Liverpool plans green future
Liverpool City Council has commissioned an audit of the city's green infrastructure to develop a planning policy putting the environment at its heart.
The audit was carried out by the Mersey Forest team, who produced a report comprehensively auditing all of the city's green spaces, including coastal habitat, gardens, water courses, woodland and derelict land.
Managing a green infrastructure can have benefits such as reducing air pollution, mitigating the effects of climate change and promoting biodiversity.
The report findings valued the city's green assets at £8 billion. While 62% of Liverpool's land and open water is currently green, it is unevenly distributed across the city, with 80% concentrated in just 22% of the city.
The strategy has recommended that the city adopts an approach known as green infrastructure planning.
Priorities include, sustainable regeneration and housing development; adapting to climate change; and promoting green areas and biodiversity to promote better physical and mental health.
Improvements put forward are more green roofs, a sustainable urban drainage system and developing greener transport.
Liverpool's Green Infrastructure Strategy can be viewed here. Alison Brown