Explanatory notes added for IEMA Quality mark submission. This was a short presentation given to an audience of academics and consultants looking into the goals and objectives for a blueprint for an eco-smart city in Canterbury by 2050. This presentation was to showcase the lessons and parallels from EIA that could be used. Harry Parker, August 2018 1
A Successful Smart Eco City (from an EIA perspective) Good morning, my name is Harry Parker and I am an Associate at Quod, a development consultant who provide environmental, planning and socioeconomic advice. I have over 11 years experience in Environmental Impact Assessment over a wide range of large infrastructure and residential schemes. 2
Heritage Ecology Culture Health Energy Wellbeing Transport Economy Resources Firstly, what is environmental impact assessment, or EIA as it is abbreviated to? It is sometimes hard to describe it succinctly it is all encompassing but it is often described in academia and guidance books as a systematic process of evaluating the likely environmental impacts of a project. True, this is the main reasons and purpose of an environmental impact assessment but its role should also be acknowledged as being a facilitator for reducing environmental impacts and helping achieve better environmental outcomes for developments. I have on the screen some of the key broad themes of EIA. Immediately, we can see some mutual synagies with what we have been talking about this morning in the blueprint round table discussions. EIA involves the consideration of these themes so they can show us good examples of how we go about appraising these themes from the splitting into themes, to how we go about evaluating what would constitute a good outcome in terms of cultural heritage? I have picked out some key lessons I would urge the room to think about before we enter this afternoon s series of roundtable discussions, all learnt from EIAs 3
Private developers More importantly for us today, is to acknowledge the role of private developers in delivering the smart city initiatives. Private developers, when involved in controversial schemes, that involve loss of natural environments, potential harm or change to heritage assets are often portrayed in negative lights, but it will be private developers that will enact the majority of changes to the built environment and infrastructure through their developments themselves or through funding mechanisms attached to developments (e.g. through community infrastructure levy payments, section 106 agreements). Understanding their constraints, pressures and where they see opportunities will be important for us to develop a clear policy and plan for an eco-smart city blueprint. My overwhelming experience is that developers largely want to deliver positive environmental and social outcomes for their developments and as EIA consultant, it is very rare for developers not to take their environmental commitments seriously. 4
Clear planning policy requirements The best way to deliver eco-smart city objectives is to install them in clear planning policy requirements. This is the instruction manual for developers. We need to consider how best to make representations to the planning policy process to ensure developments contribute to eco-smart city initiatives. The eco-smart city approach may learn from how policies are developed and interpreted by private developers to help inform the plan for delivery of the blueprint. 5
Public awareness and support Public support is important for any project, and will be important for the smart eco-city initiative. EIA is a good process to look at for lessons for public awareness and input into the scheme. 6
Data collection system in place https://www.sumologic.com/machine-data-analytics/ A large part of EIA is about data collection. This will apply to eco-smart city approach. Data will be needed to monitor progress, assess whether a policy or initiative is working. Early consideration of how this would be captured is essential. There are many good lessons from EIA, from data gathering using real time monitoring devices and use of GPS tools. 7
Summary of key points Planning process will be key. Private developers will be responsible for delivering the Smart Eco-City infrastructure Public awareness and support is a necessary driver Data collection needs to be in place early. To conclude my discussion and setting out what I have learnt from working with developers to achieve good environmental outconesl Planning process will be key it is what developers work towards achieving. Private developers will be responsible for delivering the Smart Eco-City infrastructure Public awareness and support is a necessary driver Data collection needs to be in place early for the eco-smart city initiative to work effectively. 8