Mainstreaming green infrastructure in planning policy and decision making: Translating NERC science into a co-produced spatial planning toolkit
Lead Research Organisation:
Northumbria University
Department Name: Fac of Engineering and Environment
Abstract
Green Infrastructure (GI) has emerged as a multifunctional planning concept with potential to address urban planning challenges as "natural" assets. There is an weighty academic and policy literature in support of this. However, to date GI potential has not been effectively mainstreamed into planning policy, practice and decision-making processes due to a lack of evidence quantifying its claimed multiple benefits; a lack of suitable delivery mechanisms and declining local authority resources due to budgetary cuts. This has made GI vulnerable in the congested and contested policy arenas where it is often trumped by economic growth and housing priorities. Nevertheless, some progress has been made within ecosystem services and natural capital assessments and NERC's 12 targeted GI projects. However, there is a marked absence of viable delivery mechanisms for urban decision makers. Indeed, many planning decisions/investments rely on conventional cost benefit analysis models which poorly incorporate environmental aspects. So, drawing upon my own research experience in 3 NERC projects associated with GI and its use in the planning system, I have prioritised 4 critical GI challenges to underpin this project (1) What constitutes success in the provision and delivery of GI in the planning system? (2) How can we translate existing NERC science associated with the value and benefits of GI into fit for purpose delivery tools for policy and practice? (3) How can we evaluate the added value of GI planning policies and interventions? (4) How can we change/influence behaviour(s) of key actors in the planning arena regarding their valuation and use of GI? My role as a NERC fellow is to address these challenges by acting as a catalyst integrating multiple planning policy and practice viewpoints across key stakeholders who use/shape the planning system. These participants will co-produce the projects outputs within a managed process that is developmental, pragmatic and peer reviewed; delivering a suite of guidance, tools and resources that mainstream GI in policy and decision making. In support of these goals, I have teamed up with the Town and Country Planning Association, a recognized NGO champion and thought leader in GI innovation, policy, research and practice in a 3 year secondment. My KE workplan is built on 7 workstreams (WS) which provide a coherent framework to address the 4 challenges. WS1 and WS2 Review and translate previous/existing NERC research (WS1) and policy/practice (WS2) findings and lessons into a state of science evidence report on GI potential upon which other WS then build upon. Additionally both WS1/2 include time to respond to and inform new policy and legislation that may affect GI over the 3 years through policy briefings and formal consultation responses. WS3 works with 9 influential user groups shaping/delivering planning policy and practice (Councillors; DCLG; Professional Institutes; Planning Inspectorate; Academics; Public, Private and voluntary sectors and devolved governments) in a series of developmental workshops. Workshops initially identify user needs and barriers to mainstreaming GI, to then consider the design of suitable GI resources to then actively using them within their own practice. Information is shared within and across the groups at each stage. WS4 uses 6 "living laboratory" studies across a sample of live GI projects involving different agencies, scales and sectors to assess critically current/emerging GI delivery and decision-making methods. Methods include interviews, researcher observation and participant reflection. WS5 runs in parallel with WS3 and involves working with a GI partnership members in workshops on each challenge with follow up shared email iterations with WS3 groups to co-design a draft GI resource kit. This is then pilot tested in WS6 within 3 different planning settings. WS7 Provides an accessible and Knowledge Exchange Web Portal hosting all project resources and data.
Organisations
- Northumbria University (Fellow, Lead Research Organisation)
- Royal Town Planning Institute RTPI (Collaboration)
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Collaboration)
- ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL (Collaboration)
- Natural England (Collaboration)
- Tasman District Council (Collaboration)
- WEST OF ENGLAND COMBINED AUTHORITY (Collaboration)
- Galsgow and Clyde Valley Green Network (Collaboration)
- Town & Country Planning Association (Collaboration)
- South Downs National Park (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
| Alister Scott (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Reed M
(2017)
A place-based approach to payments for ecosystem services
in Global Environmental Change
Ransom, M
(2020)
A Planning Policy Assessment Method for Aotearoa/New Zealand Based on Ecosystem Services"
in Planning Quarterly
Kirby M
(2023)
Beyond growth management: A review of the wider functions and effects of urban growth management policies
in Landscape and Urban Planning
Hillier J
(2019)
Demystifying academics to enhance university-business collaborations in environmental science
in Geoscience Communication
Scott AJ
(2019)
Editorial Mainstreaming green infrastructure in the planning system
in Town and Country Planning
Rogers J
(2022)
Essex Green Infrastructure Standards
Grace M
(2021)
Exploring the smart-natural city interface; re-imagining and re-integrating urban planning and governance
in Emerald Open Research
Hardman M
(2018)
Guerrilla gardening and green activism: Rethinking the informal urban growing movement
in Landscape and Urban Planning
Mell I
(2023)
ICE Manual of Blue-Green Infrastructure
| Description | My knowledge exchange work does not readily translate into key findings as it is impact generated. However, the following key points apply. 1. The research has exposed varying performance in the design, delivery and monitoring of statutory planning policies resulting in reduced quantity and quality of green infrastructure (GI) for people, communities, and nature. This huge variation in the quality of local plan policies for green infrastructure suggests the need for improved guidance and policy tools that expose what good looks like. 2. The research has exposed how the complexity and difficulty inherent in mainstreaming nature using green infrastructure. Mainstreaming is about embedding nature in economic, business and social domains but ,all too often, time is often spent working soley in the environmental domain without developing hooks to engage other sectors. 3. This project has co-designed and tested a self-assessment policy tool that has improved both the design and impact of planning policies. The tool has been tested and used by planning authorities to improve GI policy at regional scales e.g., West of England Combined Authority and Essex County Council, crucially going beyond existing national policy requirements, framing GI as an environmental, social and economic asset. 4. The tool has also been used to assess English, Scottish, Northern Irish, and Welsh government guidance, exposing significant gaps and vulnerabilities in their GI planning policies. Here mainstreaming and stewardship functions are often weak and policy wording is characterised by statements of hope and aspiration rather than requiring actions. 4. Work has also addressed the identified policy and practice gap in trying to understand the linkages between the different environmental terms that have emerged. Working with key thought leaders across academic, policy and practice, a short briefing note has been prepared to help those people working with these new environmental concepts and understanding how they link to improve their own outcomes for nature. 5. The disintegrated nature of the different components of the planning system in the UK in general and England in particular has highlighted problems in planning for nature. Specifically : • Different governance frameworks for town and country, resource, infrastructure and rebuilding regulations hinder joined up approaches • The difference terms and language used across the UK to cover environmental goals hinders coordination. • HMSO publication such as the 25 Year Environment plan are rarely mainstreamed into formal planning policy (England) as opposed to Wales which has a much stronger regulatory regime. • Regulations is seen as something to achieve the bare minimum rather than raise the bar ; there is a focus on quantity metrics as opposed to quality metrics. • There are significant differences in the governance frameworks and policy and delivery of GI across he evolved nations of the UK and here are real opportunities to share better practice. Whilst the UK green infrastructure Partnership is trying to do this there re limited opportunities for social learning here in an area that is much needed. • Viability has impacted negatively on delivery of green infrastructure. 5. There is a need for research to better line up with forthcoming priorities for nature and the planning system. Currently too much research fails to work with the planning community and the research priorities as identified by the RTPI 6. There is a serious social justice issue regarding the distribution and access of quality green infrastructure but the emphasis seems to be on researchers developing new tools rather than try and focus on incorporating work in existing planning tools. Here impact assessments (including Health) and betterment (Section 106 agreements and community infrastructure levy) and duty to cooperate are key concepts to work with. |
| Exploitation Route | 1. To improve how strategic planning for nature conservation can benefit from using GI as a key delivery vehicle. With the return of strategic planning there is currently a policy void. https://local.gov.uk/pas/plan-making/strategic-plans/strategic-planning-research-paper-improving-strategic-planning 2. To use intelligence to help reshape Building with Nature standards framework. This is the first UK benchmark for assessing the quality of GI. It has been in operation now some 3 years and the standards have been successfully revised under my chairmanship of the standadds board. https://www.buildingwithnature.org.uk/ 3. To support improved understanding of the role of green belts as a key and environmentally productive green infrastructure resource. Here I have secured NERC ONE planet funding for a three year PhD (October 2020-) https://research.ncl.ac.uk/one-planet/ 4. To embed the NATURE tool ( https://nature-tool.com/) ; the UK first net gain planning tool (via WSP and EKN funded by Innovate UK). The tool is currently being beta tested and draws directly upon my GI work intelligence. 5. To improve the business case for green infrastructure via (ICASP funded by NERC) https://icasp.org.uk/projects-2-2/gbi-business-cases/ 6. To improve the way that cultural ecosystem services are used in policy and plans building on the New Zealand example. Here I have supported Marijke Ransom from Tasman District Council (now Department of Conservation) adapt the green infrastructure assessment tool into a framework for Maori assessment. https://www.dropbox.com/s/uvyneb1437rnbcb/PQ-219-2020-Dec.pdf?dl=0 7. The fellowship has helped inform Natural England's work on England's GI standards framework. The work has focussed on supporting two test pilots in Essex County Council and West of England Combined Authority. 8. I have also helped shape the work of the National Infrastructure Commission through their recent consultation on natural capital. I hope to continue supporting such work 9. I intend to produce a one stop shop and updated web portal to help showcase research and practice on GI as secured through my fellowship so as to help academics and practice stakeholders have access to relevant work to improve their own nature outcomes. 10 The focus of this work to date has been on planning policy ; there is an imortant opportunity to look at how policy has been applied in practice in decisions and follow on bids are being constructed. The work can also help support 1. Improved research grants that better integrate planning with environmental concerns. 2. Strengthen links between policy and research to improve quality To improve understanding of how the different environmental terms link together to form stronger policy foundations. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/ |
| Description | Acknowledgement of my role in supporting national infrastructure Commssion publication paper on natural capital |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| URL | https://nic.org.uk/studies-reports/natural-capital-environmental-net-gain/ |
| Description | Building with Nature standards board Standards refresh |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Impact | This meeting is refreshing the standards for building with Nature accreditation. From the orignal 23 to 12. I am the chair of the board and this meeting was the culimation of several smaller group meetings . this will be aord tested over the next few months. |
| URL | https://www.buildingwithnature.org.uk/newsblog1/2020/10/14/building-with-nature-standards-board |
| Description | Chair of Building with Nature Standards Board |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Impact | Building with Nature is an established accreditation scheme to assess the quality of green infrastructure in a given development. To do this there are a set of standards tha have been co developed with the built environment industry. I have become the chair of the standards Board with a remit to critically review the standards and ensure that they are fit for purpose. To date we have established a full board of 10 members and our first meeting is on April 1st 2019 Given the role of the group we expect to have a direct impact on policy through shaping this scheme |
| URL | https://www.buildingwithnature.org.uk/ |
| Description | Citation and recognition in contribution to Essex GI strategy 2020 |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| Impact | My work on GI via the Green Infrastructure Policy Assesment tool helped improve the quaility of the strategy with a focus on stronger wording and key outcomes for each chapter. This was secured via a GI workshop which I led with Jayne Rogers. . |
| URL | https://downloads.ctfassets.net/knkzaf64jx5x/35jhjEoQZAc4f7bwGyLa38/fc90fbc5519874490047930aae371036... |
| Description | Citation and requirement to use the green infrastructure Policy Assessment tool in West of England GI strategy. |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| Impact | The JGIS2020-2030 now includes a 'requirement for the four constituent local authorities to use the GI policy Assessment Matrix tool in developing their Local Plan policies' [Action Plan actions A7; A8; A9, p34] My role in supporting the wider policy is recognised thruogh the contribution of Understanding our growing environmental vocabulary in England Connecting Green Infrastructure, Natural Capital, Ecosystem Services and Net Gains within the English Planning System. https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/project-page.php?understanding-our-growing-environmental-vocabulary-in-england. this was heavily used to shape the text of the report with my permission. |
| URL | https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/west-of-england-joint-green-infrastructure-strategy/ |
| Description | Citation in Dasgupta Review on Biodiversity |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/final-report-the-economics-of-biodiversity-the-dasgupta-r... |
| Description | Cited in Dasgputa Review Hislop et al 2019 |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/final-report-the-economics-of-biodiversity-the-dasgupta-r... |
| Description | Designing Better Local Plan Policies for Green Infrastrcuture (training workshops x2 West of England) |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | This initiative grew out of my partnership with Max Hislop from the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network. Having worked on improving GI policy across 19 local authorities I was asked to peer review a document which led to our collaboration and design of the A-Z policy matrix. This matrix is not new; it builds upon Hislops previous work and my own mainstreaming work. https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/reports/GI%20Policies%20in%20the%20CSGN%20FINAL%20v5.2%20Report%20and%20App%201%20(1).pdf The matrix was designed and then tested with 45 planners from the West of England constituent authorities plus the combined authority in 2 workshops (July and October 2018) as part of their own tasks to design new local plan policies and strategic housing sites. The key impacts here were through a social learning exercise, which is still ongoing. Specifically the matrix has therefore already helped them through • Understanding the need to design multiple policies addressing the different functions of green infrastructure • Work across different plan chapters rather than trying to place green infrastructure as a single policy in the environmental chapter alone. • Pay particular attention to the strength of policy wording The training was in 2 stages A July workshop to inrodice them to the core princiles and start to use the evaluation matrix and the october workshop where they present their own policies and self assesment. Further tranining workshops are planned as their local plan polceis get written and tested so we can chart the impact of our actvity. |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?A-Z-green-infrastructure-nppf2-policym... |
| Description | Discussion with Welsh Government Environment Wales Act green infrastructurewokring group |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | This group comprises Welsh Goverment and local authority members with ministerial representation. I was invited on to share my GI expertise and talk about my research and to use examples of good GI policy and practice to secure deep dives for my fellowship. This work is ongoing. |
| Description | EU EKLIPSE Methods Expert Group |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| URL | https://www.eklipse-mechanism.eu/expert_group_on_methods |
| Description | Ecosystem Knowledge Network Housing infrastructure and natural capital October 2017 |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | 3.45 Closing discussion chaired by Prof. Alister Scott, Northumbria University (45 minutes) I was involved in drawing together the key outputs of the workshop. I used posti it notes from the day to structure a discussion which provided important insight into the key issues of what tool development is needed. As a result of the workshop i wrote the following blog. https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/blog/posts.php?Too-Many-GI-tools |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/blog/posts.php?Too-Many-GI-tools |
| Description | Evidence to Northumberland Farming Inquiry 8 July 2022 |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Economy-Regeneration/Programmes/Rural-Growth-and-Innovation/Future... |
| Description | FINAL Consultation response to National Planning Policy Framework 2018 |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?NPPF2_Scott |
| Description | GI standards Project Natural England |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/GreenInfrastructure/Home.aspx |
| Description | Green Infrastructure Standards Board |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Thruogh the development and refinement of the 23 standards |
| Description | Infleunce on policy via chair of Building with Nature and overseeing the revision of building iwht nature standards and new user guide. 2.0 |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Impact | emerging impacts through the awarding of building with nature status for new development schemes. |
| URL | https://www.buildingwithnature.org.uk/ |
| Description | Input to Raynsford review of Planning 2018 |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | The Raynsford review of planning in England was led by the Town and Country Planning Association. I was asked to contribute to the report using my areas of expertise. The report was a key piece of independent evidence that highlighted the dangers of the current direction of the planning system. As such it has generated a major debate over the role and purpose of the planning system as a key piece of evidence for planing reform. My contribution is formally acknowledged. |
| URL | https://www.tcpa.org.uk/raynsford-review |
| Description | Mainstreaming Natural Captial into National Park local plans |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | A workshop training event was held in March 2018 involving National Park Staff from Northumberland, Lake District and South Downs on improving the way green infrastructure, natural capital and ecossytem services were mainstreamed into local plan policy. This event was strcutured from three separate breifing and training sessions with each of the parks separately. In this way the different capabilities, capacities and issues could be structured around a practice led agenda. I was also able to include Max Hislop (Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network) and beccy Willebore (NERC KE fellow) in the day to provide input to the agendas. the key imapcts was to improve the way all the parks were addressing local plan policies with clear impacts on each of them through the creation of a safe social learning space. |
| Description | Member of Advisory Board on natural England Green Infrastructure Standards |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Natural England GI standards Advisory group member first meeting January 25th 2019 |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | The workshop helped Natural England and the project consultants identify the key barriers and opportunities for developing a set of GI standards. Input was group based but following the workshop I was asked to put together a short briefing paper on the need for better placemaking to avoid developing our own GI silo. This is reproduced below. I was asked to present this to the consultants and my work did make an impact. Briefing Paper on Placemaking Alister Scott Whilst the need as identified in the 25 year Environment plan to set up GI standards is welcome, there is perhaps a need to recognise the dangers of having a set of standards that relate to GI that are developed and operationalised separately to other pieces and systems within the built and natural environmental jigsaw. Building on a paper (Scott et al 2018 ) which stressed the need to identify hooks and bridges as core ingredients of mainstreaming processes the concept of placemaking is an effective "bridge" which unites many of the key players in built and natural environment due to it being understood and agreed as a worthy goal for successful planning outcomes. The NPPF par 124 states "The creation of high quality buildings and places is fundamental to what the planning and development process should achieve" MHCLG, 2018 Thus for me there is an important prerequisite to design a set of standards that can fit into a wider placemaking set of standards and it strikes me that the advisory board and steering group are comprised of key players that could help contribute to set of principles of placemaking within which these standards might collectively fit and be operationalised. From my perspective placemaking is well summarised within this diagram (Corthell, 2010). It would be good to build the framework of standard to fit this identifying the set of standards that currently exist that fit these areas and where the gaps are. If this approach was taken this would help the mainstreaming efforts which the 25 Year Environment Plan were looking to create and also help minimise the danger of an effective GI silo which may arise as a perverse outcome. I appreciate that this may well be being done in the current review of standards but I am advocating a step further in building a framework that looks at the built and natural environmental cake holistically from which we co-design a set of standards that collectively help us build better places within which GI becomes a key ingredient. I am happy to take more of lead in this as part of my NERC work, if this is deemed acceptable. I fully realise the tight scope of this contract but this may be one of its key limitations. |
| Description | Natural England Green Infrastructure Advisory Group |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Currently just launched in 2023. |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/news/natural-england-unveils-new-green-infrastructure-framework |
| Description | Peer Reviewer for Project on Biodiversity Net Gain |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | I was asked as an expert in GI to undertake a review of CIRIA publication Biodiversity Net Gain. Good practice principles for development. A practical guide 2019. I made several important points in feedback which led to changes in the final published version. |
| URL | https://cieem.net/resource/biodiversity-net-gain-good-practice-principles-for-development-a-practica... |
| Description | Principal adviser to Essex County Council Green Infrastrcuture standards project |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | The standards are already being used to help shape comments to planning applications and to inform local plan policy |
| URL | https://consultations.essex.gov.uk/rci/essex-gi-standards/ |
| Description | Response to Englands PLanning White Paper : planning for the future |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | There is no category for "helped influence and inform other responses" My response was tweeted and picked up and used by ther NGOs and bodies to inform their responses. |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?planning-for-the-future-draft-response... |
| Description | Response to National Infrastructure Commission on Natural Capital |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | I was responsible for writing a consultation response to the National Infrastrucutre Commission on their work on natrual capital. I attended two meetings with the NIC and also led the consultation on behalf of the Green Infrastructure Partnership and my own NERC work. In the final report my active contribution was formally aknowledged. |
| URL | https://www.dropbox.com/s/6z37b99w53tyhc2/NIC%20responses%20.docx?dl=0 |
| Description | Response to the Consultation on the Defra Net Gain Proposals February 2019 |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | This was a response to the governments proposals on mandatory net biodiversity gain. The following summary is taken from my response. Introduction : why we need mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Currently biodiversity in the UK is under significant and ongoing decline with marked reductions across most ecosystem services first identified in the UKNEA (2011). Consistently there are other requirements such as housing and employment land needs that dictate the development agenda. Biodiversity comes to the table often at a later stage in the planning process weakened unless the development sits in a protected site. Mandatory BNG creates a level playing field, where developers know what they need to deliver up-front and are able to establish the strong partnerships needed for effective placemaking and biodiversity enhancements. However key to the success of any mandatory scheme are the resources and guidance to ensure that it is not bypassed, misused or evaded. First, there needs to be baseline (state of nature report) which can be used to measure and monitor progress. This has to have nationwide coverage; more than the nature recovery network as outlined in the 25 year environment plan. Second, the mitigation hierarchy has to be positioned as the mandatory decision making structure from which BNG considerations are developed. There is a risk that BNG gets disconnected from the mitigation hierarchy given the desire to get to offsetting stages rather than seek different sites or avoid damage. There is incomplete understanding of BNG within the mitigation hierarchy. Third, the issue of monitoring and enforcement needs to be properly resourced concomitant with a clearer understanding over what timescale the mandatory increase should be judged to have been achieved. There can be no one size fits all approach here as the BNG will be dependent on the nature of the habitat being created, the effort required, and the time needed to reach the required standard and maintain it for the long-term. (I assume this to be at least 30 years). Without proper resources devoted to this there is a risk that the promised BNGs will not be delivered and there needs to be clarity over when monitoring interventions can be made to require changes if the BNG is not going to be delivered. Fourth, there are some habitats which are deemed irreplaceable and are therefore not suitable for the BNG model. However if they are then removed it should not be possible for any developer to claim that the development is delivering BNG. By removing the irreplaceable habitats outside the scope of net gain there is a risk that BNG ingredients are considered in isolation. In such circumstances BNG cannot not should be claimed by default. Fifth, forthcoming guidance on achieving BNG from CIRIA may be helpful for this but there is an urgent need for effective guidance for the built environment sector to show how BNG can be achieved through case studies and demonstration projects. Not enough attention is paid to ensuring that concise and usable guidance is produced and clearly this will also need to be translated into the NPPG where there is something of a policy void. . We also need to move away from the current approach of policy disintegration where different areas of policy are designed, implemented and evaluated in isolation . So for example clear opportunities for joined up policy exist through the Agriculture Bill and Industrial challenges (from the BEIS Industrial Strategy) to enable future land use to be managed in a way that reduces negative impacts on biodiversity and the natural environment. However perhaps the biggest issue facing our understanding and delivery of effective BNG is the incremental conflation of terms that now form part of the core environmental vocabulary. Often these terms are used loosely and without reference to each other and crucially without a full understanding of how these terms relate to each other. BNG should not be viewed as separate to such terms. Yet there is limited academic research or commentary on the nature of the interrelationships between natural capital, ecosystem services, green infrastructure, biodiversity net gain and environmental net gains which now permeate environmental policy and practice. In my view BNG cannot be fully understood without reference to these terms and, indeed, stepping out wider to social, and economic net gains which are present in the revised NPPF. |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?response-to-the-consultation-on-the-de... |
| Description | Response to the Consultation on the Environmental Principles and Governance after the United Kingdom leaves the European Union |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?Environmental-Principles-Governance-Br... |
| Description | Special Adviser to House of Lords Land Use Commitee in England |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | I was supporting and advising the content and structure of a key report on our land use strategy. This report published in December 2022 will influence the governments formal response and land use strategy. |
| Description | Defra Ecometric |
| Amount | £2,500 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2018 |
| End | 09/2019 |
| Description | Net Gain Planning Tool |
| Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2020 |
| End | 05/2021 |
| Description | ONe Planet NERC PhD studentship |
| Amount | £64,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2020 |
| End | 03/2024 |
| Description | Rapid Evidence Review assesing the impacts of Health and Green Blue Infrastrcuture |
| Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology [POST] |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2021 |
| End | 02/2022 |
| Description | Strategic Planning Research Paper: Improving Strategic Planning for Nature Conservation |
| Amount | £25,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Local Government Association |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2019 |
| End | 03/2021 |
| Description | Yorkshire iCASP - Yorkshire Integrated Catchment Solutions Programme |
| Amount | £4,811,201 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NE/P011160/1 |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2017 |
| End | 07/2022 |
| Title | Essex County Council Development of Green Infrastructure standards 2021-2022 |
| Description | I worked with Essex County Council to help co design and lead workshops to produce a set of standards for green infrastructure for Essex auhtoritites and developers. Tis subsequently became mebedded as one of the pilots for testing Natrual Englands GI standards. Once the standadrds had been produced we produced guidance for its application and delivery. I was pleased to play a significant role in the drafting of material. This guidance provides support to professionals in the built environment, highways, health, and environment to deliver better Green Infrastructure (GI). Essex's Nine GI standards have been developed to support policy and development management in the planning and delivery of multifunctional GI for placemaking and placekeeping. These standards are written as a form of assessment criteria to enable policy and development management to go beyond the statutory requirements, to create great places for people and wildlife to thrive. The standards will help with policy and strategy writing, master-planning, design, and implementations of developments. They can be applied to GI projects and to the management and maintenance of GI. This document can assist in: • the improvement of planning policy, • framing planning conditions for future planning applications; and • shaping project delivery in securing multifunctional GI in the long-term. This document brings together existing guidance, examples of good practices and information on how to meet the GI Standards. That will be laid out in the Essex Design Guide . |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The final guidance wil be pulbished shortly and as such no impacts have yet been secured althuogh testing is underway in several local plans. |
| URL | https://www.dropbox.com/s/7mg42ik7u2j20u5/Essex%20GI%20Standard%20Guidance%20-%20Version%204%20%28No... |
| Title | Green Infrastrcuture Policy Assesment Tool GIPAT |
| Description | 1. What is the GIPAT ? This is a resource to help you improve the coverage and policy wording of green infrastructure in local plans and strategies. It is designed primarily as a self- assessment tool although we can give advice and support as required. 2. Is this just another new tool? No it is not. The assessment framework is a hybrid; a fusion between 3 different research projects all trying to fathom out what good GI looks like. First, an English GI Benchmark ('Building with Nature'), a NERC project developed by the Gloucester Wildlife Trust and the Centre of Sustainable Planning and Environments at UWE (Sinnett, et al., 2018). Second, an Integrated Green Infrastructure Approach (IGI) developed and promoted in Scotland by the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Nature Partnership (2017) and third, a NERC funded project on Mainstreaming Green Infrastructure in the planning system which seeks to improve the way GI is valued and used in policy and decision making processes drawing on existing research and practice perspectives (Scott 2018). 3. So how is this hybrid framework structured? The hybridised framework is represented within a policy matrix focussed on three themes; Integration, Functions and Aftercare. Within these seven GI design elements are identified with dedicated Assessment Criteria (drawn from the three research projects and wider literature reviews) that provide the core focus for the assessment. This collectively signals what good policy in development plans should cover. 4. What is the goal and purpose of GIPAT? The goal of the GIPAT is to ensure that there are sufficient policies that explicitly cover the full range of functions (as listed in assessment criteria A-Z) performed by GI which are mainstreamed throughout the document rather than just in the environment section and in one isolated green infrastructure policy. Furthermore, there is a goal to ensure that the GI policies themselves have sufficient clarity and teeth which results in appropriate delivery and action on the ground. 5. So how do I use GIPAT effectively for my local plan or green infrastructure strategy You can use the matrix to test an existing plan, help assess new policies or to compare and contrast different plans. It requires you assessing the 26 assessment criteria on the GI coverage and the strength of policy wording. A simple three colour scoring approach is used in a designed excel spreadsheet |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | GIPAT was tested and co designed with 40 planners from the West of England in two workshops. They themselves have used the tool to design their new local plan policies and test out their strategic development sites. GIPAT has been presented to mutliple audiences including Welsh Govt, Northern Ireland Local Government Association, RTPI. West of England Combined Authority and Essex County Councils are using it to inffrm their own GI strategies and also recommending/requiring its use for local plans GIPAT has been used to assess National GI guidance in Wales, England and Northern Ireland and to inform a EU PERFECT policy breif on what good policy for GI looks like. GIPAT has been presented at . GIPAT has beenrecoemmended for use by the Natural Englands GI stadards project. There is clear feedback from users that it is helping planners deisgn more robust and multifunctional policies. |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/project-page.php?green-infrastructure-planning-policy-a... |
| Title | Green Infrastrcuture Policy Assessment Tool |
| Description | This is a modified version of the Green Infrastructure Policy Assessment matrix v3.3 in response to feedback and contains guidance, model policies, example policies with scoring and a blank template for completion all in one place this tool was developed in partnership with Max Hislop |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The tool has been used by several local authorities to help assess and develop their own GI strategies and local plans. This tool has imporved the number of policies specifically Bath and North East Somerset Essex County Council Bristol City Council Maldon District Council Shrophshire Council Hertforshire West of England Combined Authority |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/project-page.php?green-infrastructure-planning-policy-a... |
| Title | Mainstreaming Green Infrastructure Research Portal |
| Description | This is a core feature of my KE work which is a web site but also has all my key outputs, presentations and blogs |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | It has had several postive comments and currentl anlytics reveal that 2300 users have accessed the site. |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/ |
| Title | Mainstreaming Green Infrastructure Twitter account |
| Description | This is a twitter account that is used to help promote the work i am oding but also to interact with other communities of practice. Currently over 600 followers @mainstreamGI it also connects wth my own @ProfAlister account with over 5000 followers. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Extends global reach and communication of my research |
| Title | Nature tool the UK first environmental net gain tool July 2021 |
| Description | The NATURE Tool is a free user-friendly, easy to use Excel tool to assess the impact of land-use and management changes on natural capital performance. This will encourage both better decision-making and clearly demonstrate the results of positive sustainable action during development. The NATURE Tool allows assessing up to 17 ecosystem services plus physical and mental health benefits through a scoring system indicating both, the direction and magnitude of project impacts. These scores are aggregated based on policy priorities resulting in an overall 'people score' for the project. The tool is free to use, applicable across the UK and designed for the application by non-specialists without requiring excessive data or time. The tool can be used across different project stages and at different scales. The minimum requirements are a defined site boundary, habitat data and data on the accessibility of greenspaces of the site. The NATURE Tool can also be tailored to a local or corporate version, allowing the 'objective setter' to define policy priorities and natural capital objectives a project should achieve. This means that a local planning authority, for example, can create its own NATURE Tool version where natural capital priorities and objectives are pre-defined. Any applicable development project in that area then has clear and objectively measurable natural capital objectives to work towards. Who should use the tool? The NATURE Tool is aimed for all built environment professionals, planners and related stakeholders with a stake in projects that could affect natural capital such as through land-use or management changes. This includes most planning and development projects including housing and infrastructure. But it can also be used to assess the natural capital impact of conservation and afforestation projects, for example. Some examples of potential tool users can be found below. Background In the UK and beyond, there is a growing need for efficient ways to deliver built development such as housing and transport infrastructure in line with the goals of sustainable development. Widespread calls by sustainability leaders for a green recovery in response to Covid-19 have heightened this need. Over recent years, the ambition to secure environmental net-gain (ENG) from new developments have grown.ENG is an approach to development that aims to leave the natural environment in a measurably better state than beforehand. This environmental improvement ambition is the basis for HM Government's 25 Year Environment Plan. Leaving the environment in 'a better state' must mean much more than net gain for biodiversity (species and habitats). Whilst this is important, evidence and advice presented by the Natural Capital Committee (an official advisor to HM Government) highlight that this ambition must involve protection and enhancement of the core contributions of natural features to wellbeing and prosperity. These contributions - sometimes labelled ecosystem services - include regulation of air quality (such as through removal of particles from vehicle emissions), sequestration of carbon, mental and physical health benefits through access to natural outdoor spaces, and flood risk reduction. With the green recovery and 'build back better', now is the time to enable this ambition to be turned into project delivery. International assessments such as the IPBES global assessment report will ensure that ENG is promoted worldwide. Sustainable land-use change will only be possible if natural capital is appropriately managed within land use planning and the built environment professions. While an increasing number of local planning authorities (LPAs) and developers recognise their obligations in relation to climate and nature, they often lack the time, resources and expertise to measure the impacts of proposals in relation to the impact on natural capital and the functionality of places for people. Project Introduction A key industry challenge for the built environment sector to be resolved was how natural capital impacts and net-gains for the environment can be measured and assessed objectively and efficiently. In response, WSP and the Ecosystems Knowledge Network (EKN), in collaboration with Northumbria University, have developed the Nature Assessment Tool for Urban and Rural Environments (short: the NATURE Tool) to enable built environment professionals to define and objectively assess, measure and manage to what extent new plans or developments achieve net-gains for the environment. While a variety of existing tools currently attempt to measure changes in ecosystem services throughout development, no tool currently situates this change within the context of net-gain. The project aim was to co-develop the NATURE Tool which answers the crucial environmental net-gain question as a new industry standard meeting needs in all four parts of the UK. In June 2021, the first prototype of the tool was shared with industry partners for testing. Version 1.0 has been released on 27th July 2021 as a BETA version and is free to use. Our project partnership is in the process of testing the NATURE Tool at more than 30 projects across all 4 UK jurisdictions, covering different green infrastructure setting (urban to rural), project sizes and project types. The feedback from these tests will inform the development of the next NATURE Tool versions. Utilising the project partnership was essential for the tool to meet the requirements of the end-users - a tool developed by industry for industry. The NATURE Tool has been developed with partial funding from Innovate UK. The NATURE Tool has three assessment pillars (asset, service flow and benefits) and results are summarised in two headline indicators, biodiversity and people. Within the NATURE Tool, biodiversity relates to impacts on wildlife and species resilience (this is captured primarily through BNG assessments). 'People' on the other hand relates to the impact of a development on people in the context of ecosystem services and health benefits. Essentially, the tool user enters the habitat areas before and after an intervention as well as the level of accessibility of the site. The tool then automatically calculates natural capital performance and impact using six key indicators: Change Score - how will a project impact on the natural capital performance in relation to the baseline (pre-development)? Potential Score - to what extent has the maximum site potential for natural capital been achieved? Completeness Score - how complete is the assessment? This is defined as a measure of how detailed the entered habitat categories are and to what extent optional indicators were used. Policy Priority - the policy priority (high, medium and low) based on national policy or as defined by the objective setter. The policy priorities determine how ecosystem services and benefits are weighted when aggregated to an overall people (project) score. All Objectives Met? - will the project achieve the natural capital objectives as defined by the objective setter (see below)? Objectives can be defined for the Change Score, Potential Score and Completeness Score. Achievements - does the project achieve Net Gain (NG) and/or even a bronze, silver or gold 'excellence standard'? This helps you to highlight and communicate really positive natural capital impact. The NATURE Tool can also be used to assess the natural capital baseline of a site. In this case, the tool calculates (per-ha) baseline scores as well as the potential scores only. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | the tool has been co developed with 38 partners and tested on a wide range of development and environmental applications. It was finally released in July 2021 and thus its impacts have yet to be fully realised. It provides the first UK tool to measure net environmental gain. |
| URL | https://nature-tool.com/ |
| Title | Supporting the development of the Net Environmental benefits from nature tool |
| Description | I was pleased to be part of the development team led by Alison Smith of Oxford University thatdeveloped and tested Natural Englands Environmental Benefits from Nature tool. The Environmental Benefits from Nature tool is designed to work alongside Biodiversity metric 3.0 and provide developers, planners and other interested parties with a means of enabling wider benefits for people and nature from biodiversity net gain. The tool uses a habitat-based approach to provide a common and consistent means of considering the direct impact of land use change across 18 ecosystem service services. It has been developed by Natural England and the University of Oxford in partnership with Defra, the Forestry Commission and the Environment Agency to support Government's 25 Year Environment Plan commitment to expand net gain approaches to include wider Natural Capital benefits such as flood protection, recreation and improved water and air quality. Downloads available EBN Tool Beta V1.0, XLSB, 2.8 MB 2021/07/15 EBN Principles, PDF, 1.4 MB 2021/07/07 EBN User Guide, PDF, 1.2 MB 2021/07/07 EBN Data Catalogue, PDF, 3.3 MB 2021/07/07 |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | It has only recently been launched thus imapct is limited at present. |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/project-page.php?introducing-the-environmental-benefits... |
| Title | Understanding our growing environmental vocabulary in England Connecting Green Infrastructure, Natural Capital, Ecosystem Services and Net Gains within the English Planning System |
| Description | Understanding our growing environmental vocabulary in England Connecting Green Infrastructure, Natural Capital, Ecosystem Services and Net Gains within the English Planning System The terms natural capital, ecosystem services, green infrastructure and net gain now form an integral part of a complex and ever-growing environmental vocabulary in England. They all feature in key national guidance and strategies (e.g. HM Government 25 Year Environment Plan; MHCLG (2018) National Planning Policy Framework), but lack definitional clarity and integrated guidance[1]. Consequently, we see ad hoc and uncritical use in policy and practice. Furthermore, the environmental vocabulary differs significantly in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, hindering more integrated approaches to environmental planning across the UK. This becomes significant as we develop our national environmental governance frameworks post-Brexit. Understanding this vocabulary and optimising its potential application in policy and practice poses significant challenges for stakeholders including the public. First, there is the need to understand each term individually. Second, we then need to apply them in policy and practice, set within the constraints and opportunities of existing governance frameworks. Third, we need to understand how these individual terms relate to each other to aid mainstreaming the environment in policy and decision-making processes in economic and social policy and practice arenas. This is not straightforward as the terms were introduced at different times for different purposes and thus were never explicitly designed to work together. So, the purpose of this briefing note is to understand how green infrastructure, natural capital, ecosystem services and net gain can contribute collectively to what a good environment looks like; specifically, how this technocratic, expert-led language can be better mainstreamed into a common framework for both policy and practice so that (urban) land management and development delivers more and better environmental and social benefits. The note is structured in the following way. First, we provide a non-technical introduction to each term set within its historical roots, rationale and intended purpose. Second, we identify a set of common principles linking them together. Third, we develop a conceptual diagram with a supporting narrative showing the linkages and interrelationships and finally augment this with respect to the influence of the planning system. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Used to inform West of Englands GI strategy. Used to inform development of Essex County Council GI Strategy Used to help discuss GI relationships in Natural Englands GI framework study nd pilots (Essex and West of England) Used as evidence for REF impact case study Used as consultation responses to national Infrastructure Commisison paper on Natural Capital Used to shape consultation resposne to Englands pLanning White Paper in 2020 Used to shapr response to Environment Bill |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/project-page.php?understanding-our-growing-environmenta... |
| Description | Essex County Council GI wokring group 2018-present |
| Organisation | Essex County Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | As part of my KE work I have helped Essex Council prepare their GI strategy using the GIPAT policy tool. This created a partnership with myself and the GI team and owkring group resulting in dedicated workshops to improve the GI strategy and also to develop a series of workshops on placemaking and placekeeping for the council. I was part of the team that designed, delivered and evaluated these. I have also supported Essex County Council as a pilot for Natural Englands GI project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | this has been a wo way partnership in that their experiences have helped me develop my own knowledge exchange work. this is learning by doing. Key has been their network of built and natural environment professionals across the workshops. |
| Impact | Essex County Coucil 2020 GI strategy |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Max Hislop GCVGN |
| Organisation | Galsgow and Clyde Valley Green Network |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Worked together to co design the A-Z policy matrix and the training tools and guidance that follows. Worked together on joint presentations, talks and workshops. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided the base method for the design of the A-Z policy matrix Collaborated over the evaluation of the NPPF (england) and PPW10 (Wales) National Planning frameworks. |
| Impact | 1. Self Assessment Guidance for the A-Z Policy Tool https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/reports/draft%20guidance_14February.pdf 2 NPPF assessment for GI https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/reports/Copy%20of%20Final%20NPPF2%20Assessment_feb2019.xlsx |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Natural England |
| Organisation | Natural England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | This is a partnership to help continue discussions within the research project. This work led directly to our follow on work with the UK National Ecosystem Assessment. The partnership has also led to seminars and workshops where BCU staff provide input to support NE staff development. Rufopoly has been used to help frame discussions the partnership has expanded with my NERC work on green infrastructure. Here I have worked closely with NE to support their work on GI national standards acting as a critical friend. |
| Collaborator Contribution | NE have provided direct funding for a PhD. The 6k is per year but I cant include the full three years due to uncertainty over future years funding. NE staff have provided support through in kind contributions to use over the last 3 years to the tune of 60k. This helps support research grants and enables us to tap into their expertise across 3 main areas of interest. |
| Impact | They are using this collaboration in their own work programmes so the outputs are subtle. Applying the Ecosystem Approach at the landscape scale: Exploring new perspectives on land use planning and management advice for city regions |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | Partnership with Marijke Ransom Tasman District Council New Zealand RTPI |
| Organisation | Tasman District Council |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Marijke Ransom was awarded an RTPI fellowship to look at mainstreaming nature into planning and policy. I was asked wby the RTPI to support her work. I have helped her research drawing on my own NERC research and tools. She has adapted a green infrastrcuture planning assessment tool to assess cultural ecosystem services through a Maori led lens. this has resulled in a joint policy publication for New Zeland Planning Institute and a key note talk on March 31st in my conference. Further ppapers are in the pipeline |
| Collaborator Contribution | Marijke Ransom was awarded an RTPI fellowship to look at mainstreaming nature into planning and policy. I was asked wby the RTPI to support her work. I have helped her research drawing on my own NERC research and tools. She has adapted a green infrastrcuture planning assessment tool to assess cultural ecosystem services through a Maori led lens. This has resulled in a joint policy publication for New Zeland Planning Institute and a key note talk on March 31st in my conference. Further papers are in the pipeline This work has also heralded important lessons for my own appraoches to mainstreaming |
| Impact | Ransom, M. and Alister Scott (2020) 'A planning assessment method for Aotearoa/New Zealand based on ecosystem services' Planning Quarterly 219: 12-19 Ransom M What does 'transformative change' for sustainable development look and feel like: Experiences from New Zealand Blog for the RTPI planner supported by Alister Scott. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Royal Town Planning Insititute |
| Organisation | Royal Town Planning Institute RTPI |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | A partnership has developed with the RTPI over the creation of a planning game- placemakers. Here we have extensively pilot tested a series of game stlyle foramts with schools and colleges i order to provide a new game that ca help people understand the value of planning. This all stems from the Participology platform and involved Scott and carter wokring with schools, colleges and universities in the testing process and then to feed back in partner meetings. The game was released in March/April 2018. I have built an extensvie relationship with Robbie Calvert and James Harris RTPI leads on green infrastrcuture. I have supported RTPI responses in government consultations (e.g. NPPF and net gain) |
| Collaborator Contribution | A partnership has developed with the RTPI over the creation of a planning game- placemakers. Here we have extensively pilot tested a series of game stlyle foramts with schools and colleges i order to provide a new game that ca help people understand the value of planning. This all stems from the Participology platform and involved Scott and carter wokring with schools, colleges and universities in the testing process and then to feed back in partner meetings. The game was released in March/April 2018. They have provided free rooms for workshops and meetings for the GI project in london . (eg net gain Workshop Febraury 2019 and professional insititues meeting (October 2018) |
| Impact | Placemakers due for release shortly. Govt consultation responses |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | SLU Uppsala via Mattias Qvsitrom |
| Organisation | Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences |
| Country | Sweden |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is a link between myself and SLU uppsala. We discussed joint GI work and peri urban research,. It was one where I helped support their emerging research and they also helped mine. |
| Collaborator Contribution | see above. |
| Impact | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?mainstreaming-green-infrastructure-policy-in-built-environment-development- 2 grant bids under development Visiting professorship under development. https://www.slu.se/globalassets/ew/org/centrb/f-urb/nyheter-och-kalender/kalender/seminarium-25-september.pdf |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | South Downs national park |
| Organisation | South Downs National Park |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | I have been working with the South Downs National Park Authority to help them mainstream the ecosystem approach into their local plan. This has involved several meetings, skypes and one to ones to help improve their policy and plans. This is a co-produced and iterative piece of work. I have led workshops but in such a way that these are part of ongoing conversations and dialogue rather than an end point. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co-production ehtic is driving the process. Thye have a local plan to produce. I have research intelligence to help them. They have worked with me to help produce a joint paper under review They have tested participlogy for their own GI applicatons and strategy. |
| Impact | Scott, AJ; Carter C., Hardman, M. , Grayson, N. and Slaney T (under review) Mainstreaming nature's value(s) into built environment policy and decision-making Land Use Policy Scott AJ (2016) Planning for GI in the Urban Fringe: re-discovering new opportunity spaces? Invited keynote to GreenArc presentation September 2016. London. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Town and Country Planning Association |
| Organisation | Town & Country Planning Association |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | work collaboratively on green infrastructure challenges and opportunities . Reciprocity is key help support the work they do with the green infrastrcuture partnership help support the work they do for the PERFECT project. help support Raynsford Reveiw of planning. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provide mental support from a practice led perspectvie. Provide polcy and practcie led perspectvies Help support my research fellowship |
| Impact | An editor role in town and country planning journal March 2019 (forthcoming) NPPF consultation response. https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?NPPF2_Scott Workshop reports from TCPA GIP annual conferences (Health metrics 2018) https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?Healthmetrics_GIP2018 (GI challenges 2017) https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?NERC-GI-Talk1 |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | West of England Green Infrastructure Working Group |
| Organisation | West of England Combined Authority |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | As part of my KE work WECA have helped develop and test the Green Infrastructure Planning Policy Assessment tool and we have worked ogther on the Natural England GI standards project. I have led wokrshops as part of their own GI work and we have collaborated in events and research bids. This is an ongoing partnership with work on testing masterplans. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As part of my KE work WECA have helped develop and test the Green Infrastructure Planning Policy Assessment tool and we have worked ogther on the Natural England GI standards project. I have led wokrshops as part of their own GI work and we have collaborated in events and research bids. This is an ongoing partnership with work on testing masterplans. |
| Impact | Green Infrastructure Policy Assesment Tool https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/project-page.php?green-infrastructure-planning-policy-assessment-tool |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | 5-Years On - Planning for Health, TCPA project workshop with Gateshead Council Naturally Healthy by Design - How Green Infrastructure can tackle obesity across the life course and how planning can help influence this 25 September 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The agenda for the event is below. I was one of several keynote speakers who set the scene for a wider discussion about the role of green infrastructure. My talk drew directly from preceding work I did for the Valuing Nature network on health metrics and was developed/presented to the annual meeting of the green infrastructure partnership in July 2018. Again my talk drew positive engagement both in the Q and A and in subsequent discussions Agenda 12:15 Arrival and signing in 12:30 Welcome and introduction to the workshop Gateshead Council/The Chair -Neil Wilkinson 12:35 Scene setting presentations • Introducing the TCPA Project and workshop objectives - Michael Chang, TCPA • The role of Public health and planning in creating healthy environments- Alice Wiseman, Director of Public Health, Gateshead Council • Local green infrastructure opportunities for health - Claire Thompson, North East Local Nature Partnership • Sunderland's Green Infrastructure Strategy - Clive Greenwood, Sunderland Council • Barriers House Builders face - Richard Holland, Persimmon Homes • What kind of health metrics do we need to plan healthy places - Alister James Scott, Northumbria University 13:50 Coffee break 14:05 Q&A with speakers 14:30 Small table discussions - lessons for integrated planning for health (introduced and facilitated by TCPA) 1. What are the local constraints? 2. What are the key enablers to creating healthy environments? 3. What are the potential solutions and recommendations? a. Testing what the solutions and recommendations could be b. Achieving GI across the life course c. Daily passive exposure to nature (street trees, hedgerows, open spaces) versus the natural assets (parks, nature reserves etc) 15:20 Feedback and final plenary discussion, then next steps Facilitated by TCPA 15:40 Update on NHS England Healthy New Towns guidance • Introducing the emerging Healthy New Towns guidance • Gaining insight and feedback on users on contents and application • Are there good examples of quality developments? 16:00 Workshop ends Concluding comments from the Chair and TCPA, and complete Feedback Forms |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?health-metrics-tcpa-talk |
| Description | A Green Infrastructure proofed NPPF co produced by Green Infrastrcuture partnership sounding board |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This briefing is the outcome of a series of 3 separate deliberations concerning the revision of the NPPF. Building from critiques of the present structure and paragraphs a group of 25 professionals within the Green Infrastructure partnership have answered the question "what does good green infrastructure policy look like". the structure of the NPPF (2012) was used and track changes to illuminate where changes were needed. The results also informed a formal consultation response by myself to MHCLG on the draft NPPF when the formnal consultation was launched. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/reports/NPPFRevised_AJS_NERCworking%20draft1.pdf |
| Description | A New Era for Green Infrastructure : TCPA/Green Infrastrcuture Partnership annual conference 29 November 2022 Keynote talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I delivered a keynote presentation and took Q and As afterwards on The Good, the Weak and the Vulnerable: reflecting on green infrastructure policy and delivery across the UK. Talk highlighted my own reflections across my NERC grant period and the lessons I had learnt for policy. This was part of session 1 9.30-11.00 Session 1, chaired by Julia Thrift, Director of Healthier Place-making, TCPA Addressing the gap between strong national green infrastructure policy and weak local implementation: what can be done? |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://tcpa.org.uk/resources/webinar-new-era-green-infrastructure/ |
| Description | Biophilic Design Seminar 17th Februray 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a biophilic Design Seminar managed by the Academic Health Science Network for the North East and North Cumbria Prof Alister Scott, Professor of Environmental Geography, Chartered Planner, and Chair of Building with Nature Standards Group Title: Biophilic Cities - Exploring the smart-biophilic city interface to deliver improved urban planning and governance This talk will explore biophilia and SMART cities through an interdisciplinary planning lens to highlight the importance and interconnectedness between nature and technology in our urban environments, illustrated through examples from Birmingham in the West Midlands undertaken as part of a research project on Urban Living and a KE fellowship funded by NERC on green infrastructure . 14:10 Panel Q&A 14:25 Evaluation & Feedback survey 14:30 Close |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://ahsn-nenc.org.uk/event/biophilic-design-working-with-nature-through-design-and-its-impact-on... |
| Description | Build Build Build is a recipe for planning disintegration 03 Jul 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | rime Minister Boris Johnson argues for a radical shake-up to the planning system to deliver on his "build build build" mantra. This forms part of strong political narrative that England's planning system is broken and needs radical change. However, such thinking is not new. David Cameron in 2011 attacked planners and environmental regulators as the enemy of enterprise and similarly embarked on a package of reforms to speed up housing delivery and economic growth and cut red tape. We saw the "pickling" of regional and strategic planning; the birth of a new National Planning Policy Framework reducing 1000s of pages of planning guidance to just 60 pages and wave after wave of planning legislation designed to speed up planning and deliver more housing. Yet apparently the system still remains broken. Political change has been a constant in England's planning system. Since the landmark 1947 Town and Country Planning Act, some 360 pieces of planning legislation have been passed. Managing all this change is made more difficult with significant cuts to planning departments under austerity, compounded by incremental legislative changes that create the very complexity and delays that the government now complains about. Furthermore, since 1997 there have been 18 housing ministers which is probably a government department record which seriously hinders policy consistency. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/blog/posts.php?build-build-build |
| Description | Building with Nature (Main Board Meeting) 4th October 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | As Chair of Building with nature Standards Board I was invited to Main Baod meetings to discuss imporved joint operations and inegration between both boards. Important to identify how best to link the two different board roles without duplication or gaps or confusion. Able to improve governance framework |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Building with Nature Standadrds Barods inaugural meeting. 1 April 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I was asked to Cahir the standards board for the first UK benchmark for standadrds in Green Infrastructure. The board comprises key players across built and natural environment at senior levels. Meeting secured terms of reference and review of standards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
| URL | https://www.buildingwithnature.org.uk/ |
| Description | Building with Nature standards meeting SBO7 Standards refresh and review of draft guidance 27 Jan 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A series of board meetings, focus groups and emial interactions over 3 years led to the revision and refresh and building with Nature standards and the issuing of new guidance. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021,2022 |
| URL | https://www.buildingwithnature.org.uk/newsblog1/2021/6/16/building-with-nature-refreshes-green-infra... |
| Description | Building with nature GI Standards group second meeting 6th September 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Meeting with Building with Nature exercise draft assessment of a scheme in Plymouth with feedback. Disucssion of role of board and prioritiisation of future work |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Call for Evidence (mainstreaming GI web portal) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A major goal of this work is to find out the barriers limiting the uptake of GI in planning policy and practice. Whislt in general these barriers are well known I wanted to secure more detailed evidence anonymously from people who had first hand experience of trying to get GI embedded in the planning system and who had failed to do so or who had achieved success. i was particularly keen to focus on the reasons for failure based on first hand accounts and to that end I have got 45 usable pieces of evidence. I am keeping the call for evidence live throughout the duration of the project with a target of 100 responses. Once this is closed I will write a paper on this as I believe it will provide a much deeper dive into why projects fail that usualy escape wider public hearing . |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/call-for-evidence.php |
| Description | Can we be Smarter with Green Infrastructure Research November 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This blog reflects critically on some preliminary investigations I have undertaken through discussions with fellow researchers on a range of green infrastructure projects thus far and signals some important new academic and policy/practice priorities for my fellowship work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/blog/posts.php?Smart_GI |
| Description | Chairing Green Infrastructure session Ecobuild March 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I chaired a session at ecobuild 2018 introducing NERC research on green infrastructure. I designed the session in conjunction with Sue James RIBA which involved 2 academic presentations from Building with Nature and the Natural Capital Planning Tool with then 2 practioner led case studies. There were over 50 in the audience and having introduced my NERC fellowship role I structured the Q and A and drew the session to a close. The key outcome was to raise the profile of NERC funded research into green infrastructure that was delivering in theory and practice. This was achieved and I was asked to talk at the event in 2019 (reported here) as a result. . |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Chairing Natural; Capital Tool Final Project Workshop RTPI 5 February 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I chaired and presented material to the Natural Capital Planning Tool Workshop final meeting. Here the tool was introduced in theory and practice using a worked example to 45+ practitioners. Speakers who had used the tool were also making presentations. I was there to ensure that speakers kept to time and I also structured the Q and A and plenary sessions. The session was positively evaluated and I received an email specifically thanking me for my interventions as chair pushing the speakers for clarifications as many in the auidence were new to the tool. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Chairing Tree Design Species Selection tool NERC project workshop 15 March 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Tree Species Selection for Green Infrastructure: A Guide for Specifiers was written by Andrew D. Hirons, Senior Lecturer at University Centre Myerscough and Henrik Sjöman, Senior Researcher at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Scientific Curator at Gothenburg Botanical Garden. It is the major outcome of a Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Green Infrastructure Innovation Project (NE/N017773/1) entitled Tree Selection for Green Infrastructure. This project provided the opportunity to evaluate the current approach to tree species selection within the British Isles, conduct some original research on a sub-set of species and produce this guidance. In addition to the NERC sponsored research, data derived from studies funded by the Hyland R. Johns Research Grant (TREE Fund), Fund4Trees and The Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (FORMAS) as well as a wide range of published literature has also been used to underpin the recommendations. My role was to chair the dissemination session of the project and to highlight NERC research into Green Infrastructure. There were plenary sessions in the morning and afternoon which I structured drawing from key messages in the presentations. As chair I also intervened to get speakers to clarify their messages. my role led to an ongoing working relatinship with the project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.tdag.org.uk/species-selection-for-green-infrastructure.html |
| Description | Climate Emergency Planning Policy and Practice Perspectives Invited talk to RTPI traninig Event 14th November 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I was asked by RTPI to deliver a talk on cliamte change to planners as part of wider CPD. I received excellent feedback post event. I also did a post event recording of my talk |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?climate-emergency-planning-policy-and-... |
| Description | Climate emergency So what (blog) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Many governments, local authorities and agencies have declared a climate emergency; in all by the end of June 2019, some 135 million people have been affected. Indeed, the UK has become the first country in the world to declare a climate emergency. This positive worldwide action begs fundamental questions about what this declaration means and whether it will lead to new responses and interventions in policies, plans, projects and programmes and then how such an emergency will inform key planning and resource management decisions. The context to this is important as whilst many people are concerned about climate change, there is a reluctance to pay more to take action against it. This reinforces a wider view that the environment imposes a constraint on development or economic growth and thus becomes politically volatile with voters as France recently discovered under President Macron climate change levies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/blog/posts.php?climate-emergency |
| Description | Conceptualising Net Gain and Green Infrastructure workshop with Professional Insititutes and Academics 7 February 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This meeting integrated separate programmes of work that had been undertaken with academics (NERC science) and professional insititutes to try and better understand how key concepts that make up the new environmental vocabulary (within the 25YEP and NPPF) interrelate (net gain; natural capital; ecosystem services and green infrastructure). Prelimininary work had been going on with academics via email and skpye calls since June 2018 leading to a three staged narrative with diagrams trying to capture the terms. The workshop was a chance to bring together key players to discuss this and I designed the workshop to 1. provide a critique of the existing material 2. make suggestions for improvement, 3. present their own conceptual diagrams. The outputs from the workshop are currently being used to write a final iteration that will hopefully serve as a starting point for improved national guidance. Feedback was very positive with one email thanking me for structuring a "masterclass in net gain". 1. define each term set within its historical roots, rationale and intended purpose 2. identifies core principles that cut across each of these terms to help better link them together. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Darlington workshop with Tim Crawshaw 17 July 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Led by Tim Crawshaw RISE community project a small workshop took place to look at regeneration activity in inner urban Darlington and my role was to look at the role and potential funding opportunities for green infrastructure. It was an exploratory workshop with follow up activities agreed. A relationship with Crawshaw has been developed |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Defra Ecometric Stakeholder workshop for Pilot testing the draft framework 16 January 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a meeting based on a grant I am involved with on the defra ecometric project.I represent the planning interest. my role was to help lead table discussions and report back. The workshop involved the following: breifing on ecometric by Alison Bell PI case study requirements and introductions. key issues and challenges. the use of the ecometric will help secure positive GI outcomes and it was important to see and secure a range of planning related cases as pilot tests. This workshop was part of a deliberative process with the next one reporting back on the testing in March 2019. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Defra ecometric Case Study testing workshop Birmingham 7th March 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was the defra ecometric where I have time allocated as part of my nerc research. My role was to help fasiclitate discussions on tables regarding participants' use of the ecometric framework in their particualr case situations. I was also abeo to represent the plannnig viewpoint. The workshop led to the need for a more detialed user guide for planners to use the ecometric. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Earth Observations Centre of Excellence Green Infrastructure (GI) Workshop 20th July 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Aim of event To introduce the concept of green infrastructure (GI) and explore the use of EO in this area (past, current and potential). Objectives of the workshop 1) What is the current use of EO in GI mapping and monitoring? 2) What are the particular challenges with using EO in GI work? 3) Where can EO assist over the next 5 years in supporting GI policy and delivery? my talk was on Improving GI Policy in Development Plans Overview of NERC grant for improving GI in urban areas |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.dropbox.com/s/mp4i8ndhyo61wkk/Defra_20July2021_AJS.pptx?dl=0 |
| Description | Design, Deliver and support CIRIA conference October 15th 2020 Delivering and monitoring blue-green infrastructure |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | the url shows the structure of the day. i was part of the organisation commitee and played a lead role in the overall programme. My workshop session was a key part of the event enabling on line participation from participants in response to key questions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.ciria.org/CIRIA/Navigation/Events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=E20236 |
| Description | Designing and Delivering Better Policies and Standards for Healthy Places - Making Better Use of Green and Living Infrastructure talk given in Superwoods week December 14th 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was key note talk together with a question and answer session hosted by Ryder consulting. This exposed the audience to what a good green infrastrcuture policy looked like. A video interview was made to help promote my key messages. I also recorded a panopto video of my talk for wider release. the talk was well received with interest about the policy matrix to improve local plan policies for green infrastructure An associated video made to the presenters has also been well received and summarises the talk (see web link). This has had major reach within the tweets from wood for good and my own networks with over 20,000 impresssions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://vimeo.com/318191653 |
| Description | Development Plans and Land Use private talk given to House of Lords Land Use Select Commitee February 10th 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | I was invited by House of Lords Built Environment Commitee to present ideas to inform a future call for evidence on land use. My 20 minute presentation was on development plans and land use on 10th February 2022. It was a private session. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Discussions over future strategic NERC research Jessica Willats 14 August 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Drawing on the GI research and knowledge exchange to identify future research opportunitties. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Enabling Biodiversity Net Gain in the Planning System 2021 Government Events 4 November 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I was asked to chair this on line event by government events. This involved helping to set up the agenda for the day, invite speakers and also field and manage the onl ine chat into questions for the speakers as well as complete my own summary and assessment of the day |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.governmentevents.co.uk/fgeoifoiqweinp/ |
| Description | Ensuring nature is mainstreamed into planning policy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A consistent weakness of urban planning policy and decision-making is the dilution of policies for nature in development plans for towns and cities. Green Infrastructure (GI), for example parks, rivers, trees and hedges, are often given lower priority than 'grey infrastructure' associated with housing, transport and economic development. Professor Alister Scott from the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences has championed the benefits of including GI in urban areas, which include improved health and well-being of residents, biodiversity and flood risk regulation, and is now working with planners to 'mainstream' GI into policy and decision-making processes and outcomes to ensure it is not neglected in the future.Read blog here |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/blog/posts.php?ensuring-nature-is-mainstreamed-into-pla... |
| Description | Essex County Council Green Infrastructure Strategy workshop 7th November Chelmsford |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This was a wokrshop with councillors and lead officers to discuss changes to the draft GI strartegy in line with my assessment. A series of talks were made with then two interactive workshop sessions developing policies to strengthen the strategy. Workshop Agenda 7th November 2019 Location: Chelmsford Library Hub Meeting Room 2 Time: 14:00 - 15:30 From 13:50 Tea and Coffee upon arrival Pre - workshop Activity Questions: 1. What are you hoping to learn/get from today's workshop? 2. From one of the following themes/areas can you identify a key policy priority? Themes: Climate Action/Emergency; Health and Wellbeing; Biodiversity; Place Making Please bring your answers on a post-it notes to the workshop. 14:00 Welcome, Purpose for the workshop By John Meehan, Head of Sustainability & Resilience (Chair) • The aim of the workshop is to strengthen the Green Essex Strategy to ensure it will deliver high-quality GI across Essex by identifying and designing policies that will also benefit multi-disciplinary/services priorities. 14:05 Update of the Green Essex (GI) Strategy By Jayne Rogers, Environment Officer 14:15 GI Policy Planning Assessment & Introduction to the Workshop activities By Professor Alister Scott, University of Northumbria & NERC Green Infrastructure Knowledge Exchange Fellow Green Essex Strategy Green Infrastructure (GI) Policies WORKSHOP SESSION Activity: Identifying and designing policies to support Chapter 9 of the GI Strategy (with learning to design policies for the other chapters). Discussion and policy mapping 14:25 First table theme discussion - 25 Minutes to discuss and design potential theme policy 14:50 Second table theme discussion - Move to another theme table for further 25 Minutes discussion to identify and design that theme's potential policy. 15:15 Workshop sessions feedback 15:30 Summary and Next steps (5 Mins) By Professor Alister Scott |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Essex Green Infrastructure design, run and evaluate THREE Workshops September, October and November 2020 PILOT GI standards framework |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Essex County Council was selected as a pilot area of Natural Enlgands GI standards framework project. 3 deliberative workshops were held. I was part of the steering group that helped design, run and deliver these workshops leading to a final report and guidance volume. This wil be finalised in April 2021. The wokrshops were run with up to 39 participants across the districts and county council. the key outcomes of these workshops was a coprodiced set of standards that are Essex proofed and build on the GI strategy published in 2020. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021 |
| Description | Future Build presentation 2019 What does good GI planning policy look like March 6th 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I was part of a team giving a keynote on green infrastructure. There was a large audience (50+) and my post conference recording on video exposed the talk to a worldwide audience. Within the talk for the first time the NPPF (England) and PPW10 (Wales) National Planning Guidance was compared using our A-Z policy matrix. https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?A-Z-green-infrastructure-nppf2-policymatrix-assessment Feedback was good with several tweets commending the talk as it happened and highlighting its applicability for further projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?what-does-good-gi-policy-look-like |
| Description | Garden Village Workshop 31st October 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I set up this workshop pulling together several people/consultants, academics and officers who have been involved with garden village proposals. The idea was to look at what good placemaking involves within garden villages in order to devise a set of principles that ensures, as far as is possible, that the garden village brand was not corrupted/abused. The starting point was the TCPA garden city principles which are mentioned in the NPPF and I structured the workshop to capture the key ingredients needed. A follow up report was produced with actions and comments for further development. The group agreed to meet again to progress this. A further contact has been made wth Andre Pinto who has taken over at Homes England Garden Community programme. More to report next year |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
| Description | Green Infrastrcuture Partnership July 2018 Annual Conference What health metrics do we need to better value green spaces? |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This interactive session at the GIP annual conference was supported by the Valuing Nature Network. Workshop participants were asked to consider four questions: What current health metrics do you use (if any) to inform decision making for better uptake of Green Infrastructure (GI)? What particular metrics do you need to help your policy and decision making? How should we use health metrics in policy and decision making? How can we better link GI characteristics and functions to health metrics? these questions were on posters all day and particpants used post it notes to record their answers drawing on the talks and own personal experience. I then quickly assessed these to do a feedback on the day but also then wrote up a detailed report which is ocntained in the web link. this report led to 2 further presentations at the TCPA Gateshead Healthy Places seminar and the Valuing Nature Annual conference. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?Healthmetrics_GIP2018 |
| Description | Green Infrastructure Challenges, Flip Chart Results and Commentary |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Green Infrastructure Workshop Small scale, big impact - retrofitting and enhancing green infrastructure 11th October 2017. A series of flipcharts were used to capture participants views as to the key green infrastructure challenges and research priorities they saw. These were captured on post it notes made by the audience at the Green Infrastructure Parnership annual conference. I then unpacked the flip charts into a report which was circulated on the web site. The insights have the informed future discussions and have been made available to other policy and practice audiences |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?GI-Challenges |
| Description | Green Infrastructure and the National Planning Policy Framework 2 How do we value trees & other green infrastructure in the urban environment? 20 Sep 2018 University of Birmningham |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A keynote talk on a NERC funded workshop led by Emma Ferranti supported by NERC BIFOR and RTPI This talk introduced draft work we had done asessing the performance of the NPPF. The talk led to other invitations for konwledge exchange. Eg Future Build 2019 There was signficant interest around our assessment of the NPPF highlighting its overall vulnerability and the key areas of policy omission relating to SUDS and stewardship |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?gi-nppf2-evaluation |
| Description | Green Infrastructure partnership annual conference July 10th |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The annual conference of the GIP took place in London on July 10th 2019. This provided a useful opportunity to feed intelligence into the GIP evaluation process through a focus on one key GIP event drawing from the activities of the day. An interactive exercise was designed using 3 questions to test their perceptions on the conference theme and the actions that should follow the conference both for them as individuals and for the GIP. The information was collected via post it notes as the day progressed following an initial briefing at the start of the conference . A summary of the post it notes is presented for each question with a brief commentary. Question 1 What is your ONE key policy or practice action for achieving better green infrastructure? Question 2 How might GIP be changed (if at all) to achieve better green infrastructure? Question 3 (i) How should key messages from today's GIP event be taken forward by (1) you? Question 3 (ii) How should key messages from today's GIP event be taken forward by GIP? Outputs on post it notes were captured during the day and then written up in the GIP report. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/project-page.php?gip-evaluation-survey |
| Description | Green Infrastructure partnership annual conference Keynote Presentation with Max Hislop GCVGN and Sarah Jackson WECA . July 10th 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Keynote lecture on mkaing better policies and plans. This was a joint talk with myself as the KE champion enabling max Hislop and Sarah Jackson to share their experiences in helping design and use the GI polcy assessment tool in their work. It was imortant to highlight how i am wokring with policy and practice audiences allowing them to tell their sotry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?making-better-policies-and-plans:-keyn... |
| Description | Green Infrastructure: The Value of "Good" Policy(ies) for Nature talk given to Leeds University Students 30th April |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | I was invited back to deliver a talk to postgraduate students at Leeds University on their postgraduate City Futures MSc The session involved a one hour lecture followed by an interactive workshop fcusing on the NPPF |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.dropbox.com/s/d5a5wn6x5cqjecx/Leeds_AJS_final_2021_revised.pptx?dl=0 |
| Description | Greenspace is critical urban infrastructure not an optional extra (blog) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | We are living in the strangest of times and the most unsettling of times at present. The Covid-19 pandemic has forced most of us back to our homes for work, rest and play apart from essential workers with a short list of specified activities that allow us to venture out. One of those is for daily exercise and given recent media photographs of overcrowded parks and riversides, this puts attention on the supply and demand of functional greenspaces in our pressurized urban areas and perhaps demands a rethink in the way we design and manage such places now and for the future |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/blog/posts.php?greenspace-is-critical-urban-infrastruct... |
| Description | Greenspace is critical urban infrastructure not an optional extra 8th April 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | We are living in the strangest of times and the most unsettling of times at present. The Covid-19 pandemic has forced most of us back to our homes for work, rest and play apart from essential workers with a short list of specified activities that allow us to venture out. One of those is for daily exercise and given recent media photographs of overcrowded parks and riversides, this puts attention on the supply and demand of functional greenspaces in our pressurized urban areas and perhaps demands a rethink in the way we design and manage such places now and for the future |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/blog/posts.php?greenspace-is-critical-urban-infrastruct... |
| Description | Heres hoping to be a jolly good NERC Green Infrastructure Fellow |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | My three year NERC fellowship on mainstreaming green infrastructure started on Monday September 4th 2017 and represents an exciting development in my "pracademic" career. Ever since my PhD on the Dartmoor Commons Act back in 1986 I have sought to tackle complex resource management challenges wearing an interdisciplinary hat; working to agendas set by policy and practice communities so that my research hopefully makes a difference in the real world. this blog introdices my fellowship |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/blog/posts.php?Jolly-good-fellow |
| Description | How Can the added value of GI be deomnstrated Welsh Government GI forum 29th November 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This was a workshop even I helped design and lead with Julia Thrift. I was chair of the group for the meeting. The idea was to help GI local auhtority meembers improve their mianstreaming of GI in their plans. I lead interactvie sessions and discussion in the half day session. This helped inform a Welsh Govenrment report and future plans. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | How the natural environment can deliver better places Keynote lecture to RTPI Northern Ireland Annual Conference 17th September 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Keynote tallk and discussion with post talk video recroding made for wdier dissemination. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?how-the-natural-environment-can-delive... |
| Description | ICASP Building a Better Business case for GI team meeting 13 December 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | As part of my GI work i am on the project team for the NERC ICASP project. This meeting fed back on tools reviews and other documents to help inform final project outputs in March. My work focusses on the strategic planning case. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://icasp.org.uk/projects/gbi-business-cases/ |
| Description | IWUN Sheffield Impact Advice 1 9 January 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | I was invited by the NERC IWUN practice team to act as an impact adviser to help improve the way their Valuing Nature Network project was delivering impact. This took the form of a day event where wokring with other panel members advice was given in response to work package presentations. Key issues were the need to engage with planners at local plan, development management and also engage with building regulations officers. This also led to a dedicated research impact seminar to the public within their health seminar series. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | IWUN Sheffield Impact Advice 2 8 January 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | I was invited by the NERC IWUN practice team to act as an impact adviser to help improve the way their Valuing Nature Network project was delivering impact. This took the form of a day event where working with other panel members advice was given in response to work package presentations. This was a follow up the first event in 2018 Key issues was the need to engage with built and natural environment professionals acting as facilitators. My report contained several actions for their final impact work |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Incorporating ecosystem services in mitigation hierarchy policy with special attention to the avoid stage |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This request aims to explore and identify existing knowledge, gaps and trade-offs in the context of the implementation of the mitigation hierarchy (avoid, reduce, restore, compensate). Particularly by trying to tackle the challenge of the effective application of the first step, "avoid", in the mitigation hierarchy and impact assessment to enhance biodiversity conservation and understand risks and potential ecosystem service trade-offs. I am a member of the EKLIPSE methods expert working group and provide methodological support for this work requested by Français de la Biodiversité (OFB) - French Biodiversity Agency. It is ongoing work but I am supporting a policy delphi process |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| URL | https://eklipse.eu/request-mitigation/ |
| Description | Initial assessment of NERC research impact pathways for green infrastructure practice Annual Conference Green Infrastructure Partnership 2017 October 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | My first presentation to the Green Infrastructure Partnership Conference October 11th 2017. Here I look at the challenges facing the mainstreaming of green infrastructure and present some preliminary results from interviews with investigators on NERC and RCUK projects. The principal problem is the generation of new tools and models which have not been developed with those in practice and thus will have problems in being mainstreamed in existing systems and tools used for decision making. Key messages 1. Key issues associated with the disconnect between research focussing on developing more tools versus policy and practice needs for better advice on which tools to use for which purpose. 2. Lack of involvement of planners and elected members on research projects. 3 Lack of transdisciplinary activity. this shaped further blogs eg too many tools (reported here) https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/blog/posts.php?Too-Many-GI-tools |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?NERC-GI-Talk1 |
| Description | Invited trip to Uppsala Stockholm for GI workshops, lectures and imporved collaobrations (Mattias Qvistrom) 23-27 September |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This was an invited and funded trip by Uppsala and invovled some 3 keynote lectures, student workshops and academic discussions for future funding bids. Of particualr importance was a joint public lecture between University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsla and Ramboll consultancy on Liveability Cities and urban Nature. 25 September Another keynote lecture was given at SLU main campus. 26th September A practical session with students as a master class was held on 24th September. Here stduents played Placemakers an adapatation of the Participology with the RTPI. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?mainstreaming-green-infrastructure-pol... |
| Description | KE Advisory Board meeting May 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This group was established by Scott to provide strategic and critical oversight of the knowledge exchange fellowship . Membership included Lynne Porter NERC Julia Thrift TCPA Ian Mell University of Manchester Paul Gibbs David Jarvis Associates Suzane Simmons CIRIA I presented a summary report of the first 9 months work outlining the different workstreams and achievements. The construction of this group was seen as a model to emulate for KE fellows (Lynne Porter) and the critical feedback helped narrow down the direction I should be going on. This has led to signficant shifts in the structure of the work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Keynote presentation to Natural Resources Wales annual conference 26th -27th October 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I was asked to give a keynote address at the 2022 annual NRW conference. the talk was entitled "What Does Good Evidence into Policy into Practice into Delivery Look Like: Reflections from "Pracademia" the talk was to challenge NRW staff work and promote new ways of doing things drawing from examples of good practice. I had 20 minutes talk and 20 minutes Q and A |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.dropbox.com/s/zvt7yspm7lcu257/Cardiff_%20Presentation1.pptx?dl=0 |
| Description | Keynote presentation to RTPI Northern Ireland on Planning More Effective Delivery for Climate Change 14th September 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was keynote presentation highlighting how using green infrastructure as a nature based solution cliamte change imapcts can be mitigated and adapted. An assessment of national planning guidance SPP15 was undertaken using the Green Infrastructure Policy Assesment Matrix |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.dropbox.com/s/9jzzy2svhdvmev5/Presentation1RTPINI.pptx?dl=0 |
| Description | Lecture/workshop session given to MSC Sustainable Urban Futures students University of Leeds 1 May 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Lecture on Green Infrastructure supported by interactive workshop. Led to student dissertations and other interest. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | London Assembly Green Belt discussion group 21 June 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Meeting with Deputy Leader of London Assembly with guests to disucss future of Londons green belt. I was abel to draw upon my own work here to help steer the debate, |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Mainstreaming GI West of England GI working group Chair workshop 12th December. 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This was a workshop I helped organise and chair involving memebers of the combined authority sharing experiences and proejct ideas to imporve GI outcomes. A ragne of exercises took place throughout the day with notes recorded and circulated by Sarah Jackson. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Mainstreaming Green Infrastructure talk given to Natural Resources Wales 27 April 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was an invited talk to address Natrual Resources Wales staff on the challenges and oportunities of mainstreaming green infrastructure. It was part of a series of 15 minute talks with a question panel afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.dropbox.com/s/t8bwm4fvqwm71vs/Green%20Infrastructure_NRW.pptx?dl=0 |
| Description | Mainstreaming Green Infrastructure: Moving From Persuasion to Acceptance Blog for CIRIA |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Mainstreaming Green Infrastructure: Moving From Persuasion to Acceptance This blog sought to expose the challenges and opportunities for mainstreaming GI. "Mainstreaming" is an overused word; often used too loosely, failing to capture its true challenges and nature. To me it is a process that involves the translation and prioritisation of a concept established in one policy area into others to such an extent that it becomes normalised in their daily activities and behaviours. This is far more than integration and involves culture and behaviour change. Thus for green infrastructure this means taking the concept which has been developed in the environmental sector and translating and adapting it to meet the needs and priorities within economic, business and community sectors. To do this effectively requires a cyclical process of communication, persuasion, acceptance and reinforcement. In my view green infrastructure is still held hostage in the persuasion phase with much research focussing on the value and multiple benefits of green infrastructure. There is insufficient focus on delivery and a lack of attention on how best to communicate why green infrastructure is relevant to different professional interests and how it can fit in to existing policy and decision-making processes Consequently, it is still largely treated as an extra; a cosmetic piece of infrastructure and certainly not seen or prioritised as critical infrastructure. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.ciria.org/News/blog/Mainstreaming_Green_Infrastructure.aspx |
| Description | Mainstreaming Green Infrastructure: from theory to practice talk given to UK Planning Research Conferecne University of Liverpool 4 September 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was a talk given at this widely attended international conference. It geenrated interesting discussion which led to changes in the proposed paper. (now under review) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?mainstreaming-green-infrastructure:-fr... |
| Description | Mainstreaming Natural Capital and Net Environment Gain into National Park Planning Policy March 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This talk was given to Heads of Planning across UK National Parks on March 8th 2018. It looks at mainstreaming natural capital and net environment gain into local plans. The challenge for Park Planners was that the new environmental terms were not that well understood by planners. I used my work on hooks and bridges (Scott et al 2018) to help them navigate this challenge. There was positive feedback. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?MainstreamingNaturalCapitalNationalPar... |
| Description | Mainstreaming Nature Using Green Infrastructure 31st March 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was the dissemination event from my KE project invlving talks from people I have worked and collaborated with over the felowship. Split between tallks and dicussions and break out workshops it was ful event attended by 200+ This FREE conference celebrated the completion of a 3 year Natural Environment Research Council fellowship on the improved mainstreaming of nature in the planning system using green and blue infrastructure as the key delivery vehicle. WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THIS EVENT? To share good practice and lessons learnt across research and practice in using green infrastructure to deliver better outcomes for nature; To identify the opportunitites and barriers for green infrastructure delivery in the planning system To reflect critically on the contribution of a NERC knowledge exchange fellow all talks and outputs are available on the web link https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/project-page.php?mainstreaming-nature-using-green-infrastructure-conference |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/project-page.php?mainstreaming-nature-using-green-infra... |
| Description | Mainstreaming nature using green infrastructure talk given to UK Ireland Planning Research Conference 9th September 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | talk given to conference highlighting the key findings of my research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.dropbox.com/s/itp00s9eend6e6i/Mainstreaming%20Nature%20Using%20Green%20Infrastructure.pp... |
| Description | Making a business case for Green Infrastructure February 27th 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a workshop organised by ICASP, a NERC funded project on water catchment. I was asked to chair the session and was also involved in the design of the workshop and in particular the interactive sesisons using flip charts. Specific project ideas were identified in group discussion and then voted on. This then led to groups unpacking the ideas in a final session. The workshop then selected the best ideas to turn into a funding proposal. This was a workshop attended by over 50 regional stakeholders. Set within the boundaries of the ICASP project participants were able to develop interesting proposals leading to a successful grant application. I have become a member of the proejct team (CI) also reported here. . |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Making better Policies and Plans for Green Infrastructure: A self assessment tool - 25th March 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a webinar from the Ecosystem Knowledge Network In order to integrate local planning processes with environment policy throughout the UK new ways of working are required. While some local development plans demonstrate best practice in integrating the environment into all parts of this process, new tools are required. In this webinar Prof. Alister Scott (University of Northumbria) and Max Hislop (Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership) will discuss a self-assessment checklist, designed to equip planners and other professionals to make better policies and plans involving green infrastructure. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://vimeo.com/327298385 |
| Description | Maximising the value(s) of the green belt |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was an interview on Russia Today News about the green belt highlighting the value of green infrastructure there were very positive responses to this on twitter and emial from RT highlighting the value of my contribution |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qCDGAHT0Ck&feature=youtu.be&t=10 |
| Description | Measuring the health of planning policies for green infrastructure presentation to IWUN project seminar 11 December 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This talk will introduce the design, application and potential of a hybrid tool associated with developing standards for green infrastructure policy with a remit to help planners think more critically about how well their statutory and non-statutory plans address green infrastructure considerations. Crucially this tool is not new but rather builds on pre-existing partnerships and collaborations across academic, policy and practice with a strong Natural Environment Research Council flavour. The resulting A-Z policy matrix has been used to assess the green infrastructure credentials of the newly published National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF: MHCLG, 2018) incorporating assessments of green infrastructure coverage and the strength of policy wording. This national policy assessment is then complemented by analysis of Sheffield's previously adopted local plan. The combined analysis will help signpost the key areas to strengthen to help realise the aspirations of HM Governments 25 year environment plan and the different components of the A-Z criteria and where the attendant policy wording needs attention. Finally the paper will help identify the key hooks for built environment professionals to work on to improve wider placemaking and mainstreaming objectives within a plan-led development system. View Slides: HERE |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://iwun.uk/seminar-measuring-the-health-of-planning-policies-for-green-infrastructure/ |
| Description | Meeting with Defra 6 December 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Meeting with Defra to discuss my fellowship and how this could be better aligned with their own prorities. The meeting identified a number of work areas where win win siutations could occur 1. Improved material to help with the communication of the key messages of the 25 Year Environment Plan 2. An advisory role for me in the new standards group for green infrastructure being set up by Natural England. 3. Identification of other deep dves possibilties. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Meeting with Defra Net Gain Team 28 Septebmer 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This meeting was as a direct response to the meeting reported with MHCLG in August 2018. Here my work with other academics and professionals on how net gain, green infrastructure, natural capital and ecosystem services relate to each other was talked about. Support was given by Defra for a breifing note and follow on activity which could lead to a stakeholder workshop (also reported ) with professional insititutes in Febraury 2019. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Meeting with Durham Water Hub 13 March 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This meeting with the Durham Water hub was to discuss my KE project and to provide support for their work as part of the NATURVATION project. This led to several further meetings and my support to enhance their community involvement through a neighbourhood plan strategy. There were several other policy, practice and academic staff and an opportunity for shared working between us. Work is ongoing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Meeting with EPSRC SUCCESS project team Newcastle University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Meeting with EPSRC SUCCESS team to discuss possible ways of enhancing impact to affect planning system. Key link made wth North East Nature Partnership with idea of producing guidance for rain water gardens . |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Meeting with ICASP research team February 15th 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | I am a member of the building a better business case for green infrastructure research team in the NERC ICASP project. This meeting at Leeds University enabled me to hghlight the value of the A-Z policy matrix as a potential tool to strengthen planning policy to improve the business case. The tool was seen as a positive way forward and now will approach all relevant local auhtorities to arrange traninig in how to use it. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?A-Z-green-infrastructure-nppf2-policym... |
| Description | Meeting with Lugano Developments CEO Scott Munro |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Meeting with Scott Munro CEO to discuss how my work as a knowledge exchange fellow can help their garden village proposal at Dissington. Discussed using the NERC natrual capital planning tool to add further evidence of their development working for good GI Meeting secured agreement to work together and to support the set up of a garden village group. . |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Meeting with MHCLG London 21 August 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This was an arranged meeting with MHCLG to discuss how my work on Green Infrastructure might contribute usefully to planning guidance and existing work priorities of MHCLG. Drawing on ongoing discussions with academics on how the new environmental vocabulary associated with the 25 year environment plan and the NPPF, an offer was made to draft a guidance note that shows how they interrelate as well as secure better definitional clarity. Currently a guidance template was being developed and they felt that discussions with Defra should proceed. Thus the meeting led directly to follow up meetings with Defra and the net gain group. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Meeting with NATURVATION project 18th October 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | This was a meeting to find out about the EU NATURVATION project and how we could work together. This led to information and knowledge exchange and their involvement in workshops; most notably the garden vilage workshop on October 31st 2018. One of my core roles is to egnage with research projects and to add value to their work thus a reciprocal relationship was built up for future activity. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
| Description | Meeting with Paul Brannen MEP |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | I briefed Paul Brannen MEP about my work on GI to explore opportunities for further joint working. The meeting led to his involvement in a future grant application (currently under preparation) and wider insight into better provision for GI in the North East |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Meeting with Scottish Government Kristen Anderson and colleagues January 8th 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Meeting and presentation with Scottish Govenrment and Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network Trust to talk about Green Infrastructure in light of Sctoland PLanning reforms. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Meeting with Welsh Assembly Government officers on A-Zpolicy matrix and GI 13 November 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This is a further development of the Weslh Government GI group and involved presenting the A-Z Policy matrix with an offer to undertake an assessment of the Planning Policy Wales 10 (National planning guidance) for release in December 2018. The idea of having a policy assessment tool such as this was seen as particularly attractive given the need for a GI assesment process. The assessment was undertaken with clear opportunities for wider application at the local development plan level. Further activity ongoing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
| Description | Meeting with |Marine Management Organisation Aisling Lanning; Rachel Holtby |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Meeting to discuss improved mainstreaming of natrual capital in marine plans. Helped shaped future workshops to better inegrated land and marine planning as strategic issues. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Methods Expert group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I am a member of the Methods Exerts group of the EKLIPSE project. This is a voluntary position but I have attedned regualrm nothly meetings over the last year to support a request dealing with isues on the mitigation hierarchy from the French Government Research Institute . |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021 |
| URL | https://www.eklipse-mechanism.eu/expert_group_on_methods |
| Description | NATURE tool launch events 27th -30th July 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The NATURE Tool has been developed with the aim of becoming a widely accepted UK industry standard; it enables stakeholders, across sectors, to objectively assess and measure to what extent new plans or developments achieve net gains for the environment. I was involved in the development of the tool in a proejct led by WSP consultants and the Ecosystem Konweldge network In coordination with the NATURE Tool's release (July 2021), a programme of launch events was produced. These launch events were held online between 27-30th July 2021. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://ecosystemsknowledge.net/NATURE-Launch |
| Description | NERC Public Engagement Workshop 25th May 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was a NERC presentation about public engagement primarily addressed at acamdemic audiences. I used my NERC proejct t illumnate the dos and odnts of good public egnagement and the lessons learnt. this formed part of a Northumbria led session run by the CAPE project. Capabiitties and Academic Polcy Engagement. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | NERC Valuing Nature Annual Conference 2017 Mind our nature: academic and business challenges October 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was an invited talk from the valuing nature network to talk about the acamdeic and business challenges regarding nature. 20 minute talk with Q and A attracted signficant interest. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?VNN-NERC_Scott |
| Description | NERC science lies at the heart of realising the bold ambitions of the 25 year environmental plan green infrastructure components |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This blog identifies the way NERC science and research can help deliverr the bold aspirations contained wthin the HM governmeents 25 year environment plan. The publication of the 25 year environment plan is very much welcome albeit long overdue. It does represent a significant positive step forward with a myriad of opportunity spaces for those wanting better environmental outcomes to exploit. However, as many commentators have already highlighted it is strong on rhetoric and good intentions but rather lacks the regulatory teeth and delivery mechanisms to achieve many of the proposed actions. Whilst this lack of regulation may please some it does mean that the plan relies on other strategies and frameworks across government to operationalise them. This brings with it a risk that other economic and housing priorities which currently have a statutory footing may continue to trump such good intentions. Under austerity and limited staff resources such as those facing our local authorities and planning departments this does become a significant factor when prioritising action |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/blog/posts.php?25-year-environmental-plan |
| Description | NPPF2 as Viewed Through an Environmental Lens 27 Jul 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Mainstreaming nature in planning policy: Finding the hooks and crooks in the new NPPF There has been much comment and hype over the long awaited NPPF released on the last day before summer recess (24th July 2018). This blog uses a green infrastructure lens set within the wider umbrella of spatial planning to pass comment on the NPPF's environmental credentials. In a previous output from a research project on mainstreaming green infrastructure, a collective response from the Green Infrastructure Partnership was made under my editorship highlighting our concerns over the draft NPPF[1]. This may provide useful reading to put this blog in context. I have framed this piece looking at the NPPF in its entirety and then drilling into specific sections. It forms a starting point for further discussions and comment. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/blog/posts.php?NPPF2_Evaluation |
| Description | Natural England GI Standards Group meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | I am a member of the GI standadrds advisory group. We are advising Natural England on the drafting of the standards. I was able to share my research experience and outcomes |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Natural England GI standadrds project Advisory group meeting 28 July 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I sit on this advisory body and thus help to inform the development of the GI standards framework. As such this can happen in meetings such as this with the wolhegroup or in one to one meetings to dicuss particular concerns and opportuntities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Natural England interview for GI standards paper by Helen Doran November 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | As an advisory board member of the Natural England Green Infrastructure standards group, I took part in an interview to highlight the challenges and opportuniites facing GI. The responses were used to shape a discussion paper for the first meeting of the group in January 2019. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Natural Englands Green Infrastructure Standards Mainstreaming Workshops 13 January 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I led two workshops on mainstreaming to support Natural Englands Green Infrstrcuture standards project. This invlved a presentation and question respose wth two diffeerent groups numbering 68 respondents in total. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Nature Planning tool workshop Janaury 26 2021 ENGLAND |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | As part of the NATURE project developing a net gain planning tool forthe UK Ied four workshops. This was for England and involed some 14 participants. This was working with professional planners and built environment professionals to understand the barriers and opportunities for developing a new tool. A draft report was published which will be finalised and released shortly . |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Nature Planning tool workshop January 27 2021 WALES |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | As part of the NATURE project developing a net gain planning tool forthe UK Ied four workshops. This was for Wales and involed some 16 participants. This was working with professional planners and built environment professionals to understand the barriers and opportunities for developing a new tool. A draft report was published which will be finalised and released shortly . |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Nature Planning tool workshop January 28 2021 SCOTLAND |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | As part of the NATURE project developing a net gain planning tool forthe UK Ied four workshops. This was for Scotland and involved some 14 participants. This was working with professional planners and built environment professionals to understand the barriers and opportunities for developing a new tool. A draft report was published which will be finalised and released shortly . |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Nature Planning tool workshop January 29 2021 NORTHERN IRELAND |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | As part of the NATURE project developing a net gain planning tool forthe UK Ied four workshops. This was for Northern Ireland and involved some 18 participants. This was working with professional planners and built environment professionals to understand the barriers and opportunities for developing a new tool. A draft report was published which will be finalised and released shortly . |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Newcastle City Parks March 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This was an interview to become a member of the newly established Parks Charitable Trust for Newcaslte City Council. With my GI work I was able to offer my services whether appointed or not. This gave a good opportunity to highlight my skills and expertise to the councillors and chief officers. I was not successful but have been co-opted to support the trust as and when necessary. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Organise and Chair CIRIA Blue Green Infrastrcuture Conference 6th October 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I was asked to chair and help strucutre this event with the CIRIA team. It built upon my successful charing of the 202o conference. This conference considered how industry can help unlock the multiple benefits of blue-green infrastructure to build resilience and help society adapt to the impacts of an already changing climate and future risks. The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) latest report 'Climate Change 2021 The Physical Science Basis' signalled 'code red for humanity' and states that 'Climate change is already affecting every inhabited region across the globe '. We know that mitigation of climate change through reducing carbon emissions is urgent. More urgency also needs to be placed on adaptation in order to protect our communities and habitats from the impacts already occurring, while we strive toward net zero. This was the key message of The Climate Change Committee's (CCC) report 'Progress in adapting to climate change: 2021 Report to Parliament' which noted that 'additional changes in the UK's climate to 2050 are largely insensitive to the pathway of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over coming decades' and that 'The gap between future levels of risk and planned adaptation has widened in the last 5 years'. Blue-green infrastructure was credited as being a key adaptation measure to generate a range of benefits both for human health and wildlife. Our 2020 conference 'Delivering and monitoring blue-green infrastructure' chaired by myself emphasised the need to mainstream the implementation of blue-green infrastructure. This year the urgency of this message is never more apparent. The impacts of COVID-19 have demonstrated how major threats can disrupt lives, and the messages from the IPCC and CCC emphasise the need to act now to be prepared for further change: goal 2 of COP26 is to 'urgently adapt to protect communities and natural habitats'. This CIRIA conference will explore how engagement, evaluation, management implementation and connecting blue-green infrastructure can unlock its multiple benefits as we strive to urgently adapt to the impacts of climate change on our communities and habitats. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.ciria.org/CIRIA/Navigation/Events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=E21219 |
| Description | PERFECT workshop and visit Cornwall November 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The EU PERFECT project was holding a workshop/meeting in St Austell to look at GI work undertaken by the Coounty and to hear presentations from member partners. I was invited to come along to share my research expertise. The meeting led to strong connections with the PERFECT team (Rob Lacey) where we worked together on future projects. I have also become more firmly established as a support to the PERFECT research project with TCPA (see partnership entry) where I am able to feed in my wider research knowledge. One clear outcome was the connection of the PERFECT project to the SWEEP project as both proejcts were focussed on making improved business case for natural capital. They did not know of each others work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | PLanning for Climate change Planning Advisory Service Traning Event 12th March 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was part of training event run by the Planning Advisory Service. I was speking to chief planning officers across the country about how green infrastrcuture can be an important delivery mechsnism for managing climate change. Talk was well received with interest in my web resources. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Placemakers game 24th September 2019 Uppsala SLU |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Undergraduate students in landscape design played placemakers game designed from participology resources. 3 hour game with feedback and supporting lecture. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.rtpi.org.uk/education-and-careers/engagement-and-outreach/resources-for-schools/place-ma... |
| Description | Planning for Climate Change Keynote presentation at RTPI Annual Convention July 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | this was an invited talk to the major RTPI planning annual event. I was able to hghlight how my work with green infrastructure can provide the conceptual glue to address climate change challenges. Using panopto I did a post conference recording to impprove its reach and impact. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?planning-for-climate-change |
| Description | Planning with Climate and Environmental Change in Mind Keynote tak given to RTPI West Midlands 12th October 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was an invited talk by the Wst Midlands on planning for climate change in mind. 20 minute talk followed by 20 minutes of questions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Pre conference webinar to Trees People and Built Environment 4 Integrating People, Place and Green Infrastructure: a reflective journey 20th January 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Talk on Integrating People, Place and Green Infrastructure: a reflective journey drawing on my own research and knowledge exchange lessons. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://1drv.ms/p/s!AkyiCcNlD1hVhRWbzoDpGNgZaY7o?e=QIvKwu |
| Description | Presentation on Green Infrastrcuture and Ecoystem Services to Northern Ireland Lcal Government Association 21 October 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | My talk entitled How can nature deliver better placemaking and placekeeping outcomes ws part of a tak to ocuncillors across Northern Ireland about how to mainstream natrue into polcy and decision making. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.dropbox.com/s/fvey0u7iubexpf0/rtpi_NILGA_ALISTERSCOTT.pdf?dl=0 |
| Description | Presentation to GIP sounding board November 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A talk given to the Green Infrastructure Partnership sounding board on the A-Z policy matrix. This was to encourage them to read it and review it to help shape the final product. A follow up workshop led to further changes. This again shows how the GIP sounding board worked with me within a deliberative process to develop and improve an output. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?A-Z-green-infrastructure-nppf2-policym... |
| Description | Presentation to Wales Green Infrastructure Forum 25th May 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation to the GI forum focussing on mainstreaming chalenges and opportunitties. Used a jamboard prior to event to help capture Welsh issues and priorities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?green-infrastructure-wales#/ |
| Description | Professional Insititutes and Green Infrastructure September 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I set up an expert group comprised of 10 members of professional insititutes in order to try and identify areas of agreement and difference concerning green infrastructure. As the key professional bodies they have a key influence with the wider mainstreaming of green infrastructure The session revolved around identifying key areas of action for better use of green infrastructure. Actions arising fed into my own work programme and the group was also able to take part in further activities including a workshop in February 2019 (with academics) to consider how better to conceptualise the different environmental terms. KEY ACTIONS There was general support for the idea of working across institute boundaries. The following key areas were identified as priority actions. 1. Net Environment Gains and the need to share work and ideas. In particular my emerging work on a new conceptual framework linking all the key terms. 2. CPD : the need to understand what CPD is currently being delivered by the institutes relevant to GI and statistics on the number and type of person attending. 3. Placemaking and added value Building on several of the issues discussed to look at how GI can be better located within a placemaking agenda and to perhaps look at how GI messages are being inserted in outputs. The business case was key here and to that end there is the ICASP NERC funded project I have just won some funding with them to work with stakeholders to improve the business case. 4. Feedback to research institutes and projects. I will undertake to feedback and introduce you to the key research projects where I believe you might be able to exert significant impact. It is also important for me to feedback your member research priorities and your won research strategies to UKRI to help influence future research tenders. Please submit intelligence to me as it happens. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
| Description | Question Time Mainstreaming Nature into the planning system using Green Infrastructure March 29th 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | this formed part of the dissemination material from my NERC fellowship final workshops. This was a question time panel of professional institutes and a live audience asking questions through the chat function . Preset questions were submitted by participants via a google jamboard The resulting 75 minutes debate was wide ranging and attracted very positive feedback ion the chat. the meeting was recorded |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://livenorthumbriaac-my.sharepoint.com/:v:/g/personal/alister_scott_northumbria_ac_uk/Ef1L8nM2l... |
| Description | RTPI fellowship exchange with Marijke Ransom Tasman District Council New Zealand |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Marijke was awarded a scholarship with RTPI to work on mainstreaming ecosystem science into New Zealand Planning. the Royal Town Planning Institute asked me to support her and build a partnership dialogue with a view to producing outcomes for UK and New Zealand planning. An initial proposal with outputs was coproduced. A paper in NZ Planning Quarterly the professional publication of the New Zealand planning Institute was published in December 2020 A blog is about to be published late March 2021 with a series of talks planned./ An academic paper is drafted for planning theory and practice. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021 |
| Description | Reading Cities more effectively using a board game format |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A blog post following a workshop wth public health officials on reading cities. The blog talks about the vlaue of using a game board Urban Placemakers as part of more innovatvie means of engaging people in city planning. I used my work with Participology and Mainstreaming GI to devise a new set of questions and game structure to enable the participants to engage with the different research themes of the urban living project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://blog.bham.ac.uk/cityredi/reading-city-regions-as-a-process-of-urban-diagnostics-a-public-hea... |
| Description | SPIES project meeting 13 April 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | This was a meeting with the SPIES project team to discuss how they could disseminate their work to planner audiences within trainnig workshops. Discussions led to event with RTPI being planned to coincide with launch of their new web site. Positive relationships formed with the project team. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/spies/ |
| Description | Six lessons to change the climate of climate change narratives (Blog) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Six lessons to change the climate of climate change narratives. As a Professor in Environmental Geography at Northumbria University, Alister Scott is one of the UK's leading experts with research focused on mainstreaming nature in policy and decision making where he has just completed three years working as a Natural Environment Research Council Fellow. One of the key topics of discussion at the COP26 climate change summit is on how we can work with nature to improve our responses to the climate emergency. Government representatives, experts and negotiators are debating ways to ensure that nature and sustainable land use are part of global action on climate change and a clean, green recovery. As part of our coverage of climate related research in Northumbria University, we asked Professor Scott to share his views on the six lessons that governments and decision makers can take from his research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/blog/posts.php?changing-the-climate-of-climate-change-n... |
| Description | Talk to Natural England GI standards group pilot testing case studies 13 january 2021 Mainstreaming Green Infrastructure Principles into Local Policy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | this was a talk to help 10 Natural England case study pilots understand the concept of mainstreaming. Feedback was very positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.dropbox.com/s/97pdwijb6qolz88/Mainstreaming%20Green%20Infrastructure%20Principles%20into... |
| Description | The Gloucestershire Green Infrastructure Symposium Gloucester Local Nature Partnership |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Gloucestershire LNP have pulled together a high-calibre, invite-only symposium to showcase the county's quality green infrastructure, but most importantly, to unpick the obstacles that still prevent the industry from prioritising the delivery of green infrastructure features when designing and implementing new places to live and work. I was there to chair a planning policy workshop for delivery of better GI. This was repeated morning and afternoon and involved me providing feedback within a general plenary. I also chaired the final plenary session. The workshop led to improved contacts with Gloucestershire and further initiatives including submissions to a special feature of town and country planning. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.gloucestershirenature.org.uk/green-infrastructure-symposium-2018 |
| Description | Too Many Green Infrastructure Tools spoil the delivery |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This blog draws on my research to date to ask the question whether too many green infrastructure tools spoil the delivery on the ground and merely confuse professionals? It helps expose the disjuncture between what research does and waht policy and practice needs. Positive responses on twitter to this post highlghting its reach. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/blog/posts.php?Too-Many-GI-tools |
| Description | UK Ireland Planning Research Conference 20226 September. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I gave a talk and took part in a plenary "Where is the Multifunctionality in the Peri-Urban"? Ths drew upon my work in green infrastructure. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.dropbox.com/s/2rp4lguunp4ljvn/Where%20is%20the%20multifunctionality%20in%20the%20Peri-Ur... |
| Description | Understanding impact pathways for planners and the planning system: An English perspective |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This blog is to help researchers navigate some of the complexities associated with the planning system and to think about ways of developing/using/adapting pathways to impact to help influence and inform the future design, delivery and operationalisation of planning. This ties in with my goal within WP1 of my fellowship project to add value to the existing research and through that to identify key gaps. This applies to the individual project pathways to impact but also exploiting pathways from the cumulative impact of the research projects that are investigated. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/blog/posts.php?Planning_impact_English |
| Description | Understanding the new environmental vocabulary (multiple workshops ) February 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This workshop was designed and managed by Alister scott over a series of virtual rounds in summer/autumn 2018 and face to face meeting in February 2019. The terms natural capital, ecosystem services, green infrastructure and net gains now constitute core parts of a new but increasingly technocentric environmental vocabulary which features in key national guidance and strategy (25 Year Environment Plan and National Planning Policy framework within England). It is significant that this vocabulary is different in Wales and Scotland and thus hinders integrated approaches to environmental planning. Understanding and operationalising this vocabulary poses significant challenges for stakeholders and publics alike, both in terms of their individual definitions and how they interrelate with each other. This workshop sought to capture the views of researchers and professional insititutes and practitioners in order to develop a framework and narrative surrounding these terms to help Defra improve planning guidance. In particular there was a concern to help integrate the 25 year environment plan with the NPPF. The impacts for this have yet to be fully realised as the draft framework has only now been developed. However the debate and dicusssions have shown just how much disagreement there is across the diffrent terms that are used in everyday language in environment discourse. This in itself serves as a cautionary note. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
| Description | Video Lecture to Leeds Postgraduate Students 15 February 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | I was giving a lecture to postgraduate students at Leeds on Assessing the Health of Planning Policies for Green Infrastructure. The lecture had to be cancelled due to train issues. However, I recorded a follow on lecture with a panopto link to allow students to hear my key messages which also enabled the Leeds staff to set the exercise assessing the Leeds Local Plan. Feedback was very positive. The video lecture was also given to our own students as part of KE5012 Urban Environmental issues. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.dropbox.com/s/qx2ki3xk8lqr30p/Leeds_AJS_final.pptx?dl=0 |
| Description | West of England GI forum visit 11 June 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | discussion and presentation to WOE Green Infrastructure gruop as part of ongoing case study work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
| Description | West of England green infrastructure project meetings PILOT TEST October 2020 to March 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | West of England GI working group was successful in becoming a pilot for Natural England GI standards framework project. I was asked to help support this pilot which required attendance at 6 meetings/wokrshops between October 2020 and March 2021 This required critiquing documents and providing advice and acting as an assessor to particular projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021 |
| Description | What Kind of National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) do we Need |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This blog provides a take on what the proposed NPPF should contain if it is to deliver good green infrastructure. What Kind of National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) do we Need 04 Mar 2018 What Kind of National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) do we Need On Monday 5th March 2018 the revised and much changed NPPF will be released for consultation. Its predecessor started off life in 2012 amidst much ministerial acclaim that it was reducing 1000s of pages of planning guidance to 55. Yet, since 2012 there have been reviews of the NPPF and its impact on the built environment which have identified significant failings with the way it was been operating. First the CLG Select Committee report into the operation of the NPPF in 2014 exposed a number of shortcomings related to the sustainable development credentials it was championing. In particular, the impact of viability on housing schemes; the impact on town centres and the impact on communities. A year later the House of Lords Built Environment Committee released Building Better Places which echoed these concerns. In the summary it stated : " More fundamentally, however, we are concerned that the overall emphasis on speed and quantity of housing supply appears to threaten place-making itself, along with sustainable planning for the long-term and the delivery of high quality and design standards". However, both these reports fell on stony government ground with the recommendations largely rejected. The fetish for housebuilding was now embedded in DCLG's culture with institutional myopia threatening the placemaking goals which spatial planners like myself champion. However, since then we have had the publication of the Industrial Strategy2017 and the 25 Year Environmental Plan 2018. These documents highlight the need for the planning system to be more integrative and make the connections between places to live, learn, work and play. Working within this opportunity space is essential for the NPPF, but not within separate siloed chapters. Indeed, it is how they are prioritised and interact that lies behind some of the problems with the current NPFF. In advance of tomorrows publication therefore here is my take of what we need a revised NPPF to do. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/blog/posts.php?NPPF-revision |
| Description | What kind of green infrastructure do we want? Building better bridges between research and practice |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A workshop entitled: What kind of green infrastructure do we want? Building better bridges between research and practice was held at the marketplace Arcadis London on February 16th 2018. This was an ambitious event that brough together academics and policy and practice participants to look at the interface between research and practice to co-design projects and initiatives to help mainstream green infrastructure more effectively into built environment arenas. This forms a key output linking workstreams on research and practice. The outputs from the workshop led to 6 priority projects which shaped my subsequent work programme. 1. The report here is a summary of nearly 100 pages of flip chart material. From a morning session that looked at challenges and impact priorities from which 6 projects were identified and discussed in the afternoon. These projects will form part of my work priorities and in the near future will be actioned to try to secure funding opportunities to make them happen. 2. Prior to the workshop participants were aksed to identify key green infrastructure challenges and priorities. These have been collated and assessed in a quick and dirty manner but do offer some useful insights. https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?Research-practice-GI |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?Research-practice-GI |
| Description | What kind of health metrics do we need to plan healthy places October 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This talk was given as part of a session organised by Gateshead Council. TCPA and North East England Nature Partnership on their healthy places project. The talk drew from material collated from my workshop on health metrics in July 2018 at the annual conference of the green infrastructure partnershipreported eslehwere on research fsh The subsequent discussions led to greater connections with the direcotr of health and director of planning for Gateshead, |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?health-metrics-tcpa-talk |
| Description | Working across boundaries and professions to deliver transformational change in the use of green infrastructure : |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I recently attended a workshop hosted by Main Street Consulting[1] as part of a contract they were undertaking for Scottish Natural Heritage to look at the opportunities for green infrastructure mainstreaming in social housing https://scotlandsnature.wordpress.com/2017/09/07/social-housing-green-infrastructure/ This in itself was a bold move by a government agency charged with championing the natural environment set within wider social and environmental justice agendas and certainly an area where limited NERC science exists to draw upon. The workshop was transformational for me in several ways and I think offers valuable lessons for those people trying to mainstream any concept into practice or to maximise social learning and knowledge exchange. It also challenges the way many workshops or conferences focus on particular sectoral audiences with their supporting congregations where in effect they are often preaching to the converted. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/blog/posts.php?SNH-socialhousing-greeninfrastructure |
| Description | Workshop on assessing how well the NPPF addresses green infrastructure for the PERFECT project and New Communities Group 26 February 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I led an interactive workshop enabling participants to use the GI A-Z policy matrix to assess the NPPF in terms of its green infrastructure credentials. By giving each table selected extracts to score and discuss, particpants were able to see the value of the tool at first hand and to understand the importance of developing strong policy for green infrastructure. Feedback was very positive with people saying how they had never looked at a document in this way and it would help their own local plan processes. Further work is ongoing with the TCPA. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/outputs-page.php?A-Z-green-infrastructure-nppf2-policym... |
| Description | Workshop what does good delviery of strategic planning look like for nature |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was an event building on a previous output looking at understanding our growing environmental vocabulary and broughh together academics, professional insititutes, policy makers and practitioners on 5 key challenges. The outputs were recorded with a report due., |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://mainstreaminggreeninfrastructure.com/project-page.php?understanding-our-growing-environmenta... |
| Description | designing and writing better green infrastructure policies in local plans Workshop 1 (July 2018) and Workshop 2 (October 2018) West of England local authorities |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a workshop to help planners in 5 local asuhtorities as well as the newly established combined auhtority design and assess planning policies for green infrastructure wihtin their local/strategic plans. The July (2018) workshop introduced them to a matrix approach that captured the different functions of GI. The outputs from this informed a furtherv workshop in October 2018 where proposaed new olicies were tested and assessed and changes suggested. A social learnring appraoch was used based on the different polcy responses. This also included strartegic housing sites. The impact was clear in that the matrix encouraged laners to move away from sngle GI policies in the enviromental chapter towards a range of policies across the plan and started them engaging in discussions with other sectors including highways, transport, housing and economic development. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |