Natural England leads the way on green infrastructure in new township
News Release:
Government conservation adviser Natural England has brought a group of local authorities and regional stakeholder leaders to Peterborough, England to see a leading example of how nature can be integrated into new urban development.
O&H Hampton, part of a leading national property management and development company, is delivering a variety of green projects as part of the continuing development of the Hampton township in Peterborough.
To highlight how green infrastructure is benefiting the community, O&H Hampton assisted hosting the Natural England summit detailing how the private and public sectors can work in partnership to deliver green infrastructure. The summit promoted the economic, health and sustainable community benefits of green infrastructure as part of O&H Hampton’s plan for development.
Senior regional representatives of Natural England, including regional board member Tony Hams, were on hand to see how O&H Hampton has already delivered green infrastructure and what will be delivered as part of the next stage of the development.
The audience heard how green infrastructure is being integrated into O&H Hampton developments across South Peterborough.
Tony Hams said: “The natural environment should have as much consideration in new and existing developments as other types of infrastructure and the Hampton development demonstrates what can be achieved. We now have good evidence of the benefits of green spaces, not only for recreation and wildlife but also health, climate change and economic uplift.
“We are working in partnership with developers and local authorities to achieve high quality green infrastructure.”
The Hampton development is a prime example of how green infrastructure can be integrated into significant housing development projects. O&H Hampton and Natural England are seeking to develop a natural network that delivers services and benefits to both the community and the environment.
Green infrastructure puts wildlife rich green spaces at the heart of new development. O&H has planned in a network of green spaces, lakes, walking and cycling routes. There are also a number of nature reserves where great crested newts and a rare stonewort are conserved.
Shaun Thomas, regional director of Natural England, said: “Green infrastructure is a strategically planned and delivered network comprising the broadest range of high quality green spaces and other environmental features designed and managed as a multi functional resource to connect the urban development with its surrounding rural areas.
“Multifunctional green spaces can help provide a number of benefits including community cohesion, enhance the value of homes in the area, provide real health benefits, sustainable transport solutions such as cycle paths and help attenuate the effects of climate change.”
Trees planted as part of the development store and reflect heat, provide natural pollution filters and help with carbon reduction. In addition, green space helps absorb water surface run off during periods of heavy rain while the use of sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) assists with flood and water management taking into account the quantity and quality of runoff and the amenity value of surface water in the urban environment.
Research has shown that properties close to quality green spaces command a price premium of between five per cent and 15 per cent.
A total of 6, 900 homes will be built to form the township on the 2,500 acre brown field Hampton site just south of Peterborough.
O&H Hampton has been managing and developing the site since 1997 and the project is planned to continue until at least 2017, providing new homes, state of the art education and community facilities and over 12,000 jobs within its retail, commercial and industrial areas.
Roger Tallowin, general manager O&H Hampton, commented: “We are demonstrating that integrating green infrastructure into the development plan gives not just environmental but also commercial payback through making the location more attractive as a place to live, work and play.
“In Hampton a house comes with 230m2 of nature reserve, 180 m2 of lakes, 80 m2 of mature woodland and 40 newly planted trees.”
Posted December 2009