Green Infrastructure in the Liverpool City Region
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Green PETER MORTON Infrastructure DIRECTOR MERSEY WATERFRONT REGIONAL PARK in the Liverpool City Region THE MERSEY PARTNERSHIP Economic Growth & Investment Recreation & Leisure Land & Property Values Quality of Place Labour Productivity GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE Land & GREEN INTERVENTIONS Biodiversity INFRASTRUCTURE Tourism INTERVENTIONS Flood Products alleviation & from the Management Land Climate Change Health & Adaption & Wellbeing Mitigation Businesses attract and retain more Economic motivated staff in greener settings Growth & Footpaths, cycle paths and Investment Recreation bridleways enable healthy, low cost & Leisure recreation Views of natural landscapes can Land & Add up to 18% to property values Property Values Quality of Community-owned green spaces can Place create jobs for local people Green spaces near workplaces reduce sickness absence increasing Labour Productivity productivity GREEN Green Infrastructure provides vital INFRASTRUCTURE Land & INTERVENTIONS Biodiversity habitats and jobs managing land Rural Tourism supports 37,500 jobs in the Northwest Tourism Flood Urban green spaces reduce pressure Products alleviation & on drainage and flood defences 40,000 people work in agricultures in from the Management the Northwest Land Climate Green Infrastructure can counter Green Infrastructure reduces pollution Change soaring summer temperatures in Health & Adaption & Which leads to asthma and heart Mitigation cities disease Wellbeing History Is green space a strategic issue? “After 1848 the cities tended to acquire [fountains, squares, promenades, trees and churches] but in the first generations of industrialization they had very little of it, unless by chance they had inherited traditions of gracious public building or open spaces” Ian Wray (Eric Hobsbawm) Head of Planning, Transport and Housing Northwest Regional Development Agency An old tradition? 5th December 2008 Civilisation Why green space matters in the 21st century city a) the economic/amenity case: “The measure of any great civilisation is to be found in its cities, The UKs post industrial economy and a measure of a city’s greatness is to be found in the quality of its public spaces, its parks, and its squares” (Ruskin) The rise of India and China From making goods, to attracting and keeping people: - As tourists and visitors Did the 19th or even 20th century city need environmental quality to succeed? - As students - As talented workers - As parents Why green space matters in the 21st century city Knowledge based business b) the sustainable development case: Means one thing – brainpower, Successful, talented, educated, discriminating people we must use our legs more and our cars less or we will all get sick, as will the planet In increasing demand (and a greener city will mitigate rising temperatures) But falling in supply (demographics and retirement) What the US gurus say… What the US gurus say… “The demand for creative workers will continue to grow because they are the masters of innovation…competition is fuelling even A Wall Street Journal survey of 4000 recent college graduates greater demand for their services…these jobs are likely to pay found that three quarters thought location was more important increasingly well” (Robert Reich - once Bill Clinton’s Labour than availability of a job in selecting a place to live Secretary) “Cities have become the prime location for the creative lifestyle and the amenities that go with it…and re emerged as centres of creativity and incubators of innovation…” (Richard Florida) Exploring the environmental science case… Key issues for the built environment Green space benefits • evaporative cooling • coastal and river related flooding • rainwater interception • subsidence, wind and storm damage • infiltration and ‘soakaway’ • warm summers and human comfort Cities have reduced green space Climate change strengthens the urban heat island effect and all these have economic consequences increases surface run off issue (Adapted from Strategies for Climate Change in the Urban Environment – Handley and Carter, 2006) (Adapted from Strategies for Climate Change in the Urban Environment – Handley and Carter, 2006) Human comfort Rising demand for green space • high emission scenarios up to 2080 showed city centre • enjoying warm conditions population exposed to high temperatures • over a longer season and into the evening • medium high scenario shows number of hot days at Manchester Airport rises from 5 days to 45 days • need to access open air, wind and shade • what happens when people get too hot? • need to access cool external environments from uncomfortable warm residential properties in evening or at night • social implications? • adaptive behaviour • economic implications? • positive feedback via air con Greater Manchester: maximum surface temperature Greater Manchester: evapotranspiring surface Maximum surface temperature in high density residential with plus or minus 10% green cover “adding 10% green cover keeps maximum surface temperatures in high density residential and town centres at or below the 1961 – 1990 current case up until 2080 high” The Fifth Critical Infrastructure • Infrastructure – the basic physical and organisational structures needed for the operation of society or enterprise (Oxford English Dictionary). Green Infrastructure and Natural England • The 4 Critical Infrastructures; Pam Warhurst, Board Member, Natural England. • Transport. • Water. • Power. • Waste. • The 5th Critical is Green! Green Infrastructure for Sustainable Green Infrastructure for the Natural Economy. Communities. • Green Infrastructure is critical for • Green Infrastructure is critical for the creation and maintenance of the creation and maintenance of Sustainable Communities. Natural Economies. • Healthy exercise – helping to • Helps reduce illness and stress reduce heart disease, obesity levels leading to fewer lost days. levels etc. • Helps manage environmental • Recreation – reducing stress, hazards cutting risks and clean up enabling children’s play – adults costs. need to play too! • Helps improve image, • Healthier living environments – investment, bring in and retain improving air quality, reducing skills and businesses and so noise pollution, creating attractive supporting competitiveness. places to live. • Supports growth and • Contact with nature – how regeneration – but it isn’t free important is that? Just ask and it doesn’t just happen – it anyone who enjoys Springwatch! takes good long term planning, strategic investment and a commitment to ongoing • The green stuff is at the heart of improvement. providing a good Quality of Life. Green Infrastructure for robust Ecosystem Services. Activity in the NW • Green Infrastructure is critical for • What’s been going on? robust Ecosystem Services. • Ecological networks that support • Talking – discussion and biodiversity. communication. • Spatial planning- local to • Cities and towns that are adapting to regional. climate change – increased storminess, intense rainfall events, • The Economy – Natural health threatening temperatures and Economy NW – the role of GI heat island effects. in economic development, growth and regeneration. • To support move to low carbon economy. • Climate Change – the role of GI in coping with change. • Need to understand relationships • Growth Points – Housing between the environment and our Growth and the challenge of social and economic activities. developing more sustainable communities. • Mitigate for any damaging impacts. Maximise opportunities. The need for partnership. The need for planning. • A more systems based approach to planning this infrastructure. • Broad agenda. • A variety of scales. • A sub-regional framework to • Can deliver for a variety of stakeholders. give the bigger picture. • Needs to be integrated • More focussed work in districts. approach. • Joined up working. • Area focussed work to address specific needs and opportunities. The economic driver. Adapting to change. • Our climate is changing. • Seek to maximise the 11 key • Need to climate proof our benefits. cities and towns. • Ensure GI plays a role in delivering City Region • GI has a role in mitigation but a bigger one in adaptation. aspirations. • The need for sustainable • Anticipate and plan to cope growth and regeneration. with probable increased storminess, rain storms and heat events. • Robust city centres and protected vulnerable communities. Growth Points. The task ahead. • Two Growth Points in Merseyside. • Join up the thinking. • GI a condition of approval. • Build capacity of existing structures and organisations – • Need to develop more sustainable communities. avoid reinventing wheels. • Applies to all communities. • Develop a jointly agreed approach which will set a common • Engagement of people in planning, delivering and agenda and system of priorities. maintaining a better quality of live. • Remember that the final product goes beyond policies and • Underpin the Merseyside offer as a place to live. strategies – it is important to people in their everyday lives. Planned, delivered and maintained like other Natural England want to help. forms of infrastructure. • Good progress on the GI agenda being made across the NW. • Today will help to continue that in Merseyside. • Not starting from scratch – a lot of good work already done. • But the challenges for the environment, the economy and the community remain. • Need to up our game and raise our sights. The Economic Benefits of The Economic Benefits of GREEN GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INFRASTRUCTURE NERYS