Airport City 7 Part 1: City Growth Introduction
– Accelerating Rebalancing the economy Atlantic Gateway – the geography Atlantic Gateway – the proposition Atlantic Gateway is a positive response to the The geography of Atlantic Gateway is roughly that of The Atlantic Gateway proposition is that it makes imperative of rebalancing the economy. The increasing the three LEP areas – Greater Manchester, Cheshire sense to collaborate, to maximise investment into the Growth domination of the UK economy by London and and Warrington, and Liverpool. The TCPA’s ‘England’s area, enable and support the delivery of connecting the south east, and the widening gap in economic Four geographies’ is helpful. The economic geography infrastructure and champion major projects led by performance between the metropolis and ‘the north’ is demands integration of transport, digital, energy and the private sector, LEPs and others. The impact well known. The context is that of growing collaboration water infrastructure. The social geography reveals and influence of these in terms of jobs and growth between the northern city regions. stark contrasts on measures such as skills and life crosses local and regional boundaries: some have expectancy. The political geography is characterised national and international significance. The Atlantic And there is overwhelming evidence of a huge disparity by fragmentation, lack of capacity and mechanisms Gateway Partnership has been playing its part by in public sector investment in, for example, science for spatial planning on the landscape scale. The championing investments such as The Northern Hub and transport between the metropolis and the rest. environmental geography is the Mersey Basin – with rail improvements, vital to improving connectivity across According to IPPR North, on transport: the assets of coast, river and canals and the challenges the north. of climate change and resilience. “The overall pattern of planned capital investment in transport infrastructure is largely unchanged with more than 89% allocated to projects in London and the South East. Measured on a per capita basis Landscape and environment is not where government money is involved, this shows constrained by political or institutional that as a nation we are planning to spend nearly £2,600 on transport expenditure for each Londoner, boundaries. Ideas have no boundaries. 500 times as much as the £5 per person for the north east; 150 times as much as in the South West; 20 times as much as the per capita figure for the north west and over 16 times as much as in Yorkshire and Humber.”
This is exemplified by debates around HS2 and exploration by initiatives such as the RSA City Growth Commission:
“...individual metros cannot make decisions in isolation. There is a need for strategic decision making between, as well as within, metros and wider regions.”
Drivers for cities: key factors affecting and driving the future of the Conurbations of Great Britain city (© Arup) 8 9 Adding Value Through Partnership
Partnership working – the record The evolving Atlantic Gateway Partnership The concept of Parklands developed in this prospectus In common with many other unincorporated is underpinned by partnership working across the partnerships with great ambitions and very limited sectors – private, public, third and academic – working resources, its evolution has not been straightforward. together to common ends. Atlantic Gateway evolved out of concerted attempts to shape what would have been the Northwest Regional There is an impressive track record of successful Strategy 2010 and the ideas being promoted for partnership working across the Atlantic Gateway inclusion as spatial and investment priorities within it. geography in tackling challenging, long-term, apparently These included Peel Group’s Ocean Gateway vision intractable problems. One successful example was and attempts to ensure a major greening initiative – the twenty-five year Mersey Basin Campaign, leading ‘Adapting the Landscape’. The axing of the regional the transformation in water quality and enabling structures and the formation of the LEPs disrupted spectacular waterside regeneration. The regeneration progress and created political tensions. Atlantic of Liverpool’s waterfront, Manchester’s waterfront at Gateway emerged out of these uncertainties in the face Salford Quays and many other locations was stimulated of scepticism, but with growing support. by transformational improvements in water quality. The Mersey was the first river in the world to be The timeline of the Atlantic Gateway region highlights awarded the World Riverprize – more than a decade examples of its remarkable capacity for invention ahead of the Thames. and innovation. The scope and ambition of Parklands is a further step. “A combination of massive investment in the water infrastructure by a privatized water company, tough environmental legislation, and major sewage upgrades made the difference. The remarkable transformation was made possible by the work of many organisations and individuals working together. The Mersey Basin Campaign was a pioneer in partnership. Today the Mersey and its tributaries are cleaner than at any time since Manchester LEP the end of the industrial revolution. Water quality has improved and fish have returned to formerly polluted stretches of the river. For the first time in living memory, juvenile salmon have been found in the upper reaches of the river near Stockport.” Liverpool City World Riverprize 1999 citation. Region LEP The environmental ‘sector’ has been a leading pioneer in innovative partnership working, and the north west’s community forests, Groundwork and others continue to deliver complex agendas.
Cheshire and Warrington LEP
The Atlantic Gateway Parklands area is covered by three Local Economic Partnership areas 10 11 Atlantic Gateway: Priority Themes
Connectivity and infrastructure Sectoral growth The Atlantic Gateway benefits from multi-modal The Board has identified four sectors that will play connectivity of road, air, water and rail infrastructure. a crucial role in accelerating growth and increasing This connectivity is crucial in attracting investment and job opportunities across this economic geography: in enhancing the logistics and distribution opportunities created by the investment in Liverpool2, the deep »» Life Sciences/Bio Science (e.g. Liverpool Science Park, water terminal at Seaforth developed in response to Daresbury, Alderley Park, Manchester Science Corridor) the expansion of the Panama Canal. Improving the »» Logistics/Freight (e.g. Liverpool2, Port Warrington, connectivity of the Atlantic Gateway area will make Port Salford) the north west more competitive, build on the existing »» Wider infrastructure (e.g. HS2, Northern Hub, strengths of the manufacturing sector, facilitate the Manchester Airport) export of both goods and services, and stimulate new opportunities for business. Investment in infrastructure »» Digital and Creative (e.g. MediaCityUK) is critical to the success of the area – such as improvements in the sewer network, high speed Achievement rail, flood protection and increased access to fibre The Atlantic Gateway Partnership has achieved optic broadband. a number of successes over the past three years in terms of accelerating projects such as Liverpool2, Sustainability and environment the Mersey Gateway Bridge and the completion of The transformation from grey to green is the main focus MediaCityUK – now home to the BBC and ITV. of the Atlantic Gateway Parklands – the Landscape Atlantic Gateway investment area for Prosperity. The ambition is for the whole area to Working under four investment themes, the Board be a high quality environment attractive to investors, has identified a series of priority investment projects. visitors and businesses alike. This is a generational task, These define the forward programme for Atlantic following on from more than 25 years of water quality Gateway Partnership. Whilst each is being taken improvements and addressing the new challenges forward individually in collaboration with key partners, of sustainable development that is resilient to our the projects come together to represent an ambitious changing climate. investment programme for the region.
Future skills The Atlantic Gateway is a large area with many pockets of high employment need. There will be demand for different skills in the future and the Board has a crucial role to play in preparing people with the appropriate Atlantic Gateway Parklands Thames Gateway
skills to maximise opportunities presented by the 2 Area 1850 km Area 1000 km2 growth sectors that will emerge from the investment in the Atlantic Gateway projects.
Emscher Park, Germany Singapore 10m 10km Area 457 km2 Area 710.2 km2
The size of the Liverpool-Manchester area compared with international comparitors
12 13 A Timeline of the Atlantic Gateway Parklands
1845 Albert Dock opened, designed by Jesse Hartley. The Albert Dock buildings are the largest collection 1992 of Grade 1 listed buildings Manchester Metrolink in Britain opens – UK’s first street running light rail system
1984 1845 Britain’s first Liverpool is the International Garden destination of the Festival held in first package tour Liverpool attracting 1847 over 3m summer visitors Joseph Paxton’s Birkenhead Park opens, Britain’s first publicly 2004 funded civic park Mersey Waterfront Regional Park – 1715 first environmental World’s first 1830 1971 initiative for an entire commercial wet World’s first passengers Seaforth Dock opened, Objective 1 area dock opens in and freight, double- the largest in the UK, Liverpool track, inter-city railway with the largest lock service, the Liverpool & gates in the world Manchester Railway 1859 The first tramway in the UK at Liverpool Docks 2014 Work begins on 1733 2011 construction of John Kay invents BBC moves to Port Salford the ‘flying shuttle’ 1909 MediaCityUK for weaving World’s first planning school 1872 at Liverpool Sefton Park was opened on University 20 May by Prince Arthur 1770 who dedicated it “for the Work begins on the Leeds- health and enjoyment of Liverpool canal, the longest the townspeople” and highest in Britain
2013 2014 Work begins on Port Sunlight construction of River Park opens 1757 Liverpool2 to the public World’s first polytechnic, 1899 the Warrington Academy The world’s first garden suburb – Port Sunlight
1894 Manchester Ship Canal, still the world’s eighth- longest ship canal, opens
14 15 Airport City – an Atlantic Gateway priority project
16 17 Atlantic Gateway Investment Priorities
1. Liverpool2 5. Ince Park 9. Omega 13. MediaCityUK A new deepwater container facility on the Mersey for Specialist business space for the environmental A 232ha brownfield site being developed as a business Manchester’s waterfront destination for digital 13,500 TEU ships with access to more than five million technology sector. park in Warrington, intersected by the M62. creativity, leisure and learning including BBC North, ITV square feet of warehousing. and independents on a 81ha site. 6. 3 MG 10. Warrington Waters 2. Liverpool Waters The Mersey Multimodal Gateway at Widnes, accessible The regeneration and economic development of the 14. Airport City Regeneration of a 60ha waterfront site to create by rail, road, sea and air. heart of Warrington and its Mersey waterfront. An £800m landmark property development set to a world-class, mixed-use waterfront quarter in become a global business destination located at central Liverpool. 7. Mersey Gateway 11. Northern Hub Manchester Airport including offices, hotels, advanced manufacturing, logistics and warehousing. The new six-lane, free flowing toll bridge over the A programme of targeted upgrades to the railway in the 3. Wirral Waters: Mersey at Runcorn (under construction). north, allowing up to 700 more trains to run each day The largest regeneration project in the UK, Wirral and providing space for 44 million more passengers a 15. HS2 Waters is a mixed use development – focused on the 8. Sci-Tech Daresbury year (under construction). The planned high speed railway between London semi-derelict Birkenhead and Wallasey dock system. Euston, the Midlands and the north west – phase One of only two national science and innovation 2 of which will reach Crewe, Manchester Airport, campuses for collaboration to deliver world-class 12. Port Salford 4. Liverpool John Lennon Airport Manchester and Wigan. science and stimulate knowledge-based businesses. The UK’s first tri-modal distribution park, unique in its Continuing investment in Liverpool City Region’s low-cost shuttle to Liverpool2 and with 150,000 square international airport. feet of logistics space.
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Atlantic Gateway priority projects National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in and around the north west 18 19 Part 2: The Context Atlantic
Gateway Introduction The Atlantic Gateway Parklands prospectus builds The Atlantic Gateway Parklands prospectus presents This is followed by a case study on Alder Hey on both a rich understanding of the environmental a flexible, adaptable and open framework for Hospital in Liverpool, which highlights the important Parklands issues and opportunities across the area, together environmental investment to help support economic links between environmental quality and health with ongoing collaboration with many of the area’s key growth. Its evolution has been steered by ongoing and wellbeing. relevant stakeholders. This collaborative working has dialogue with the Atlantic Gateway Board’s expert been facilitated by the recent establishment of the three sub-group for sustainability, the Atlantic Gateway Reflecting on this base of evidence and the discussions Local Nature Partnerships which geographically mirror Sustainability and Environment (AGSEG). One of the which have played such an important role in identifying the area’s three Local Enterprise Partnerships. key sessions, where emerging ideas that helped shape key projects and shaping the strategy, the section the prospectus were shared, took place at a specially concludes with an overview of key overarching themes Key to the base of evidence underpinning the convened workshop in December 2013. Members of relevant to the Atlantic Gateway Parklands prospectus. prospectus is the work undertaken during the AGSEG and other key stakeholders were invited to production of the Adapting the Landscape strategy participate in this workshop and the debate that from 2009. That strategy provided a framework for took place influenced both the structure and content landscape adaptation and investment in order to of the prospectus. help tackle climate change, support improvements in people’s quality of life and underpin economic This section provides a review of some of the baseline growth along the corridor connecting Manchester with evidence which has informed the Atlantic Gateway Liverpool. The strategy identifies the contribution that Parklands prospectus and covered the following natural landscape resources can make to the future key themes: development of the Mersey Basin and itself builds on the progress made on improving the environmental »» Transport, movement and connectivity quality of the basin – progress co-ordinated by the work »» Landscape character of the then active Mersey Basin Campaign. »» Leisure and recreation »» Heritage assets »» Topography and views
The Atlantic Gateway Parklands workshop session, The Greenhouse, Angel Field Garden, Liverpool Hope University (BCA Landscapes) Central Teaching Hub, Liverpool Univeristy (© McCoy Wynne) MediaCityUK, 9 December 2013 20 21 The Evidence Base
Transport, movement and connectivity The north west lies at the intersection of two There is major congestion on these key transport The River Mersey is Britain’s third busiest estuary. A wide range of cycle and walking routes also traverse internationally important transport corridors; the M6 and routes. This has impacted upon the reliability of Port of Liverpool and Manchester Ship Canal offer the area. The Trans Pennine Trail forms part of the West Coast Mainline connect the north and south; the road-based public transport. Key priorities for the a comprehensive range of port facilities, handling National Cycle Network (Route 62) and links Southport ports form the North European Trade Axis, connecting region are to manage travel demand and reduce more than 40 million tonnes of cargo and 15,000 ship with Selby (see ‘Leisure and recreation’ section for the west and east. commuter traffic on the M6, M56, M60 and M62 movements a year. The 36-mile long Manchester Ship more detail on cycling and walking). to alleviate congestion. Canal itself moves eight million tonnes of cargo a year. Atlantic Gateway Parklands area is served well by this The network of canals is an asset of increasing transport infrastructure. The M6 and M62 provide the The industrial legacy of the growth of the area’s cotton Manchester Airport, located to the south-west of the importance. The Manchester Ship Canal connects the core framework for road access to the region. Lower- mill towns is evident in the network of rail connections city, is the fourth busiest airport in the UK and the Port of Liverpool with Port Salford – current investment order regional motorways – the M60, M56, M53 between these towns. Manchester, Warrington and busiest outside the London region. It offers non-stop priorities of national and international significance. and M57 – provide access to the national motorway Liverpool are also on the West Coast Main Line with scheduled flights to destinations across Europe, North A new generation of shuttle barges provide a key link network. The motorway network has received fast and frequent rail services to London in particular. America, the Caribbean, Middle East and Far East. in logistics within and beyond the Atlantic Gateway significant levels of investment in recent decades and This has been the focus of recent investment. Liverpool’s John Lennon airport was one of Europe’s area. The leisure canals, including the Bridgewater, is the preferred transport mode for most businesses in Within the region, the inter-city TransPennine and fastest growing airports, having increased its annual Leeds and Liverpool, Trent and Mersey play an the area; the majority of all goods moved through the Northern Rail connections are relatively frequent but passenger numbers from 875,000 in 1998 to 5.47 increasingly important role in the visitor economy – north west is by road haulage, which is anticipated to not particularly fast, with the service typically taking million in 2007. Located on the Mersey Estuary to the and as greenways – for sustainable commuting. continue. In addition, private car use for commuting in about an hour. Traffic permitting, it is quicker to drive. south of the city it has developed as a hub for budget the north west is second highest in England behind only Commuter congestion on rail routes and low quality passenger air travel to mainland Europe and Ireland. the East Midlands. local infrastructure are causing serious problems in the region. In particular, rail services in and around Manchester are highly stressed and overcrowded, which is an issue given the expected growth in this mode of transport.
The Northern Hub initiative will shorten journey times between Liverpool and Manchester Transport connections across the Atlantic Gateway area 22 23 Landscape character The Atlantic Gateway Parklands area contains a rich and Prior to undertaking this assessment, the Countryside diverse range of landscapes. It represents a significant Commission had endeavoured to encourage a greater section of the wider north west and harbours the best understanding and improved active management and worst aspects of the region. All in all, it is an area of the wider landscape, which was not necessarily of contrasts. categorised as National Park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The landscapes have previously been subdivided and categorised in terms of their landscape character on This approach began to highlight the fact that there was a national scale. Undertaken by the then Countryside a distinct lack of understanding regarding the factors Commission in 1996 (updated in 2005 by Natural and elements which combine to give the countryside of England with support from English Heritage), the England its character. With an ever growing sense and assessment aimed to map areas of similar landscape need for conservation, enhancement and restoration, character. This resulted in the Character of England there was a concurrent, increasing requirement to Landscape, Wildlife and Cultural Features Map, which understand what existed in the first place and what was identifies the position and extent of 159 National fundamental to informing the character of an area. Character Areas. Without understanding landscape character it is difficult to understand how a particular change (for example, any development) may or may not respect, enhance or detract from that character.
Dream by Jaume Plensa has helped to transform a post-industrial landscape at the former Sutton Manor Colliery, St. Helens, Top: Landscape character areas part of The Mersey Forest. Bottom: Landscape character assessment 24 25 Leisure and recreation Whilst the Atlantic Gateway Parklands area does not The canal network provides excellent walking routes, Knowsley was named the ‘Wildflower Borough’ in Public art is a key feature of Atlantic Gateway Parklands. have the inherent natural assets of the nearby Lake with the Cheshire Ring being a formalised walking route 1992 and is home to Europe’s only centre for wildflower Antony Gormley’s modern sculpture exhibition ‘Another District, Snowdonia National Park or Peak District, along former towpaths. It is not an area characterised conservation, one of only two in the world. The National Place’ on Crosby Beach is an extremely successful there are a number of country parks and nature by large tracts of woodland and opportunity exists Wildflower Centre and Landlife are internationally example of its transformational power, both in terms reserves including Tatton Park, Clock Face, Croxteth for more tree planting to provide a broader range of recognised as a centre for excellence in the natural of place making and economic development. Another and Pennington Flash Country Parks. informal recreation opportunities, timber products and environment and are working on a trade agreement public art work, The Dream – a 20m high sculpture of a carbon sequestration. with China to establish a national seed bank there to small girl’s head by Catalan artist Jaume Plensa – was The Mersey Estuary, with its associated mud flats, is help restore previously developed land. unveiled along the M62 corridor near St Helens in April a bird habitat of national importance – as represented by 2009 and is already a local landmark. its Ramsar designation. This is indicative of the Mersey A wide range of recreational destinations exist within now being its cleanest since the Industrial Revolution. the urban centres of Manchester and Liverpool providing a strong concentration of cultural attractions, A national cycle route, the Trans Pennine Way, links shopping opportunities and being home to some of the Manchester and Liverpool with off-shoots extending world’s most famous sports teams. into the Weaver Valley and Croal Irwell. There is also a strong network of regional and local cycle routes The separate identity of the smaller towns is evident extending south into the Cheshire Plains, although the in their sports teams, in particular through the frequent smaller urban areas to the north of the M62 predominantly northern sport of rugby league with the are not well connected by recognised cycle routes. stadiums of St Helens, Warrington and Wigan forming major features of their town centres.
Recreation destinations Natural features and green recreation 26 27 Heritage assets Topography and views The Atlantic Gateway Parklands area benefits from This Atlantic Gateway Parklands area is predominantly Elsewhere the area is defined by prominent vantage a rich industrial heritage. While the majority of lower lying, flat land, which is in most cases positioned points at Helsby, Walkden and Billinge. To the south listed buildings are within urban areas, with strong at below 100m Above Ordanance Datum. It comprises west at Helsby and Frodsham, the sandstone ridge concentrations in the centres of Liverpool and the heart of the Mersey Valley Basin. extends 140m above the nearby estuarine flats; and to Manchester, many listed buildings exist outside urban the south east the ‘Edge’ at Alderley rises abruptly to areas. A more detailed analysis of these building may In the wider context, the River Mersey flows off the over 190m AOD. To the east and north of Manchester reveal opportunities for enhanced heritage-based Western Pennine uplands to the sea at the Mersey the high ground of the Pennines effectively positions recreation, potentially linked to new green infrastructure. Estuary. The Basin is defined in certain key locations Manchester within a bowl and, as such, provides a by landmark topography, which allow remarkable natural east and north east boundary. To the north, Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City has been a World inward looking views. Long views from the Pennines higher ground to the west of Walkden offers extensive Heritage Site since 2004, with the award made on westwards can be stunning on clear days. These views views from an elevation of 130m AOD. To the north the basis that the site is ‘the supreme example of can include a number of regionally significant landmarks west, Beacon Country Park on the Upholland Ridge, a commercial port at a time of Britain’s greatest such as Beetham Tower in Manchester, Fiddlers Ferry, and Billinge Hill to the west and south west of Wigan, global influence’. Jodrell Bank, Runcorn Bridge and Thelwall Viaduct. represent elevated promontories of above 170m and thus providing majestic views towards the south east, Scheduled Ancient Monuments are also spread across south and south west extremities of the study area. the area with a greater concentration to the south towards the Cheshire Plains. There are also significant man-made vantage points at Bidston Moss, The Festival Garden site, Port Sunlight River Park and Bold Colliery, which add to the potential and variety for landmark structures in the Parklands.
Principal heritage assets Topography and sightlines 28 29 Adapting the Landscape from Liverpool Case Study: to Manchester, 2009 (NWDA) Children’s Health Park – Alder Hey, Liverpool The ‘Adapting the Landscape’ initiative provided The overarching objective of the initiative was to People intrinsically know that green space makes them The design has meant that the Hospital will benefit from a framework to guide environmental programmes increase the landscape’s resilience – both in its natural feel better. In 1984, Roger Ulrich examined exactly how views looking out onto mature trees. Any trees lost as and future investment. Developed through a review and man made systems – to climate change for the window views from a hospital room affected recovery part of the redevelopment will be replaced two fold of existing policy, an understanding of the potential security of its assets and people. The strategy directly time in surgical patients. Those looking at the trees had in number. The finger design that draws the park into benefits of green infrastructure and landscape adaptation influenced emerging regional policy. It was important fewer negative nurses’ evaluations and post-surgical the Hospital enables a visual and physical connection measures and informed by consultation with experts because it took a trans-city perspective of Liverpool complications and remained in the hospital a shorter with nature rarely achieved in a large complex hospital in the field, the following objectives were established. and Manchester and included the towns, villages time compared to patients looking at a building wall design as well as creating a welcome space for the local and landscape which connect them. Identifying their (Ulrich, R.S., 1984, View through a window may community. The use of minimal low scale ranch railings » » Environmental – adapt to and mitigate against collective assets and considering how the area as a influence recovery from surgery. Science, 224, will provide an open vista across the park and hospital climate change whole can benefit from a holistic approach to landscape 420–421). gardens, effectively increasing the visual and accessible »» Economic – pursue a new approach to sustainable management, the initiative has played an important role green space by 50%. economic and housing growth in underpinning this Atlantic Gateway prospectus. The Children’s Health Park is a ‘first in our lifetime’ opportunity to fully integrate health care, education, In turning an enclosed local green space into an open »» Social – enhance and protect people’s quality of life wellbeing, environmental issues and the local and accessible walking park the Trust is also hoping to community into a capital health scheme with the widest educate and inform with the use of information boards. possible benefits, founded on the notion that parks are These will have details of local history such as the good for your health. Nelson Monument, local plants and wildlife and fitness trails, with health promotion information for all ages This visionary project will see Alder Hey invest £167m and abilities. in the redevelopment of the hospital within a revamped Springfield Park, which will be regenerated along Alder Hey’s vision is not simply of a new hospital but a with the Hospital into one catalytic entity. This will be new way of delivering health care and health promotion. a landmark building for Liverpool and a unique piece Working in partnership is the key to achieving this vision, of international healthcare design: the multi-faceted and the most important partnership is that between design presents a public face to the south and north Alder Hey and Liverpool City Council. Alder Hey delivers while merging seamlessly to the west and becoming an International Healthcare and aims to be an International integrated element of Springfield Park. Centre of Research yet is a Local Hospital that is fully integrated into its community. The official opening of The key to the success of the project is Springfield the new hospital is planned for Autumn 2015. Park. Presently cut off from the Hospital by a fence and restricted access on all sides, this green space will be re-aligned to link the local communities with the shops. Access will be possible from all four sides, creating new walking and cycle routes to encourage local residents and hospital staff to leave the car at home. The connection between hospital and park will be via hospital gardens directly into the hospital Atrium, where locals will be welcome to use the facilities on offer or simply enjoy the artwork and performances taking place.
Adapting the Landscape strategy Two visualisations of the Children’s Health Park, Alder Hey Hospital (both BDP) 30 31 The Approach
Accessible landscape Urban landscape The two principal cities and the network of settlements The green spaces within established urban areas play across the Atlantic Gateway enjoy good accessibility to a critical role in greening the cities. The Red Rose and the landscape, which helps create attractive environments Mersey Forest campaigns have successfully delivered for businesses to invest and for people to live. major urban environmental improvement programmes including significant levels of tree planting.
Accessible landscape Urban landscape
Diverse landscape Innovative landscape The Atlantic Gateway Parklands landscape is productive There are seven universities across Liverpool and with the fertile Lancashire area and dairy farms of the Manchester. The Manchester Knowledge Capital Cheshire Plain. Between are a network of coastal and and Liverpool Knowledge Quarter are major centres woodland nature habitats, which harbour a wide range of innovation. Sci-Tech Daresbury is one of only two of formal and informal leisure activities. national Science and Innovation Campuses in the UK, and further investment is planned at Ince.
Diverse landscape Innovative landscape
Water and the landscape Playful landscape The water courses and waterways across the area The region boasts numerous internationally important create a high quality and far reaching walking and public land art installations. Gormley’s Another Place cycling network providing public access to both rural has found a permanent home on Crosby Beach and and urban landscapes. Jaume Plensa’s Dream sculpture, located on the old Sutton Manor Colliery site, have helped to raise the profile of the area. The area’s major football, rugby and golf venues continue to underpin the area’s leisure and visitor economy.
Water and the landscape Playful landscape
32 33 Part 3: Parklands PLACE Parklands
PLACE and The Landscape for Prosperity will be delivered through a series of partner-led initiatives and projects, championed by the Atlantic Gateway Parklands. Projects Together these will create a new dimension across the Mersey Belt – a collection of strategic ‘Planned Landscapes and Creative Environments’; our Parklands PLACEs. We envision these PLACEs developing under four categories:
Environmental Initiatives Those projects with a direct link to the key Atlantic Gateway economic assets and with which the Parklands will seek a direct relationship and supporting role to assist in their delivery within the first 3–5 years of the Parklands initiative.
Emergent Environmental Assets Transformational partner initiatives, which will create a landscape that is liveable and investment ready. These will drive forward the economy of the Gateway and support the wider connection of environmental assets through the creation of the Parklands concept.
Strategic Landscape Assets Existing natural assets which are critical to the Gateway’s biodiversity and resilience and which form the backbone of the environmental quality that will act as a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining talent and investment.
Strategic Flood Defence Investments The critical natural assets that can contribute to relieving the drag on development by dealing with issues at ‘Pinch Points’ and up-stream of key developments through Green Infrastructure and natural capital investments.
In addition to these investments, multi-million pound water quality initiatives continue to be delivered by United Utilities through its Asset Management Plan (AMP). These will further enhance the water quality and strengthen the infrastructure of the Mersey Basin.
We believe that creating Parklands PLACEs will accrue multiple benefits for the economy, the environment and communities. This has been clearly illustrated in ARUP’s Cities Alive work and as illustrated on the opposite page. By driving forward a multiple benefits approach Parklands will support the sustainable development of the Atlantic Gateway.
Green infrastructure benefits (© Arup) 34 35 Strategic Environmental Initiatives Parklands will seek to directly support an initial five-year programme of project delivery in the following PLACE priorities
Irwell River Park Port Salford Greenway For many years now, the Irwell and Manchester A new and exciting urban river park is now being The Port Salford Greenway is an ambitious package Key elements of Port Salford Greenway will include: Ship Canal led the resurgence of the waterfronts delivered that will transform the day-to-day workings of of projects that aims to transform a valuable, yet within Manchester. Places such as Salford Quays, an eight kilometre stretch of the Irwell to create: neglected, corridor of greenspace into a high quality »» Alder Forest and Worsley Gateway – these areas will see the installation of striking gateway features, easy to follow Chapel Wharf and Castlefield have been the focus of cycle and walking path, linking the Bridgewater wayfinding with a potential food alleviation project. investment and boost award winning developments. »» Connections between the employment and visitor centres Canal to Port Salford. This five-year vision will see that will enhance and increase economic connectivity and the creation of exciting leisure facilities, stunning »» Cleavley Woods and Winton Park – the area will become accessibility to support future economic growth; The vision for Irwell River Park is of a new city centre landmarks, diverse habitats and engaging a destination for the area’s young people and those who place that will provide quality public open space and »» New premier public realm and place-making to community projects. are young at heart. A new adventure cycling hub will be reconnect Manchester, Salford and Trafford. The river reinforce and underpin Manchester’s economic and created using the area’s natural materials. will no longer be the forgotten periphery, it will become social resurgence, and strengthen its economic vitality, The project will focus on a series of greenspaces that »» Moat Hall Woodland – valuable yet underused greenspace part of the heart of the two cities and Trafford, ensuring environmental quality and ability to attract substantial run parallel to the M60 from Liverpool Road in Peel will be opened up through striking entrance features, that it makes a significant contribution to the physical, housing and commercial investment; and Green, up to Winton Park and Cleavleys Athletic Track, access improvements and a formal path network. It will economic and social life of the emerging integrated »» A sustainable continuous routeway and transport corridor including Moat Hall Woodland and the old Cleavleys be the base for exciting volunteering projects and habitat city region. from MediaCityUK to the heart of the Manchester and Nursery. The area, covering a total of 37ha has improvements. beyond that will contribute significantly to the creation of limited local usage and suffers from poor access and »» Port Salford Gateway – as the design for the Port is a single destination for businesses, residents and visitors. maintenance. refined, there is potential to create a striking entrance to the Greenway, providing the option of both on and off- The Port Salford Greenway will provide an intuitive road routes. and easy to follow cycling and walking route from the Bridgewater Canal in Worsley to the bustling commerce hub of Port Salford. Users will navigate using green wayfinding and in-ground markers.
Irwell River Park visualisation (Manchester City Council) Salford Meadows Bridge, winning design by Tonkin Liu with Arup Port Salford Greenway visualisation and concept plan (BDP) 36 37 Great Manchester Wetlands Mersey Gateway Nature Park The Great Manchester Wetlands Partnership area The Partnership, with over 20 members including, The opportunity for the Mersey Gateway Nature Park is Key principles to this approach include: of interest covers some 40,000 ha. Its vision is that amongst others, Natural England, local authorities, emerging from two major investment initiatives being by 2025, Great Manchester Wetlands will be a thriving, United Utilities, the private sector and the Environment progressed in the Runcorn and Widnes area. The 3MG »» Implement an integrated GI design that unlocks and does not hinder economic development. resilient and inspirational landscape that delivers real Agency, is delivering a £3.7m programme (up to site on the north side of the Mersey incorporates major benefits to local communities and the local economy. 2014/15) and has received financial support from distribution infrastructure associated with the Stobart »» Use GI to restore and create a resilient ecology that buffers Its programme includes restoration of mossland areas, Natural England and other sources. In May 2013 it was Group site, the HBC Field site to the west and the the area against future climate change (including both creation of new wetlands, improvement of existing adopted as a local NIA by the Greater Manchester LNP Ditton Strategic Rail Freight Park. environmental and economic impacts). wetlands, and creation of new reedbeds and wet (The Natural Capital Group) and in December 2013 by »» Create a good living and working environment that woodland areas. the Cheshire LNP. The Mersey Gateway Bridge is a new planned six-lane rebalances the health of local people and environment Mersey crossing, which will improve strategic access with economics objectives, connecting people with place. The programme will deliver substantial improvements to the sub-region and enable greater priority to be given »» Set the scene for a ‘green industrial estate’ that places to biodiversity, in line with the national Nature to walking and cycling provision on the existing Jubilee 3MG on a world scale for its sustainable growth as well as Improvement Area (NIA) objectives. It is notable for (Runcorn) Bridge. economic worth. additionally delivering substantial reductions in carbon emissions – principally through mossland restoration Taken together, the initiatives present huge investment »» Create new low maintenance, self-sustaining and – whilst simultaneously improving the prospects for potential in a location with unique environmental qualities. enhancing habitats. health, well-being, recreation and economic activity in »» Embrace the industrial past whilst adding vibrancy and A feasibility study has been undertaken to investigate an area of high social deprivation set in a largely post hope, sense of history and improvements. the opportunities to incorporate Green Infrastructure extractive industrial landscape. (GI) and the establishment of the industrial nature park as an integral part of the long-term implementation of these major investments.
Great Manchester Wetlands Visualisation of Mersey Gateway Bridge Pinch point analysis 38 39 Bridgewater Way (Daresbury) GreenPrint for Growth As one of only two national Science and Innovation The Bridgewater Way is a regeneration project that GreenPrint for Growth is about improving the lives of The GreenPrint for Growth will: campuses, Sci-Tech Daresbury is a well established will create a 65km/39-mile leisure route for walkers local people and making North Liverpool and South location for high tech businesses and leading edge and cyclists along the historic Bridgewater Canal. Sefton ‘investment ready’ – to attract investors and »» Create the greenest City Park in the UK within 10 years science and research. The expansion of supporting The project is a fresh approach to the use of the visitors alike. It is a way of bringing together and »» Create new jobs and training opportunities infrastructure will enable it to compete more effectively towpath as a connection between communities connecting ideas, investment and actions for our »» Deliver 10 big projects and 1001 small projects and attract more projects and investment. around the Mersey Basin and the north west. waterways and green spaces; encouraging exercise, play and healthier lifestyles; and providing a focus for »» Plant 10 new trees for each resident The recent award of Enterprise Zone status will provide Proposals include a programme of regeneration and community spirit and action. »» Encourage everyone to contribute in their own way an opportunity to deliver a range of infrastructure renewal introducing: improvements and build upon its international The idea is to create a Great Park connecting the reputation. Sci-Tech Daresbury anticipates that, with »» New access points and a wide surface for new uses City Centre, North Liverpool, South Sefton and the including cycling private sector investment of £150m to expand its River Mersey Waterfront together, by drawing on facilities, there is the potential to deliver more than »» Focal points, public arts and heritage interpretation the collective assets and potential of the area, 10,000 jobs over the next 20 years. This is dependent and programmes which includes Liverpool Waters and the Seaforth upon infrastructure, government investment in major »» A safer and more appealing route Port expansion. science projects at Daresbury and new investment from major research and science businesses and institutions. The Bridgewater Way is being promoted by the The Great Park brings a collective identity, sense of Bridgewater Canal Trust, a partnership of eight local purpose and direction to connect existing projects The Bridgewater Canal was the first canal in Britain to authorities and The Bridgewater Canal Company together and encourage new investors to think about be built without following an existing watercourse. (part of the Peel Holdings Group). North Liverpool and South Sefton as a connected part It was also the first commercial canal to be cut of the Liverpool City Region in a positive way. following the contours of the land. The canal runs through the Sci-Tech Daresbury site, which is one of the Atlantic Gateway priority projects.
Bridgewater Way GreenPrint for Growth strategic framework 40 41 Emergent Environmental Initiatives Parklands will seek to work alongside these developing environmental assets, adding value through partnership dialogue and the development of complex partnerships to enable delivery
Port Sunlight River Park Ince Park Wirral Waters Park The Land Trust is working with waste management The Trust has secured funding from the Department of Ince Park will comprise an Energy from Waste (EfW) Wirral Waters is one half of ‘Mersey Waters’; two company Biffa to bring their landfill site back into Business Innovation and Skills’ Newlands Programme. facility and Environmental Technologies Complex – complementary and balanced waterside projects on beneficial community use as Port Sunlight River Park. Biffa is also providing funding, which will contribute a cluster of waste management and environmental either side of the River Mersey. It is one of the largest The park is a former landfill site of around 28ha that to the long term management of the park. Additional technology facilities. and most ambitious regeneration projects in the UK, is has been capped by Biffa Waste. The 37-metre landfill funding for tree planting, paths, signs and maintenance privately funded by developers, Peel, and has already mound is a dominant feature of the local area, which has been acquired from the English Woodland Located on the south bank of the Manchester Ship been granted planning permission. also acts as a barrier between local communities and Grant Scheme. Canal, the 51ha (126 acre) multi-modal site has excellent the Mersey coast. The work to transform the bare road and rail access and berthing onto the canal. It Wirral Waters seeks to create well over 20,000 2 landfill mound into an attractive park will widen Key partners working together on the initiative include offers the opportunity to create a leading concentration permanent new jobs and will include 1.7m of mixed- the appeal and image of the area, locally, regionally Business Innovation and Skills, Forestry Commission, of waste management, recycling and reprocessing use floor space, plus the largest and most sustainable and nationally. Biffa Waste, Wirral Borough Council, Gillespies, users in the north west. trade centre in Europe. The scheme will also help create Unilever, Essar Oil UK, United Utilities, Port Sunlight skills and apprenticeships for young people, giving them The park will be a catalyst to attract potential employers Village Trust, The Wirral Autism Society and the »» UK’s largest resource recovery park a future on their doorstep. to the nearby Wirral International Business Park and Woodland Trust. »» Between 1,253 and 2,350 direct jobs and between 530 and will boost the local economy. The regeneration of the 914 indirect and induced jobs in each year of operation – The scheme will also transform the derelict docks in site will also help address a number of social, up to 3,264 jobs in total. Birkenhead into a world class waterfront that is alive environmental and health issues that currently challenge with activity, animating the water with both leisure and With direct access to the Manchester Ship Canal, the adjacent communities. industrial craft. initiative includes the potential to create a new 50 acre nature reserve adjacent to the Ince Park facility. The planning submission included outline details of a ‘Greening the City’ strategy, which centres on three major project opportunities:
1. Green grid – to introduce street tree planting to help establish a green grid across the existing gridiron.
2. ‘Working woodlands’ – to introduce native planting to deliver structural change across a diversity of fragmented sites.
3. Operational port – urban tree planting to help the screening of port operations.
Port Sunlight River Park Ince Park Wirral Waters Park 42 43 Existing Landscape Assets Parklands will support the work of partners managing and developing the value of the existing natural assets across the Atlantic Gateway
River Mersey Taskforce Cheshire Saltscape Bold Forest Park Delamere Sandscape In 2011, an independent report by the RT Hon the Lord Saltscape is a Landscape Partnership Scheme funded Bold Forest Park is an evolving idea to develop The Delamere Sandscape Partnership Project is a three- Heseltine CH and Sir Terry Leahy explored how the by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Cheshire West the woodlands and businesses of south St Helens year landscape scale joint initiative between Natural Liverpool City Region could build on its assets to help and Chester Council, and supported by dedicated as a place to visit and enjoy, bringing local jobs England, Cheshire Wildlife Trust and a range other local rebalance the economy. The authors recommended partners including Groundwork Cheshire, The Mersey and prosperity. partners including Cheshire West and Chester, Forestry that government should establish a Task Force Forest, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Canal and River Trust, Commission, Parish Council, the Sandstone Ridge comprising representatives from relevant Departments, Middlewich Town Council, The Weaverham Trust and The Forest Park area straddles the M62 between Trust, and local businesses such as quarry owners, golf experts and private companies to establish how a multi- The Weaver Valley Partnership. Junctions 7 and 8. At its heart are areas of community courses and landowners. purpose Mersey Barrage can be funded and how the woodland planted at the former colliery sites of Colliers River Mersey can become the world’s cleanest river in Saltscape is the unique landscape modified by industry, Moss, Clock Face and Sutton Manor. The proposed The aim of the project is to develop, in partnership an urban setting. This was recommended not only to stretching from Frodsham to Middlewich and Winsford park boundary also takes in woodland at Wheatacre, with key environmental bodies and local stakeholders, promote research and development in the renewable and taking in the River Weaver and the Trent and Maypole and Griffin Wood and a wider area of urban a detailed prospectus of opportunities for the energy sector, but to help create other wealth-creating Mersey Canal. This includes the built environment and fringe farmland. improvement of the ecological network of the infrastructure and business opportunities for British unique flora and fauna more associated to coastal and Delamere ‘sandsheet’ landscape, to secure funding and limestone habitats. The natural environment of the Forest Park area has commence implementation. business. A commitment followed in the 2012 Liverpool made huge strides over the past 20 years, and is now City Region Deal with government to examine how the The Weaver Valley includes many established heritage home to the Dream sculpture and a range of attractive The principal objective of the project is to restore the River Mersey can become the cleanest river in an urban features, including the Anderton Boat Lift and Lion Salt young woodlands and green spaces to explore. ‘Lost Meres and Mosses of Delamere’ beginning with setting by 2045. Works, ancient woodland and Middlewich Brine Pump. the Delamere’s Lost Mosses project, which aims A new vision for the Park is emerging: “By 2030 Bold The quality of River Mersey was transformed through Being progressed under four themes – Salt Legacy; to restore 120ha of transition mire and quaking bog Salt People; Salt Way; and Salt Skills – the initiative Forest Park will be at the heart of a thriving diverse habitat over the next four years. By joining up these the Mersey Basin Campaign. The EU Water Framework economy, providing a hub for family leisure and Directive aims to bring all inland and coastal water to seeks to demonstrate how all the natural and historic internationally important peatlands, ‘stepping stones’ features fit into the wider landscape. Saltscape seeks to adventure sport. The natural environment will be rich of quality habitats will be created to help species ‘Good Ecological Status’ by 2015. However, only a and diverse. A network of open spaces and routes quarter of English water bodies achieve this, and the connect people with the environment on their doorstep, like reptiles, butterflies and dragonflies, including opening up access to a whole range of experiences and accessible for all connects the Forest Park to the wider reintroducing the rare white-faced darter dragonfly. Mersey is not one of them. A further transformation countryside and link to our local communities.” to make the Mersey the cleanest river in an urban ensuring long-term sustainability through a network of Mosslands also host some very specialised plants such setting globally would put the City Region at the leading community groups. as sundew, bilberry, cranberry, bog rosemary and royal edge of technical best practice. And, as water security fern. Importantly, mosslands are a ‘carbon sink’ and becomes a major global issue, the attraction of having can store masses of carbon, so the initiative will play a global centre for improving water quality would be a a significant role in helping to limit the effects of significant economic asset, generating business and climate change. technological know-how that could be exported. The key challenge in meeting this aspiration will be the need continue to drive towards improving water quality across the Mersey’s entire basin.
Albert Dock Liverpool Cheshire Saltscape Bold Forest Park Delamere Sandscape 44 45 Strategic Flood Defence
Northwich Flood Risk Recovery Scheme Warrington Flood Risk Management Scheme Salford Flood Risk Management Scheme Revealing the River Roch Northwich town centre is at risk of flooding from the Warrington is at risk from tidal and river flooding – Salford has a long history of flooding from the River Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council and the Rivers Dane and Weaver. This risk became reality infact records of flooding date back to 1767. The most Irwell, with significant floods occurring in 1946, 1954 Environment Agency are delivering a project to remove in 2000 when Northwich experienced severe significant recent flood events were in February 1990 and 1980. The existing flood walls, embankments a section of the culvert over the River Roch in Rochdale flooding – 30 properties were flooded and main and October/November 2000. In February 1990, the and flood storage area on the River Irwell protect town centre. The project will: roads had to close. River Mersey over-topped its banks flooding Knutsford around 1,900 homes and businesses in Lower Kersal Road, with properties in Westy, Latchford, Howley, and Lower Broughton. These were refurbished along »» expose the surviving phases of the historic Rochdale Bridge thought to date back to the 14th Century. It is The Environment Agency and Cheshire West and Arpley Bridge and Lower Walton were all flooded. the River Irwell in 2013 by placing large stone blocks Chester Council have secured funding to construct possible that once restored it will become a scheduled against the river bank, known as a rock wedges, monument or listed building. a sustainable flood risk management scheme in The Environment Agency is building a £23m flood between Trinity Way and Hugh Oldham Drive. Northwich, which will reduce flood risk to around 700 alleviation scheme for around 2,000 homes and »» improve the ecological value of this section of the river, local homes and businesses and encourage economic businesses, in partnership with Warrington Borough The Environment Agency is planning to build a second currently at poor status in the context of the EU Water growth. The plans will fit in with the Northwich Vision Council. The scheme will construct a series of walls flood storage area upstream of Salford, on the site of Framework Directive (WFD). Natural features will regeneration plan for the town. They will be funded by and embankments along the River Mersey and its the old racecourse in Castle Irwell. It will store water be exposed and/or introduced on the bed and banks a special growth fund established after extensive tributaries and work has finished building the first phase from the River Irwell when it is in flood and prevent including vegetation, gravels and natural bank materials, providing improved habitat for fish, invertebrates, plants flooding across the UK in 2012 for the construction of along the banks of the River Mersey at Knutsford Road it flowing downstream and flooding properties in and mammals. flood defences that encourage economic growth. and Victoria Park in Latchford. Salford. For the majority of time, the flood storage area will be a local recreation space, so demonstrating »» contribute to an improved town centre public realm, Final designs for the scheme will be submitted for There is also a new and improved entrance to Victoria the multifunctional nature of green infrastructure connecting the community with its watercourse, and planning approval in summer 2014 so that construction Park. Built by the Environment Agency, it utilises the in supporting communities and the economy. providing an important link to bring the Roch Valley way can begin in spring 2015, for completion in winter 2016. capacity of this significant Green Infrastructure asset as footpath through the centre of the town. Revitalising Construction will begin in early 2015 and is due to be Greater Manchester Town Centres is a key ambition for part of the scheme. These flood defences were put to completed in 2016. the test during a major tidal surge in December 2013, the GMCA and LEP. they prevented hundreds of homes and businesses »» help to reduce food risk in Rochdale town centre from flooding, so defending people and the economy. particularly from surface water. Rochdale was identified by Defra as one of the highest risk urban areas and a The Environment Agency has also started building the first round priority for surface water management plan second phase of flood defences in Howley. Work began funding. in January 2014 and should be completed by November 2014. The new flood walls and road ramps will extend from Riverside Retail Park to Howley Lane.
Flooding in Northwich Warrington Flood Risk Management Scheme Revealing the Roch 46 47 Water Quality Investments
United Utilities United Utilities is spending approximately £3.5 b across On Merseyside: the north west on its water infrastrcuture network. This targeted investment is designed to make the regional »» Billinge – to reduce nutrients entering the water course, improving the ecology and amenity value of the water network more resilient to the effects of climate water body. change, to reduce the risk of drought and to continually improve drinking water quality. »» Burscough – to ensure that we can accommodate current and future increases in population in the area. Davyhulme Wastewater Treatment works is one of »» Hesketh Bank – to contribute to improvements at St the largest wastewater treatment plants in Europe. Annes, St Annes North, Southport, Blackpool South and United Utilities are investing approximately £220m Ribble bathing waters. at Davyhulme to modernise and upgrade the plant, »» Sandon Dock/Wellington Dock, which is due to complete in which will help reduce the ammonia concentration in 2015 to improve the treatment of Liverpool’s wastewater. the effluent to meet the Freshwater Fish and Water Framework Directives in the Manchester Ship Canal. In addition to the major programme of improvements at Other significant water quality investments in the Davyhulme, in Greater Manchester: Atlantic Gateway region – all of which are focussed »» Oldham / Royton – to contribute to improvements in the on the treatment of wastewater but await final local water courses, increasing opportunities for a wider determination from Ofwat – include: variety of fish species. In Cheshire: »» Whaley Bridge – to ensure that, as a result of population growth in the area, the quality of the River Goyt does not »» Winsford – investment is being made to ensure current suffer. and future increases in population are adequately catered »» Altrincham – to reduce nutrients entering the water for, and that appropriate reduction are made to the course, improving the ecology and amenity value of the nutrients entering the water course. water body. »» Northwich, Oakmere and Cuddington (Lower Weaver) – similarly, major schemes are being delivered to ensure the water use needs of a growing popultation are met. Again this investment includes targeting measures to reduce nutrients entering the water course. »» Nantwich and Crewe – schemes are being delivered that will reduce nutrients entering the water course thereby improving the ecology and amenity value of the water body.
Davyhulme Water Treatment plant, where £220m is currently being invested by United Utilities to improve the water quality of the Manchester Ship Canal (Image: United Utilities) 48 49 Part 4: Delivering the Next Steps Benefits
Leadership Delivery mechanisms Innovation The Atlantic Gateway Partnership Board leads the Atlantic Gateway Parklands can be substantially New opportunities are being actively explored including strategy. The Board comprises business and political delivered – over the next twenty five years – by delivery transnational collaborations, carbon offsetting and representatives from the three LEP areas – Liverpool mechanism in the public, private and third sectors. environmental amelioration budgets around major City Region, Greater Manchester and Cheshire To maximise the benefits of experience, and achieve infrastructure programmes. Between them, the delivery and Warrington and leading business people from best value, partner organisations in the private, public partners have unrivalled experience in assembling companies including AECOM, ARUP, BT, Langtree, and third sectors will be engaged. Exceptionally, new complex and robust funding packages. Peel, Stobart, Tata, United Utilities. This creates organisations, mechanisms and partnerships may need unrivalled opportunities for influence and connections to to be established to exploit opportunities that should In the short term, Atlantic Gateway’s own Community be deployed to support the delivery of Atlantic Gateway not be missed. Environment Fund – a voluntary contribution by Parklands. developers – is being focused so as to lever other funds Timescales such as European Structural Funds, local authority Expertise funds (including S106), private sector investment, Atlantic Gateway Parklands is a long-term vision with special funding streams in the health, environmental The Board’s expert sub-group for sustainability, the a timescale of at least 25 years through successive and transport sectors. Atlantic Gateway Sustainability and Environment Group governments and changing economic, societal and (AGSEG), draws on expertise from the Government’s institutional circumstances and opportunities. Its Organisation ‘Defra family’ led by Environment Agency and is landscape scale and level of ambition is of national and recognised as a national ‘Single Voice Pilot’. Its expert international significance. The Atlantic Gateway Partnership has two ‘accountable membership includes Community Forests, Land bodies’ for the management of funding – Warrington Trust, Peel and United Utilities. Importantly, it also has There are funding possibilities from Europe, from Borough Council in the public sector and the representation from their Local Nature Partnerships: government and business nationally and from within Community Forest Trust in the third sector. Programme the region. Some of these are short-term and tactical, and project delivery is through partners in all sectors. »» Cheshire and Warrington LNP others are long-term related to the economic cycle and »» Greater Manchester Natural Capital Group the scale and pace of investment in the area. Parklands must continue to champion the vision throughout and »» Nature Connected in Liverpool City Region LEP remain ‘investment ready’. Partners in all sectors including:
»» Canal and River Trust »» Community Forest Trust »» Groundwork »» Land Trust »» Peel Group »» United Utilities »» Wildlife Trusts
And as a government Single Voice Pilot with:
»» Environment Agency »» Forestry Commission »» Natural England
The Atlantic Gateway Parklands workshop session, The Greenhouse, MediaCityUK, 9 December 2013 50 51 Community Environment Fund
Atlantic Gateway Community Partnership and project sustainability Environment Fund Proposals must be supported by a strong partnership, Clear and convincing plans for the future sustainability Atlantic Gateway’s Community Environment Fund (CEF) The focus of CEF is on environmental improvement in terms of breadth of partners and their commitment of the project (including management and maintenance) is innovative: a new way of stimulating environmental projects that: to delivering the intended benefits. Direct and indirect must be in place, together with evidence of the improvement directly linked to Atlantic Gateway funding from partners is a primary consideration, organisational and financial commitments that will be Parklands strategic priorities. It has been supported by »» enable smart adaptation and mitigation in response to as is the strength, diversity and ambition of the required to ensure these will be implemented in full. climate change; the Peel Group with an initial £290,000 and is open to all partnership, and the track record of successful delivery developers and businesses as a smart way of investing »» support the multiple benefits of enhanced ecological of similar projects. in the environment. The first projects have been in systems and wildlife; Liverpool City Region LEP (GreenPrint to Growth) and in »» help to improve perceptions of place by businesses, Greater Manchester (Port Salford Greenway). residents and visitors; »» provide space for leisure, recreation, play, culture, sport The rationale and events; Development affects local communities as well as local »» connect people to employment, education, leisure and environments. Environmental improvement and physical each other; development need to be progressed together to »» engage people and deliver health benefits; maximise investment opportunities and create jobs, as well as improving local environments and communities. »» strengthen the provision of sustainable infrastructure The concept of CEF is a voluntary levy of 1% on capital relating to power, water and waste to add capacity for the investment by partners in the Atlantic Gateway area. growth of key sectors; and This is a contribution to environmental improvement »» strengthen the resilience of environmental systems to deal for the benefit of local communities to ensure that they with fooding and other challenges. realise environmental gains as a positive contribution in addition to the economic advantages of developement. Project impact Working closely with third sector organisations, CEF is leveraged and used to secure additional resources such Projects enabled by CEF funding are expected to as public sector funding, sponsorship, and volunteer achieve multiple outcomes: input. This is facilitated by Community Forest Trust – »» Outcomes for the local economy: appointed by Atlantic Gateway as its agent for CEF. »» contributing to making Atlantic Gateway ‘investment ready’ to attract investors and visitors Priorities and scope »» providing local employment and enterprise opportunities CEF is open to diverse projects and initiatives provided »» Outcomes for the environment: that they contribute significantly to the Atlantic Gateway vision, objectives and priorities as well as meeting local »» improving or maintaining environmental quality needs and aspirations. Projects are considered on their »» securing one or more of the environmental merits – their value, quality, connectivity, productivity improvements listed above and resilience – to secure strong environmental »» Outcomes for the local community: outcomes that maximise economic and social benefits. »» making the local area / community a better place to A key objective of Atlantic Gateway’s ‘Sustainability’ live, work or visit theme is to promote sustainable economic growth by »» engaging local people promoting a landscape scale approach to environmental sustainability issues. »» encouraging participation in and adoption of the local environment »» Outcomes for the Atlantic Gateway as a whole: »» advancing the Atlantic Gateway Parklands concept »» positioning the project as an exemplar so as to inspire and motivate others »» raising the profile of the opportunities presented by Atlantic Gateway investments
Visualisation of Port Salford Greenway (BDP) 52 53 Conclusion
The mission of Atlantic Gateway Parklands is the continuing transformation of the landscape and environment from post-industrial neglect and dereliction to places that are clean, green, liveable, healthy and successful – by the best world standards. The vision of our Landscape for Prosperity means resilient places that benefit from green and blue infrastructure to meet changing climate and societal demands.
Delivering this agenda demands a generational timescale and a joined–up, systems approach from all with a stake in Atlantic Gateway and its outstanding potential.
Our recommendations:
To investors, business and the development industries: Developments in Atlantic Gateway should contribute positively to green infrastructure and environmental improvement in their own interests as well as those of the local economies and communities. Atlantic Gateway’s Community Environment Fund provides a mechanism to add value to financial contributions by investors, developers and businesses.
For planning and economic development: The vital importance of natural capital and environmental quality must be mainstreamed in strategies and decisions.
To the third and environmental sectors: Accelerate the pace of collaboration and innovation to increase influence and impact and intensify delivery.
To the European Union: Continue to emphasise the importance of green and blue infrastructure and ensure that this is reflected in the deployment of European funds by the responsible bodies.
To the UK Government: Confirm Atlantic Gateway as a unique opportunity to contribute significantly to re-balancing the economy. Support the development of Atlantic Gateway Parklands as a special initiative of national importance by aligning commitment, resources and the engagement of government and its agencies to its delivery.
With a concerted effort, partnership working and a planned approach, the transformation from grey to green can be achieved. Over the next five years, progress will be demonstrated by the delivery of the flagship environmental initiatives exemplified in this report with the economic, community and environmental benefits that they create. 54 55 Credits and Acknowledgements
Many organisations and individuals have contributed »» Mark Baker, University of Manchester »» Peter Nears, Peel Group »» Iain Taylor, Peel Group to the development of the proposals for Atlantic Gateway Parklands – the Landscape for Prosperity. »» Peter Batey, University of Liverpool »» Simon Nokes, New Economy Manchester »» John Thompson, Environment Agency Their contributions have been made through expert »» Gideon Ben-Tovim, Nature Connected, »» Paul Nolan, The Mersey Forest »» Richard Tracey, Liverpool Vision workshops, one-to-one discussions and participation Liverpool City Region in Atlantic Gateway’s Sustainability and Environment »» Vicky O’Kelly, ESTA »» Mark Ward, Groundwork Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Group (AGSEG). »» Anthony Benson, Allies and Morrison Urban Practitioners Tameside and Trafford »» Kathryn Piggott, Arup »» Peter Bishop, Allies and Morrison Urban Practitioners »» Susan Williams, Atlantic Gateway Allies and Morrison: Urban Practitioners and Creative »» Richard Scott, Landlife Concern have been integral parts of the team. The »» Carmel Booth, Atlantic Gateway »» Ian Wray, University of Liverpool Environment Agency has provided valuable support »» Anne Selby, Natural Capital Group, Greater Manchester throughout. Lord Heseltine kindly agreed to contribute »» Victoria Buzza, Salford City Council »» Andy Yuille, Northwest Environment Link »» Mandy Sibthorpe, Cheshire Region Local Nature Partnership his thoughts to our launch video. »» Jeremy Carter, University of Manchester »» and the main Board of Atlantic Gateway Partnership »» Alison Ball, Arup This continues to be work in progress – Parklands v 1.0. »» Mark Chadwick, Environment Agency
Walter Menzies, Chair, Atlantic Gateway Sustainability »» Neil Clark, Natural England and Environment Group, June 2014 »» Gary Collins, Cheshire & Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership
»» Steve Connor, Creative Concern
»» Neil Cumberlidge, Secretary AGSEG
»» Andy Darron, Groundwork Lancashire West and Wigan
»» Rachel Goodwin, Environment Agency
»» Dan Griffiths, Environment Agency
»» Jill Griffiths, Creative Concern
»» Euan Hal, Land Trust
»» Verner Hofer, University of Liverpool
»» Todd Holden, ENWORKS
»» Will Horsfall, Natural Capital Group, Greater Manchester
»» Kate Hughes, Environment Agency
»» Suzanne Hughes, Land Trust
»» Alan Jemmett, Nature Connected, Liverpool City Region
»» Keith Jones, Forestry Commission
»» Mark Knowles, Liverpool City Region LEP
»» Chris Kora, Cheshire Region Local Nature Partnership
»» Garry Legg, Warrington Borough Council
»» Chris Matthews, United Utilities
»» Walter Menzies, Chair AGSEG
»» Martin Moss, Natural England
The Atlantic Gateway Parklands workshop session, The Greenhouse, MediaCityUK, 9 December 2013 56 57
Map
58 www.atlanticgateway.co.uk