Green Infrastructure for Rochdale Borough in Greater Manchester Part 2 of 2

Francis Hesketh CMLI CEnv

Partner, TEP

Regional Centre & Inner Areas

Towards a GI Framework

1. Spatial Framework – where is investment needed to safeguard and create assets; and to sustain functions

2. Organisational Framework – who will advocate for GI activity, stimulate new initiatives and support deliverers

“Green Infrastructure will be delivered through a few large projects and a thousand smaller actions”

Focus on City Centre and Inner Regeneration Areas

The Irwell City Park & Irwell Valleys

Other Regeneration Areas and Destination Parks

The Greenheart Regional Park in Wigan

Medlock Valley, Rochdale Canal and north-eastern housing renewal areas

PlaNYC – A Greener Greater New York

Action - Attract 900,000 new residents by 2030 to achieve an avoided 15.6 million metric tons of carbon emission

1. Create sustainable, affordable housing

2. Provide parks near all New Yorkers3. Expand and improve mass transit4. Reclaim contaminated land5. Open our waterways for recreation6. Ensure a reliable water and energy

supply7. Plant trees to create a healthier and

more beautiful public realm

“We will fill every available street tree opportunity in New York City”

Source Martin Jones / Great City Parks

“Paley Park is a carefully conceived adult retreat…Its Zen-like restraint contrasts with its hyper-urban setting.”

“The park is an object lesson in the use of orientation to create optimal microclimate…” Source Alan Tate / Great City Parks

New York: Open Space

Make existing sites available to more New Yorkers:

Expand useable hours at existing spaces;

Re-invigorate public realm;– Create/enhance a public plaza in every

community;– Green the cityscape.

All New Yorkers to live 10 min.s from a park;

Turn 30 schoolyards into model community parks;

Open 290 schoolyards in under-served neighbourhoods;

Open spaces after hours and instal lighting

Schoolyards to Playgrounds Programme

New York – transferable ideas

• World-class city

• Similar issues of growth, ambition, brand

• Strong leadership and buy-in across Commissions

• Regional / Destination Parks

• Public Realm

• Transforming Brownfields & Waterways

• Making existing spaces multi-purpose and accessible

• Co-ordination across civic boundaries

• Strong Delivery Plan

PUSH Green Infrastructure Strategy: Research Phase

We have a rare opportunity to make a real difference through the way we build the new developments planned in the UK. We need to act quickly or we will squander this opportunity.

RCEP, March 2007