ESPON and INTERREG in the UKBuilding Knowledge Capital

TCPA and

GRaBS Project

Diane Smith European and Corporate Affairs Manager

8 March 2010

the challenges a century ago

The Social CityHoward’s vision for early sustainable development:decent homes in well planned sustainable

communitiesto address social and economic problems:

• Town:– Unemployment– High rents– Poor housing– Pollution

• Country: – Low wages– Social isolation

early GI in garden cities

• Green spaces, trees, and good design lead to well-being of society, ensures cohesion and a sense of community

• e.g. pioneering settlements of Letchworth and Welwyn Garden Cities

Welwyn Garden City

• Secure a decent, well designed home for everyone, in a human-scale environment combining the best features of town and country

• Empower people and communities to influence decisions that affect them

• Improve the planning system in accordance with the principles of sustainable development

…through planning

about the tcpa

• climate change

• social justice

• globalisation

• acute housing shortages

the challenges of the 21st Century

what is GRaBS?

Green and Blue Space Adaptation for Urban Areas and Eco Towns

three-year project funded under

INTERREG IVC Programme

september 2008- august 2011

GRaBS application

• Funding programme: INTERREG IVC• 41 of 495 applications received approval under 1st

call• Duration: 36 months / 3 years, September 08 to

August 11• Budget just under €3.183m• ERDF just under € 2.43m • 14 partners in 8 member states

GRaBS partners

UKTCPALondon Borough of SuttonSouthampton City CouncilNorthWest Dev AgencyUniversity of Manchester AustriaProvincial Govt of StyriaGreeceMunicipality of KalamariaItalyProvince of GenoaEtnambienteUniversity of Catania

LithuaniaKlaipeda University Coastal Research and Planning InstituteNetherlandsCity District of Geuzenveld-Slotermeer SlovakiaRegional Environment Centre for Eastern EuropeSwedenCity of Malmo

GRaBS overall objective

‘to ensure existing and new mixed use urban development is adapted to the impact of climate change through improving local and regional planning policy to put in place green and blue Infrastructure; and to facilitate the muchneeded exchange of knowledge and experience and the actual transfer of good practice on climate change adaptation strategies to local and regional authorities across Europe’

• increase partner expertise on use of green and blue infrastructure

• identify and influence regional planning policy and delivery mechanisms for adaptation

• develop and use a risk and vulnerabilities assessment tool

• develop regional and local adaptation action plans including a high level policy statement

• improve community awareness and engagement in planning process

GRaBS 5 Key Objectives

GRaBS objective 1

• Benefits of green and blue spaces: To increase the existing knowledge and expertise of project partners and other key authorities responsible for spatial planning and development of the benefits of green and blue infrastructure in new and existing mixed use development in helping communities adapt to already changing climate conditions including higher temperatures, drought and flooding.

GRaBS objective 2

• Delivery mechanisms: To exchange and increase knowledge of what policy and delivery mechanisms exist in each partner region to deliver new mixed use urban development and urban regeneration and to make use of, and influence, these policies and mechanisms in order to integrate climate change adaptation through green and blue infrastructure into mainstream delivery.

GRaBS objective 3

• Risk and Vulnerabilities Assessment Tool: To develop collaboratively an innovative, cost effective and user friendly assessment tool, to highlight climate change risks and vulnerabilities in urban areas in order to aid the strategic planning and delivery of climate change adaptation responses.

e.g. vulnerabilities from extreme weather conditions Temperature Precipitation Soil Moisture Sea Level

GRaBS objective 4

• Adaptation Action Plans: To develop collaboratively regional and local good practice Adaptation Action Plans including a High Level Policy Statement in order to ensure the delivery of climate change adaptation through urban greening and water management and cooperation among decision makers, planners, stakeholders, the private sector and local communities.

GRaBS objective 5

• Community Involvement: To improve stakeholders’, communities’ and decision makers' understanding and involvement in planning and delivering green and blue infrastructure in new and existing mixed use development, based on positive community involvement techniques.

Adaptation Action Plans and High Level

Policy Statements•Concrete actions

•Delivery mechanisms•Measurable targets

Database of GoodPractice Case Studies

Vulnerability/RiskAssessment Tool

Mentoring and StaffExchange Programme

Communication and Dissemination Outputs

Thematic Seminarsand Study Visits

Panel of EU Experts on Climate Change

Adaptation

Community Stakeholder

Networks

Source: Jeremy Carter,

University of Manchester

Adaptation ResearchPolicy and Practice(outside GRaBS)

project activities

some achievements:AAP guidance

• A key output is that each partner will produce an Adaptation Action Plan, which will include a High Level Policy Statement

• The High Level Policy Statement will address regional policies and deliver adaptation actions at the regional and local level

• Each Adaption Action Plan will contain a SWOT analysis, the results generated by the Climate Risk Assessment Tool and a list of actions, delivery mechanisms and measurable targets to implement green and blue infrastructure

SWOTs: some common themes

Strengths

• Redevelopment/refurbishment projects expedient for redesign / retrofitting of adaptation measures•Good (/growing) level of climate change expertise available•Good position to run seminars, build consortia/forums/networks/ partnerships on climate change / urban design issues•Increased cooperation/coordination between officers/departments and external agencies/envonmental organisations•Research programmes which enhance knowledge and exchange of information on climate change issues (e.g. LiFE, Climatools…)•Increasing amount of relevant regulation/legislation/policy/ non-statutory docs on relevant issues (e.g. flood risk / sustainable design)

SWOTs: some common themes

Weaknesses•Lack of public and political awareness/support/interest (lack of recognition of value of green and blue infrastructure) – need political ‘champions’ to drive for change•Uncertainty over risks•Dense urban form limits opportunities for green and blue space (e.g. Kalamaria)•Weak law enforcement / existing climate change regulations slow to be implemented and lack incentives to deliver•Lack of impetus of local behaviour change due•Lack of time and resources (e.g. staff shortages/other priorities)•Lack of experience in community engagement on this topic•Focus skewed towards mitigation over adaptation

SWOTs: some common themes Opportunities•Revision/renewal of plans (spatial planning/climate change) allows integration of adaptation policy•Improving stakeholder/community networks, and e.g. Local Strategic Partnership working (UK partners only)•Use of variety of ‘hooks’ for adaptation due to multifunctional nature of green and blue space e.g. attractiveness for tourism / economic competitiveness•EU Directives as levers e.g. SEA / Floods / Habitats Directives, and Adaptation White Paper / Arhus Convention•National Indicator initiative as incentive for action (UK partners)•Adaptation Action Plan projects improve innovation, skills and diversity of workforce

SWOTs: some common themes Threats•Economic climate (cut backs) + political climate (e.g. elections)•Lack of joined-up legislation / clear framework •Lack of strategic coordination/cooperation between directorates / municipal departments (e.g. spatial planning, water mgt, forestry), including data sharing•Public participation outputs having little influence over decision-making (top-down tendencies for some partners)•Pressure for development, urban sprawl threatens effective planning for adaptation measures•Demographic change – potential increase in vulnerable population e.g. ageing society + in-migration to cities•Difficulty in measuring tangible benefits – lack of indicators proving viability of adaptation (need targets to ensure delivery)

Jan – June 2009 SWOT analysis – Mentoring visitsMalmo PSC and Study VisitUser Needs Questionnaire for Risk and Vulnerabilities Assessment

ToolTask Teams established for:

• Climate Change Assessment Tool• Community Involvement• Adaptation Action Plans • Expert Panel

July – Dec 2009Mentoring visits – second roundAmsterdam PSC and Study VisitLink between Assessment Tool and Adaptation Action Plans developedHigh Level Policy Statements drafted

Key milestones

Jan – June 2010Graz PSC and Study VisitFreiburg Study visitMentoring visits – third roundCommunity Involvement mentoringPiloting of Assessment Tool; input into Action PlansExpert Paper

Dec 2010Bratislava PSC and Study Visit‘Policy Guidelines’ on mobility management Expert Paper

Jan- June 2011Sicily PSC and Study VisitAdaptation Action Plans publishedExpert PaperFinal conference

Key milestones

some achievements:tool prototype

making it easier to aid and support the AAP policy/ decision making process

• Each AAP will contain the results generated by the Climate Change Risk & Vulnerability Assessment Tool

•User Needs & Requirements Analyses completed – now being developed, piloted and refined

•Used for e.g.: AAP development, community engagement events, mapping vulnerable groups and infrastructure

some achievements:exchanging knowledge

Mentoring Visits - timed to help develop AAPs by implementing SWOT Analyses, and gain first-hand knowledge of climate change impacts/solutions in host location

Workshops, Thematic Seminars & Study Visits – Malmo, Netherlands Coming up: Graz, Freiburg,

Bratislava, Sicily

Project BrochureExpert PapersNewslettersPress Releases Extensive Press CoveragePresentations at

Conferences!Website

www.grabs-eu.org

some achievements:raising awareness

• pass on work related to PPS on climate change and eco-towns to other GRaBS partners and develop TCPA knowledge of climate change adaptation strategies

• improve national, regional and local UK policy on climate change and planning

• ensure the UK learns from European exchange of experience to improve policy development

TCPA Partner Role

eco-town worksheets

Worksheet series: Transport Waste Community development Water-cycle management Green Infrastructure Economy Inclusive Design Housing Biodiversity Energy Delivery

position statement

Planning and Climate Change Coalition: Position StatementNew planning policy on climate change should be informed by the following principles:

• A restatement of the importance of sustainable development as the key objective for the planning system

• A strong commitment to the plan-led system

• A commitment to make climate change a vital factor in all planning decision-making

• A recognition of the importance of adaptation and the need to integrate mitigation and adaptation solutions

• The creation of a new technical advice body to ensure the integration of data sets, methodologies and target regimes

• A holistic and positive approach to minimising energy demand and to large-scale, community level and micro-renewables energy opportunities = a ‘new energy paradigm’

the future…

Global

Build international consensus and action

Europe

Exchange of best practice through projects such as GRaBS

UK

Learn from and mainstream eco-town principles

further information

GRaBS project

http://www.grabs-eu.org

Eco-town worksheets

http://www.tcpa.org.uk/pages/sustainability-worksheets.html

Diane Smith

Town and Country Planning Association

17 Carlton House Terrace

t: +44 (0)20 7930 8903

diane.smith@tcpa.org.uk

www.grabs-eu.org

partners characteristics approach discussion

Area: 36759 haPopulation:428672 Population Density: 1161/km2

Diverse and Rich Natural landscape

Investment activities are often located in vicinity of forest ranges and sometimes these activities are directly located on forest lands.

•One of the warmest areas in Slovakia. •The city itself has the average above 10oC (Annual Average Temperature)

•2002 - the vastest floods.

•Extreme high temperature events

Regional Environment Centre for Eastern Europe (REC), Country Office Slovakia

Bratislava

Regional Environment Centre for Eastern Europe (REC), Country Office Slovakia

Bratislava

DANUBE RIVER

CataniaHost partner Etnambiente SRL CataniaHost partner Etnambiente SRL 13-14 June 2009

partners characteristics approach discussion

Open Procedures(Publicity)

Decision MakersInvolvement

Academic –Research

Engagement

Integrated Institutional interactions

adaptationadaptation

Network Development

• Facilitated contacts.• Opportunity to build a

stronger consensus.• Opportunity to

actively involve organisations.

• Opportunity to bring together officers.

Pictures Catania

Pictures Sutton

Province of Genoa

Province of Styria

Northwest England (NWDA)

Programme Activities

“Polcevera valley”

Programme Activities

Scrivia valley