Chapter 16: 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 risk-taking. 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.