EXPLORING THE ECOSYSTEM SERVICE VALUE AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN ECOSYSTEM SERVICE POLICY APPROACH IN A NORTHERN UK CITY. Thomas Flockton-Meddeman A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Liverpool John Moores University for the degree of Master of Philosophy March 2020 Contents Introduction...................................................................................................................................................... 1 Context of the study .................................................................................................................. 1 A brief overview of the methodologies embedded – Strengths and limitations. ................... 3 Project aims ............................................................................................................................... 4 Chapter 1 - Valuing the visual amenity of urban greenspace: A choice contingent study at Breckfield Road, Everton, North Liverpool. ................................................................................................................ 5 1.0 - Abstract .................................................................................................................................................... 5 2.0 – Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 5 3.0 – Methodology ........................................................................................................................................... 8 4.0 – Results ................................................................................................................................................... 14 4.1 - Section A – Where you currently live… .......................................................................... 14 4.2 - Section B – Greenspace usage ........................................................................................ 16 4.3 - Section C - Liverpool green valuation MNL model summary results ............................. 19 4.4 - Section D – Justifying your choices (Rationale for choices). .......................................... 22 5.0 - Discussion ............................................................................................................................................... 24 5.1 – Choice experiment (WTP) analysis ................................................................................. 24 5.1.1 – Choice experiment responses ....................................................................... 24 5.1.2 – Effects of demographics ................................................................................ 24 5.1.3 – Comparison with previous WTP studies ....................................................... 25 5.2 - Justifying your choices .................................................................................................... 27 5.3 – Personal questions ......................................................................................................... 27 5.4 - Participants values .......................................................................................................... 28 5.5 – Greenspace Usage .......................................................................................................... 29 6.0 - Conclusion .............................................................................................................................................. 29 Chapter 2 - Assessing Perceptions of Key Stakeholders in the Liverpool City Region to the Natural Capital Approach .................................................................................................................................................. 30 1.0 - Abstract .................................................................................................................................................. 30 2.0 - Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 30 3.0 - Methodology .......................................................................................................................................... 33 4.0 - Results .................................................................................................................................................... 34 4.1 - Knowledge base in the Liverpool city region.................................................................. 34 4.1.1 - Dependencies on Natural Environment ........................................................ 34 4.1.2 - Knowledge of ecosystem services and Natural Capital concepts ................. 34 4.2 - Policy and Governance .................................................................................................... 35 4.2.1 - Knowledge/Opinions on existing policy/future policy changes - 25-year environment plan ...................................................................................................... 35 4.2.2 - Knowledge/Opinions on existing policy/future policy changes - Environment Bill/ELMS ............................................................................................. 36 4.3 - Investment in Natural Capital ......................................................................................... 37 4.3.1 - Investment in Net Gain .................................................................................. 37 4.3.2 - Investment in the Natural Capital Approach ................................................ 39 4.3.3 - Knowledge/Opinions on existing policy/future policy changes - Section 106 (Developer contributions) ......................................................................................... 39 4.4 - Implementation of the natural capital approach within the LCR .................................. 40 4.4.1 - Opportunities ................................................................................................. 40 4.4.2 - Barriers ........................................................................................................... 41 4.4.3 - Strengths ........................................................................................................ 42 4.4.4 - Weaknesses .................................................................................................... 43 5.0 - Discussion ............................................................................................................................................... 44 5.1 - Knowledge base in the Liverpool City Region ................................................................ 44 5.1.1 - Knowledge of ecosystem services ................................................................. 44 5.1.2 - Knowledge of the natural capital approach .................................................. 44 5.2 - Policy and Governance .................................................................................................... 44 5.3 - Investment in Natural Capital/Net Gain ......................................................................... 45 5.4 - Implementation of the Natural Capital Approach within the LCR ................................. 46 5.4.1 - Barriers/Challenges........................................................................................ 46 5.4.2 – Opportunities ................................................................................................ 47 5.4.3 - Strengths/Weaknesses of the Natural Capital Approach ............................. 48 6.0 - Conclusion .............................................................................................................................................. 49 Thesis reflection ............................................................................................................................................. 50 Overall contributions .............................................................................................................. 50 Project limitations ................................................................................................................... 50 Concluding remarks ................................................................................................................. 51 7.0 Reference List ........................................................................................................................................... 52 8.0 - Appendices ............................................................................................................................................. 60 8.1 - Survey .............................................................................................................................. 60 8.2 - Orthogonal Design........................................................................................................... 69 8.3 - Participant Occupations .................................................................................................. 71 8.4 - Average household income in the UK ............................................................................ 74 8.5 – UK employment rates according to the Office for National Statistics – Labour Force Survey (2019) ........................................................................................................................... 75 8.6 – Semi-structured Interview Framework .......................................................................... 76 8.7 – ‘Personal Questions’