Leeds City Region has developed a Green Infrastructure Strategy to help bring a wide range of economic, environmental and social benefits to the area.
From the rural idyll of the Yorkshire Dales to our grand public parks, the Leeds City Region is an ideal place in which to invest and locate. As we approach a future where climate change threatens to change the landscape in which we live, the importance of ‘green infrastructure’ becomes even more stark. Our high quality green space is a crucial asset in helping to both mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change and plan for sustainable development.
What is Green Infrastructure?
Green Infrastructure is a strategically planned and delivered network of high quality green spaces and other environmental features. It should be designed and managed as a multifunctional resource capable of delivering a wide range of environmental and quality of life benefits for local communities. Green Infrastructure includes parks, open spaces, playing fields, woodlands, allotments and private gardens.
Why is Green Infrastructure important?
Green Infrastructure can provide many social, economic and environmental benefits close to where people live and work including:
- Places for outdoor relaxation and play
- Space and habitat for wildlife with access to nature for people
- Climate Change adaptation - for example flood alleviation and cooling urban heat islands
- Local food production - in allotments, gardens and through agriculture
- Improved health and well-being – supporting a healthier workforce
Green Infrastructure should be provided as an integral part of all new development, alongside other infrastructure such as utilities and transport networks.
What does the strategy do?
The strategy is not a statutory planning document. Rather it identifies where we can add value to existing and future green infrastructure investment and interventions at the city region scale. The strategy:
- complements national and pan‐regional efforts to make the most positive use of our current and potential green infrastructure; identifies the value of green infrastructure assets and reinforces and promotes the compelling case for investing in them;
- establishes the current priorities for green infrastructure investment at the city region level;
- underpins, and is supported by, other city region strategies; ensures green infrastructure complements other city region investment priorities such as those set out in the City Region Housing Investment Plan;
- identifies the existing green infrastructure assets and partnership strengths on which the strategy will build;
- sets out existing and potential mechanisms to finance ambitious green infrastructure investment priorities; and
- impels planning and housing policy work, and other practical local work, to support widespread improvements in green infrastructure across the partner authorities’ areas.
Next Steps for Green Infrastructure in the Leeds City Region
The strategy will followed in 2011 by a Delivery Plan that will support strong cross boundary political leadership, sustained investment and effective partnership working between the private and public sector.