Case studies of blue-green infrastructure in spatial planning

This chapter presents an in-depth exploration of three case studies involving the
use and application of blue-green infrastructure (BGI) in the English and Scottish
planning systems. Each case study reflects a different scale of project and different
stages in the policy and planning cycles. The case studies feature a local plan
development in the South Downs National Park, an integrated landscape-scale
blue infrastructure masterplan project in Glasgow and a highway city-centre
improvement plan in Sheffield. Each case study demystifies the role and benefits
of BGI through a critical discussion identifying the common ingredients of good
BGI. Some of these ingredients include inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration
and engagement championing co-design and coproduction; strong and effective
leadership within cross-sector partnerships with an appetite for innovation and risktaking.
The results demonstrate the need for improved processes of engagement
with relevant delivery partners from the outset, accounting for varying needs and
priorities. While barriers identified include the need to better embed BGI in the
business case and to move away from seeing BGI maintenance as a liability, overall
the case studies challenge conventional wisdom that environment planning is a
development constraint; instead, it is seen as an appreciating multifunctional asset,
supporting regeneration and development.