Green Infrastructure - Landscape Institute.ppt

Green Infrastructure:connected and multifunctional landscapes,Annie Coombs FLI,Contents,Position Statement preparationOrigins,Definitions,ChronologyFundingBenefitsAssets,ResourceFunctions,Approach,Scale StrategiesSouth Essex&Thurrocks Green GridPUSHPrinciples and ApproachLandscape ProfessionThe Mersey Forest/Weaver Valley,Photos throughout illustrate green infrastructure designed,managed,assessed,studied by landscape architects.,Position Statement,LI Policy Committee recommended topicsGI seen very much as the province of the landscape professionSmall working groupCall for case studies and comments on text from all LI membersSub-group met to decide on case studiesEdits to textReviewed by Executive Committee and“critical friends”Launched(May 2009)Use(lobbying,consultation responses etc),Download or buy from:www.landscapeinstitute.org/policy,“Can I congratulate the Landscape Institute on the position statement for Green Infrastructure.With so many simplifications and misunderstandings as to what GI really offers,this statement is clear,lacking waffle and usable.”,“My planning colleagues who are currently preparing the Councils GI SPD as part of the Core Strategy think it looks excellent and would like to use it as part of the launch and publicity of the Boroughs GI policy”,Origin of the term GI,Ed McMahon“Green space is not an amenity,its a necessity.”This is the phrase that underpins his concept of green infrastructure.“We coined the term to reposition the idea for the public,”explaining that the idea itself is not a new one.,Definitions(1),Explosion of interest doesnt equate to increased understandingGI is term that can mean different things to different peopleA number of definitions available Significant common ground within the available definitions:GI involves natural and managed green areas in both urban and rural settings GI is about the strategic connection of open green areas and GI should provide multiple benefits for people(public benefit).www.greeninfrastructure.eu,Definitions(2):Milton Keynes,“A planned network of multifunctional green-spaces and interconnecting links,which is designed,developed and managed to meet the environmental,social and economic needs of communities across the sub-region.It is set within,and contributes to a high quality natural and built environment and is required to enhance the quality of life for the present and future residents and visitors and to deliver liveability for sustainable communities.”*Planning Sustainable Communities:A green infrastructure guide for Milton Keynes and the South Midlands,Definitions(3):Natural England,“Green Infrastructure(GI)is a strategically planned and delivered network of high quality green spaces and other environmental features.It should be designed and managed as a multifunctional resource capable of delivering a wide range of environmental and quality of life benefits for local communities.Green Infrastructure includes parks,open spaces,playing fields,woodlands,allotments and private gardens.”www.naturalengland.org.uk,Definitions(4):Northwest Region,“Green Infrastructure is the Regions life support system the network of natural environmental components and green and blue spaces that lies within and between the Northwests cities,towns and villages and which provides multiple social,economic and environmental benefits”www.greeninfrastructurenw.co.uk,Definitions(5),“Green infrastructure is the physical environment within and between our cities,towns and villages.It is a network of multi-functional open spaces,including formal parks,gardens,woodlands,green corridors,waterways,street trees and open countryside.It comprises all environmental resources,and thus a green infrastructure approach also contributes towards sustainable resource management.”www.greeninfrastucture.eu,European Landscape Convention(ELC),Article 1 of the ELC states:“Landscape”means an area,as perceived by people,whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors.The term“landscape”is thus defined as a zone or area as perceived by local people or visitors,whose visual features and character are the result of the action of natural and/or cultural(that is,human)factors.This definition reflects the idea that landscapes evolve through time,as a result of being acted upon by natural forces and human beings.It also underlines that a landscape forms a whole,whose natural and cultural components are taken together,not separately.”,GI Chronology,Victorian Parks and city fathersFrederick Law Olmstead(Central Park etc)Garden cities movement1947 Acts(green belt,national parks,AONBs)New Towns movementIan McHarg:Design with NatureRegional ParksGroundwork TrustCommunity forests,National forestsEd McMahon coins the phrase“GI”PPG17,green flag,open space strategiesIncreasing use of GISGrowth points,ecotowns,city regionsEuropean Landscape Convention(ELC)Regional Spatial Strategy policy(NW)Forthcoming planning policy on GI(England),GI funding,CABE as part of a wider move to target public expenditure on greening cities.,GI funding(2),“A switch of public spending from grey to green infrastructure would trigger an environmental revolution.At a time when investment in grey infrastructure,such as the new road building and road improvement programmes,runs into billions,investment in green infrastructure remains tiny.We have to redesign our cities in response to the imperative of climate change,and this means investment in hundreds of thousands of green roofs,millions more street trees,more parks,and new urban greenways.”Richard Simmons,CABEs chief executive,Funding:Royal Parks,2,000 hectares historical parklandDemand-led funding approach Central gov&income generationContribution to environment,society&economyMultifunctionality brings benefits:Health&well-beingTourism&economic valueFormal recreation&playCommunity eventsEcology&biodiversityWater managementHeritageClimate change adaptation&mitigationAmenity value,Benefits,Climate change adaptation Climate change mitigation Water management Dealing with waste Food production Biodiversity enhancement Economic value Local distinctiveness Education Health and recreation Stronger communities,Economic benefits of GI,Flood alleviation&water managementEconomic growth&investmentTourismClimate change adaptation and mitigationQuality of placeHealth&well-beingLand&property valuesLabour productivityRecreation and leisureLand&biodiversityProducts from the landwww.nwda.co.uk/pdf/EconomicValueofGreenInfrastructure.pdf,GI assets&resource,GI assets are:Particular areas of land and waterServe one or more functions of public benefit by virtue of:UseLocationIntrinsic valueMultifunctionalityGI resource is a collective of:open spaces,public places,rivers&coast,farmland,woodlands,natural elements&gardens.,GI functions(the case for GI),Stimulating sport,recreation Maintaining productive rural landscapes.,GI approach,Wide range of functionsHave a visionUnlock maximum#of benefitsDemand more from the landManage conflicting demandsRetain single/limited land use functions in some areasEcosystem services:Support(necessary for all soils,photosynthesis etc)Provision(food,fuel.)Regulations(air/water quality,erosion)Culture(aesthetics,heritage,recreation),GI Scales:Neighbourhood,Street Trees/Home ZonesRoof Gardens(&Green Roofs)Pocket ParksCollective/Private GardensUrban PlazasVillage GreensLocal Rights of WayDedicated Gardens/CemeteriesInstitutional Open SpacesPonds&small woodlandsPlay AreasLocal Nature Reserves,Neighbourhood Scale,GI Scales:Town/city/district,City ParksUrban Canals&WaterwaysGreen NetworksMulti-user routesUrban CommonsForest ParksCountry Parks/EstatesContinuous waterfrontMunicipal/Cathedral PlazasLakesMajor recreational spacesLandmarks&Vistas&Gateways,Town/City/District Scale,GI Scales:City-region,Regional ParksRivers&floodplainsShoreline&WaterfrontStrategic&Long-distance TrailsMajor(100ha)woodlandsCommunity ForestsOpen Access SitesLandmarks&VistasReservoirsEnvironmental Management InitiativesStrategic Corridors&Gateways,City-regional Scale,GI Scales:Strategic,Coastline Management PlanningCross-boundary green networks(e.g.South Downs New Forest linkagesStrategic River Catchment PlansNational Trails&DestinationsStrategic Infrastructure corridorsSub-regional strategiesNational policy statementsBehavioural&Societal Change,Strategic Scale,GI Strategies,Need to operate at the relevant scale/levelSub-regional and regionalEmbed across a range of policies/strategiesRobust and flexible enough to react to political change-Tories committed to remove the English RDAs and wider“bonfire of the quangos”,Thames Gateway,South Essex Grid,Thurrocks Green Grid Strategy,TGGS developed in the context of the wider South Essex Green Grid(SEGG)Used its own technical research(biodiversity,green infrastructure,landscape and urban capacity,flood risk,green belt review and open space)to tackle overarching themes and principles laid out in SEGG and other strategic plans(the Greening the Gateway plan,Thames Gateway interim plan and Essex county plans).TGGS provides a finer grain framework than SEGG and gives expression to the aspirations of a wide range of partners and Thurrocks own communities via its community strategy.It will be developed into SPD.,Thurrocks GI&Green Grid,+,=,+,SPD,Green infrastructure,Open space,Biodiversity,Green grid,GI Strategy for Urban South Hampshire,PUSH Partnership for Urban South Hampshire identified GI as critical to support sub-regions developmentPolycentric urban region Portsmouth,Southampton,Fareham,Gosport,Eastleigh&other settlements1 million existing population-new growth point brownfield,urban infill&greenfield needed to deliver 80,000 new homesUndertook:an appreciation of the drivers for changeenvironmental quality and condition assessment(including landscape character)Analysis of community attributesGap analysis of GI strategy with other initiativesVision and values with stakeholdersThreats and opportunities,Public Benefit,Central to the research was the areas social,environmental and economic characteristicsPotential for GI to address the deficits and deliver benefits in relation to:Enjoying and protecting the special qualities of the environmentRestoring/enhancing environments degraded,in decline or at riskCommunity needs and aspirationsEconomic prosperityUsed GIS to bring together datasets and represent spatially the areas in need and the multiple benefits,PUSH:Public Benefit,Community needs,Needs are greatest near the urban areas based on deprivation,age,risk of adverse environmental quality etcPotential for delivering community needs is a more diffuse picture widespread opportunity for GI to deliver functions,PUSH:Functional Strategies,Stakeholders identified“themes”reflecting prioritiesKey quality of life issues for the area led to 8 headline themesEach comprised a range of GI functionsLed to development of functional strategies:Biodiversity;Coast and Water;Green Access and Movement;Parks for the Future;Working Landscapes;Landscape Culture and Heritage.,Example of GI principles,Contribute to management,enhancement,conservation of local landscapeContribute to protection&conservation of historic,archaeological,built heritageMaintain and enhance biodiversityProvide connectivity,avoid fragmentationBe designed to facilitate sustainable long-term managementCreate new recreation facilitiesLink town and countryTake account of natural systems Designed to high standardsProvide for social inclusion,community development and life-long learning.,Roles of landscape professionals,Multidisciplinary approachAll scalesContributing to:Policy guidanceStrategiesLocal Development FrameworksCharacter/Sensitivity studiesDevelopment controlEnvironmental assessmentMasterplanningDesign and implementationManagementResearchFacilitation&creative engagement,The Mersey Forest,The North West GI Guide sets out a 5-stage process for green infrastructure planning:Partnership and prioritiesData audit and green infrastructure resource mappingFunctional assessmentNeeds assessmentIntervention plan.,1.Partnership&priorities,The Mersey Forest Delivery Plan 2009-2014Goals delivered achieve partners objectives:Public service agreementsLocal Area AgreementsLocal Authority strategies(health,education,open space,regeneration.)Regional Forestry FrameworkRegional Spatial StrategyRegional Climate Change Action PlanRegional Economic Strategy.Gross Value Added(GVA)Developing ways to assess Mersey Forest achievements against partners monitoring targets of outcomes and outputs.,2.Resource mapping:Types,general amenity space outdoor sports facilities woodland water courses water bodies grassland,heathland&moorland coastal habitat agricultural land allotments,community gardens&urban farms cemeteries,churchyards&burial grounds derelict land private domestic gardens trees institutional grounds wetlands other?(e.g.verges)orchard street trees,3.GI functions:(Cheshire sub-region),recreation-publicrecreation-privategreen travel routeaestheticwater storagewater interceptionwater infiltration/natural drainagestorm protection-coastalshading from sunevaporative coolingtrapping pollutantsnoise absorption,habitat for wildlifecorridor for wildlifesoil stabilisationheritagecultural assetcarbon storagefood productiontimber productionbiofuels productionwater supplywind shelterlearning,3.&4.GI Functions:definition&need,recreation public DEFINITION:area anyone can use without having to pay or get keys GREATEST NEED:high population density(present&future),low population mobility,poor health,much leisure time water storageDEFINITION:Stores flood waters.GREATEST NEED:upstream of urban areas intersecting flood plains shading from sunDEFINITION:Shading of people,buildings,and surfaces from solar radiation.GREATEST NEED:high population density(present&future),high quality agricultural land,schools,shopping areas,visitor attractions,3.Functions:Mouth of the Weaver,Mouth of the Weaver,What you can do.,Raise awareness about GILobby planning system at all levelsAdopt a multi-disciplinary approachPress for vision for the natural environment and functionsIgnore administrative boundaries promote ELC“landscape”definitionPromote advance consideration GI often needed before growth(levies)Make the case for revenue as well as capital expenditureArgue for investment in managementCommunicate the benefitsInvolve the private sectorProvide case studies to the LI library.,Photo credits,Giles BarnardBill BlackledgeCheshire East Cheshire West and ChesterAnnie CoombsChris DriverGillespiesGroundworkGustafsson PorterHEDAndy LaneNorth Lincolnshire CouncilODAPlace Design+Planning LtdMike RobertsTEPTownshend Landscape ArchitectsKaren Wright Photography,landscapeinstitute.org,Thank you for listening,