Bristol Low Carbon Business Breakfast 21st April 2015

Integrated Green Infrastructure:

Employing an Integrated Approach to Green and Blue

Infrastructure Design

Nigel Evers

Director Of Landscape

Fleur Timmer

Senior Landscape Designer

To gain a greater understanding of what GI is, its role

in sustainability and disciplines involved

Why early engagement of GI teams in masterplanning

is imperative to achieving best results

How an integrated GI approach is economically

sensible and profitable

The Purpose of this Seminar:

Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone

‘The 25 year ambition for the project is to regenerate the area and create a

new , superbly connected entry to Bristol and a hub for creative, high-

technology, specialist engineering and low carbon companies , building

on the city’s reputation as a knowledge-intensive centre……

……initial estimates suggest that around 400 new businesses could be

accommodated here, leading to the creation around 17,000 new jobs over

the 25 year period. These projected jobs would be delivered alongside

more than 240,000 Sq metres of new or refurbished space, featuring

offices, research and development space, new homes and retail units, an

arena and a redeveloped, 21st century railway station.’’

Bristol Temple Quarter – Enterprise Zone-Website April 2015

12,000 capacity performance venue

Close to Bristol Temple Meads

Catalyst for investment in Enterprise

Zone

Attract millions of pounds of investment

to the city region

Bristol City Council-April 2015

Temple Greenways

Streets and spaces improved

Walking and cycling routes

Named Temple Greenways to reflect ecological design

Links to and opens up Totterdown Basin

What is GI? ‘We define GI as the network of natural and semi natural features, green spaces, rivers and lakes that

intersperse and connect villages, towns and cities.’’

What does it do? ‘It is a natural, service-providing infrastructure that is often more cost effective, more resilient and more

capable of meeting social, environmental and economic objectives than ‘grey’ infrastructure.’’

Landscape Institute Green Infrastructure Position Statement– 2013

So…..

It is imperative that we make early informed consideration of the

GI within our sites and in their context.

What is GI and What does it Do?

In our designed world we must design with,

adapt to and create new GI networks in

order to provide for our growing

populations through ecosystem services,

adapt to our changing climate and secure

and enhance our environment

What is GI and What does it Do?

Bristol City Council-April 2015

Multifunctional Ecosystem Services:

Securing Our

Future:

Environmentally

Economically

Socially

Eco

syste

m S

erv

ice

s d

iagra

m s

ourc

e: m

etr

ova

ncouver.

org

Zones of Influence: (inward and outward)

Global - City-wide – Neighbourhood – Site Based

Intelligent Resource Planning: Integrate resource planning with man-made and natural systems

Intelligent resource management realises early GI assets allows for

greater understanding of sustainable energy gains, efficient resource

management and design principles which work to reduce negative

effects of any proposal on available resources while maximising

sustainable use.

Community: Health & Wellbeing,

Intergenerational and Cultural Cohesion, Education

Often difficult to measure benefits are those of increased health and

well being both for the individual and the community. These benefits are

those of reduced sickness, improved mental health, social integration,

intergenerational cohesion and environmental education.

Multifunctional Design

Battle McCarthy,

Greenwich Peninsula

Joint appreciation of the technical issues that drive

mitigation and determine the framework for development.

An opportunity to create synergies and ‘win wins’

Co-ordinated stakeholder engagement provides a joined up

message, builds trust and supports the planning process.

Cost-saving for the design teams and Client

Why Have Collaborative Approach?

The Outcome:

cost-effective, streamlined, innovative and highly marketable

schemes…

Acordia, Grant Associates

In order to create places of excellence the design team must

remain:

Flexible, be prepared to adopt new working methods and be

open to alternative approaches

Be adaptable, step out of the comfort zone, growing team

knowledge

Strive for creative design, develop something new, be

experimental and break the mould.

…But most of all strive for innovation.

Flexible, Adaptable and Creative…

Project Examples

Stratford Athlete’s Village 2008-2012

Athlete’s Village, Vogt Landscape Architects

Projects With Exemplar Urban GI

Breaking the mould of amenity Integrating multi-level landscape

Creating urban wilderness Making function attractive

Seabrook Orchard

Seabrook Orchards

Returns on Intelligent GI

‘The green infrastructure for Crewe Business Park was a key part of the masterplan and management plan

from the outset and has generated more than £4.5m in capital receipts and 2,800 jobs.’

Landscape Institute: Green Infrastructure Position Statement 13.05.09

“We have introduced new public squares, mature tree-lined avenues and ecology corridors as an integral

part of the initial phase of development. Sales rates and values have been exceptional. Indeed, Crest always

plans in ecology, landscape and GI from the very beginning of our developments and never fails to reap the

dividends”.

Chris Tinker, Board Director, Crest , on Oakridge Grove, Milton Keynes

GEN Consulting (2006) found that regeneration using green infrastructure of a run-down area

(negative aesthetics and perception) caused house prices to increase by 111% in Glasgow. It was

established that once the general property price rises and any other differing factors had been

stripped out, the enhancement value of the existing housing stock was in the region of £15

million, and as a result of the scheme new development to the value of £75 million has been

realised.

GEN Consulting (2006). , Forestry Research report, 2010

The HCA invests in developing large and often complex sites, and this requires knowledge and appreciation

of the existing site character and the long-term needs of a local community. Robust and imaginatively

designed landscape infrastructure adds value to our projects. It helps create a place that residents can

enjoy, improves biodiversity and can improve investment returns to public and private sector partners.

Louise Wyman

Midlands Large Sites Lead, Homes and Communities Agency

.

Profitability of Multifunctional GI

GI approach to SUDS cost on average 50% less than traditional

drainage

Urban Trees: to be managed as a whole to bring maximum social,

economic and environmental benefits to the local community. In Torbay

for example, the contribution local trees make to air pollution removal

and carbon sequestration alone was estimated to be worth £6.4m a

year.

Maintenance of contextually designed green blue SuDs will reduce cost

more than 25% of traditional drainage.

Profitability of Multifunctional GI

Recognising the value of GI

“I fully recognise the vital role green infrastructure needs to play in securing a. healthy environment and will

therefore ensure that nothing we do undermines our ability to protect and enhance it.”

Elizabeth Truss MP

Secretary of State Environment, food and rural affairs

Any Questions ?