Natural England - Region to Build on Success of the Northwest Natural Economy

Region to Build on Success of the Northwest Natural Economy

10 December 2009

Felicity Goodey CBE chaired an event recently to celebrate the achievements of Natural Economy Northwest - a unique regional partnership programme led and funded by Natural England, the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and the SITA Trust.

(L-R) Peter Allen MBE, Robert Hough, Felicity Goodey CBE, Dr Will Williams, Pam Warhurst CBE, Prof John Handley OBE, Marek Gordon

This gathering of regional stakeholders agreed the importance of the work and the need to encourage businesses to invest in the natural environment, to maximise regional economic benefit and underpin the continued economic recovery. The environmental economy contributes to the region’s economic prosperity through 109,000 jobs and £2.6billion Gross Value Added.

In 2007 Natural England and the NWDA established Natural Economy Northwest (NENW). NENW joined forces with environmental funder SITA Trust, which committed £2m over 4 years towards biodiversity projects in the Northwest.

NENW worked with these projects to demonstrate the extra value, both economic and social, that this biodiversity funding brought to the region.

The NENW programme’s work, in delivering priority action under the Regional Economic Strategy, has made a major impact in working with regional partners in:

  • Providing a robust evidence base for the economic benefits.

  • Influencing organisational strategies and projects throughout the public and voluntary sectors to promote the natural economy.

  • Raising awareness of the value of green infrastructure at all levels.

  • Working with the region’s five tourist boards and tourism businesses to promote natural tourism.

  • Emphasising the roles of green infrastructure and natural tourism in the way the region adapts to climate change.

  • Increasing awareness of the benefits for businesses.

An example of the NENW programme in action is ‘The Public Realm Strategy’ for the Liverpool Knowledge Quarter. This shows how, in the heart of a great city, an economically orientated regeneration project has been assessed for the degree to which it is using green infrastructure (GI) as part of its planning and design.

The NENW partners have been successful in making the project developers reassess their plans, so that they can derive many more benefits than they otherwise would have. The partners have suggested a range of practical green infrastructure actions and interventions, which it is hoped will have a significant impact on the city. In particular, focusing on the importance of urban cooling and the urban heat island effect, with summertime temperatures expected to reach 40oC by 2080.

Felicity Goodey CBE said, “We are here to celebrate a remarkable piece of work but also, how we can build on what we have learnt.” "This work has not only shown the vital link between nature and economic benefit and Quality of Place and Life, but also how to deliver the benefits.” Pam Warhurst, Board Member, Natural England.

According to Robert Hough, Chairman, NWDA, “It is essential that we mainstream this work to ensure that our economic recovery is sustainable.” Marek Goron, Chairman, SITA Trust said, “This is a new language, a new approach and has shown that the SITA Trust biodiversity projects are also delivering local economic and community benefits.”

-Ends-

For Further Information visit: http://www.naturaleconomynorthwest.co.uk

Alexa Prescott, Natural England Communications 07919 165142

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