Nature Smart Cities has launched a tool to help Local Authorities make informed decisions about investment in green infrastructure projects.
For the past three years, Southend City Council has been working with city partners from the UK, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands to develop a tool that helps local authorities make informed decisions about investment in green infrastructure projects. The Nature Smart City Project is an EU Interreg 2 Seas project and as lead partner for the project, Southend has played a key role.
The Nature Smart Cities Business Model has now launched. What makes it special and different from other tools and metrics that local authorities currently use is the ability to compare different green infrastructure scenarios. Biodiversity, flood management, air quality recreation benefits and other factors all feed into the business case so that climate resilience can be maximised.
Local authority officers from the partner regions and beyond have been involved with the development of this tool from conception, through testing to validation.In total over 130 Local Authorities have evaluated the model. Southend’s Launchpad Innovation Centre at the Airport Business Park was one of seven green infrastructure pilot projects.
Southend City Council has committed to using the Business Model on future projects to make the business case building climate resilience through investment in green infrastructure.
To access the Business Model, go to the University of Antwerp's website.
More about the Nature Smart Cities project or watch the business model video.