Agenda item

The Director of Open Spaces to be heard.

The Director of Open Spaces gave a presentation on a forthcoming research report authored by the Economic Development Office and the Public Relations Office on the value of Green Spaces to London and Londoners. The report is currently in draft form and will be finalised and circulated within the next few weeks.

The report examines the benefits of Green Spaces to London and across four themes: environmental, well-being, social and economic. Green Spaces help reduce heat retention in cities by c. 1-1.5 degrees Celsius, reduce the risk of flooding and also promote better air quality. Access to Green Spaces can also improve physical and mental well-being, with access to Green Spaces helping to combat obesity and improve cardiovascular health. Evidence from East London suggests that they can help reduce health inequalities. Social benefits include better cognitive skills among children with easy access to Green Space.

The economic benefits of Green Spaces include savings around dealing with the impact of flooding and the reduction of pollution. Areas in close proximity to Green Space tend to have better land and property values, and there is evidence that 70% of tourists take into account Green Space when choosing their holiday destination.

The Director noted that it was difficult to assess the particular environmental benefits arising from the range of diversity in Green Spaces, and that there was limited research on economic comparisons between cities. She concluded by saying that the report confirmed the preconceptions of the Directorate of Open Spaces, particularly those around environmental benefits. The Director finished by drawing attention to two pieces of research of particular interest in the report bibliography, a report of the European Centre of Environment and Human Health entitled Would you be happier living in a greener urban area? and the International Federation of Park and Recreation Administration Report, The Benefits of Urban Parks: a systematic review.

In response to a question from the Chairman, the Director of Open Spaces said that the report would help to inform decision making when allocating resources to Open Spaces in London. She noted that the Greater London Authority had recently published a Green Infrastructure Report that identified northwest and southeast London as areas in strategic need of more Open Spaces.

In response to a Committee Observer, the Chairman confirmed that the Committee would have a further opportunity to discuss the report.

In response to comments from a Member, the Chairman noted that the report was originally envisaged as being under the aegis of the Policy and Resources Committee only, but that had now changed and he, the Chairman of Open Spaces and City Gardens, was now a co-signatory, a welcome sign of the importance of the work of this Committee.

In response to comments from a Member the Director of Open Spaces said that the reason the Committee had not seen the report at an earlier draft stage was due in part to the Policy and Resources Committee’s approach to preparing reports. She will ensure that the report goes to the Health and Wellbeing Board for consideration.