Project Part-Financed by the European Union

European Regional Development Fund

Eastside Sustainability Advisory Group

Sustainable EastsideGreen Roof Mosaic

Sheffield June 2006

Rosemary Coyne -Head of

Sustainability Groundwork

Birmingham and Solihull

and Birmingham

Eastside Sustainability

Advisor

Birmingham

Birmingham1970/80s

1988 Regeneration Principles•Break the concrete collar

Regenerate the ‘no go’ areas

•Reduce travel to work

•Improve public transport

•Improve pedestrian experience

URBAN REGENERATION TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY Make changes to the streets and squares to improve the image of the city and attract investment

Aerial views of Eastside –note proximity to city centre, early successional stage of habitat on formerly developed sites and wildlife corridors along railways, canals and river

Birmingham Eastside

Declining industry - Few residents - Lack of quality and investment

…. alongside unexpected places

Creation of a dynamic new sustainable Quarter for the City based on:• learning• technology• heritage•10 year project for a new quarter(170 ha)

Vision

Eastside Sustainability Vision

Collaboration of 18 Organisations led by Groundwork Birmingham & Solihull and Friends of the Earth Birmingham

Produced in March 2002Funded by Birmingham City Council

Led to formation of ESAG and bid for the project

Eastside Sustainability Advisory Group

• A collaborative project to develop a sustainable development plan for a huge regeneration initiative in Birmingham

• £0.5million over 3 years (ERDF & AWM)

Sustainable Eastside – scope

Eastside Sustainability Advisory Group

POLICY• Provide information to

help decision making• Define measurable

targets• Comment on draft

planning policies and strategies

• Address all stages in cycle

PRACTICE• Partnerships• Planning applications• Advice• Workshops• Research• Demonstration projects• Seminars and

conferences• Feasibility studies• Technical briefing

notes• Training

Eastside Biodiversity Audit

Rossa Donovan Jon Sadler

Chris Parry

Introduction

• ESAG commissioned UoB and WTBBC to carry out an audit of biodiversity in Eastside

• Carried out in three parts:– Desk study (Autumn 2003)– Phase 1 habitat survey & selection of

Phase 2 sites (Autumn 2003)– Phase 2 survey (Spring/Summer 2004)

Results

Phase 2 – Results

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

1 2 3 4 6 7 9 10 11

Site

Spec

ies R

ichn

ess

Other insects

Beetles andspidersPlants

Biodiversity Strategy

for Eastside

Raise awarenessChange attitudesProtect EnhanceMitigateCreate RecreateTemporary/Permanent

Guidance Note•Aimed at decision-makers and stakeholders

•Currently under consultation – hope to gain SPD status

•Contains Planning Policy relevant to nature conservation

•Contains guiding principles and detailed targets for the regeneration of Eastside

Planting Guide

Green Roofs Costs and Benefits

report by Livingroofs.org and Ecologyconsultancy

forGroundwork Birmingham

Biodiversitydesign for specific target species

D Gedge

G Kadas

Community Involvement• Dispelling the myth there is

no community in Eastside• Postcard campaign by

A2:RT and The Real Monument Co

• Identifying community groups

• Providing access to information and best practice on sustainable development issues

ISIS SUSTAINABILITY CHARTER

ISIS believes that the long term performance of its projects will be founded upon the issues of sustainability as outlined in the Charter.

www.isis.gb.com

3.5 Urban Ecology• The potential to create habitat mosaics associated

with streets, communal areas and building surfaces will also need to be considered.

• Consideration will also need to be given to how the protection of biodiversity reserves and the management of naturalised green spaces will be planned and resourced in the short, medium and long-term.

• Extra value will be given for consideration of how the social and educational value of urban ecology can be realised.

Formerly Developed SiteCar Park and Biodiversity

Habitat

City Living – at what cost?

TRANSFORMING THE REGION STARTS HERE

Bid for Landfill Tax FundingA Biodiversity Audit of Eastside, 2004, has revealed that there is a need to ensure that habitats are created for nationally rare species such as beetles and the black redstart (represented in Eastside ) to ensure their survival in the area as their current habitats are lost during redevelopment.

A bid for a total of £250,000 ($400,000+) for roof strengthening, green roof design, contract tendering, installation, research, education, training, PR

Construction of 4 green roofs designed for biodiversity in mitigation of

redevelopment of underused urban sites

Creation of a demonstration green roof designed to meet the requirements of threatened species identified as currently present in Eastside, to demonstrate SUDS,

energy conservation, waste recycling.

Research Elements- In association with the University of Birmingham

and the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust and Livingroofs.org

• Monitoring of biodiversity activity• Rainfall data collection, run off measurement• Local confirmation of cooling benefits of green

roofs

PR and EDUCATION

Launch eventReal time video cameraSchools visits and links to national curriculumTraining courses for professionals and local groups

Wildlife corridors

River Rea

Canals

Railway tracks

Business Incubation Centre

Trafalgar House & Birmingham Voluntary Services Council

International Convention CentreHome of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and

Host to the G8 Summit 1998

Creating added value to the research

• Fortunate to be able to investigate links and information sharing with 2 other green roofs projects –– University of Birmingham – Dr Rossa Donovan– Tilbury Power Station -

First practical steps

• Sourcing the aggregates for the roof projects

• Publicising the advanced demolition materials recovery approach already developed by a local business

What happens next

• Bids in for a new programme across East Birmingham and North Solihull, to link investment in urban regeneration to support for the local environmental economy through a sustainable development led decision making approach to planning physical change

• The green roofs mosaic project will provide the important tangible capital demonstration project element of the new programme – the all important ‘photo opportunity’

Project Part-Financed by the European UnionEuropean Regional Development Fund

•credit for many images -Richard Green –Director of Eastside

•Biodiversity information Dr Rossa Donovan, University of Birmingham and those at Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust

•Green roofs information Dusty Gedge at Livingroofs.org

Eastside Sustainability Advisory Group

Sustainable Eastsidewww.sustainable-eastside.net