Jason Longhurst, director of the River Nene Regional Park, looks at how this independent body has been working on green infrastructure initiatives centred on Northamptonshire and considers other approaches around the world.

THE PHRASE ‘GREEN infrastructure’ seems to be popping up all over the UK in reference to urban renaissance and green space regeneration. It can be defined as creating networks of multifunctional green spaces that are carefully planned to meet the environmental, social and economic needs of a community – liveable, sustainable communities that see the natural and built environment working in harmony. Green infrastructure is fundamental to the delivery of sustainable growth.

As the largest county within the Milton Keynes and South Midlands Growth Area, Northamptonshire will need to accommodate an astounding 100,000 new homes by 2021. To address this, a new and innovative form of regional park was established – the River Nene Regional Park (RNRP) – and it is this independent partnership body that is championing, coordinating and implementing green infrastructure initiatives in the county.

It has taken a pioneering approach to green infrastructure by establishing a strategic framework which takes in extensive rural areas but also addresses the pressure of growth on urban areas. This approach not only works to enhance the quality and character of the environment but achieves many other aims including: improving connectivity between places of interest; addressing climate change; making a positive impact on the well-being of communities; and driving local economic growth.

Developing infrastructure

Northamptonshire’s green infrastructure programme was one of the subjects of a recent seminar held at Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, called ‘Connecting people and places’. At the event, hosted by the East Midlands Development Agency and the East Midlands Regional Assembly, delegates were given the opportunity to hear how investment in green infrastructure has been considered in the designation of Northamptonshire’s Environmental Investment Area (EIA).

The county’s approach was built on the solid foundation of an Environmental Character Assessment (ECA) – and the case that was made for green infrastructure to be an integral part of the planning of growth areas is now enshrined in regional strategies. It has even been used in the Core Spatial Strategies and Local Development Frameworks of North and West Northamptonshire, and is going to be adopted by authorities in the East Midlands and elsewhere in the UK.

At the heart of Northamptonshire’s green infrastructure programme is the development of a clear and, perhaps more important, transferable methodology. To demonstrate this, RNRP has created a combined and interactive ECA and Green Infrastructure suite – available to download. This has been designed as a tool for planners, but could also be used by developers, environmentalists, special interest groups and the general public.

In the RNRP area, the EIA has helped to: identify areas in which green infrastructure can be developed; support strategies for improving health, fitness and access to nature; improve links between urban and rural areas; and influence land management practices. The regional park has also provided an effective delivery mechanism – in its role as champion and coordinator, together with the supporting ECA, the regional park has developed a solid approach to green infrastructure delivery.

Partnerships with stakeholders and consultees have been crucial to the delivery of green infrastructure projects on the ground. RNRP has already delivered £4.2m of green infrastructure initiatives and secured a further £4.5m for the development and delivery of further projects.

Home and abroad

In the UK, the term green infrastructure is used widely and can encompass different approaches. In towns and cities, ‘urban renaissance’ and ‘green grid’ approaches, which link areas of urban green space and use rivers or canals as wildlife corridors, are common.
In Stockholm, Sweden, 47 per cent of land adjacent to urban areas remains undeveloped. These natural areas of woodland and river corridors will provide green wedges between existing and new settlements – they will accommodate road and rail transport links and act as eco corridors to support wildlife and the development of energy forests. Studies have confirmed these green spaces are important for biodiversity and the environment, and have positive social and recreational benefits to local communities.

Elsewhere in Europe, ‘green networks’ have been established. These are long-distance grids that use green and blue networks, woodland, grassland and disused railways as well as waterways, rivers and canals to link towns, cities and places of interest. These networks feature wooden bridges at points of entry and aim to improve links and secure modal shift and encourage tourism through access to heritage assets – key objectives of green infrastructure.
In the US, the scale of the green infrastructure network is vast. Whereas in the UK single fields or enclosures may be used, land parcels in Maryland can exceed 100ha.

A common factor globally appears to be the increasing pressure on ecology and biodiversity and the need to protect the unique character of areas from development or climate change. Although the drivers for change may be different, green infrastructure can provide a planned and strategic approach which has clear social and economic benefits, as well as a vast array of environmental, recreational and educational benefits.

In the UK, with increasing pressure on the environment, the density of the population and the large number of stakeholders involved, clear methods and mechanisms are essential for delivering green infrastructure. Northamptonshire has these. Its green infrastructure structure is grounded in the new planning system, has full partnership support and is championed by a non-statutory, independent, single focus body. It hopes to serve as a good model for the delivery of green infrastructure in the UK.

Visit: www.rnrpenvironmental character.org.uk This article was written with the support of Michel Kerrou, environmental consultant and co-founder of the character assessment concept and project.