A new report sets out  a clearer case for investment in multi-functional green space or Green Infrastructure (GI) by considering its contribution to economic growth. The authors based their conclusions after reviewing a range of UK and international  case studies. These include the canal-side redevelopment in Birmingham City Center,  the Green Renewal Programme in Glasgow and the development of the Merseyside Forest in the UK.  Other projects include the High Line Linear Park, the highly successful development of the a former overhead railway line in New York, the Philadelphia Land Care Programme in Pennsylvania which focused on greening neglected land. Another case study was the Cheonggyecheon Stream Restoration Project in Seoul, South Korea which removed a congested overhead roadway and restored the river that had been directed into an underground culvert. The case studies were investigated in relationship to six characteristics or ‘logic chains’ which considered the impact of GI on; inward financial investment to the area; on visitor attraction and spending; on environmental cost savings; health benefits; market sales and finally on employment generation. The report concludes that GI has positive impacts on all six of the characteristics considered.

The report highlights the difficulty in identifying if economic activity could be regarded as new economic activity or merely displaced from another location. While displaced activity  may be attractive for local regional investment only new activity can be considered as adding to a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Nonetheless the study was able to point to significant cases of new investment, particularity where the developments attracted either international tourism or business investment and relocation. The High Line Linear Park for example has had as significant impact on inward investment in this area of New York, massively influencing adjacent property prices and helping drive regeneration of the surrounding area. It has also become a significant tourist destination and as a consequence significantly raised the tourist spend in the local area.

The river restoration project in Seoul is demonstrably helping provide environmental benefits, in particular reducing flood risk, improving air quality and reducing local temperatures. In a very densely built city it is also creating a relative haven of calm which is fostering reduced stress while also reducing local heat island effects; both of which bring consequent health benefits. These projects demonstrate limited impact on market sales but the report does point to the growing interest in locally produced food which could be achieved in other GI initiatives. These sort of developments could bring a range of benefits, such as reduced emissions and local organic waste recycling, though not necessarily making significant contributions to GDP. All the projects have had significant impacts on employment generation and the report highlights that within England UK up to 5% of jobs could be support by the GI sector. The economic value of GI is also being increasingly recognized with the report noting that some 95% of real estate developers across Europe believing that GI adds value to commercial property so that on average being prepared to pay a premium of at least 3% and up to 15-20% for land close to multi-functional green space.

The report, Green Infrastucture’s Contribution to Economic Growth, was commissioned by Defra and Natural England and conducted by Eftec and Sheffield Hallam University.