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Green Living Spaces Plan

September 2013


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Contact

Development DirectorateBirmingham City Council

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E-mail:[email protected]

Web:www.birmingham.gov.uk/greenlivingspacesplan

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Telephone:(0121) 303 1115

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Office:1 Lancaster CircusBirminghamB4 7DJ

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Plans contained within this document are based upon Ordnance Surveymaterial with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of theController of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.

© Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyrightand may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings.Birmingham City Council. Licence number 100021326, 2013.


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contents / green living spaces plan

Foreword 3

Endorsements 4

Introduction and Birmingham’s green vision 6

The seven green living spaces principles 10

Principle 1 - An adapted City 12

Principle 2 - The City’s blue network 14

Principle 3 - A healthy City 16

Principle 4 - The City’s productive landscapes 18

Principle 5 - The City’s greenways 20

Principle 6 - The City’s ecosystem 22

Principle 7 - The City’s green living spaces 24

Implementation and funding 28

Glossary 30

Contents


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green living spaces plan / foreword

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foreword / green living spaces plan

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We live in a global marketplace where Birmingham, like many citiesaround the world, must deal with huge pressures - economic, social andenvironment. Birmingham is the youngest, most ethnically diverse city inthe UK and, as a responsible city, we have a duty to our current and futurecitizens to ensure we build a positive and sustainable legacy for all.

Birmingham’s ambition is to being one of the world’s leading greencities. Some progress has been made in the last few years, but we needto accelerate our plans and measure ourselves internationally againstother leading green cities such as Stockholm and Copenhagen in Europe,Portland in the USA, and be a partner in the development of greeninnovations being driven forward in China.

We need to do more to become a truly leading green city - we mustprepare ourselves for a world that is already facing energy and resourceshortages and dramatic climate change impacts.

It is in this context that Birmingham wishes to adopt this clear GreenLiving Spaces Plan within which we aim to secure, enhance and ensurethe effective long term maintenance of the city’s natural green and waterspaces, which are so essential for an adapted and healthy city.

This Green Living Spaces Plan introduces a new approach that of valuingall the city’s natural spaces and features as Natural Capital, by applying thelatest scientific thinking behind the National Ecosystem Assessment.

As part of the Green Commission’s Green Vision for Birmingham thisGreen Living Spaces Plan becomes the vehicle through which the City

can adopt a comprehensive approach to Natural Capital, as a thread thatmust run through all its future considerations, for the economy, its spatialplanning, its health care and its low carbon future.

No other UK city has undertaken such a comprehensive combinedevaluation and mapping exercise. This has produced a totally new mapseries of the city that show our current relationship with the naturalenvironment - what nature gives us for free (ecosystem services) andwhere in the city the supply of these services is not meeting the multiplechallenges or demands made upon it. It is these new evidence basesthat the city must work with, in the near future with all its stakeholders,public, private and citizens to collectively address these leading green citychallenges.

This Plan should not be seen as just an ideas document; although it doesoffer a fresh perspective on the city. This Plan is also about changingthe way we do things; joining up agendas, agencies, services, users andfunding; and re-positioning the importance of Parks. This Plan’s sevenprinciples will help shape all future development in the city as they will beenacted through the draft Your Green and Healthy City SPD.

What’s important is that people feel better about what it’s like to live in thecity - so like all great green cities around the world - Birmingham will be

judged as to whether or not it becomes a City of Green Living Spaces.

Councillor James McKayChairman of Birmingham’s Green Commission.Cabinet Member Green, Safe and SMART City.

Foreword


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green living spaces plan / endorsements

This Green Living Spaces Plan has been subject to extensive consultation across Birmingham and has been shared

with UK Government Departments, agencies scientists and had some responses from further afield. Below aresome of these endorsements:

A healthy natural environment is not a luxury - something that we think about after we have fixed the economy,or problems with physical and mental health and education. The natural environment provides the fundamentalunderpinnings for a healthy, successful society. Nature’s services include cleaning up water and air, free pollinationfor crops, soil to grow food and fibre, locking up carbon dioxide from the air in wood and peat, flood-control, andthe infinite pleasure we get from contact with the living world, with well-proven benefits for health and well-being.Birmingham’s Green Living Spaces Plan is visionary in recognising the fundamental value of theCity’s natural capital, and how the services this capital provides underpin economic opportunities.‘Pioneering’ and ‘best practice’ can be over-used terms. But not here. The City is to becongratulated in recognising the value of green living spaces, and making them fundamental to

its future.

Professor Sir John Lawton, CBE, FRS.Author of ‘Making Space for Nature’ (2010).

A city’s green infrastructure has the power to lift the spirits of its people and the fortunes of its economy. Tree-lined footpaths, verdant parks and cooling roof gardens all play their part. Their visual appeal draws businessesand visitors to the area, offering space for people to relax and enhance their wellbeing. Green infrastructure alsoprovides clean air and water, reduces the threat from flooding and pollution and gives wildlife the chance tothrive. Birmingham rightly sees itself as a Green City and is making great strides in becoming anexample to the rest of the world. Leading the way in building a new green infrastructure is theCity Council, whose exciting Birmingham Green Living Spaces Plan contains the evidence andvision needed to make it happen. Natural England fully supports this vision and will continue tosupport Birmingham City Council, its partners, stakeholders and residents to make this a reality.

Poul ChristiensenChairman Natural England.

The Birmingham Open Spaces Forum welcomes the Green Living Spaces Plan as a statement of intent and arecognition of the work that has been done in the city by all partners - public, private, third sector and volunteers.

The plan shows the City’s understanding of the role of open spaces as so much more than ‘nice to have’ and ‘icingon the cake’.

What this Plan starts to articulate is that this out-dated view needs challenging - and urgently. It is clear to manypark users, that it is the presence or absence of the City’s good quality green infrastructure that underpins theliveability of every neighbourhood of Birmingham - from clean air and flood prevention, to space to get fit orenjoy some peace in our busy world.

The City’s Victorian parks were never just window dressing - they were seen as essential to the wellbeing of theworkforce - without which the City’s economy would falter. We need to re-learn those lessons tosuit the demands of twenty first century city living and beyond.

Cities around the world, like Birmingham, are also beginning to share this view. It is our hopethat this document will help Birmingham to take the action needed to achieve our ambition to

become a truly Green City. We know there is no alternative to making the most of our city’s greencapital - so we’d better make a start.

The Birmingham Open Spaces Forum

Endorsements


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Trees and woodland are an essential component of delivering healthy cities, and the WoodlandTrust welcomes their prominence in Birmingham’s Green Living Spaces Plan.

Sue HoldenChief Executive of the Woodland Trust.

Cities today face a myriad of issues, from very bad air quality, the need to adapt to climate change, a variety ofhealth-related problems from diet, rising obesity and a lack of physical activity.

These are complex and challenging issues to deal with and one potential solution is to explore and develop moreintegrative, holistic models that seek to tie-together these problems, and develop solutions that are integrativeand catalytic.

Insights in how to begin to do this can be found across the Atlantic, in the UK. In early March (2013) I visited theformer industrial City of Birmingham, which is now on the cusp of developing a new approach and strategies thatwill explicitly connect health, nature, and economy.

Birmingham’s approach veers into the innovative.

It is making new connections between health and nature, and exploring new ways to forge co-investmentsin these things and in developing economic flows that can acknowledge and reward the ways in which urbanconservation and nature improves residents’ health.

Much of this new philosophy can be seen in the City’s proposed Green Living Spaces Plan.

Tim Beatley, PhD.Teresa Heinz Professor of Sustainable Communities,

University of Virginia;American Association of Planning, ‘Evergreen’ columnist.

Author of ‘Biophillic Cities’ (2013).

The most significant public health challenge that we face in Birmingham today is that of obesity - it is a sad factthat 1 in 4 children are obese by the age of 10. Our environment influences our opportunities to make healthychoices. Without a healthy environment, more people in Birmingham will suffer ill health because they don’t havethe opportunity to make the right choices. Our environment also contributes to positive mental wellbeing - weneed to enjoy our lives and have fun in our City.

It is therefore extremely encouraging that we are able to contribute to a Green Living Spaces Plan forBirmingham, one that considers a joined up approach to public health, spatial planning and othervariables such as climate change. I look forward to seeing the outcomes from this work, including;extension of the Be-Active offer, Natural Health Improvement Zones, Community Food Growing,Walking and Cycling options for Neighbourhoods - and other opportunities for Birmingham

children and adults to make healthier lifestyle choices.

Adrian PhilipsDirector of Public Health, Birmingham.


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green living spaces plan / introduction and birmingham’s green vision

• A leading green City and so helpcreate prosperity, fairness, goodhealth.

• A more attractive City in which towork, live and enjoy. Efficient in itsuse of scarce resources.

• A better City for the delivery ofgreen finance and business.

This Green Living Spaces Planprovides a key ingredient in thatvision by linking the issues ofclimate change, public health andspatial planning.

The Green Living Spaces Plan alsointroduces to Birmingham thenotion of Natural Capital - just how

dependent we are as a city on theservices we get from nature - oftenfor free, or under-valued.

By applying the same scientificvaluation mechanism as theNational Ecosystem Assessment,Birmingham becomes the first cityin the UK to map what nature cansupply and where the demandsfor those services are at their

greatest against the multiple social,economic and environmental needs- so demonstrating the benefitsgreen living spaces contribute inthe city to human well being.

National Policy ContextThe National Planning PolicyFramework refers to Green LivingSpaces as Green Infrastructure,here is its definition:

“Green Infrastructure: A network ofmultifunctional green space, urbanand rural, which is capableof delivering a wide range ofenvironmental and quality of lifebenefits for local communities”.

The Marmot Review of HealthInequalities, provides this policysteer:“Fully integrate the planning,transport, housing, environmentaland health systems to address thesocial determinants of health

in every locality. Prioritise policiesand interventions that both reducehealth inequalities and mitigateagainst climate change”.

The UK Climate Risk Assessment(2012) provides the firstcomprehensive national levelassessment of potential risk andopportunities for the UK arisingfrom climate change.

The Adaptation Sub-Committeerecommends for local authorities tohighlight:

• Land use planning.

• Flood risk, green infrastructureand sustainable urban drainagesystems.

• Managing natural resources ofecology and water.

The Lawton Report, ‘Making Spacefor Nature’, found that:“Nature in England is highlyfragmented and unable to respondeffectively to new pressures such asclimate and demographic change.”

The Natural Environment WhitePaper (2011):“The Economics of Ecosystems andBiodiversity Study shows that -protected natural areas can yield

returns many times higher than thecost of their protection.”

Introduction and Birmingham’sgreen vision

VisionBirmingham’s Green Commission has begun to build a new framework forthe future. We believe the time is right to drive Birmingham forward as:

Sparkhill Park


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introduction and birmingham’s green vision / green living spaces plan

The UK Government -“We will put natural capital at thecentre of economic thinking and atthe heart of the way we measureeconomic progress.”

“We will mainstream the value of

nature across society; strengthenthe connections between peopleand nature to the benefit of both.”

The European Commissioncommunications to the EuropeanParliament, The Council, TheEuropean Economic and SocialCommittee and the Committee ofthe Regions; Green Infrastructure(GI) - Enhancing Europe’s NaturalCapital, (2013) - concludes that:

“Green Infrastructure cancontribute significantly to achievingmany of the EU’s key policyobjectives.” and an EU-Strategyon Adaptation to Climate Change,(2013) concludes:“This Strategy sets out a frameworkand mechanism for bringingthe EU’s preparedness for thecurrent and future impacts ofclimate change up to a newlevel. It is proposed to do this

by encouraging and supportingaction by the EU Member States onadaptation, by creating a basis forbetter informed decision-makingon adaptation in years to come,and by making key economic andpolicy sectors more resilient to theeffects of climate change.”

Local policy contextThe Green Commissionwelcomes the priority given to theBirmingham Development Plan(BDP) and the ‘Your Green andHealthy City’ - supplementaryplanning document (SPD), both

form part of the Council’s LocalDevelopment Framework (LDF); theBDP states:“An integrated and systemicapproach to linking the city’sphysical transformation anddevelopment to the carbon andenvironmental challenges, isa fundamental requirement ofbecoming a leading green city.”

The green vision states:“The level of growth proposed,based upon recent trends, isgreater than has previouslybeen considered and presents asignificant challenge for planningthe future homes and jobs the

city needs. A leading green citymust balance the pressures froma growing population with itsenvironmental and socioeconomicsustainability.” and “Quantitativemodelling for the green economydemonstrates that greening cannotonly generate increases in naturalcapital, but also produce a higherrate of Gross Domestic Product(GDP) growth.”

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Pond dipping


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green living spaces plan / introduction and birmingham’s green vision

This Green Living Spaces Plan,introduces seven key principles,that are cross-cutting in theirnature to help drive the requiredintegrated approach; to furtherembed this these seven principlesare adopted across the wider

planning framework, within thedraft Your Green and Healthy CitySPD.

The NIA states:“One of the first twelve NatureImprovement Areas in England,managed by a partnership of over50 organisations that have cometogether to deliver significantimprovements to the naturalenvironment of Birmingham,Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall andWolverhampton. The vision of thePartnership is to achieve long-termenvironmental gains for the wildlifeand people of Birmingham andthe Black Country, by deliveringtargeted biodiversity projects ata landscape scale. The initiativeis intended to create an urbanlandscape permeated by a networkof high quality green space, whichis rich in wildlife and provides avalued recreation facility for the

people who live and work in thecity. This project represents acutting-edge approach to moveaway from site focused natureconservation, to a joined-up andlonger-term landscape-scaleapproach”.http://www.bbcwildlife.org.uk/NIA

Local Nature PartnershipBirmingham and the Black Country

are not only recognised as a NatureImprovement Area but it has alsoa fully constituted Local NaturePartnership in place. This body isto operate at this sub regional -landscape scale to help co-ordinateactivities, policies and delivery ofthe Government’s commitmentto protecting natural capitalparticularly through growth andeconomic activity.

The Green Commission also

recognises that measuring andpublishing progress on the City’sGreen Vision is absolutely vital.

It is essential that a wider view istaken of the city’s green progress,and the Commission recommendsthat an urgent review of existingreference frameworks should beundertaken alongside the work inprogressing the Green Vision.

This should for example includetaking advantage of the work ofthe C40 Group, the EuropeanReference Framework forSustainable Cities and also learningfrom best practice through ICLEIand the Business Council forSustainable Development. AsBirmingham is a signatory to theEuropean Covenant of Mayors,then such reporting is essential.

This will also need to link to theexisting Annual Monitoring Reportundertaken for the current LocalDevelopment Framework and LocalDevelopment Scheme, but with aclearer web-based and accessiblemonitoring framework.

With an effective reportingmechanism in place this willsignificantly improve the evaluationof delivery mechanisms over time.

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Planning framework and policy

Ensuring future development encapsulatesa leading green city.

Birmingham’s Green Vision

Sustainable energy and CO2 emissions reduction

Developing a secure, affordable,renewable and efficient energy system.

Green economy

Skills, jobs and innovation for greengrowth.

Birmingham Development Plan

Statutory planning framework to guidedecisions on development and regeneration in

Birmingham until 2031.

Carbon

roadmap

Fuel:Electricity.

Fuel.Gas.

End use:Domestic.

Industry andcommercialtransport.

Priorityactions:Energy

efficiency

Smart energysystems

EnergyTechnologies

InstituteSmart

Commissioncollaboration.

Birminghamenergy savers

Retrofitand energyefficiency

BES+.

Green Living SpacesPlan

Produced to helppreserve and enhance

the green spaces andnetworks across the

City.

Your Green City SPD

Provides detailedguidance for future

developmentand investment inBirmingham, with

particular emphasison safeguarding our

resources for futuregenerations.

Climate ChangeAdaption Action Plan

Ensures the City isprepared for futureclimate impacts and

extreme weatherevents.

Economic and Employment Strategy for theGreen Economy.

Strategic approach to maximising opportunities

from the green economy.

Collectiveenergy offer

Reducecustomer

energy bills.Birmingham

MobilityAction Plan

Sustainabletravel choices

Electrificationof vehicles

and biogas/biofuels.

Technical Paper 1

Report onBirmingham’s

carbon dioxide (CO2)emissions reduction

target baseline.

Technical Paper 2

Report on nationalcontribution to local

CO2 reduction.

DECC Birmingham Carbon Plan Analysis

Green Fund.

Strategic approach to targeting European,research and innovation funding with public and

private partners.

Mini-Stern.

Strategic green economy assessment.

Green Bridge.

SME supply chain and identifying greeninnovation and market opportunities.

Energy plan

Districtheating

networks.

Decentralisedenergy.

Resources forenergy.

FIGURE 1 Birmingham’s Green Vision


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green living spaces plan / the seven green living spaces principles

The seven green living spacesprinciples

Principle

An Adapted City

The City’s Blue Network

A Healthy City

The City’s Productive Landscapes

The City’s Greenways

The City’s Ecosystems

The City’s Green Living Spaces

Outcomes

Retain City’s top ranking for adaption

• Ensure all future growth is ‘adapted’.

• Trees for cooling and thermal insulation.

• Green roofs, walls and street canyon research.

Adopt water sensitive urban design

• Integrated SuDS, ood and water management solutions.

• ‘Blueprint’ for enhanced walking and cycling network.

• Blue Corridor/network policy with Canal River Trust.

Adopt Natural Health Improvement Zones (NHIZ)

• Integrate the delivery of health and green living spaces.

• Continue to extend the Be-active offer.

• Public health as key partners in planning.

Embrace urban forestry and urban food growing

• Continue to promote allotments.

• Facilitate community food growing and orchards.

• Promote the multiple benets of urban forestry.

Change gear - to a walking and cycling City

• Create walkable/cyclable neighbourhoods.

• Citywide signed routes linked to public transport..

• Link healthcare activities and prevention programmes.

Birmingham as a biophillic City

• City to adopt an ecosystem services approach.

• Partners to lead on District NIA continuation plans.

• Birmingham to join global Biophillic Cities network.

Birmingham an international City of Green Living Spaces

• Adopt the 7 principles across Planning Framework.

• Green Infrastructure and Adaption Delivery Group.

• Work with business partners on green economy.


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Policy reference

The national Adaptation Sub

Committee (ASC) and UK ClimateChange Risk Assessment 2012

Climate change will have a rangeof impacts across the UK, fromincreases in summer temperaturesto increased risks of flooding anddrought.

Local Authorities have a role inpreparing for climate change,using planning and other policylevers to ensure that buildingsand infrastructure are resilientto increased risk of flooding andheat stress, natural resources aremanaged to increase ecologicalresilience, and emergency plans arein place.

There are five areas identified bythe ASC as priority sectors foradaptation effort:

• Land use planning.

• Designing and renovatingbuildings.

• Managing natural resources.

• Providing infrastructure.

• Emergency planning.

In 2013 the EU Strategy onAdaptation to climate change

introduces 8 key areas for action;and introduces new fundingmechanisms that will seek tohelp fund adaptation initiativesparticularly in urban areas andacross boundaries.

CASE STUDY

BUCCANEER

Birmingham Urban Climate ChangeAdaptation with NeighbourhoodEstimates of Environmental Risk -Lord Stafford Award Winner 2012Environmental Sustainability.

The BUCCANEER is an interactiveonline tool for enhancing decisionmaking amongst planners, publichealth and developers to delivera more sustainable future forBirmingham; created in partnership

with the University of Birminghamand Birmingham City Council. Forthe first time decisions can be takenwith consideration of the varyingheat stress across the City causedby the urban heat island and thelikely impacts of climate changeup to the year 2100. Layers ofsocioeconomic and environmentalvulnerability highlight areas of highrisk to help prioritise future action.

Thanks to BUCCANEER, and thefollow-on studies Birmingham hasbecome recognised by the EU as aPeer City; and the City is buildingan international reputation for itsclimate modelling.

Birmingham is set to extend thisknowledge base with a formalextension of the BUCCANEERinitiative - funded by the NaturalEnvironment Research Council2013-16.

What it means for Birmingham -outcomes

• For Birmingham to maintain itsnational and international lead onclimate adaptation.

• Ensure all future growth is‘adapted’, and look to retrofitto reduce the urban heat islandeffect, flood risk, whilst protecting

our natural and built heritage.

• Embrace sustainable landmanagement principles.

Projects and future outputs

• City Centre heat island modelling,

in conjunction with the MetOffice’s Weather Station.

• Connecting the outputs fromcutting edge research of theHi-Temp and Hi-Mort studies toinform future transport and healthpolicy and delivery.

• Further develop Birmingham’sGreen Roof Partnership - maintainand update planning advicenotices and extend to includeGreen Walls.

• Better understand the roles andthe adaptation contribution ofurban trees and all greeningmethods - together with StreetCanyon research.

• Enhancing green spaces andconnections in future partnershipwith District Energy schemes andsupply networks.

• Ensure adaptation is fullyconsidered in all future growthand development in the Cityand the retro-fitting of existingvulnerable neighbourhoods.

• Ensure connectivity betweenall climate study work and theBirmingham Energy Saversprogramme.

PRINCIPLE 1 • AN ADAPTED CITY


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PLAN 1 Birmingham’s Estimated Heatwave Urban Heat Island (18th July 2006, 01:00)

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Policy reference

EU-Water Framework Directive

(2003) - has established a legalframework for the protection,improvement and sustainable useof water bodies.

It requires all water bodies to bemeasured against good status by2015, and for all to have achievedthis status by 2027.

Floods and Water ManagementAct (2010) - all lead LocalAuthorities must undertake acomprehensive risk assessmentof flood risk, for rivers and surfacewater; and devise an integratedaction plan.

CASE STUDY

Longbridge

Watercourse improvements andgreen infrastructure measureswhich provide WFD benefits havebeen integrated into theMasterplan for the Longbridgeredevelopment scheme alongsidethe River Rea in Birmingham.

Birmingham City Council and thedeveloper St Modwen, with advicefrom the Environment Agencyhave included features such as

opening up of the previouslyculverted River Rea and reinstatingan open channel, remediation ofcontaminated land and creation ofa green corridor.

This will attenuate flows and reduceflood risk downstream on the RiverRea, help improve water qualityand ecology, as well as providingamenity and leisure benefits.


• Facilitate a Blue Corridor/Network Policy - in conjunctionwith the Canals and Rivers Trust.

• Seek integrated solutions forSustainable Urban DrainageSchemes (SUDS), rain waterharvesting, flood risk, watermanagement and habitat(wetland) creation, with WFD andwater sensitive urban design.

• Let Birmingham’s Blue Networkprovide the basis for enhancedwalking and cycling provision.


• Continue to the partnershipapproach to water acrossBirmingham, for flood risk, watermanagement, WFD and pollutione.g. MURCI waters.

• Nature Improvement Area, (NIA)- Corridor Theme includes -wetland and watercourse habitatimprovement priorities to linkto Forestry Commission WetWoodland study.

• Continue to support the SAB -Suds Advisory Board and explore:- Third sector SUDs management.- Principles behind ‘Green Alleys/

Streets’.

• Continue to support the Canalsand Rivers Trust and CatchmentManagement Plan WorkingGroups.

• Continue to support the city-wideuse of water based activities byBirmingham schools.

• Look to adopt Water SensitiveUrban Design; and South WestWater’s ‘Upstream Thinking’

approach to water management.

PRINCIPLE 2 • THE CITY’S BLUE NETWORK

Artists impression - Longbridge Centre


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PLAN 2 The City’s Blue Network

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Policy reference

Public Health Outcomes

Framework (2011)To improve and protect the nation’shealth and well being, and improvethe health of the poorest fastest.

Strategic Review of HealthInequalities in England post 2010

Fully integrate the planning,transport, housing, environmentaland health systems to addressthe social determinants of healthin each locality; prioritise policies

and interventions that both reducehealth inequalities and mitigateagainst climate change.

Birmingham’s JSNA 2012-15

The Joint Strategic NeedsAssessment (JSNA) is an overviewof the health and social care needsof an area.

Birmingham’s introduces 7 toppriorities, 3 of which directly relateto the Green Living Spaces Plan,they are:

• Ensure healthy standardof living for all:Living Well - Healthy Lives acrossthe Lifecourse.

• Create and develophealthy and sustainableplaces and communities:Communities are important for

both physical and mental health. • Strengthen the role and

impact of ill health prevention:Living Well - Healthy Lives acrossthe Lifecourse.

The Environmental Noise (England)Regulations 2006; allows for thedesignation of ‘Quiet Areas’.

CASE STUDY

Natural Health Improvement

ZonesThis is a cutting edge idea to bepiloted in Birmingham.

Essentially targeting an area thatcombines poor air quality, healthstatistics and environmental quality,(derived from the multi-layeredchallenge map).

To work in partnership with differentagencies to intensively green these

areas, seek to alter or enhance localwalking and cycling choices.

Link all this work to the local GPsurgeries by the deployment ofsmart technology, to monitorpatient improvements over time.Couple this with local air qualitymeasurements, in line with theLow Emissions Towns and CitiesProgramme.

These routes could also takein local urban brooks or canals,where work programmes could bealigned.


• Work in partnership with PublicHealth to achieve the HWBBStrategy aims; the JSNA targets- for Birmingham; and the PublicHealth Outcomes Frameworkobjectives.

• Develop and trial NaturalHealth Improvement Zones inBirmingham - with Public HealthEngland’s and other partnerssupport.

• Find ways to extend the ‘Be-Active’ offer to Parks and moreNeighbourhoods.


• Public Health Birmingham will

undertake a Health ImpactAssessment of this Green LivingSpaces Plan and its evidence sets,to devise joined up future workprogrammes.

• Continue the work of the HealthyUrban Development Group forBirmingham, to integrate thePlanning Framework and Policywith Health outcomes.

• In step with the city’s ambitionto become a leading green city- look to establish Birminghamas the first UK Biophillic City - inthe new emerging global citiesnetwork that are embracinghealth and nature.

• Through the Liveable Citiesprogramme, seek to engage withthe Healthy Village pilots.

• As a leading green city quality

of life and well being must beimproved - these are vital issuesthat help attract Foreign DirectInvestment and retain high skilledworkers.

• Tackle obesity levels and poornutrition, through a BirminghamFood Council and Food Charter,(see Principle 4 ProductiveLandscapes).

PRINCIPLE 3 • A HEALTHY CITY


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PLAN 3 A Healthy City - Excess Years of Life Lost Compared to England (2006-2010)

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Potential years of life lost (YLL) providea summary measure of prematuremortality. Potential years of life lost maybe defined as the years of potential life

lost due to premature deaths. Years oflife lost (YLL) take into account the age atwhich deaths occur, giving greater weightto deaths at a younger age and lowerweight to deaths at older age.

Excess years of life lost is a measure ofthe difference between the years of lifelost in the local population compared towhat would be expected if prematuremortality was the same as the nationalpopulation.


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Policy reference

Trees in Townscape (2012)

“Trees make places work, lookand feel better - as well as playinga role in climate proofing ourneighbourhoods and supportinghuman health and environmentalwell being, trees can also help tocreate the conditions for economicsuccess.”

Treaty of EU - Articles 152,153

It is a legal obligation for broaderpublic health issues, includingnutrition, and CAP to be at theheart of UK Food Policy.

The Green Food Project - Defra(2012)

“Producing more food for lessis going to require creativeapproaches, such as urban andperi-urban agriculture, includingcommunity supported agriculture,planting fruit and nut trees in publicspaces, green roofs, permacultureand hydroponics.”Jim Paice, MP, Farming Minister.

CASE STUDY

The Birmingham Forest and

Birmingham Tree BondBirmingham is fortunate to haveinherited a very large urban treepopulation, covering somethingclose to 23% of the City; althoughnot evenly distributed; sopresenting a challenge for thefuture location of large trees in theCity.

Scientific research has nowestablished the multiple benefits

derived from urban forests,particularly helping towns and citiesadapt to a changing climate; butalso bringing proven health andeconomic benefits.

For this reason the City willseek to adopt a more wholesalemanagement approach of thisentire urban tree population tobe referred to as the BirminghamForest; so conveying the landscape

scale affect of trees upon the City.

New funding mechanisms will besought that will seek to link energyprocurement and use with lowcarbon development as part ofthe City’s moves towards adoptingCarbon Budgets; and so explorethe establishment of a BirminghamTree Bond.

What it means for Birmingham -

outcomes

• Adopt an Urban Forest approachand explore a Tree Bond.

• Create a Birmingham FoodCouncil, and adopt a FoodCharter.

• Facilitate allotments communitygrowing, orchards, ‘ediblelandscapes’.


• Work within the Carbon Budget

Framework to explore a potentialTree Bond.

• In liaison with Public Health, anda wide partnership, establish afar reaching Food Charter for theCity.

• Support and promote allotmentsand community food growing;whilst being mindful of landcontamination in the City.

• Continue to support communityengagement in tree andwoodland planting; and supportthe Nature Improvement Areaapproach to future habitatcreation and enhancement.

• Support the development of arobust and unambiguous BiomassPolicy (Air Pollution) for the City.

• Explore links with EBRI -

European Bioenergy ResearchInstitute and the City’s low carbonfuture in the development ofsustainable biofuels linked togreen waste.

• Continue to support the work ofBirmingham Open Spaces Forum.

PRINCIPLE 4 • THE CITY’S PRODUCTIVE LANDSCAPES


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Policy reference

The Birmingham Big City Plan

(2010)Creating an outstanding pedestrianenvironment that is well connected,safe and a pleasure to use, puttingthe needs of pedestrians at theheart of the movement strategy forthe City Centre.

Public Health OutcomesFramework (2011)

Utilisation of green space forexercise/health reasons. Proportionof physically active and inactiveadults.

The Birmingham Low CarbonTransport Policy (2012)

In partnership with local healthorganisations and sustainable travelcharities, creating a local cyclingand walking culture.

CASE STUDY

A new urban mobility

Many leading green cities aroundthe world have excellent walkingand cycling networks and provision;Birmingham aspires to match this.One natural advantage Birminghamhas is the considerable networkof urban brook courses (some400km) together with the city’scanals. This creates a literal‘blueprint’ to connect peopleand communities across the City.Not only do they represent an

opportunity to connect people,they also represent an opportunityto connect many agendas.

Flood risk is of increasing concernin the city, with uncertain weatherpatterns, coupled with failing waterquality standards; many of thesebrooks are lined with trees thattraditionally have been uneconomicto manage. The health benefitsfrom more active lifestyles is well

understood; and the City is keento extend its quiet roads and20mph zones. Finally the City wantsto move to a low carbon futurerequiring the implementation ofDistrict Energy grids and digitalnetworks.

All these agendas have thepotential to be synergistic; thetrick will be to re-align thinking

and practice - a changing ofgear - to achieve truly sustainabletravel choices for the citizens ofBirmingham.


• A new urban mobility, with thepositive choice of walking andcycling.

• An integrated, well signednetwork that permeates the Cityand connects to public transport.

• Link heath care with activity andprevention programmes.


• Establish mechanismsand systems to deliver therecommendations in theChanging Gear Report (2013).

• Support the development of the

Birmingham Mobility Action Plan,working with other significantpartner organisations.

• Forge links between Public Healthand the active lifestyle agenda,together with improved provisionand monitoring.

• Prioritise and connect brokenlinks in existing greenwaynetworks; identify opportunitieswithin the highways maintenancePFI to coordinate treereplacement and planting tomaximise and support greeninfrastructure connectivity withgreen corridors.

• Maximise future opportunitiesto improve, enhance or addto greenway networks throughPlanning and Development.

• Explore alternative future

funding mechanisms for boththe provision of more greenwaysand for the maintenance of bothexisting and future greenways.

PRINCIPLE 5 • THE CITY’S GREENWAYS

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PLAN 5 The City’s Greenways

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Policy reference

Natural Environment White Paper

(2011)The Economics of Ecosystems andBiodiversity Study - shows thatprotected natural areas can yieldreturns many times higher than thecost of their protection.

The UK Government -• We will put natural capital at

the centre of economic thinkingand at the heart of the way wemeasure economic progress.

• We will establish an independentNatural Capital Committee.

• We will set up a business-ledEcosystem Markets Task Force.

• We will mainstream the value ofnature across society; strengthenthe connections between peopleand nature to the benefit of both.

The Lawton Report, ‘Making Spacefor Nature’, found that nature inEngland is highly fragmented andunable to respond effectively tonew pressures such as climate anddemographic change.

Local policy context

Birmingham is served by a LocalBiodiversity and GeodiversityPartnership; a Local NaturePartnership; and between2012-2015 Birmingham and theBlack Country are designated aNature Improvement Area.

CASE STUDY

Ecosystem evaluation

In 2011 the Government publisheda National Ecosystem Assessment(NEA) that for the first timesought to better understand ourdependence on nature and wherefeasible derive an economicassessment of that benefit.

Birmingham is the first cityin the UK to undertake acomprehensive assessment ofthe City’s environment, using this

same assessment framework. SeeAppendix1

At the national level, the NaturalCapital Committee has beenestablished to advise Governmenton the consequences for theenvironment, the economy andour social well being; by taking anecosystem services approach.

In Birmingham a second studyhas mapped these consequences,across a range of key issues, toliterally re-map the City; froma totally fresh perspective.Birmingham is the first city in theworld to do this; see Appendix 2.

This now positions Birmingham asthe first city that could now moveto Natural Capital accounting;through a risk based approach;allowing these new data sets andconsequence maps to influence

future development of the City;and be made available at a Districtscale to influence District servicesand third sector action. This workreally helps to demonstrate theleading green city ambitions ofBirmingham.


• Embrace an Ecosystem Services

Approach.

• The district scale plans will enableBirmingham to mainstream

the Nature Improvement Areaapproach, matching BiodiversityOpportunity with communityneeds.

• Birmingham to become thefirst UK, Biophillic City; a globalnetwork of aspiring green cities.


• Support the Local Biodiversityand Geodiversity Partnership.

• Take advice from the Birmingham

and Black Country Local NaturePartnership.

• Embrace the CatchmentManagement Plan approach andlocal pilots.

• Work with Birmingham OpenSpaces Forum and the localWildlife Trust over the futureDistrict Plan approach toNIA programme delivery and

mainstreaming.

• Partner the local Universities andnational agencies in continuedresearch and development offuture policy, best practice,cutting edge knowledge transfer.

• Undertake a citywide I-tree-Ecoassessment.

• Continue to work with the

Business Council for SustainableDevelopment UK and the WorldBCSD, Government agenciesand partners on a BirminghamDevelopment Site Tool - basedon ecosystem services/NaturalCapital.

• Partner the local Universities andnational agencies in continuedresearch and development offuture policy, best practice,cutting edge knowledge transfer;

including EU Project PLUSfindings and ongoing Lightingand Ecology studies.

PRINCIPLE 6 • THE CITY’S ECOSYSTEMS


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PLAN 6 The City’s Ecosystems

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PLAN 7 Green and Blue Infrastructure

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The Multi-layered Challenge Mapfor BirminghamWhat this represents is how the Cityis performing from an ecosystemservices perspective, and how themultiple functions of the GreenLiving Spaces are meeting their full

potential. The science behind thispicture is complex, so in order tosimplify its depiction, the map onlyshows the multiple effects from asupply and demand point of view.So what parts of the City are wellserved by accessible natural capitaland where people can gain thosebenefits, so the ability of the naturalenvironment to ‘supply’ or meet

PLAN 8 The multi-layered challenge map for Birmingham

the needs of the local population;the lighter areas of the map. Wherethe demands being made from thelocal population are not being met,in full by their local environment;the darker areas of the map.

This is the first map of its kind ofany city in the world. The mapis a composite of the 6 maps onthe opposite page. These mapsshow how the City’s ecosystemservices are currently providing for,education, recreation, local climatecontrol, flood risk, biodiversity andaesthetics and mobility.

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PLAN 10 Biodiversity services supply and demand

PLAN 11 Local climate services supply and demand PLAN 12 Recreation services supply and demand

PLAN 13 Education services supply and demand PLAN 14 Flood risk services supply and demand

PLAN 9 Aesthetic and mobility services supply and demand

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green living spaces plan / implementation and funding

- Carbon reduction.- Ecosystem services.- Adapting to climate change.- The green economy.

Achieving integration across theseareas is the mark of a leading greencity.

The pioneering work of the Green

Infrastructure and AdaptationDelivery Group is recognised by theGreen Commission; to whom it nowreports.

BackgroundA 9 piece jigsaw approach wasused to establish the scopeand connectivity between 9independent fields of work, all witha role to play in climate adaptationand green infrastructure.

At first all their evidence sets wereinterrogated looking for gaps and

synergies; Then the same processwas undertaking for their respectiveareas of policy;

And finally decisions were made asto where overlaps existed or couldbe achieved through their deliveryprogrammes. In order to maximisethe degree of connectivity, thesework programmes were fitted intothe seven principles establishedin this Plan; as it was throughthis process of integration thatthe seven key principles were

formulated.

See diagram below.

Implementation and funding

Governance

The Green Commission’s Green Vision works via four strands:

FIGURE 3 The 9 piece jigsaw

KEY PARTNERS

Climate Risk

Water

Green Infrastructure

Health and Wellbeing

Biodiversity

The LEP and Business

Community and Resilience

Planning

Transport and Infrastructure

PolicyEvidence Delivery

The key partners are: Climate Risk - leading climate scientists at University of Birmingham; Water - Environment Agency, City mains drainageand flood risk, and Severn Trent Water plc.; Green Infrastructure - City Parks team; Health and Wellbeing - Public Health service and PublicHealth England; Biodiversity - Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust, Nature Improvement Area, and Planning ecologist; The LEP andBusiness - Midlands Environment Business Company and Business Council for Sustainable Development - UK; Community and Resilience -Birmingham Open Spaces Forum and Birmingham Resilience Team; Planning - Development Strategy team; Transportation and Infrastructure - Highways team and cycling and walking.


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Embedded policyThe seven key principles containedin this Plan are now embeddedwithin the draft Your Green andHealthy City SPD; there relationshipwith this Plan can be seen in thediagram on page 9.

District plans

In order to maximise the potentialrange of partners and deliverymechanisms to implementthis Plan, the citywide multi-layered challenge maps hasalso been made available at the(Parliamentary Constituency)District scale.

The intention would be for thirdsector and voluntary organisations,locally, to be able to use theseplans to construct future fundingbids against, to help deliverimproved local provision for greenliving spaces.

Erdington District Model

As a demonstrator of the aboveidea, Erdington volunteered to pilotthis approach. It is now establishinga District wide green partnership,that is led from the community, totry to better co-ordinate efforts andgalvanise enthusiasm. The resultsso far have been impressive.Below is a list of schemes to which

community led funding bids havebeen made across the District; total- £1.5 million;Hawthorne Brook - 140,000;Perry Brook - 80,000;Enderby Park - 110,000;Perry Common - 300,000;Bleakhill Spur - 300,000;Witton Lakes - 400,000;Brookvale Park - 100,000;

There are still more schemes in thepipeline, these are the approvedones.

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PLAN 15 The multi-layered challenge map for Erdington

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green living spaces plan / glossary

Active Travel

A term used to indicate walking,cycling or jogging/running.

Be-ActiveA Birmingham specific brandapplied to multiple activities madeavailable for citizens to undertaketo benefit their health.

BiodiversityThe term used to capture all formsof biological life.

Biodiversity OffsetA Government term for establishingthe biological impacts from anydevelopment and allowing for themto be rectified on another area ofland.

BiomassAny vegetative bulk.

Biomass Wood FuelWood extracted from woodlands

or derived from tree pruningoperations that is usually reducedto a standard size wood chip orwood pellet, that can then be burntin specially adapted boilers.

Blue CorridorA term applied to any water coursewhether natural (brook, stream,river) or man-made (canal).

CAPA European term used by theEuropean Union referring to itsfarming policies, the CommonAgricultural Policy.

Catchment ManagementA term used within rivermanagement studies referring tothe entire spread of a river fromits source or multiple sourcesto its outfall. The catchmenttherefore refers to the entire landarea affected by that river and its

tributaries.

Community Infrastructure Levy

A new development tax to beapplied post 2014, to be collectedin all English local authorities; thatcan then be spent locally.

EcosystemLiterally the interaction between allparts of the natural world.

Ecosystem AssessmentsMeasures the interaction betweenhuman activities and all naturalsystems; this can result in a

monetary value or a well-beingbenefit.

Edible LandscapesA term applied to productivelandscapes when their main outputis food or edible crops.

Energy PathwaysIn this document this refers tophysical routes through the Cityfor energy infrastructure, such as

overland or underground heatingpipes.

Epidemiological AssessmentsThis is a public health term whichrefers to assessing the impact onresidents’ health and well beingover an extended time period.

‘Forest Brum’This is a local Birminghamcommunity initiative seeking toencourage more local people togrow their own food, particularlyfruit trees and community orchards.

Forest GardenThis is an ecological term andrefers to how an area of land can bemade as productive as possible bygrowing plants of different heights,so effectively creating a tiered cropseries.

Future-proofing

A generic term referring to howsystems need to be risk assessedand re-engineered to address thosefuture risks. It has been used inreference to cities; another similarterm for that context is ResilientCities.

Green AlleysThis is a term coined in the UnitedStates of America, where narrowurban streets have been re-laidusing engineering systems that

absorb storm water very quicklyand delay its entry into alreadyoverloaded city drainage systems;to prevent local flooding.

Green Roof/Brown Roof These are where the visiblefinal layer of a building’s roofis composed either of livingvegetation or in the case of brownroofs - just a neutral substrate thatcan serve as a dry habitat that

might colonise with plant materialover time.

Green WallsThese are specially constructedvertical planting screens that areoften supported by irrigationsystems and can be deployed inconfined or inaccessible spaces -but with a high visual impact.

Greenway NetworkThis refers to off-road routesthrough towns and cities, thatperhaps link areas of parkland withplaying fields or riverside walks.

Hi-MortThis is the name of a University ofBirmingham research programmestudying all the various factors thatare responsible for excess deaths inthe City, either caused through highor cold temperatures.

Glossary


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Hi-Temp

This is the name of a University ofBirmingham research programmestudying the impact of hightemperatures in heat waves on theCity’s infrastructure, roads and railand energy supplies in particular.

Implementation PlanThis is a planning term that refersto the delivery plan part of theBirmingham Development Plan.

Intelligent Health Smart Routes

These have been piloted in Londonand Reading, they are signedroutes that residents walk, run orcycle through, whilst carrying asmart card that registers their useagainst detector posts along theroute. They can self monitor theirhealth gains or have this operatedby their GP Practice.

Local Enterprise PartnershipThis is a Government approved

body for a local region chargedwith improving the local economy.

Local Nature PartnershipThese are Government approvedmembership groups that operateover a local region with the aim ofimproving the status of nature andhelp coordinate all wildlife actionsand activities.

MURCI WatersAn Environment Agency sponsored

project operating in urban areas; toreduce urban diffuse pollution ofwatercourses.

Natural CapitalThis is a term now used to implythe economic benefits of thenatural world.

Natural Capital City Model

A pilot project being run inBirmingham seeking to link privateand public sector activities anddevelopment proposals thatwould bring maximum benefitswith minimum demand on naturalresources.

NIA - Nature Improvement AreaA Government status awarded to12 zones of England where therestoration of nature has beenmade a priority; Birmingham and

the Black Country are the onlyurban NIA.

Quiet RoadsA highways term referring toroads that have had their trafficflows reduced and provision forpedestrians and cyclists have beenimproved.

SABStands for a SUD’s Approving

Body under the Flood and WaterManagement Act (2010).

SUDsSustainable Urban Drainageschemes, where potential localflood waters are held in checkthrough engineered solutions, onlyto rejoin a city’s drainage networkonce the storm waters havesubsided.

Secondary WoodlandThis is a term applied to woodlandthat has been planted, often in veryrecent times, so can be immature.They can lack any real structure -without mature trees or wild flowerson the ground.

Street Canyon

A term applied to streets wherethe buildings constrict the air flow.These can hold air pollution orheat during heat waves; leadingto oppressive conditions for thepedestrian.

Urban Heat IslandA term applied to the cores of citiesthat due to the density of buildings,heat up far more that the outerdistricts of a town or city. Withextended heat wave conditions this

can lead to very high night timetemperatures, which in turn canlead to excess deaths of citizens.

WFDAn abbreviation for the EuropeanWater Framework Directive (2003),concerned with the water quality ofall water bodies.

Years Life LostPotential years of life lost (YLL)

provide a summary measure ofpremature mortality. Potential yearsof life lost may be defined as theyears of potential life lost due topremature deaths. Years of life lost(YLL) take into account the age atwhich deaths occur, giving greaterweight to deaths at a younger ageand lower weight to deaths at olderage.

Excess years of life lost is a measureof the difference between the years

of life lost in the local populationcompared to what would beexpected if premature mortalitywas the same as the nationalpopulation.

www.who.int/whosis/whostat2006YearsOfLifeLost.pdf

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