Green networks for people: Application of a functional approach to support the planning and management of greenspace

Abstract

Well planned and managed greenspaces enhance urban environments, providing opportunities for people to relax and to engage with nature. However, greenspace provision has typically focussed upon meeting set targets related to proximity of residential areas and been given a low priority within economic development, after transport, housing and business. In applying proximity criteria, most planning authorities have used a uniform (Euclidean) distance buffer as this is a relatively simple procedure within a Geographic Information System. Such approaches to greenspace may limit its potential, particularly as part of a green network resource, which considers the movement of people. We describe a modelling approach to plan and manage greenspace as a functional green network. Our approach incorporates data on the type and quality of each greenspace and examines the use of greenspace and connecting routes through the perspective of two user profiles: a leisure user and a utilitarian user. These profiles are mapped to represent use based upon the existing green network resource and compared with the conventional Euclidean buffer approach. Our results suggest that conventional methods may substantially overestimate provision/accessibility to greenspace (by a factor of three for leisure greenspace). This is particularly the case when examining who has access; a concern in areas of higher social deprivation where Government initiatives attempt to address health inequalities. The green network approach can help plan and manage where improvements to greenspace quality and access can be targeted to promote regular exercise through incorporating opportunities for active travel and improving daily interaction with greenspace.