Turning Scotland ‘green’

The south Pennines Watershed Landscape project

Central Scotland is developing a ‘green’ consciousness for sustainable social and economic development. New Start spoke with head of development at the Central Scotland Green Network, and co-author of ‘Growing Awareness’, Sue Evans

What is the Central Scotland Green Network?

The CSGN aims to restore and transform the landscape of central Scotland. Its vision is set out in Scottish government’s national planning framework and its aim is that, by 2050, central Scotland has “been transformed into a place where the environment adds value to the economy and where people’s lives are enriched by its quality”. The initiative covers central Scotland, an area of 10,000km2, 19 local authorities and a population of 3.6m, almost two-thirds of Scotland’s population. The network stems from efforts by the previous government and from the 1970s around land renewal. Scotland is a typically post-industrial place, with a history of steel works and shipping and the extraction of iron ore and coal. What we want to do is to deal with the legacy of land that has been well-used in the past and the social issues related with the regeneration of areas over time. The CGSN was set up to provide capacity to help green initiatives go forward, but the drive will come from local authorities and businesses as well as agencies like the Forestry Commission.

You have recently published a book called ‘Growing Awareness: How green consciousness can change perceptions and places’. Where did the idea for the book come from?

Each year since 2011 we have held a one-day conference at which we’ve heard from fantastic speakers talking about their projects and the possibilities for ‘greening’ places. As we now have five year’s worth of material we thought it would be good to write a book to celebrate that learning and disseminate it to others. The book features the lessons from a range of ‘green’ regeneration projects, from the High Line in New York to the south Pennines Watershed Landscape project.

How far is green infrastructure becoming a fundamental part of planning and design?

As part of the national planning framework in Scotland it is now a requirement for local authorities to incorporate green infrastructure into their plans. So now you see it raised in local development and policies. There has been a lot of work by the third sector organisations like Sustrans on active travel and a new national cycling and walking strategy, and supportive policy from major local authorities seeking to get funding for green infrastructure projects. Glasgow Council has a nature regeneration project at Sighthill, one of its Transformational Regeneration Areas in the north of the city and the council is also working with Scottish Canals. There’s been a CSGN development fund since 2011 to kickstart projects and pay for feasibility studies and other support. The fund was a catalyst to get things off the ground and now we are seeing the delivery of some of those projects.

The High Line in New York. Photo: Brian Evans

Is the fact that ‘green’ projects can boost local economies important?

It strengthens the arguments. We can talk to colleagues across government on active travel plans and derelict land and engage with NHS Scotland. We want to get to the position where green infrastructure is seen for what it can deliver, as much, if not better than, ‘grey’ infrastructure. As professor Brian Evans, co-author of the book, said, green infrastructure needs to move beyond being ‘bridesmaid activity’ to being absolutely mainstream.

What are the social impacts of green planning?

The article in the book by Sir Harry Burns is important. He was the chief medical officer for Scotland. GPs are now prescribing fresh air and that recognition that the outdoors and a good quality environment is important to physical and mental wellbeing is great to see being mainstreamed. If you live in a place with a bad environment you don’t want to go outside. What’s important in deprived places is that the environment is safe and clean and well looked after. The health statistics for Scotland are bad but only started getting bad in the 70s. If we deal with some fundamental issues about people not being in control of their lives and becoming more self-determining, growing their own food etc, we should see those statistics change. The Forestry Commission has got some good projects involving people in local decisions around urban woodlands. Not only is the environment improved but local people are also engaged.

What are the key lessons coming through in the book?

Clarity of vision is important, not a masterplan, but a strong vision. The most successful projects are those that are rooted in place and appropriate to that place. Projects need a dedicated culture and a long corporate memory to ensure that investment remains and to allow people to see the change. It’s about how organisations work and how they forge partnerships. One of the projects narrated in the book is the Emscher Landscape Park in the Ruhr region of Germany. It’s a great example of over fifty cities working together in partnership and cooperating to make the vision reality.

• The book ‘Growing Awareness – How green consciousness can change perceptions and places’ is available here.