More Than 100 Experts Meet To Explore The Options For Greener, Better Places

NERC to provide £1.15 million of funding for green infrastructure research

Today more than 100 academics, landscape professionals, scientists, business people, and representatives of local community organisations will gather in London to hear about £1.15 million of funding that aims to encourage innovation in 'green infrastructure' – the networks of parks, green spaces, street trees, rivers and gardens that make our towns and cities good places to live.

The funding for 'Green Infrastructure Innovation' is being provided by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). NERC is inviting academic researchers and non-academic practitioners to jointly submit bids that will address the issues and opportunities around green infrastructure in the planning and investment decisions that are made by local policymakers, local planners and organisations responsible for developing the built environment such as construction companies, house builders, and developers.

The event today in London has been organised by NERC in collaboration with the Green Infrastructure Partnership, a network of more than 700 people and organisations across the UK that are interested in promoting the value of green infrastructure, which is managed by the TCPA.

Lynne Porter, Knowledge and Innovation Manager at NERC said:

'The vision of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is to place environmental science at the heart of responsible management of our planet. We have been delighted by the high level of interest shown in our Green Infrastructure funding call, particularly from organisations who have never had contact with the NERC before. It gives us confidence that we can look forward to receiving proposals that will generate long term outcomes for the benefit of society and the economy.'

Julia Thrift, Head of Projects and Events at the TCPA, said:

'There is increasing interest in the ability of green infrastructure to provide multiple benefits to society. We are delighted that the Green Infrastructure Partnership has been able to help NERC bring together so many experts to hear about the new funding. We look forward to hearing about the results of the projects that will be funded by NERC.'

The event, the NERC Green Infrastructure Innovation Projects Networking Seminar, is taking place at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. The keynote speaker will be Professor John Handley OBE, of the University of Manchester, who will speak about 'The importance of green infrastructure in the UK'.

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Contacts:

Nneka Opara, Communications Officer TCPA

Tel: 020 7930 8903

Email: Nneka.Opara@tcpa.org.uk

Twitter: @theTCPA

Notes to Editors

1. The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) is an independent campaigning charity calling for more integrated planning based on the principles of accessibility, sustainability, diversity, and community cohesion. The TCPA puts social justice and the environment at the heart of the debate about planning policy, housing and energy supply. We inspire government, industry and campaigners to take a fresh perspective on major issues including climate change and regeneration

www.tcpa.org.uk

2. The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is the leading funder of independent research, training and innovation in environmental science in the UK. It invests public money in world-leading science, designed to help us sustain and benefit from our natural resources, predict and respond to natural hazards and understand environmental change. NERC works closely with policymakers and industry to make sure its knowledge can support sustainable economic growth and wellbeing in the UK and around the world. It is supported mainly by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS), but its activities and funding decisions are independent of government.

www.nerc.ac.uk

3. The Green Infrastructure Partnership is a network of more than 700 people and organisations that support the creation and promotion of green infrastructure in the UK, with a strategic focus on influencing key decision-makers. The partnership was set up by Defra, but has been managed by the TCPA since 2014.

www.gip-uk.org