Investing in Natural Capital Creating the Right Environment for Economic Investment

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Investing in Natural Capital Creating the right environment for economic investment

June 2017 HNP proof 2.qxp_Layout 1 25/05/2017 14:37 Page 3

Picture: Flying Knot

Industry and nature in harmony in one of Europe’s great estuaries HNP proof 2.qxp_Layout 1 25/05/2017 14:37 Page 4

Contents

Executive Summary ...... 4

1 Introducing natural capital ...... 6

2 The economic value of the Humber’s natural capital ...... 7 Theme 1 - Flood risk management: Protecting life and ...... 9 property through investment in natural capital Theme 2 - Ports and Shipping: The role of Spurn National ...... 10 Nature Reserve in protecting the shipping lanes of the Humber Theme 3 - Health and wellbeing: The value of the natural ...... 11 environment to human health Theme 4 - Property values: The critical role of the natural ...... 11 environment in supporting property asset values Theme 5 - Nature Tourism: Building the nature tourism ...... 12 economy Theme 6 - Towards a low carbon future: Carbon storage in ...... 13 the Humber estuary

3 A natural capital vision for the Humber ...... 14

4 Achieving industry and nature in harmony ...... 17 4.1 Investing in natural capital alongside economic ...... 17 development 4.2 Investing in natural capital alongside flood risk ...... 18 management 4.3 Investing in natural capital alongside developing the ...... 20 tourist economy 4.4 Investing in natural capital alongside access and ...... 22 soft transport

5 About Humber Nature Partnership ...... 23

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Executive Summary

The waters of the Humber Estuary Capital investment and great opportunities for exercise and create a dynamic landscape. Its maintenance costs make the recreation. A first class attraction lies in a constantly prospect of an impregnable flood environment will help to attract changing appearance and mood barrier for the whole estuary and hold on to first class due to the tide, changing coastal uneconomic. Working with the entrepreneurs, improve property weather and human activity. The environment can alleviate some of values and attract a healthy and hinterlands of the estuary have a these costs. For example by taking willing work force. rich cultural heritage and a sense advantage of the coastal habitats of remoteness and peace close to which reduce wave energy allowing The internationally important major urban areas that have grown smaller, cheaper defences. We have habitats and the hundreds of around the Estuary. Wildlife of to tackle climate change and thousands of birds and other wild international importance, nature working with the environment will creatures that depend on them are reserves, country parks and major help us to achieve this at least cost. an economic asset in their own visitor attractions are significant right. Nature tourism is one of the destinations and sites of particular The Humber ports, together some fastest growing sectors in the UK. interest for visitors. The estuary is of the most important trading Locally, it is worth about £9 million a unifying presence: a special infrastructure in the UK were not a year, benefitting some of the resource for access and enjoyment located here by luck. They are hardest to reach sections of our and has a significant potential taking advantage of the unique communities, but this income could value to the area, to the wellbeing topographical environment of the readily be doubled with the right and health of the people who live estuary. The estuary’s shape offers investment. in and around the estuary, for calm waters and safe haven. Spurn recreation and critically as the peninsula protects the estuary This document illustrates why bedrock of the local economy from the worst of the North Sea investment in natural capital is a based on its ports, industry, storms. It ensures the deep water critical part of any attempt to agriculture and settlements. channel, so vital to the ports, is improve the prosperity and quality maintained only by moderate of life of the Humber’s communities The flat lands of much of the dredging. We shouldn’t take these and also to meet the challenges of estuary hinterland are perfect for assets for granted. climate change. It sets out a series development, however, as with of themes where natural capital many other low lying areas of the Whilst jobs and prosperity are a currently supports the Humber’s country, they are prone to flooding. priority, a happy, healthy work economy and highlights Events such as those of the 5th force is also a huge investment opportunities where natural capital December 2013 have shown that draw. Access to green space, to can be enhanced to ensure the we simply can’t afford to build our fresh air and to wild places is future economic potential of the way out of the predicament. proven to lift the spirits and offer Humber.

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In order to secure this future potential Humber Nature Partnership calls on strategists, planners and decisions makers with the ability to deliver change around the Humber to work together to:

1 Create a single inclusive, all-encompassing vision for the Humber which addresses the needs for • Sustainable economic growth • Social well-being and community cohesion • Well-managed natural capital

2 Rebuild the image of the Humber as a 21st century landscape, where fully integrated, multi- purpose planning provides the best environmental settings and the right skills and services to attract high quality investment.

3 Invest directly in natural capital projects to maximise the value of these overlooked resources to the economic prosperity of the region and for the benefit of all.

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1. Introducing Natural Capital

Natural capital is defined by the Government’s Natural Natural capital underpins our economy in exactly the 6 Capital Committee1 as: same way that financial and human capital is required to enable economic activity. Increasingly, economists “Those elements of nature which either are beginning to understand the value of natural directly provide benefits or underpin capital in sustaining prosperous economies, while also understanding the risks of degrading natural capital. human wellbeing." For example, Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England2, noted that the insurance costs for extreme The term natural capital therefore embraces the more weather events had already increased five-fold since immediately obvious assets associated with land the 1980s and these are now factored into insurance (such as woodlands, fields and urban parks), the premiums. In 2011 the Government committed to water environment (for example, rivers, lakes, working with Office for National Statistics to groundwater and seas) and the atmosphere (for incorporate natural capital into the UK Environmental example, clean air and an equable climate). However, Accounts by 2020 so that the benefits of nature would natural capital also includes the myriad processes be better recognised3. which underpin and generate the services which the natural environment provides (for example, the water cycle, soil fertility processes and atmospheric gas exchange). Therefore, natural capital comprises, quite literally, a wealth of component parts; parts whose sum underpins not only all economic activity but life on earth itself.

If properly measured and managed, the living aspects of natural capital, at least, can continue to provide these (ecosystem) services and benefits indefinitely. Whilst some of the benefits can be measured and are clear to see (for example, timber has a market price), others are difficult to quantify and are often invisible in our day to day lives. This often results in natural capital not being properly accounted for in decisions about what to produce and consume; the risk being that we fail to manage it sustainably. In many cases, we are only just beginning to gain the level of understanding necessary to measure the enormous economic value of our natural capital.

Natural Capital Committee (2013) The State of Natural Capital. HM Government. 1 www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/Pages/speeches/2015/844.aspx 2 The Natural Choice: securing the value of nature. HM Government White Paper (2011) 3 HNP proof 2.qxp_Layout 1 25/05/2017 14:37 Page 8

2. The economic value of the Humber’s natural capital 7 The Humber is an extraordinary region – one that is Humber Strategic Economic Plan still teeming with wildlife yet also has the potential to “The Humber has a rich ecosystem. Green and blue power the economy of the Northern Powerhouse. That infrastructure should be promoted to support wider the region is exceptionally vulnerable to flooding economic development objectives. This includes the serves to emphasise the importance of sustaining the role of green and blue infrastructure in providing natural flood defence function of the natural system. tourism assets, enhancing land and property values Natural capital sustains primary production as well as and supporting job creation and health and well- fundamentally important parts of the economy such being. Through properly considered environmental as property asset values, tourism and shipping. assessment, the introduction of flood alleviation schemes can both be designed to increase The Humber Strategic Economic Plan sets out how the biodiversity through careful management of the Humber Energy Estuary can help Britain meet its land and intertidal areas. Inland flood measures can climate change targets, through the development of improve water quality and associated biodiversity. the renewable energy industry and recognises the Sustainable drainage design can recharge our water importance of the Humber’s natural systems in resources reducing production and transportation supporting the area’s future prosperity. costs of this precious resource”. p88, Humber Strategic Economic Plan (2014) The natural capital of the Humber region should not be seen as something to ‘balance off against’ or constrain economic growth, rather that it is essential to economic growth through, for example, a healthier and more productive workforce enjoying good access to greenspace, to promote inward investment, or through the judicious deployment of legislation that helps to ensure development is sited appropriately and the natural capital of the estuary is not diminished. Economic strategies for the Humber must therefore recognise the fundamental importance of the Humber’s natural capital and facilitate investment in that natural capital or risk failing to secure the Humber’s huge future economic potential.

Port of Hull - ABP/Karl Andre

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Protecting the Estuary Asset The Regulations do not aim to the main, working well, but more The Habitats Regulations are the exclude socio-economic activity can be done to ensure the cornerstones of the UK’s but to ensure sustainable protections of sites and species. biodiversity policy for the development – development that Recommendations to streamline conservation and sustainable does not compromise the needs of some processes have been put into 8 development of the ‘Natura 2000’ future generations. The regulatory place on the Humber. network of Special Areas of systems that underpin the Conservation (habitats – SACs) protection of these sites are set up It is critical that we understand the and Special Protection Areas (for to enable a logical, transparent role of natural capital in sustaining birds – SPAs). The Habitats and evidence-based step-by-step the prosperity of the Humber Regulations give us a policy process to ensure sustainable region especially given its grounding to help protect the most development. Developers can see a sensitivity to flooding. The value of precious natural sites and rare clear audit trail and be assured natural capital to the Humber’s species, provide a level playing that decisions have not beenRedshank taken economy and ultimately to the field for business and are part of arbitrarily but on the basis of health, well-being and prosperity upholding better environmental scientific evidence. Reviews of the of the region can be divided into six standards. Regulations show that they are, in main themes. The Humber Estuary European Marine Site

KINGSTON UPON HULL

GOOLE

BARTON UPON HUMBER

The Humber Estuary European Marine Site

The Humber Estuary is recognised as one of GRIMSBY & CLEETHORPES the most important estuaries in Europe for wildlife and is designated as a European Marine Site.

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landward defences from 12m to • A very large flood storage area only 3m (resulting)...in capital cost Theme 1 and volume, which helps defer Flood risk management: savings of £2,600 – £4,600 per defence improvements, and Protecting life and property metre of seawall (1994 prices). reduces the impacts of flooding through investment in natural More recent Environment Agency in this part of the Humber 9 capital guideline average costs of building • Improved access to quality seawalls are £1,522 per metre environments The Humber’s saltmarsh habitat is (Environment Agency 2007); • Benefits for the community one of the Estuary’s protected scaling this figure by coastline and local businesses features, under the auspices of the length of saltmarsh, rather than • A diverse range of habitats. Habitats and Birds Directives. area, gives a capital cost saving of Fifty different species of birds There are 630 hectares of £2.17 billion on sea defence for and huge overall numbers have saltmarsh on the Humber, England.” been recorded using the site. accounting for 2% of estuarine Alkborough Flats also provides area, compared to a national Alkborough Flats managed a valuable fish nursery area. average of 6%. Saltmarsh, realignment site was conceived mudflats and other intertidal as part of the Humber Flood Risk habitats are natural flood Management Strategy as an Modelling shows that Alkborough defences. They act as buffers, opportunity to maintain Flats significantly reduced the offering protection to our internationally important wildlife impacts of the December 2013 coastlines by absorbing wave assets and deliver tidal flood tidal flood reducing the flood energy. Recent research shows storage. It was built in 2004-5 volume by about 7% and that saltmarsh is very effective at and opened in 2006, costing Environment Agency work to reducing the impact of severe £10.2m. The site is 440ha of assess the broader services floods, when waves and water which 170 ha are regularly provided by the Alkborough Flats levels are highest4. Protecting, inundated and the site as a whole scheme estimates that it yields an enhancing and creating this is designed to fill occasionally for enhanced benefit to cost ratio of intertidal habitat, and allowing flood storage purposes. 3.22, based on a very conservative it to adapt is a priority. It provides: valuation5. Managed realignment sites like Alkborough Flats and Donna Nook are a response to this priority, and form part of the overall strategy for managing the risks to communities from tidal flooding.

The UK Natural Ecosystems Assessment (2011) sets out the importance of saltmarsh for protecting economic assets from the impact of tidal flooding.

“Under average tidal inundation depths, up to 50% of wave energy is dissipated in the first 10 – 20m of a vegetated saltmarsh surface while an 80m strip can reduce the height of a seawall needed for

Humber Flood Risk Management Strategy flood cells- Environment Agency

Möller,I; Kudella, M; Rupprecht, F; Spencer, T; Paul, M; van Wesenbeeck, B.K; Wolters, G; Jensen, K; Bouma, T.J.;Miranda-Lange, M; Schimmels (2014) Wave attenuation over 4 coastal salt marshes under storm surge conditions, Nature Geoscience, 7, 727–731 Everard, Mark (2009) Ecosystem services case studies: Better regulation science programme. In house Environment Agency Study 5 HNP proof 2.qxp_Layout 1 25/05/2017 14:37 Page 11

Humber deep-water channels Goole) is the UK’s busiest trading Theme 2 would be catastrophic to the UK estuary, with around 30,000 Ports and Shipping: The role of and Humber economy. commercial shipping movements Spurn National Nature Reserve in every year, representing some 17% protecting the shipping lanes of As an island, Britain is dependent of the UK’s seaborne trade. This 10 the Humber on its ports and their associated trade contributes about £2.2 supply chains to maintain our billion to the UK economy every An essential part of the Humber quality of life and economic year, including £1.5 billion to the port infrastructure is the natural wellbeing. 95% of all of the UK’s Humber region, supporting ca. processes which take place to form imports flow through the UK's 23,000 jobs in the region and an the network of deep-water ports. Associated British Ports ca. 33,000 jobs nationally. For channels that allow the movement (ABP) is the UK’s largest port example, fuel brought in through of commercial shipping. The spit at operator handling about a quarter Hull and Immingham supplies Spurn acts as a natural of the UK’s seaborne trade through about 10% of the UK’s energy breakwater for the estuary, without its 21 ports. Of these, the Humber needs, whilst Immingham is which the essential deepwater (serviced by four main ports at responsible for about 28% of the channels would silt up. Losing the Grimsby, Immingham, Hull and UK’s oil refining capacity.

Spurn National Nature Reserve – George Stoyle

Humber Nature Partnership

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community benefit. People are environment provides benefits for Theme 3 thought to feel the benefits our health through better air Health and wellbeing: The value of through exposure to nature, by quality, temperature regulation, the natural environment to human providing space for social contact cleaner water and reduced risk of health and providing places for physical flooding. For example, air pollution 11 activity. reduces the average life The economic and social costs of expectancy by 6 months per mental illness in England are People who live within 500m of person – a loss valued at £16.4 estimated at £105.2 billion for the accessible green space are 24 per million per year8. It is estimated year 2009/2010. There is much cent more likely to meet that urban air-quality causes evidence that people with better recommended levels of physical 40,000 premature deaths a year access to the natural environment activity. Reducing the sedentary and reduces productivity, which tend to be happier and less prone population by just 1 per cent would together costs the economy at to mental illness. Reduced health reduce morbidity and mortality least £20 billion per annum6. It treatment costs alone of £2.1 rates valued at £1.44 billion for the also has a significant negative billion have been estimated6. UK as a whole. The quality of impact on life prospects for Separate to cost reductions within greenspace has been shown to be children, e.g. by lowering the NHS (predictions of which are important for mental health and educational achievement . unstable in the current political the Mappiness project7 found that Vegetation, trees and green⁷ and economic climate) we know people were most happy in coastal infrastructure also reduce air that interaction with the natural and marine areas compared to pollution particularly in urban world has personal and urban areas. The natural areas.

etc.) of staff are boosted by occupiers. For example, Wykeland Theme 4 natural elements - plants, fresh air has witin its portfolio a wide range Property values: The critical role and an attractive outlook; high of commercial buildings and has of the natural environment in value offices need to be functional found that those such as supporting property asset values and attractive. A logical step is to Bridgehead which are set in more set offices in a natural setting, attractive environments generally There is an increasing recognition setting them apart from attract higher rental values than that productivity (in terms of staff conventional city centre and equivalent offices in less attractive recruitment and retention, worker business park spaces and making areas. output, loyalty, reduced sickness them more desirable to potential

Natural Capital Committee (2015) Third Assessment of Natural Capital. HM Government 6 www.mappiness.org.uk 7 DEFRA (2010) Air Pollution in a Changing Climate. HM Government 8 HNP proof 2.qxp_Layout 1 25/05/2017 14:37 Page 13

activities such as birdwatching, Tophill Low (Yorkshire Water) Theme 5 whale watching, boat trips, amongst many others. Nature Tourism: Building the photography, walks and/or cycling nature tourism economy to learn about and experience A useful benchmark is North wildlife. These visitors are often Norfolk, where the nature tourism 12 Tourism is one of Britain’s biggest keen to support the environment economy is worth £60 million per industries and is a critical part and wildlife too, seeking out ‘eco- year, despite that area being of the local economy. Indeed, on friendly’ places to stay or visit, or smaller. The difference is that the relatively disadvantaged locations to enjoy locally sourced North Norfolk had the very first coastal part of East Yorkshire, food. nature reserves in Britain and now tourism is the bedrock of the has a series of sites with excellent local economy. A study by Leeds The North Bank of the Humber visitor facilities. The Leeds Beckett Beckett University showed that is a good example where East University study suggests that even wildlife tourism adds £9 million Yorkshire has a rich wildlife with limited investment in sites per year into the East Yorkshire heritage with some spectacular such as Flamborough and Spurn, economy, supporting about sites. Sites that are specifically the economic value of nature 170 jobs. managed for their wildlife include: tourism can be rapidly increased Bempton Cliffs (RSPB), Blacktoft to £30 million per year, supporting Nature tourism or wildlife tourism Sands (RSPB), Flamborough Cliffs over 500 jobs – highly significant involves people travelling to an (YWT), North Cave Wetlands given relative disadvantage along area to take part in outdoor (YWT), Spurn Point (YWT) and the coast.

Alkborough Flats – Joanna Richards

Möller,I; Kudella, M; Rupprecht, F; Spencer, T; Paul, M; van Wesenbeeck, B.K; Wolters, G; Jensen, K; Bouma, T.J.;Miranda-Lange, M; Schimmels (2014) Wave attenuation over 3 coastal salt marshes under storm surge conditions, Nature Geoscience, 7, 727–731 HumberEverard, Mark (2009) Ecosystem Nature services case studies: Partnership Better regulation science programme. In house Environment Agency Study 4 HNP proof 2.qxp_Layout 1 25/05/2017 14:37 Page 14

Coastal and marine ecosystems • Assuming an accumulation Theme 6 play a particularly valuable role in rate of 1mm per year Towards a low carbon future: the capture and storage of throughout the Holocene (2400 Carbon storage in the Humber atmospheric carbon dioxide CO2. t organic C per mm) then: 2400 estuary Termed blue carbon, vegetated t C x 2,000 (mm) = 4.8 million 13 coastal ecosystems such as tonnes have accumulated in Our climate is already changing seagrass beds, salt marshes and the Humber’s sediments. and the Humber Strategic mangrove forests contribute much Economic Plan identifies the greater to long-term carbon • Using an estimate of £60 to critical role of the Humber region in storage per unit area of habitat capture and store a tonne of managing this threat through the than terrestrial forests9. In part, carbon11, the equivalent cost de-carbonisation of the British this is due to the ability of marine of capturing and storing 4.8 economy. The Humber is well and tidal habitats to trap million tonnes of carbon is placed to become the ‘energy suspended matter and associated £288 million. estuary’ of Britain, supplying low organic carbon during tidal cycles. carbon renewable power to sustain the UK’s energy demand. The A rough calculation of the challenge of climate change is, of ecosystem service benefit of this course, considerable. As well as accumulation can be provided mitigating the causes of climate using the following approach: change, i.e. reducing greenhouse gas emissions, society needs to • Long-term steady state adapt to its impacts. Managing accumulation of sediment over flooding requires sustained the Humber intertidal and investment in both natural and subtidal mudflats tracks mean hard flood defences. There is a sea level rise at about 1mm per clear recognition of the economic, year10 social and health impacts that flooding has had in the area and • Using the known average the Humber LEP has clear concentrations of particulate strategies set out in the Strategic carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and Economic Plan and European net particle reactive Structural Investment Plan. phosphorous (P, i.e. in excess of natural background We also need to enable natural sediment P) in Humber mudflat systems to reduce greenhouse sediments, then about 2,400t gases that are now polluting the of organic C (Corg), 216t of atmosphere by sequestering organic N (Norg) and 144t of carbon into long-term stores. The particle reactive P are buried most important of those systems in Humber sediments are our seas and our soils, annually. especially peat soils that are still extant in the Lower River Hull • The thickness of Holocene valley for example. One of the more intertidal sediment in the important natural carbon Humber averages about sequestering systems in the 2 metres (EA). Humber region is the estuary itself.

McLeod E, Chmura GL, Bouillon S, Salm R, Bjork M, et al. (2011) A blueprint for blue carbon: toward an improved understanding of the role of vegetated coastal habitats in 9 sequestering CO2. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 9: 552–560. Andrews, J. E., Samways, G., Dennis, P. F. and Maher, B. A., 2000. Origin, abundance and storage of organic carbon and sulphur in the Holocene Humber Estuary: emphasising 10 human impact on storage changes. In Shennan, I. and J. Andrews, J. (Eds), Holocene Land-Ocean Interaction and Environmental Change around the North Sea. Geological Society Publishing House, Bath, UK. Geol. Soc. Spec. Publ. 166: 145-170 www.ccsassociation.org/why-ccs/affordability 11 3. A natural capital vision for the Humber

14 This map shows examples of partnership activity and 15 opportunity into a single coherent package – a vision for the Humber where its natural capital is valued and investment targeted such that we build the stock of natural capital alongside its human and financial capital.

This is our vision, a vision in which the Humber Estuary’s natural environment will be richer in ecological diversity and more able to adapt to the pressures placed upon it than it is today, bringing benefits for wildlife, business and local people. HNP proof 2.qxp_Layout 1 25/05/2017 14:37 Page 17

1 Goole Hinterland: opportunities for habitat creation 11 Hull Waterfront: green infrastructure improvements and green infrastructure enhancement through the along the Humber Trans-Pennine Trail linking the development of upper estuary flood defences to link Humber Bridge Country Park to Alexandra Dock via the Goole townscape back to the River Ouse frontage. naturalistic and urban greenspace development. 16 2 Greater Blacktoft: opportunities to expand wildlife 12 Hull Green Arc: linkage of Noddle Hill and Loglands habitat linked to Blacktoft nature Reserve through Local Nature Reserves via major flood prevention and Countryside Stewardship, water storage for irrigation water storage scheme. and flood prevention measures. 13 Paull-Cherry Cobb-Sunk Island: opportunities for 3 Alkborough Flats: opportunities to improve the large scale habitat creation through managed visitor facilities at Alkborough Wetlands linked to realignment and habitat compensation schemes. further habitat improvements/ creation to develop the wider tourism economy of the North Lincolnshire 14 South Humber Gateway: an area where a world Humber frontage. class economy can prosper alongside a world class environment. 4 North Cave Wetlands: through gravel extraction, countryside stewardship and green infrastructure 15 Skeffling-Welwick: opportunity to create new installation linked to new developments, provide a habitat to link Welwick nature reserves to Spurn via greenspace link between the Wetlands and the estuary. habitat loss compensation programmes, managed realignment and linked into the development of eco- 5 Broomfleet: enhancement of wetlands created from tourism in Holderness. old clay pits developing a green infrastructure network of accessible habitat and improving habitat for rare 16 Spurn National Nature Reserve: major opportunity breeding wetland birds such as bittern. to develop Spurn NNR as the centrepiece of ecotourism in Holderness, through visitor facilities 6 Read’s Island area: create new habitat along the development, habitat extension and enhancement. estuary close to Read’s Island to expand habitat for rare breeding birds. 17 Cleethorpes to Donna Nook: clear opportunity to develop the area for ecotourism extending the seaside 7 Brough: development of green infrastructure linked resort visitor offer of Cleethorpes to the redevelopment of Brough Airfield to create through new visitor facilities public greenspace between Brough and North Ferriby. and habitat creation/ enhancement, partly 8 Ancholme Valley: potential for large scale wetland linked to habitat loss restoration integrated with flood risk management compensation and eco-tourism. programmes via managed 9 Humber Bridge: multi-functional green realignment. infrastructure focussed on access and habitat creation/enhancement, centred on the Barton Clay pits and Humber Bridge Country Parks.

10 Goxhill: potential new managed realignment site at East Marsh.

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4. Achieving industry and nature in harmony 17 Humber Nature Partnership’s ambition is “Industry and nature in harmony in one of Europe’s great estuaries”. This section sets out how, by working in partnership to realise some of the above opportunities we can achieve that ambition.

4.1 Investing in natural capital alongside economic development The development of the Humber as Britain’s sustainable energy estuary is a critical part of the UK’s plan to reduce the impacts of catastrophic climate change. Such development has to be taken forward in a way that does not damage the existing natural capital of the Humber. Developments such as Green Port Hull and strategies such as the South Humber Gateway Mitigation Strategy provide real world examples of how this can be achieved.

Green Port Hull Green port Hull is a new facility at consideration but, with the Ness managed realignment site, Alexandra Dock in Hull which will Habitats Regulations setting out and a roosting structure to replace produce and export marine wind the parameters for the various the old wooden jetty previously turbines. The development involves decisions, the development has used by large numbers of modifications to the existing been given permission to progress turnstone. Habitat creation enclosed dock plus a new solid within a Natura 2000 site, even conserves displaced quay built into the estuary. Key though it will cause damage. internationally important bird issues have included impacts on populations and has provided the habitats and species of the Compensation was therefore better recreational space for Humber Estuary designated site. delivered in advance of the visitors and contributes to flood Intensive discussions pre and post development. The package of alleviation along the Humber. submission has enabled a package measures agreed to offset the of mitigation and compensation damage includes 10.5 ha of measures to be agreed. This has estuary habitat creation at taken time and careful Alkborough Flats and Chowder HNP proof 2.qxp_Layout 1 25/05/2017 14:37 Page 19

Redshank – Tom Marshall South Humber Gateway wading birds in the area. Humber 4.2 Investing in natural capital Mitigation Strategy Nature Partnership believes that alongside flood risk management The South Humber Gateway is this will be the first time that such Green infrastructure (GI) located on the south bank of the a scheme has been successfully composes a set of greenspace Humber estuary in northern established at this scale nationally. networks that together provide 18 Lincolnshire. Covering an area of multiple services to underpin approximately 1,000 hectares it The Hull and Humber City Deal, people’s quality of life and represents one of the largest signed by the Humber Local economic prosperity. Such services potential development areas in the Enterprise Partnership, has an include: storm water management, UK. In recent years there has been aspiration to maximise climate adaptation, less heat significant development interest in opportunities linked to the stress, more biodiversity, food the area particularly from the investment in energy generation production, better air quality, emerging renewable energy and other sectors. Good quality sustainable energy production, industry on the Humber. environmental data is clean water and healthy soils, as fundamental to realising these well as increased quality of life The area is immediately adjacent aspirations particularly in relation through recreation and providing to the Humber Estuary which is to the development of a Humber shade and shelter in and around recognised for its importance for Habitat Compensation and towns and cities. wildlife at both national and Mitigation Plan to help accelerate international levels through sustainable development. This can Investing in GI is a necessary various designations. As such, build on an existing approach set prerequisite for economic great care is required when out in the South Humber Gateway prosperity, particularly given the undertaking works which may Mitigation Strategy. fragility of the Humber region to result in negative impacts on the flooding. wildlife interest features of the The importance of good data Estuary. A potential conflict Sustainable development Two examples are given that therefore exists between the need requires good ecological data. require sustained investment to to develop the South Humber Some of this data has been achieve – natural flood storage Gateway’s economic potential for provided by the Humber Nature and enhancing the estuary the benefit of the national Partnership through the ‘South frontage to promote the setting for economy and the legal obligation Humber Gateway Ecological investment and increase property to ensure that its wildlife is Study’ that surveyed the South values protected. By working in Bank to provide detailed partnership it has been possible to ecological data to underpin, for develop a strategic approach to example, the environmental the issue of providing the required impact assessments required for ecological mitigation for major infrastructure proposals. developments taking place in the Other data is held by the North area. This approach is being and East Yorkshire Ecological embedded within strategic Data Centre and Lincolnshire planning documents for North and Environmental Records Centre North East Lincolnshire. and is routinely used for individual planning applications; Once the strategy is fully providing a service for implemented it will help to ensure a developers and facilitating smoother route to development for growth. businesses on the South Humber Bank alongside the provision of high quality habitat required by

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Natural flood defence and any communities potentially redeveloped in ways that deliver mitigation affected. economic, social and environmental The Humber Flood Risk objectives, efficiently. The Humber Management Strategy (2008) Given a reduction in storm waves Estuary Landscape and Green identifies potential areas for height across flooded salt-marsh Infrastructure Study explores 19 flood storage to be developed in and mud flat, it clearly makes ideas and partnerships that will the medium term. The Environment sense to increase the area of salt tackle flood risk management and Agency is working with the marsh and mud flat when improve the water environment in University of Hull as part of replacing flood defence creative, multidisciplinary ways. the Dynamic Humber project to walls/embankments by moving It is an aspirational study that better understand the Estuary those banks inland (managed provides examples of how concept and the interaction with flood realignment). This both resolves designs might work in different management. This includes issues of ‘coastal squeeze’ (the settings around the estuary based evidence that will help ensure loss of salt marsh and mud flat on information and ideas shared flood storage around the between a rising sea-level and by partners. Estuary is in the most effective hard flood defence) and provides location. This evidence will improved nature tourism potential. In each case the focus is on the inform the Strategy update inter-dependence of GI projects and the Environment Agency Enhancing the Estuary Frontage and the scope for partnership will continue to investigate There are significant opportunities working to deliver investment on options with partners including for the Estuary frontage to be an ambitious scale.

Exemplar opportunities to improve green infrastructure alongside flood defence improvements at Hull - Environment Agency/Sheils Flynn HNP proof 2.qxp_Layout 1 25/05/2017 14:37 Page 21

Caption 4.3 Investing in natural capital economic prosperity in some of Spurn National Nature Reserve alongside developing the tourist the most isolated communities Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s Spurn economy that have relatively high levels of National Nature Reserve is an

A well developed and managed economic disadvantage such as extraordinary place – a sweeping nature tourism offer is an Holderness or Grimsby. arc of sand stretching off the SE 20 important component of corner of Yorkshire across the developing economic prosperity Moreover, such investment has mouth of the Humber. It is Special in the Humber region. Whilst the deeper ramifications in terms of Protection Area, a Special Area of overall contribution to economic building the Humber’s overall Conservation, a Site of Special activity is always likely to be quality of life by providing high Scientific Interest, a Geological relatively small in comparison to profile nature destinations to visit, Conservation Review Site, a the role of shipping, enhancing investor’s perceptions Ramsar site and has listed manufacturing and energy for of the Humber as a high quality buildings. People visit Spurn for its example, its local contribution can destination and place for wild beauty, its wildlife, for a day be much more significant as the investment. Further, by enhancing on the beach, to watch ships, for visitor economy is composed of recreational accessibility through angling and bait digging, to green infrastructure investment, examine its rich history or simply many hundreds of micro-business that sustain very local economies. nature tourism investment and to reach the ‘end of Yorkshire’. At

Local micro-business enable investment in soft transport one time, Spurn was visited by investment to recirculate locally, solutions (walking and cycling), about ca. 70,000 visitors per year creating more resilient local very significant health benefits can though in recent years, this economies. For the Humber, nature be realised. The following examples dropped to ca. 40,000 visitors. tourism investment could unlock illustrate such benefits. The proposed visitor centre will... HNP proof 2.qxp_Layout 1 25/05/2017 14:37 Page 22

In December 2013, the storm Britain has about 40% of the world and remoteness, Tetney Marshes surge destroyed the road across population of grey seals. Every is not currently capable of the narrowest point of the spit. November and December, the seals accommodating lots of visitors. Access is now by 4-wheel drive give birth to their pups near the Inland of the seawall from Tetney only and visitors can only access sand dunes: a wildlife spectacle Marshes, there are extensive areas 21 the site by walking, cycling or which attracts 60,000 visitors of agricultural land, which also taking YWT’s 4WD Unimog ‘Spurn from across the UK and Europe. support significant numbers of Safari’. Whilst visitor numbers The contribution to the local wintering birds alongside an have dropped to about 20,000 per economy is estimated at £1m existing network of public rights year, they are now concentrated at annually. Local schools bring of way that provide a certain level 1,300 pupils on educational visits the entrance to the site. of public access. each year. Increasingly, YWT are struggling to If sensitively developed the area manage the site effectively given Adjacent to Donna Nook is RSPB’s could support an enhanced very few visitor facilities. YWT have Tetney Marshes Reserve covering ecotourism and nature watching therefore proposed, in partnership over 1,500 ha of mudflat, experience. This would build on the with E.ON who are providing the saltmarsh, dunes and lagoons existing high tourism profile of funds, to build a new visitor centre between Cleethorpes and Donna Cleethorpes, spreading economic at Spurn that will provide good Nook which support up to 50,000 benefits through the year and to visitor facilities (café, shop, wintering and passage waterbirds local communities in a manner education facilities, toilets, proper with the saltmarsh holding sensitive to the areas’ rural nature. car-parking). This will enable the important populations of breeding This would involve raising the charity to manage the site such birds. The lagoon habitats support that visitors have a safe, informed the rare lagoon sand shrimp, which profile of the area’s wildlife while and enjoyable visit and crucially occurs here at its northernmost site putting in place the necessary do not accidentally damage the in the UK. infrastructure to both manage the fragile environment they have existing pressures facing the area come to visit. As a result of this ecological and provide new opportunities for interest, coupled with the site’s size wildlife and people. There are also opportunities to link ambitions to other proposed projects, like Skeffling managed realignment, to ensure integrated proposals develop efficiently from the outset.

Donna Nook-Tetney Marshes An example of the value and potential of nature tourism on the south Humber bank is provided at Donna Nook National Nature Reserve, near Saltfleet, which is managed by Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust in partnership with Ministry of Defence. The British population of grey seals is of great international importance and we are fortunate to have a thriving colony on the Lincolnshire coast. Grey seal pup - Adrian and Hilary Middleton HNP proof 2.qxp_Layout 1 25/05/2017 14:37 Page 23

Caption 4.4 Investing in natural capital alongside access and soft transport The Humber has a number of long- distance walking and cycling 22 routes – the Wolds Way, the Transpennine Trail, the Viking Way and the proposed Trent Valley Way. The planned England Coastal Path will become one of the world’s longest walking routes. Sections of the route that are already in place demonstrate clear economic benefits. The south-west part of the path has been shown to generate £300 million per year to the south-west economy (about £470k per mile11). The Wolds Way, though mainly used by local has increased in the four Humber ensure that by increasing the level oneday walkers, already supports authorities since 2001 13. There are of access and use in quieter areas a visitor spend of about £100k- many templates available to we are not damaging the wildlife 400k along the route12 . develop well-designed and that people are coming to enjoy. effective walking/cycling routes, With this in mind Humber Nature Likewise, there are clear benefits to integrating the routes together and Partnership is working with local economies from walking and promoting their use. This potential relevant organisations to help cycling for commuting, in terms of to improve access and encourage produce recreation management better health and reduced traffic more people to explore the Humber plans for the most sensitive congestion, yet commuting by car must be balanced by the need to areas.

Lapwings at sunrise

Ramblers Association. Economic benefits of walking 2015. Provisional results, 2014/15 National Trails Visitor Survey. Unpublished Natural ⁹ 10 England Communication. www.ctc.org.uk. “What’s happened to cycle commuting in England 11 and Wales” by Chris Peck, 7th March 2013. Article uses mapped UK census table changes between 2001 to 2011. HNP proof 2.qxp_Layout 1 25/05/2017 14:37 Page 24

5. About Humber Nature Partnership

The Humber Nature Partnership is organisations with statutory duties Humber Catchment Partnership one of England’s Local Nature in working together to deliver the The Humber Nature Partnership 23 Partnerships, endorsed by management of the Humber fulfils the role of a Catchment Government, to work with Estuary European Marine Site Partnership under the Catchment decision-making bodies and through one single management Based Approach to the delivery of individuals to protect and enhance plan. It is a simple and efficient the Water Framework Directive the natural capital of the Humber way to deliver the management of (WFD). At the catchment level, the to enable prosperity. Humber a complex estuary. partnership works with key Nature Partnership is a not-for- stakeholders to agree and deliver profit limited company, governed The action plan focuses on actions the strategic priorities for the by directors from business and the that will bring the greatest catchment and to support the public and voluntary sectors. improvement in the Estuary. Environment Agency in ensuring that the Humber reaches Good The Humber Nature Partnership Its objectives are: Ecological Status as required works with its members to help • To manage the estuary to meet under WFD. them to achieve their economic the requirements of the aspirations in a sustainable conservation objectives manner and manages the Humber Management Scheme and the • To bring people and Humber Catchment Partnership. organisations together to deliver the sustainable Our vision is that by 2020 the management of the Humber Humber Estuary’s natural Estuary European Marine Site. environment will be richer in ecological diversity and more able • To raise awareness and to adapt to the pressures placed educate stakeholders about upon it than it is today, bringing the Humber Estuary European benefits for wildlife, business and Marine Site and increase local people. participation in its management.

By working alongside the Humber • To identify information gaps Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), and research requirements and the partnership wants to maximise to promote sharing and the economic potential of the availability of data for the Humber’s unique natural assets management of the Humber through concerted effort and a Estuary European Marine partnership approach to Site. sustainable development. • To ensure a coordinated Humber Management Scheme approach to the management The Humber Management Scheme of the estuary and its is delivered through the Humber hinterlands including planning Nature Partnership and was for the future in respect to the established under the Habitats features of the Humber Estuary Regulations to assist those European Site. HNP proof 2.qxp_Layout 1 25/05/2017 14:37 Page 1

Humber Nature Partnership Waters' Edge Visitor Centre Maltkiln Road Barton Upon Humber North Lincolnshire DN18 5JR

01652 631520 www.humbernature.co.uk