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Green infrastructure in the North West

North West England

Evaluation

The North West deserves its strong reputation for the use of strategic greening as a regeneration tool. The current interest in green infrastructure follows a tradition dating back some 30 years. Success has been due to a combination of soft infrastructure, advocacy and consistency in aligning both strategic and delivery work with the regional regeneration priorities.

Capacity

The legacy of long-term investment should not be underestimated - it has created the capacity needed to take green infrastructure forward in the region:

  • a strong third sector with competencies in delivery as well as strategy
  • partnership with government at various levels
  • policy advocates drawn from public and private practice as well as academia
  • a regeneration community persuaded that environmentally led regeneration makes economic sense.

Advocacy

The regional development agency’s receptiveness has been crucial. Natural Economy North West - the special purpose vehicle funded by NWDA, SITA Trust and Natural England - has successfully engaged senior actors not normally associated with the environment.

Carefully targeted marketing and the involvement of important local figures has also been valuable. For instance a ‘Green Infrastructure in Greater Manchester’ seminar held in October 2008 included a keynote speech from Rt. Hon Hazel Blears MP, the then Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

‘Consultant commissions’ have provided much of the evidence base for advocacy. This information is readily accessible on the North West Green Infrastructure Unit and Natural Economy North West websites. The flow of information has become a regional strength.

Knowledge transfer

There is considerable scope for knowledge transfer to other regions , particularly:

  • the work on the economic value of green infrastructure
  • the creation of green infrastructure forums and green infrastructure think tanks based on city regions.
  • the use of special purpose vehicles, subject to funding, such as a Green Infrastructure Unit, to adapt existing materials to local circumstances.

Building a widespread capacity to embed green infrastructure planning and delivery across a range of agendas and institutional player is not so easily replicated, since the knowledge base takes time to develop. However, investment in such ‘soft infrastructure’ yields large dividends in the longer term.

Other key learning points include:

  • the impact of individual advocates
  • the region’s commitment to provide the ‘evidence’ needed for effective influencing
  • a robust and defendable site selection process to guide directly funded interventions

Ongoing plans

The position in the North West is not static and while much has been achieved more remains to be done.

Green infrastructure partners wish to engage more with the NHS, and establish a long-term relationship rather than dealing with one-off projects. Another area identified for progress is to increase planning-level skills within local authorities.