1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Cardiff
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Greener Grangetown scheme
Short description of the intervention
Grangetown is the site for a flagship environmental programme to tackle flood risk and water waste (ref 5). This scheme catches, cleans and diverts rainwater directly into the River Taff instead of pumping it over 8 kilometres to the sea. It will make Grangetown a greener, cleaner place and enhance local biodiversity (ref 2). Every year more than 40,000m³ of rainwater is diverted from entering the combined sewer network (ref 1). Interventions include planters, swales, bio-retention ponds, permeable paving and curb drainage, making use of the existing streetscape. 108 rain gardens have been created, and 130 trees have been planted; the area has been deemed the 1st "bicycle street" in Wales (ref 8). Wider benefits include education, health, well-being (ref 1).
Address

Grangetown Ward
Cardiff
CF11 8Ag
United Kingdom

Area boundary
POINT (-3.1535 51.44271)
POINT (-3.20277 51.45865)
POINT (-3.21152 51.48186)
POINT (-3.17324 51.46689)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
GoogleMaps (Geo-referenced).
Total area
7250000.00m²
NBS area
7250000.00m²
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2013
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2016
End date of the intervention
2018
Present stage of the intervention
Please specify "other" stage of the intervention
The Greener Grangetown project will be delivered in two initial phases. The design for Phase 1 has started (ref 6)
Goals of the intervention
1. The main goal is to make Greener Grangetown an exemplar scheme for water sensitive sustainable drainage (ref 3)
2. To explore the feasibility of managing surface water in Grangetown with the aim of minimizing the amount of water entering the surface water system and using it.
4.To understand the practicality and implications of retrofitting Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS)/green infrastructure
5. To integrate the chosen measures into the public space to enhance the overall outdoor experience.
6. To encourage water efficiency and behavioural change towards water usage and address issues associated with climate change.
7. To tackle flood risk and water waste. (ref 5)
8. Enhance local biodiversity and wildlife. (ref 2)
9. Remove a certain extent of impermeable area (ref 3)
10. To identify, reduce and manage environmental risks. (ref 3)
11. Better health through easier access to recreational opportunities (ref 3)
12. Improved air & water quality (ref 3)

Quantitative targets
1. Removing 155,000sqm of impermeable area
2. Releasing capacity for 6000-12,000 new homes
3. 16,500sqm increase in green space
4. 400 additional trees
(ref 3)
5. bicycle street was designed along 555m of the Taff Trail (Ref 11)
Monitoring indicators defined
1. sqm of impermeable area removed
2. sqm increase in green space
3. No. of additional trees planted
4. capacity (in numbers) for new homes
(Ref 3)
5. m of the Taff Trail designed for bicycles (Ref 11)
Climate change adaptation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Please specify other climate change adaptation goal

Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Please specify "other Habitats and biodiversity restoration activity"

What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Implementation activities
- Removal of 42,000m2 of impermeable area
- Realize annual monetary benefits of £381,760 (ref 8)
- 1,700m2 of new green space developed
- Improvements in air quality
- Reduction in noise from traffic
- 555m long bicycle street contributing to the UK National Cycle Network Route 8 and the Taff Trail Active Travel route (ref 8)
- Renovate 100+ year old utilities (ref 8)
- 108 rain gardens established, using native grasses and shrubs (ref 8)
- 127 trees planted (ref 8)
- Habitat creation and increase in biodiversity
- Improved urban environment
(ref 4)
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Grey infrastructure featuring greens
Alley or street trees and other street vegetation
Parks and urban forests
Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Blue infrastructure
Lakes/ponds
Green areas for water management
Rain gardens
Swales and filter strips
Sustainable urban drainage systems
Other
Please specify "other urban green space connected to grey infrastructure"
Please specify "other green areas for water management"
Permeable paving and curb drainage (ref 1) through rain gardens, tree planting (ref 11).
Please specify the number of plots or allotment gardens
108 rain gardens established (ref 8)
What is the level of innovation / development of the NBS related to water management?
Vegetation Type
Please specify how many trees were planted
127 (ref 8)
Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS
Estimation Tool (B£ST). It considered a variety of aspects including; health, recreation, air quality improvements, carbon sequestration, amenity enhancements. This assessment arrived at an estimated benefit of over £8.4 million over a 30 year period from 2015 to 2045 (ref 12).
A key example of how amenity was considered in the design is the new cycling provisions. A bicycle street was designed along 555m of the Taff Trail, a concept previously used on precedent projects in the Netherlands. A 900 millimetre central rumble strip separates a two-way system with a maximum of 2 metres per lane. The strip makes drivers wary of the lack of space and thus slow down making the stretch much safer for all (ref 11). The project covers Aber St, Abercynon St, Bargoed St, Blaenclydach St, Coedcae St, Clydach St, Cymmer St, Ferndale St, Llanbradach St, Taff Embankment, Taff Terrace and Ystrad St. (ref 1) engaging people from a myriad backgrounds.
Amenities offered by the NBS
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Water (surface and ground water for drinking and non-drinking purposes)
Regulating services
Air quality regulation
Noise reduction
Flood regulation
Water purification / filtration
Mediation of smell / noise / visual impacts
Other
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Maintenance of genetic diversity
Cultural services
Recreation
Mental and physical health and wellbeing
Other
Please specify "other regulating service"
Enhanced water efficiency (ref 5); To identify, reduce and manage environmental risks. (ref 3)
Please specify "other cultural service"
Releasing capacity for 6000-12,000 new homes (Ref 3) ; To encourage water efficiency and behavioural change towards water usage and address issues associated with climate change. (Ref 5)
Scale
Spatial scale
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Please specify "other primary beneficiary"
bicyclists (Ref 8)
Please specify other local relevant strategy
The Cardiff Local Development Plan Masterplanning Framework also discusses connecting the bicycle networks within the neighborhood with the larger city (ref 9).
Governance
Non-government actors
Private sector/Corporate/Business
Other
Please specify other non-government actors involved
ARUP (designers)
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
Working in conjunction with the EU funded WISDOM project and is A CEEQUAL assessed project (Ref 4). Greener Grangetown initiative was the result of a co-operative effort between Cardiff City Council, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, Natural Resources Wales, ERH Communications & Civil Engineering, and GreenBlue Urban.
1. Cardiff Council is the Local Authority - Lead Local Flood Authority (ref 4)
2. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water: Sewerage undertaker, RainScape and Risk Management Authority (ref 4)
3. Natural Resources Wales is the Environmental regulator and consenting authority (ref 4)
4. ARUP served as designers (ref 2)
5. ERH Communications & Civil Engineering served as the primary contractors (ref 12)
6. GreenBlue Urban served as the tree root cell system supplier (ref 12)
7. Gerald Davies Landscape and Maintenance Services provided landscaping (ref 12)
8. Faithful and Gould - EEC provided project management (ref 12)
Key actors - initiating organization
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
EU body
Regional government
Local government/municipality
Private sector/corporate actor/company
Citizens or community group
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
To develop the One Plant Cardiff vision (ref 3)
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
One Plant Cardiff vision - City vision for a sustainable One Planet Cardiff focuses on the key impact areas of energy, waste, transport, food, water, place and people mentions delivery plans for Greener Grangetown (ref 3). Further, - The Cardiff Biodiversity and Resilience of Ecosystems Duty Forward Plan has been updated in September of 2019. Included within this plan is the City of Cardiff Council Green Infrastructure Plan (Ref 9). The Cardiff Local Development Plan Masterplanning Framework also discusses connecting the bicycle networks within the neighborhood with the larger city (ref 9).
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify the general plan with GI/NBS section
Within the City's Nature Recovery Action Plan, Nature-based solutions are listed both as a means of monitoring and program implementation (Ref 9). One Plant Cardiff vision - City vision for a sustainable One Planet Cardiff focuses on the key impact areas of energy, waste, transport, food, water, place and people mentions delivery plans for Greener Grangetown (ref 3). Further, - The Cardiff Biodiversity and Resilience of Ecosystems Duty Forward Plan has been updated in September of 2019. Included within this plan is the City of Cardiff Council Green Infrastructure Plan (Ref 9).
Please specify other vegetation type
- 108 rain gardens established (ref 8)
- 1,700m2 of new green space developed (ref 8)
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
1. Cardiff University's Flagship Engagement Project Community Gateway: to measure outcomes in Grangetown residents (ref 7)
2. Working in conjunction with the EU funded WISDOM project (ref 4)

Rainfall assessment conducted by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and community health and wellbeing benefits conducted by Cardiff University School of Medicine (to be published in 2020) (ref 12).
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Co-finance for NBS
Yes
Co-financing governance arrangements
Unknown
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Financing
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
2,782,489 EUR (ref 6)
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
unknown
Please specify cost savings
An annual benefit of 424,862 Euro, including water management, ecosystem services, health, and well-being have been calculated (ref 8)
Please specify total cost (EUR)
£2 million (EUR 2,206,871) (ref 6) Welsh Water has committed £1 million (EUR 1 103 410), Council provided capital sum of £750,000 (EUR 827 557) and Natural Resources Wales has allocated £50,000 (EUR 55 173) (ref 6)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Business models
Please specify technological innovation
An example of water sensitive sustainable drainage technology scheme where proposed interventions include planters, swales, bio-retention ponds, permeable paving and kerb drainage, making use of the existing streetscape. (ref 1)
Please specify social innovation
encourage water efficiency and behavioural change towards water usage and address issues associated with climate change.(ref 5)
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
The project takes inspiration from sustainable city developments such as Malmö in Sweden, where a similar system is currently in place. (ref 5)
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
It is a flagship project to showcase these kinds of technologies and a scheme which could be used across the world (Ref 5)
Impacts, benefits
Please specify other economic impact
The utilities within the streets were renovated, which were over 100 years old (Ref 12)

expected impact: 2. Releasing capacity for 6000-12,000 new homes (Ref 3)
Description of environmental benefits
42,000m2 of surface water was removed from the wastewater network, creating both immediate (i.e. flooding) concerns, as well as down-stream issues in the wastewater treatment and ocean discharge (ref 4). Also, 1,600m2 of additional green space was created, which creates new habitats that results in greater pollination, increased biodiversity, reduce noise pollution and improved air quality (ref 2). Enhanced carbon sequestration is aided by the planting of trees and rainbeds as well (ref 2).

Estimation Tool (B£ST). It considered a variety of aspects including; health, recreation, air quality improvements, carbon sequestration, amenity enhancements. This assessment arrived at an estimated benefit of over £8.4 million over a 30 year period from 2015 to 2045 (ref 12).

Ref 8:
- Removal of 42,000m2 of impermeable area
- Improvements in air quality
- Reduction in noise from traffic
- 108 rain gardens established (ref 8)
- 127 trees planted (ref 8)
- Habitat creation and increase in biodiversity (Ref 4)
- Improved urban environment(ref 4)



Please specify other socio-cultural impact
new cycling provisions: Cyclists and pedestrians’ benefit, users of the community center and local mosque have aesthetic, vibrant streets to call their own (ref 5). A bicycle street was designed along 555m of the Taff Trail, a concept previously used on precedent projects in the Netherlands. A 900 millimetre central rumble strip separates a two-way system with a maximum of 2 metres per lane. The strip makes drivers wary of the lack of space and thus slow down making the stretch much safer for all (ref 11). The project covers Aber St, Abercynon St, Bargoed St, Blaenclydach St, Coedcae St, Clydach St, Cymmer St, Ferndale St, Llanbradach St, Taff Embankment, Taff Terrace and Ystrad St. (ref 1)
- 555m long bicycle street contributing to the UK National Cycle Network Route 8 and the Taff Trail Active Travel route (ref 8)
Description of economic benefits
The utilities within the streets were renovated, which were over 100 years old; this, combined with the beautification of streets and bike-ability may indirectly increase property value while reducing costs (ref 12). Cost savings are also projected to be 424,862 Euro (ref 12) through water management, ecosystem services, health and wellbeing. In September 2019 an assessment of the wider benefits of the Greener Grangetown project was undertaken, this was performed using a selection of available tools, including CIRIA’s Benefit.
Estimation Tool (B£ST). It considered a variety of aspects including; health, recreation, air quality improvements, carbon sequestration, amenity enhancements. This assessment arrived at an estimated benefit of over £8.4 million over a 30 year period from 2015 to 2045 (ref 12).
- Realize annual monetary benefits of £381,760 (ref 8)

expected impact: 2. Releasing capacity for 6000-12,000 new homes (Ref 3)


Description of social and cultural benefits
Direct and consistent public consultations in the design of the green-spaces aided in educating the public; transformations of neighborhoods (ref 2). Cyclists and pedestrians’ benefit, users of the community center and local mosque have aesthetic, vibrant streets to call their own (ref 5). A key example of how amenity was considered in the design is the new cycling provisions. A bicycle street was designed along 555m of the Taff Trail, a concept previously used on precedent projects in the Netherlands. A 900 millimetre central rumble strip separates a two-way system with a maximum of 2 metres per lane. The strip makes drivers wary of the lack of space and thus slow down making the stretch much safer for all (ref 11). The project covers Aber St, Abercynon St, Bargoed St, Blaenclydach St, Coedcae St, Clydach St, Cymmer St, Ferndale St, Llanbradach St, Taff Embankment, Taff Terrace and Ystrad St. (ref 1) engaging people from myriad backgrounds.

Estimation Tool (B£ST). It considered a variety of aspects including; health, recreation, air quality improvements, carbon sequestration, amenity enhancements. This assessment arrived at an estimated benefit of over £8.4 million over a 30 year period from 2015 to 2045 (ref 12).
- 555m long bicycle street contributing to the UK National Cycle Network Route 8 and the Taff Trail Active Travel route (ref 8)
Type of reported impacts
Indicators
at current stage, 42,000m2 of impermeable area sqm has been removed (ref 4)
• Increase in green space and additional trees planted (ref 4)
• Improved air quality (ref 4)
• Habitat creation and increase in biodiversity (ref 4)
• Improved urban environment (ref 4)

1,600m2 of additional green space was created, which creates new habitats that results in greater pollination, increased biodiversity, reduce noise pollution and improved air quality. (ref 2)
- 555m long bicycle street contributing to the UK National Cycle Network Route 8 and the Taff Trail Active Travel route (ref 8)
- Removal of 42,000m2 of impermeable area (ref 2)
- Realize annual monetary benefits of £381,760 (ref 8)
- 1,700m2 of new green space developed
- Improvements in air quality (ref 2)
- Reduction in noise from traffic (Ref 8)
- Renovate 100+ year old utilities (ref 8)
- 108 rain gardens established (ref 8)
- 127 trees planted (ref 8)

expected impact: 2. Releasing capacity for 6000-12,000 new homes (Ref 3)


Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
Please specify other method used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Consultations were conducted with the public (ref 2), and baseline surveys and information was collected and disseminated by ARUP (ref 1)
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
Yes
Please specify the negative impacts
The project faced challenges completing the central strip of the bicycle street on time while retaining a live highway and cycleway. To overcome this a coloured, imprintable thermoplastic surfacing was used instead of traditional stone or tar-mac, which avoided several weeks of disruption (ref 8).
COVID-19 pandemic
Unknown as of July 10, 2020.
Methods of impact monitoring
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Rainfall assessment conducted by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and community health and wellbeing benefits conducted by Cardiff University School of Medicine (to be published in 2020) (ref 12).

Estimation Tool (B£ST). It considered a variety of aspects including; health, recreation, air quality improvements, carbon sequestration, amenity enhancements. This assessment arrived at an estimated benefit of over £8.4 million over a 30 year period from 2015 to 2045 (ref 12).

Working in conjunction with the EU funded WISDOM project and is A CEEQUAL assessed project (Ref 4)
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Yes
Mode(s) of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
Please specify other modes of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
online, in-person and phone consultations (ref 2)
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Yes
Please specify
Based on the successes, the identified "lessons to be learned" included (ref 12):
1. The project can be delivered anywhere
2. Materials can be replicated and added to other urban spaces.
3. Early client, contractor and design involvement are critical.
4. Community engagement is critical for retrofit projects.
References
Documents relevant to the intervention
Attachment Size
cardiff_greener_grangetown.pdf (2.57 MB) 2.57 MB
greener_grangetown_case_study_lightv2.pdf (2.02 MB) 2.02 MB
List of references
1. ARUP. (2013). Design with water. [Website not available in 2020]
2. Greener Grange Town project team. (2017). Natural Resources Wales. [Available at: https://greenergrangetown.wordpress.com/about/]. [Accessed on Jul 9 2020].
3. Titherington, I. (2013). A Partnership Approach to (W.S.) Sustainable Drainage. Susdrain. [Available at: http://www.susdrain.org/files/resources/Presentations/ian_titherington_sustainable_water_management_in_cardiff_e13501.pdf]. [Accessed on Jul 9 2020]
4. Titherington, I. (2017). Delivering SUDS in Cardiff. [Available at: http://www.susdrain.org/files/resources/Presentations/ian_titherington_170214.pdf]. [Accessed on Jul 9 2020].
5. Cresci, E. 2013. Greener Grangetown scheme launches to tackle city flood risk. Your Cardiff. [Website not available in 2020].
6. Cardiff Council Report. (2014). Greener Grangetown Delivery Plans. [Available at: https://cardiff.moderngov.co.uk/Data/Environmental%20Scrutiny%20Committee/20140408/Agenda/Item%204%20(2.69M).pdf]. [Accessed on Jul 9 2020].
7. Cardiff University. (2016). 'Greener Grangetown' research study underway. [Available at: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/news/view/221759-greener-grangetown-research-study-underway]. [Accessed on Jul 9 2020].
8. Green Cities. (2019). Greenger Grangetown. [Available at: https://uk.thegreencity.eu/best_practices/greener-grangetown/]. [Accessed on Jul 9 2020].
9. Cardiff Caerdydd. (2019). Cardiff Biodiversity and Resilience of Ecosystems Duty Forward Plan: City of Cardiff Council Green Infrastructure Plan. Cardiff: City of Cardiff. [Available at: https://cardiff.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s34305/Cabinet%2026%20Sept%202019%20Biodiversity%20BRED%20App.pdf]. [Accessed on: Jul 9 2020].
10. Cardiff Caerdydd. (2013). Cardiff Local Development Plan Masterplanning Framework. [Available at: https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/resident/Planning/Local-Development-Plan/Documents/Masterplanning%20Framework.pdf]. [Accessed on: Jul 9 2020].
11. GreenBlue Urban. (No date). Greener Grangetown. [Available at: https://www.greenblue.com/na/case-study/greener-grangetown/]. [Accessed on: Jul 9 2020].
12. Susdrain. (No date). Greener Grangetown, Cardiff. [Available at: https://www.susdrain.org/case-studies/pdfs/greener_grangetown_case_study_lightv2.pdf ]. [Accessed on: Jul 9 2020]