Nigel Evers and Fleur Timmer from Peter Brett Associates explain what Green Infrastructure is and how early engagement is crucial to achieving the best results in GI projects.

1. Bristol Low Carbon Business Breakfast
21st April 2015
Integrated Green Infrastructure:
 Employing an Integrated Approach to Green and Blue
Infrastructure Design
Nigel Evers
Director Of Landscape
Fleur Timmer
Senior Landscape Designer

2.  To gain a greater understanding of what GI is, its role
in sustainability and disciplines involved
 Why early engagement of GI teams in masterplanning
is imperative to achieving best results
 How an integrated GI approach is economically
sensible and profitable
The Purpose of this Seminar:

3. Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone
‘The 25 year ambition for the project is to regenerate the area and create a
new , superbly connected entry to Bristol and a hub for creative, high-
technology, specialist engineering and low carbon companies , building
on the city’s reputation as a knowledge-intensive centre……
……initial estimates suggest that around 400 new businesses could be
accommodated here, leading to the creation around 17,000 new jobs over
the 25 year period. These projected jobs would be delivered alongside
more than 240,000 Sq metres of new or refurbished space, featuring
offices, research and development space, new homes and retail units, an
arena and a redeveloped, 21st century railway station.’’
Bristol Temple Quarter – Enterprise Zone-Website April 2015
 12,000 capacity performance venue
 Close to Bristol Temple Meads
 Catalyst for investment in Enterprise
Zone
 Attract millions of pounds of investment
to the city region
Bristol City Council-April 2015

4. Temple Greenways
 Streets and spaces improved
 Walking and cycling routes
 Named Temple Greenways to reflect ecological design
 Links to and opens up Totterdown Basin

5. What is GI?
‘We define GI as the network of natural and semi natural features, green spaces, rivers and lakes that
intersperse and connect villages, towns and cities.’’
What does it do?
‘It is a natural, service-providing infrastructure that is often more cost effective, more resilient and more
capable of meeting social, environmental and economic objectives than ‘grey’ infrastructure.’’
Landscape Institute Green Infrastructure Position Statement– 2013
So…..
It is imperative that we make early informed consideration of the
GI within our sites and in their context.
What is GI and What does it Do?

6.  In our designed world we must design with,
adapt to and create new GI networks in
order to provide for our growing
populations through ecosystem services,
adapt to our changing climate and secure
and enhance our environment
What is GI and What does it Do?
Bristol City Council-April 2015

7. Multifunctional Ecosystem Services:
Securing Our
Future:
Environmentally
Economically
Socially
EcosystemServicesdiagramsource:metrovancouver.org

8. Zones of Influence: (inward and outward)
Global - City-wide – Neighbourhood – Site Based

9. Intelligent Resource Planning:
Integrate resource planning with man-made and natural systems
Intelligent resource management realises early GI assets allows for
greater understanding of sustainable energy gains, efficient resource
management and design principles which work to reduce negative
effects of any proposal on available resources while maximising
sustainable use.

10. Community: Health & Wellbeing,
Intergenerational and Cultural Cohesion, Education
Often difficult to measure benefits are those of increased health and
well being both for the individual and the community. These benefits are
those of reduced sickness, improved mental health, social integration,
intergenerational cohesion and environmental education.

11. Multifunctional Design
Battle McCarthy,
Greenwich Peninsula

12.  Joint appreciation of the technical issues that drive
mitigation and determine the framework for development.
 An opportunity to create synergies and ‘win wins’
 Co-ordinated stakeholder engagement provides a joined up
message, builds trust and supports the planning process.
 Cost-saving for the design teams and Client
Why Have Collaborative Approach?

13. The Outcome:
cost-effective, streamlined, innovative and highly marketable
schemes…
Acordia, Grant Associates

14. In order to create places of excellence the design team must
remain:
 Flexible, be prepared to adopt new working methods and be
open to alternative approaches
 Be adaptable, step out of the comfort zone, growing team
knowledge
 Strive for creative design, develop something new, be
experimental and break the mould.
…But most of all strive for innovation.
Flexible, Adaptable and Creative…

15. Project Examples
Stratford Athlete’s Village 2008-2012
Athlete’s Village, Vogt Landscape Architects

16. Projects With Exemplar Urban GI
Breaking the mould of amenity Integrating multi-level landscape
Creating urban wilderness Making function attractive

17. Seabrook Orchard

18. Seabrook Orchards

19. Returns on Intelligent GI
‘The green infrastructure for Crewe Business Park was a key part of the masterplan and management plan
from the outset and has generated more than £4.5m in capital receipts and 2,800 jobs.’
Landscape Institute: Green Infrastructure Position Statement 13.05.09
“We have introduced new public squares, mature tree-lined avenues and ecology corridors as an integral
part of the initial phase of development. Sales rates and values have been exceptional. Indeed, Crest always
plans in ecology, landscape and GI from the very beginning of our developments and never fails to reap the
dividends”.
Chris Tinker, Board Director, Crest , on Oakridge Grove, Milton Keynes

20. GEN Consulting (2006) found that regeneration using green infrastructure of a run-down area
(negative aesthetics and perception) caused house prices to increase by 111% in Glasgow. It was
established that once the general property price rises and any other differing factors had been
stripped out, the enhancement value of the existing housing stock was in the region of £15
million, and as a result of the scheme new development to the value of £75 million has been
realised.
GEN Consulting (2006). , Forestry Research report, 2010
The HCA invests in developing large and often complex sites, and this requires knowledge and appreciation
of the existing site character and the long-term needs of a local community. Robust and imaginatively
designed landscape infrastructure adds value to our projects. It helps create a place that residents can
enjoy, improves biodiversity and can improve investment returns to public and private sector partners.
Louise Wyman
Midlands Large Sites Lead, Homes and Communities Agency
 .
Profitability of Multifunctional GI

21.  GI approach to SUDS cost on average 50% less than traditional
drainage
 Urban Trees: to be managed as a whole to bring maximum social,
economic and environmental benefits to the local community. In Torbay
for example, the contribution local trees make to air pollution removal
and carbon sequestration alone was estimated to be worth £6.4m a
year.
 Maintenance of contextually designed green blue SuDs will reduce cost
more than 25% of traditional drainage.
Profitability of Multifunctional GI

22. Recognising the value of GI
“I fully recognise the vital role green infrastructure needs to play in securing a. healthy environment and will
therefore ensure that nothing we do undermines our ability to protect and enhance it.”
Elizabeth Truss MP
Secretary of State Environment, food and rural affairs

23. Any Questions ?