Green Infrastructure and eco-towns in England

Ian Phillips MRTPI, CMLILandscape and planning consultant

www.ianphillips.eu

2009 Assises Européennes du Paysage, Strasbourg

GI concepts

• Essential services provided by natural systems

• Valuing green space as an asset• Optimal use of multi-functional

spaces• Connecting spaces as a network• Collaborative planning, design

and management

Eco-town concepts• Conceived as exemplary settlements• Responding to climate change• Setting standards for comfortable and

sustainable urban living • Promoting lifestyle change and influencing

other development– Smaller eco footprint, reduced carbon emissions

and improved water management– Efficient use of renewable energy– Reduced car use– Integrating green infrastructure into an urban

environment– Enhancing biodiversity – Healthier lifestyles

GI Challenges

• Confusion between GI and open space

• Promoting the long term and wider value of GI

• Translating national policy into sub-regional and local delivery

• Visionary thinking and leadership

• Collaborative working• Resourcing and funding

South East Dorset GI opportunity map

Eco–town challenges• 50 schemes, reduced to 15 shortlisted, reduced

to 4 approved schemes• 20k houses in 4 locations – 3m other houses• Local planning consent needed• High standards may be compromised• Only 40% of area to be green space• Locations close to existing settlements• Can people’s lifestyles be changed?

Signs of progress• New national planning policy on

GI• Strong support for GI in many

locations• Increased evidence of

collaborative working• Climate change, increasing energy

costs and local resourcing influencing the political and public agenda

• Green economics and marketing influencing commercial decisions

“Man’s chief goal in life is still to become and stay human, and defend his achievements against the encroachment of nature.” Eric Hoffer (1902–83) US writer and philosopher.

“Here’s good advice for practice: go into partnership with nature; she does more than half the work and asks none of the fee.”Martin H. Fischer (1879–1962)

Two views of nature

TCPAhttp://www.tcpa.org.uk/ecotowns/20081020_ET-WS_Green_Infrastructure.pdf

The Landscape Institutehttp://www.landscapeinstitute.org/PDF/Contribute/GreenInfrastructurepositionstatement13May09.pdf

CABEhttp://www.cabe.org.uk/files/open-space-strategies.pdf

Natural Englandhttp://naturalengland.etraderstores.com/NaturalEnglandShop/Product.aspx?ProductID=cda68051-1381-452f-8e5b-8d7297783bbd

http://www.greeninfrastructure.eu

Key questions

• Explaining and marketing GI value?• Changing perceptions – political,

professional and public? • Building connectivity?• Encouraging collaboration?• Funding green infrastructure?• Long term management and sustainability?• Examples from other countries?