Supporting delivery of multi-level government targets for maximising environmental and health outcomes through implementation of urban agriculture ini
Lead Research Organisation:
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
Department Name: Bartlett Sch of Planning
Abstract
This research aims to explore how urban agriculture could align to support the delivery of existing biodiversity and greening targets in London, thereby enabling a scaling out effect of the multiple co-benefits of UA. These include: improved mental and physical health, addressing food insecurity and supporting food literacy, as well as climate change adaptation (flood mitigation, carbon sequestration, improvement of air quality).
As part of the research, serious consideration will be given to power dynamics in the development of UA initiatives and their targeted alignment with biodiversity and greening targets to ensure equitable access to food growing spaces. This is especially relevant in the context of the current government focus on housing development concurrent with growing awareness of BNG targets and developer interest in externalising the fulfilment of their BNG obligations. The existing academic literature and analysis on the potential of UA reinforcing neoliberalism highlights a significant risk factor in UA further enforcing health and socio-economic divides.
In addition to the London Plan, an increasing number of local plans include food growing priorities. The Association of Local Government Ecologists (ALGE) concluded in 2022 that only 37% of local authorities have in-house staff with ecological expertise. ALGE survey results showed that 'only 15% of authorities are report that they are reasonably well-resourced' to deliver BNG (Snell and Oxford, 2022, pp 50). The report further concluded that significant upskilling is required to support local planners to successfully navigate BNG applications and more than two thirds of planners have inadequate expertise and experience to do so.
An assessment tool/framework to support local authorities and urban planning professionals (including developers) to incorporate as well as monitor the effectiveness of UA to deliver biodiversity, greening and health targets.
As part of the research, serious consideration will be given to power dynamics in the development of UA initiatives and their targeted alignment with biodiversity and greening targets to ensure equitable access to food growing spaces. This is especially relevant in the context of the current government focus on housing development concurrent with growing awareness of BNG targets and developer interest in externalising the fulfilment of their BNG obligations. The existing academic literature and analysis on the potential of UA reinforcing neoliberalism highlights a significant risk factor in UA further enforcing health and socio-economic divides.
In addition to the London Plan, an increasing number of local plans include food growing priorities. The Association of Local Government Ecologists (ALGE) concluded in 2022 that only 37% of local authorities have in-house staff with ecological expertise. ALGE survey results showed that 'only 15% of authorities are report that they are reasonably well-resourced' to deliver BNG (Snell and Oxford, 2022, pp 50). The report further concluded that significant upskilling is required to support local planners to successfully navigate BNG applications and more than two thirds of planners have inadequate expertise and experience to do so.
An assessment tool/framework to support local authorities and urban planning professionals (including developers) to incorporate as well as monitor the effectiveness of UA to deliver biodiversity, greening and health targets.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BB/V011391/1 | 06/10/2021 | 31/03/2030 | |||
| 2894941 | Studentship | BB/V011391/1 | 15/10/2023 | 28/10/2027 |