1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Greater Nottingham
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Sedum roof for Nottingham Trent University
Short description of the intervention
The Newton and Arkwright roof, buildings of the Nottingham Trent University campus, holds one of the region’s largest sedum roofs, which spans its way 2,500m² across the building, creating a home for 13 varieties of sedum, insects, songbirds and a new colony of honey bees, creating a trio of hives over all campuses (ref. 1). A 150m2 bank surrounding the building is unmown in order to promote biodiversity and attract pollinating insects in the summer months. Green-walled gates was also part of the implementation activities of this project. (ref. 5).
Address

Newton building
Nottingham
United Kingdom

Location
Point location, which indicates where the NBS takes place
Total area
2500.00m²
NBS area
2500.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Other
Please specify “other type of area” before implementation of the NBS
University Building
Website of the intervention
https://www4.ntu.ac.uk/sustainability/document_uploads/154534.pdf
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2009
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2009
End date of the intervention
2011
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Please specify "other" stage of the intervention
Part of the redevelopment scheme of the 1877 Arkwright and 1950 Newton Buildings for Nottingham Trent University. (Ref. 2)
The buildings were officially opened in May 2011. (Ref. 3)
Goals of the intervention
The project is part of the redevelopment of the 1877 Arkwright and 1950 Newton Buildings for the University (ref. 2) A total of 13 different varieties of sedum are being used in the roof, which extends over two separate wings of the university. The university aims to help improve air quality and absorb carbon dioxide with its green roof (ref. 4). "- increase access to green space - green courtyards, green walkways, green roofs for students, staff and visitors to have a pleasant environment (ref. 5)
Quantitative targets
The aim was to create a sedum roof to cover more than 3,000sq m. (Ref. 4) improve air quality and absorb carbon dioxide with its green roof (ref. 4); - The University has committed to: Reduce carbon emissions by 48% from 2005 baseline by 2020/21 (ref. 5)
- 150m2 bank surrounding the building is unmown in order to promote biodiversity and will be sown with wildflower seeds to attract pollinating insects in the summer months (ref. 5)
Monitoring indicators defined
sq m of roof covered with sedums; number of different varieties of sedum used on the roof; improvement of air quality, absorption of CO2 (ref 4) ; carbon emissions reduced (%) from 2005 baseline by 2020/21 (ref. 5); m2 of unmown bank surrounding the building for the attraction of pollinating insects.
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Climate change mitigation
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity conservation
Green space creation and/or management
Environmental quality
Air quality improvement
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Climate change mitigation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Sequester and store carbon
Climate change mitigation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Install vertical or horizontal artificial surfaces that help with carbon storage and cooling
Please specify "other Habitats and biodiversity conservation activity"
a colony of honey bees, complete with webcam, creating a trio of hives over all campuses (ref. 1).
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Species-focused
Ecosystem-focused
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Protect and enhance urban habitats
Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
Create new habitats
Protect species
Undertake specific measures to protect species
Undertake specific measures to protect endangered species
Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
Create and use scientific knowledge for conservation
Implementation activities
The Implementation activities were to install one of the region’s largest sedum roofs which spans its way 2,500m² across the building, creating a home for 13 varieties of sedum, insects, songbirds and a new colony of honey bees, complete with webcam, creating a trio of hives over all campuses. The roof is also home to a wild pair of Peregrine Falcons (since 2006). (Ref. 1) - 150m2 bank surrounding the building is unmown in order to promote biodiversity and will be sown with wildflower seeds to attract pollinating insects in the summer months (ref. 5) Green-walled gates (ref. 5) was also part of the implementation activities of this project.
NTU is investing significantly into its City campus site, but due to its center-city location, expansion of the site is limited. Investment has focused on the refurbishment of many of the buildings on-site, aiming to incorporate excellent sustainability features and outdoor spaces in each project. The largest projects have been the refurbishment of e.g. the Grade II* listed buildings Newton and Arkwright (ref. 5).
Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
Please specify other type of green wall
Green-walled gates (ref. 5).
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Nature on buildings (external)
Green roofs
Green walls or facades
Grey infrastructure featuring greens
Institutional green space
Other
Please specify "other urban green space connected to grey infrastructure"
a colony of honey bees, complete with webcam, creating a trio of hives over all campuses (ref. 1).
Type of Green Wall
Other
Type of Green Roof
Semi-intensive Green Roof: depth 5 - 7 inches; plants: Selected Perennials, Sedums, ornamental Grasses, Herbs and little Shrubs; Medium maintenance and costs
Vegetation Type
Grass
Other
Please specify how many trees were planted
Unknown
Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS
ornamental lawns, raised beds, green courtyards (ref. 5)
Amenities offered by the NBS
Benches and drinking water stations
Other
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Food for human consumption (crops, vegetables)
Regulating services
Air quality regulation
Carbon storage/sequestration
Pollination
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Maintenance of genetic diversity
Cultural services
Aesthetic appreciation
Inspiration for culture, art and design
Recreation
Mental and physical health and wellbeing
Please specify "other cultural service"
https://www4.ntu.ac.uk/sustainability/document_uploads/154534.pdf (recreation)
Scale
Spatial scale
Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
Researchers/University
Please specify other local relevant strategy
The University has a number of policies relevant to environmental sustainability; Environmental Policy; Biodiversity Policy; Transport Plan; Sustainable Food Policy; and Sustainable Construction and Refurbishment Policy. (Ref. 5)
Governance
Governance arrangements
Led by non-government actors
Non-government actors
Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
Private sector/Corporate/Business
Researchers, university
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
As part of the redevelopment scheme of the 1877 Arkwright and 1950 Newton Buildings for Nottingham Trent University, a public university, Hopkins Architects and the university's environmental team worked on The Arkwright and Newton buildings retrofits (Ref. 1, 2)
Key actors - initiating organization
Public sector institution
Researchers/university
Land owners
Educational actor (schools or universities)
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Public sector institution
Private sector/corporate actor/company
Researchers/university
Citizens or community group
Please specify other participatory methods
monitoring: webcam installed (ref 1)
Land owners
Educational actor (schools or universities)
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
Taskforce groups
Citizen monitoring and review
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
Unknown
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
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
The University has a number of policies relevant to environmental sustainability; Environmental Policy; Biodiversity Policy; Transport Plan; Sustainable Food Policy; and Sustainable Construction and Refurbishment Policy. (Ref. 5)
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
Other
Please specify other vegetation type
honey bees hives (ref. 1).
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
In 2012 the Environment Society was formed within the university, the society has already been actively involved in environmental events including Green Week. This society has been largely superseded by the Eco Reps programme during 2013. (Ref. 5)
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
Newton and Arkwright building are home to a pair of peregrine falcons, donations are accepted to help fund two birds of prey research projects and towards the university's project partners Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. (Ref. 6)
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Co-finance for NBS
Unknown
Co-financing governance arrangements
Unknown
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
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
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
The Nottingham Trent University invested in the redevelopment scheme of the 1877 Arkwright and 1950 Newton Buildings; i.e. a £90 million (around 100 million EUR) redevelopment scheme. (Ref. 2, 5)
Source(s) of funding
Other
Please specify other source of funding
The Nottingham Trent University (Ref. 2, 5)
Type of fund(s) used
Donations
Other
Please specify other type of fund used
The Nottingham Trent University investments. (Ref. 2, 5)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Business models
Green densification model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Citizens / local communities
Type of innovation
Technological
Product innovation
Please specify technological innovation
Creation of a sedum roof as part of a redevelopment scheme. (Ref. 1, 5) The Newton and Arkwright roof holds one of the region’s largest sedum roofs, which spans its way 2,500m² across the building (Ref 1)
Novelty level of the innovation
The innovation is completely new without connections to previous initiative(s)
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Creation of a sedum roof as part of a redevelopment scheme of the 1877 Arkwright and 1950 Newton Buildings for Nottingham Trent University. (Ref. 1, 2, 5)
Replicability/Transferability
Ambiguous (e.g. multiple interpretations)
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
“A proposal has been drafted for the installation of a new green roof for the Maudslay building, adjacent to the large sedum roof currently in place on Newton. A mixed substrate is proposed, comprising of sedum, wildflowers and potentially rubble to provide a diverse habitat. Options ranging from 300m2 - 2000m2 are being considered.” (Ref. 5)
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Climate change
Reduced emissions
Enhanced carbon sequestration
Environmental quality
Improved air quality
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
Increased number of species present
Enhanced support of pollination
Increased spread of native/heirloom/open-pollinated seed
Description of environmental benefits
- Shrub beds managed to maintain a healthy stock of plants. The edges of the beds are neatly defined by appropriate means. Beds to be weed-free and mulched annually to suppress weed growth and retain moisture content within the soil (ref. 5)
- The University has committed to: Reduce carbon emissions by 48% from 2005 baseline by 2020/21 (ref. 5) The university aimed to help improve air quality and absorb carbon dioxide with its green roof (ref. 4).
- 150m2 bank surrounding the building is unmown in order to promote biodiversity and will be sown with wildflower seeds to attract pollinating insects in the summer months (ref. 5)
- increased access to green space - green courtyards, green walkways, green roofs for students, staff and visitors to have a pleasant environment (ref. 5)
Creation of a sedum roof; it also includes a beehive. (Ref. 4)
The roof is home to a wild pair of Peregrine Falcons (since 2006). (Ref. 1, 4) The whole scheme "provides a number of opportunities for biodiversity" (this includes the sedum roof on Newton). (Ref. 4)
Economic impacts
Unknown
Description of economic benefits
Unknown
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved access to urban green space
Increased opportunities for social interaction
Description of social and cultural benefits
- The Newton and Arkwright buildings of the university were once separated but are now linked, providing a welcoming/safe environment.
- increased the quality of and access to green space
- University's Brack hall landscaping provides habitat and interesting recreation space(ref. 5)
- increased access to green space - green courtyards, green walkways, green roofs for students, staff and visitors to have a pleasant environment (ref. 5)
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
The Newton and Arkwright buildings were once separated but are now linked, providing a welcoming/safe environment. Creation of a sedum roof; it also includes a beehive. (Ref. 4) The roof is home to a wild pair of Peregrine Falcons (since 2006). (Ref. 1, 4) The whole scheme "provides a number of opportunities for biodiversity" (this includes the sedum roof on Newton). (Ref. 4)
- The Newton and Arkwright buildings of the university were once separated but are now linked, providing a welcoming/safe environment.
- increased the quality of and access to green space
- University's Brack hall landscaping provides habitat and interesting recreation space
- Byron buildings of the university provides a 5000m of social hub for students on -site, containing accommodation, gym, sports hall, café, bar and rooftop garden (social learning space)
- Benefactors Court was developed as a welcoming and open space, to be used for frequent events as well as informal socializing (ref. 5)
- Shrub beds managed to maintain a healthy stock of plants. The edges of the beds are neatly defined by appropriate means. Beds to be weed-free and mulched annually to suppress weed growth and retain moisture content within the soil (ref. 5)
- The University has committed to: Reduce carbon emissions by 48% from 2005 baseline by 2020/21 (ref. 5)
- 150m2 bank surrounding the building is unmown in order to promote biodiversity and will be sown with wildflower seeds to attract pollinating insects in the summer months (ref. 5)
- day to day grounds maintenance jobs such as mowing, weeding and planting (ref. 5)
- Student Union and student volunteers planted a number of spring bulbs in the gardens of Chaucer as part of their work towards the NUS Green Impact biodiversity Award (ref. 5)
- Student volunteers got involved with the session to produce boxes that will initially be used on the nature trail at Clifton (ref. 5)
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Climate change mitigation
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity conservation
Green space creation and/or management
Environmental quality
Air quality improvement
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Regulation of built environment
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Social cohesion
Social interaction
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Enabling opportunities for physical activity
Improving physical health
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
Employment/job creation
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
Paid employment positions
Voluntary work opportunities
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Improved access to green and/or blue spaces
Please specify other method used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
The site is surveyed every three years and the assessment updated accordingly.
Landscape Services staff carry out on-going surveys of ‘at risk’ trees
Biodiversity Index involved surveying all leaf types on-site as a proxy for assessing the biodiversity on site
(ref. 5)
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
The information about this project is updated on 18 July 2020 (COVID-19 pandemic year). Although the project implementation was not affected by the pandemic, the university campus is playing a crucial role for the safeguard of its students and staff following COVID-19 SOP's.
https://www.ntu.ac.uk/about-us/news/news-articles/2020/04/professor-nigel-wright-summarises-community-support-for-coronavirus-pandemic?SQ_VARIATION_1062540=0
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
Collection of monitoring data at specific time intervals during the project to aid evaluation
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Questionnaire surveys / online surveys
Observation (including virtual surveillance methods)
Other
Where can this data be accessed? Please include a link to a report or web-page.
https://www4.ntu.ac.uk/sustainability/document_uploads/154534.pdf
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
Yes
Link to monitoring/evaluation reports
https://www4.ntu.ac.uk/sustainability/document_uploads/154534.pdf
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
Yes
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
NTU's Environment Team has been given the EcoCampus Platinum Award for three campuses, result of e.g. setting and reviewing environmental objectives and targets PDF icon to manage our environmental impacts in relation to the University's environmental aspects and impacts register, having suitable operational practices in place to reduce NTU's environmental impacts. The EcoCampus is an Environmental Management System (EMS) and award scheme that has been specifically designed for universities. It aims to assist institutions in moving towards environmental sustainability through good operational and management practices. (Ref. 7)
Link to the output of assessments
https://www4.ntu.ac.uk/sustainability/document_uploads/154534.pdf
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Ref. 1
Ref. 2
Ref. 3
Ref. 4
Ref. 5
Ref. 6
Ref. 7
List of references
1. EAUC. (n.d.) Nottingham Trent University. Member spotlight. Eauc. Available at: https://www.eauc.org.uk/nottingham_trent_university (Accessed: 17 July 2020)
2. Hopkins Architects. (n.d.) Nottingham Trent University: Newton and Arkwright Buildings. Hopkins.co. Available at: https://www.hopkins.co.uk/projects/16/113/ (Accessed: 17 July 2020)
3. BBC News Nottingham. (2011). Nottingham Trent University buildings win RIBA award. BBC. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/13467235 (Accessed: 17 July 2020)
4. Horticulture Week. (2009). Sedum roof for Nottingham Trent University. Hortweek. Available at: https://www.hortweek.com/sedum-roof-nottingham-trent-university/landscape/article/945131 (Accessed: 17 July 2020)
5. Nottingham Trent University. (2014). Landscape Management Plan. City Site. Nottingham Trent University. Available at: https://www4.ntu.ac.uk/sustainability/document_uploads/154534.pdf (Accessed: 17 July 2020)
6. Nottingham Trent University. (n.d.). Sustainability: Wildlife and Green Spaces. Nottingham Trent University. Available at: https://www.ntu.ac.uk/about-us/sustainability/sustainability-in-action/wildlife-and-green-spaces (Accessed: 17 July 2020)
7. Nottingham Trent University. (n.d.). Sustainability: Our achievements. Nottingham Trent University. Available at: https://www.ntu.ac.uk/about-us/sustainability/our-achievements (Accessed: 17 July 2020)
Additional comments
related to the web-based monitoring tool which is the live stream from rooftop webcam, this stream cannot be found online
Comments and notes
Pictures of the NBS
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/nottingham_trent_university_sedum_roof.jpg
Public Images
sedum roof
Nottingham Trent University green roof
https://www4.ntu.ac.uk/sustainability/biodiversity/Our_campuses/city_site/index.html