Introduction
IESR is a member of the Housing Market Renewal Panel for North Staffordshire, a consortium of organisations helping RENEW North Staffordshire to implement regeneration in the region. This study made an appraisal of green infrastructure planning in the RENEW area with an emphasis on biodiversity and the wider environmental benefits of vegetation, such as reducing concentrations of gaseous pollutants and promoting energy efficiency and sustainable urban drainage.
Summary of project research
The broad brief of the project was to explore how greenspace and green infrastructure (with a particular emphasis on biodiversity) can be integrated with broader sustainable housing objectives and urban renewal.
The research was carried out in two stages: The first stage reviewed green infrastructure approaches and their relevance to housing renewal and regeneration in general. The second stage looked in more detail at specific policy drivers and techniques and their possible application to RENEW policy development and operations.
The summary findings of the two stages were as follows:
- There are a wide range of benefits that accrue from biodiverse green infrastructure including: the provision of amenity resources, zero-carbon transport corridors, wildlife habitat and linkages, pollution control, sustainable urban drainage, amelioration of the urban heat-island effect, mitigation of the impacts of climate change, and improving energy efficiency.
- These benefits have a direct relationship with the aims of providing sustainable communities and of RENEW.
- A wide range of practical examples exist of how biodiverse green infrastructure can be implemented and at a variety of spatial scales.
- There are a substantial set of existing mechanisms or opportunities with which to embed biodiverse green infrastructure into housing market renewal e.g. through the lead developers for AMIs (Area of Major Intervention), the green space strategy, and working closely to influence partners’ agendas.
Project impact
The overall project aims were to produce a tool to enable RENEW embed biodiversity and green infrastructure functions into housing market renewal in partnership with other Agencies.
Project reports
Dover, J (2006). Embedding Green Infrastructure in Housing Market Renewal. Biodiversity and Green Infrastructure Document Review. Funders RENEW North Staffordshire, Natural England, Sustainability West Midlands. Unpublished project report.
Dover, J (2006). Embedding Green Infrastructure in Housing Market Renewal. Linking biodiverse green infrastructure drivers with actions: final report. Funders RENEW North Staffordshire, Natural England, Sustainability West Midlands. Unpublished project report.