Bolton & District Civic:

Transcription

1 Bolton & District Civic Trust Bolton & District Civic: a talk by Richard Shirres 23 rd July 2015

2 What is it? What are the benefits for towns & people? Why do we need it? What s the impera?ve? What might our townscape look like with its applica?on? Why do we not see much evidence of BGI about us?

3 What is it? The natural water cycle is characterised by high evapora<on, a high rate of infiltra<on, and low surface run- off. Urban design prac.ce Sustainable Urban Drainage (SuDS) Green Roofs Wetlands

4 What is it? Urban Green Infrastructure is simply the exploita<on of vegeta<on and organic processes to improve the quality and func<oning of the urban realm, for sustainability. Blue Green Infrastructure has the aim of bringing together urban water management and green infrastructure. This requires apen<on to the hydrological and ecological func<oning of what is being put in place. Ques.on: where is the capacity to deliver this?

5 Bolton & District Civic Trust What are the benefits for towns & people? BGI can bring a mul<tude of environmental, ecological, socio- cultural and economic benefits. Ø Quality of Place: community led green space creates jobs & Pride Ø Contributes recrea<onal space: transforma<ve Ø APrac<ve townscape encourage walking & cycling and visitors

6 What are the benefits for towns & people? BGI can bring a mul<tude of environmental, ecological, socio- cultural and economic benefits. Ø Quality of Place: community led green space creates jobs & Pride Ø Contributes recrea<onal space: transforma<ve Ø Surface Water Flooding: absorbs & buffers Ø Biodiversity: provides vital habitat for flora & fauna Ø Health & Well- being: reduces pollu<on Ø Climate Change Adapta<on: counters high temperatures and reduces impacts of intense storms Ecosystem Services Ø APrac<ve townscape encourage walking & cycling and visitors

7 Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems SuDs

8 Why do we need it? What s the impera?ve? Sustainability. ² Urban creep effect > approx. 0.4 to 1.1 sq m per house per year ² We need healthier, more aprac<ve, more resilient urban areas. ² Drainage infrastructure capacity will be increasingly challenged ² Urban heat island effect will become more pronounced The NEED to prepare, to adapt for climate change

9 The need to prepare and to adapt our seelements for climate change Special Supplement to the Bulle.n of the American Meteorological Society Vol. 96, No. 7, July 2015

10 Why do we not see much evidence of BGI about us?

11 Why do we not see much evidence of it about us? A load of bollards!

12 Why do we not see much evidence of BGI about us? Bolton Policy & Guidance for Urban Green Infrastructure Policy RA1 The Council and its partners will: Ensure development takes opportuni<es to improve upon exis<ng low levels of green infrastructure within Bolton. Policy IPC1 For all development, contribu<ons will be sought for any necessary infrastructure to remedy site- specific deficiencies or compensate for impacts on Green Infrastructure. Policy EM3 (From Unitary Development Plan superseded?) Plans, strategies, proposals and schemes should iden<fy, promote and deliver mul<- purpose networks of greenspace par<cularly where there is currently limited access or connec<vity, and to integrate Green Infrastructure Policy CG4 Ensure new development is compa<ble with surrounding land uses.

13 Why do we not see much evidence of it about us? March 2009 Sept 2008 April 2008 March 2011 August 2009

14 Green space within the Town Centre? Law Courts Cheadle Square* Nelson Square* Parish Church Grounds Queens Park* *Public Open Green Space

15 Green space in Bolton Town Centre? Over grown trees, clupered topiary, lack of green space But we need green infrastructure outside of the town centre too

16 Retro- fipng exis?ng urban areas & neighbourhoods

17 Green Roofs high level SuDS A roof of a building par<ally or completely covered with vegeta<on and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. Func-on ² Absorb rainwater helps with reduce risk of surface flooding ² Provide insula<on: warm in winter, cool in summer ² Habitat for wildlife ² Aesthe<cally pleasing well- being ² Mi<gates heat island effect Types of Roofs? Extensive or Intensive

18 Green Roofs high level SuDS

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21 ????? 6M Office Scheme at Bolton Transport Interchange due in 2017? Designed by J M Architects

22 Living Walls? Can walls have leaves? Wesnield Shopping Centre, Shepherds Bush, London 2008

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24 Andrena haemorrhoa

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26 Cutacre Site, Soth Bolton Total Roof Area of the development? 305,250 m2 or 30.5 hectares or 75 acres

27 Are Green Roofs Economic?

28 Greater Manchester Green Roof Guidance. Manchester City Council. August 2009

29 Darkest reds denote areas where summer temperatures are predicted to be above 30 C by All significant developments within these areas should include green roofs Greater Manchester Green Roof Guidance. Manchester City Council. August 2009

30 Towards a Green Infrastructure: Framework for Greater Manchester. A Report by TEP. Sept 2008

31 Deficiencies of Access to Urban Green Infrastructure Towards a Green Infrastructure: Framework for Greater Manchester. A Report by TEP. Sept 2008

32 Policy Priori?es addressed by Green Infrastructure Based partly on Natural England (2009) Green Infrastructure Guidance, Table 3.1: Green infrastructure and policy priori<es

33 Cheadle Square and the Cultural Quarter?

34 Cheadle Square (Town Hall Conserva<on Area) and the Cultural Quarter? Early 2015: what was proposed for the 90% of public green space within the Town Centre!

35 Cheadle Square (Town Hall Conserva<on Area) and the Cultural Quarter? < Can we do beeer than this? PROBABLY >

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38 Strategic Planning needed for River Corridors Strong policies need to be in place along with site specific planning briefs IF culverts are ever to be day- lighted. We should not be perpetra<ng a 19 th Century mindset for a 21 st Century problem

39 Why do we not see much evidence of it about us? Bolton Policy & Guidance for Urban Green Infrastructure Policy RA1 The Council and its partners will: Ensure development takes opportuni<es to improve upon exis-ng low levels of green infrastructure within Bolton. Policy IPC1 For all development, contribu<ons will be sought for any necessary infrastructure to remedy site- specific deficiencies or compensate for impacts on Green Infrastructure. Policy EM3 (From Unitary Development Plan superseded?) Plans, strategies, proposals and schemes should iden<fy, promote and deliver mul<- purpose networks of greenspace par<cularly where there is currently limited access or connec<vity, and to integrate Green Infrastructure Policy CG4 Ensure new development is compa-ble with surrounding land uses.

40 A Few Ques?ons : u Where is the planning & eco- engineering capacity to deliver this? u Where is the ar.cula.on about site specific deficiencies? u Who is making the judgement about the necessity in rela.on to specific applica.ons? u Is the policy prescrip.on sufficiently strong enough to ensure new development is fit for purpose? u Where is the strategic Bolton ecological spa.al planning to inform the context and priori.es? Blue Green Infrastructure should be planned & managed as CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

41 THANK YOU FOR LISTENING Discussion?