1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Liège
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Le schéma d’aménagement des bords de Vesdre
Short description of the intervention
The Vesdre River Greenway plan was intended to give the town of Verviers the opportunity to reconnect the local residents and businesses with the river and to create new functions, such as recreational and economic activities, around the river Vesdre. The development of the plan was part of a research project called VALUE, Valuing Attractive Landscapes in the Urban Economy, which was funded through the European Union Interreg IVB programme for North West Europe. It aimed to demonstrate the economic value of Green Investment (GI) at the site scale, showing how to target investments to maximise the competitive benefits to communities. "To serve this purpose, the Economic Development Agency of the Province of Liege in collaboration with the University of Liege planned developing a cycle and pedestrian path in the Pré-Javais District, near the city centre, on the left side of the Vesdre River in Verviers, linking the centre of Verviers to the suburbs" (Ref. 5). The green and blue infrastructure was planned to allow the creation of a true link between natural wildlife, inhabitants and businesses, and will offer a new development strategy for the whole town (Ref. 3).
Address

Rue des Grandes Rames 19
4800 Verviers
Belgium

Area boundary
POINT (5.8907299317148 50.603681712918)
POINT (5.8446486547363 50.593416971444)
POINT (5.8349493836297 50.578541590836)
POINT (5.8355245356189 50.578268009904)
POINT (5.8454818964401 50.592831843018)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
Ref. 4. Coordinates offer a very rough approximation of extent of Vesdre river.
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2008
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2011
End date of the intervention
unknown
Present stage of the intervention
Please specify "other" stage of the intervention


Goals of the intervention
Verviers’ VALUE investment focused on linking deprived economic areas in the eastern part of the city with the city centre, by improving the landscape quality of the River Vesdre’s banks. The project included the construction of a continuous and secure green path (foot/cycle path) along the river and incorporates the visions of local stakeholders through collaborative planning approaches. In addition to the general enhancement of the River Vesdre’s landscape the VALUE investment aims to improve the accessibility of Verviers’ blue/green network along the River Vesdre. (Ref. 2).
"In addition to the general enhancement of the landscape quality of the River Vesdre, the investment had several aims. On the one hand, it will increase the accessibility of Verviers’ blue/green network, more particularly the accessibility of the river Vesdre, which is historically hidden behind the backyards or blind walls of houses. It will also increase the accessibility of the Marie Henriette park. On the other hand, the investment will link the residential city-centre with commercial/industrial areas which are located in the eastern part of the city" (Ref. 4).
Quantitative targets
Unknown

Monitoring indicators defined
Unknown
Implementation activities
The masterplan was planned to be implemented section-by-section and is contingent on investment opportunities along the banks of the river (e.g. Forum Invest in a new shopping center/Logivesdre, project of new housing) or funding opportunities. Due to these constraints a specific delivery time-scale has not been defined but the investment was expected to be medium to long-term. To balance the objectives of the masterplan the City of Verviers will continue to promote soft mobility throughout the town. Additional investments will be undertaken along the river as part of a more city-wide development of soft mobility opportunities (Ref. 2). "This project aims to analyze the valuation of a GI programme, namely a greenway called a cycling and
pedestrian path, in Wallonia. GI is a comprehensive concept, which encompasses “managed and natural green areas in rural and urban environments, including woodlands, gardens and formal parks; green corridors such as bridleways, railway and road verges and cycle paths; street trees; waterways and open countryside. The collection of data will be through face-to-face interviews. A questionnaire has been developed including four parts. The first section of the questionnaire describes the project and asks questions about the respondent’s environment. The second section of the questionnaire is the contingent
valuation (CV) part, and the third addresses the choice modelling (CM) part. The fourth section asks the respondent a few socio-demographic questions" (Ref. 5). "So far, funding problems have prevented the realisation of the three sections, which
reduces the social, environmental and economic impact of the project. The budget constraints forced SPI+ and the city of Verviers to prioritise investment in those parts of the initial project that will make the most efficient use of available resources.
Recently, this unsatisfactory situation has lead to a request to the Walloon Region for extra funding. This potential funding may have a significant effect on the impact of the VALUE investment and, as a consequence, the determination of the works will be made only after the response of the Minister is known" (Ref. 4).
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Blue infrastructure
Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
Grey infrastructure featuring greens
Riverbank/Lakeside greens
Parks and urban forests
Green corridors and green belts
Vegetation Type
Amenities offered by the NBS
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Cultural services
Aesthetic appreciation
Inspiration for culture, art and design
Recreation
Scale
Spatial scale
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Governance
Governance arrangements
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
Municipal authorities and land planning administrative staff in Verviers have been tasked with the development of an effective green infrastructure management framework. Verviers receives little support from regional authorities and the majority of planning initiatives are developed by local level stakeholders. Within the city’s planning framework local political authorities developed a more coherent spatial strategy for medium-term development taking into account
local resident’s views and needs (Ref. 2).
Key actors - initiating organization
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Local government/municipality
Citizens or community group
EU body
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Yes
Please specify the "Regional Directive/Strategy"
Verviers’ VALUE investment focused on linking deprived economic areas in the eastern part of the city with the city
centre. The project includes the construction of a continuous and secure green path (foot/cycle path) along the river and incorporates the visions of local stakeholders through collaborative planning approaches. In addition, the VALUE investment improved accessibility of Verviers’ blue/green network with specific reference to projects along the River Vesdre (Ref. 2).
VALUE (Valuing Attractive Landscapes in the Urban Economy) is a European partnership project aiming to demonstrate the economic value of GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE in cities and regions, funded through the European Union Interreg IVB programme for North West Europe (Ref. 3).
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"
On a smaller scale, the VALUE investment aims to be part of the River Vesdre development scheme established by the city’s STU (Technical Service of Environment, Urbanism and Land Planning) by reviewing the development of the river’s banks (Ref. 2).
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
Unknown
Please specify other vegetation type
Unknown
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
VALUE project sites: Interreg IVB VALUE project on Valuing Attractive Landscapes in the Urban Economy presents
important findings for cities and regions across North West Europe (NWE): Bruges, Esslingen, Manchester, Sheffield and Verviers (Ref. 2).
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
VALUE FUNDING of € 208,179
FUNDED BY Interreg IVB and Walloon Region-DGO6 (Ref. 3)
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
Total cost
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
>208 179 EUR
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)
VALUE FUNDING of € 208,179
FUNDED BY Interreg IVB and Walloon Region-DGO6 (Ref. 3)
Source(s) of funding
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Business models
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Type of innovation
Please specify social innovation
Verviers is a town located in Belgium in the Province of Liege, and was in the 19th century an important industrial and commercial centre. The water of the river Vesdre, which flows through Verviers, gave the town the opportunity to develop a thriving wool and textile industry renowned for its quality. Since the 1950s, this industry has been in decline resulting in loss of new investment in the city. The river was then almost abandoned and, year after year, an extended and uncontrolled green infrastructure began to grow on its bankside hidden behind the blind walls of the former factories. In recent years there has been an attempt to revitalise the industrial buildings, the landscapes and the riversides to support new functions. The VALUE project gave the town of Verviers the opportunity to think about how to reconnect the local residents and businesses with the river and to create new functions, such as recreational and economic activities, around the river Vesdre (Ref. 3).
Novelty level of the innovation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Replicability/Transferability
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Description of environmental benefits
Green space and habitat:
-The green and blue infrastructure was planned to allow the creation of a true link between natural wildlife, inhabitants and businesses, and will offer a new development strategy for the whole town (Ref. 3).
-Restoration of derelict areas: intervention is expected to encourage brown field regeneration (Ref. 4).
Description of economic benefits
-Stimulate development in deprived areas/Increase in GDP/Reduce financial cost for urban management/Attraction of business and investment: "The local communities will directly benefit from an attractive and popular ‘greenway’. The project includes three sections and has several ambitious economic objectives. On the one hand, by connecting to the eastern economic quarter, it should encourage sustainable transport (walking, bicycling) between Verviers’ city-centre and outlying economic poles. At the same time, it should improve the reputation of the training centres and encourage building renovations or even brown field regeneration. On the other hand, for the local residents, in addition to the green amenities, the reconditioning of the Marie Henriette park should also help to prevent damage and anti-social behaviour which have occurred more and more frequently in the park. Through STPs including local communities’ surveys (residents, employees, employers) based on computer modified images, this case study will make it possible to evaluate the economic impact of an ambitious greenway project along the River Vesdre" (Ref. 4). "Verviers’ VALUE investment focuses on linking deprived economic areas located in the eastern part of the city with the city-centre by improving the landscape quality of
the River Vesdre’s banks" (Ref. 4).
Description of social and cultural benefits
Safety:
-Increased perception of safety/Decrease in crime rates: " in addition to the green amenities, the reconditioning of the Marie Henriette park should also help to prevent damage and anti-social behaviour which have occurred more and more frequently in the park" (Ref. 4).

Social justice and cohesion:
-Fair distribution of social, environmental and economic benefits of the NBS project/Improvement of liveability/Improved access to urban green space:"The local communities will directly benefit from an attractive and popular ‘greenway’. The project includes three sections and has several ambitious economic objectives. On the one hand, by connecting to the eastern economic quarter, it should encourage sustainable transport (walking, bicycling) between Verviers’ city-centre and outlying economic poles" (Ref. 4).
-Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces: " Moreover, in the second survey, residents mentioned their interest in getting involved in the maintenance of the path by volunteering for keeping the path clean. It could have been interesting to focus one part of the survey to volunteering practices of the residents" (Ref. 2).

Health and wellbeing:
-Gain in activities for recreation and exercise: "should encourage sustainable transport (walking, bicycling) between Verviers’ city-centre and outlying economic poles" (Ref. 4).

Education:
-Support education and scientific research: The project supported research on the valuation of green infrastructure investments (Ref. 2).
Type of reported impacts
Indicators
Input-Output analysis was conducted for the River Vesdre investment in Verviers using the most up to date Input-Output tables. The Plan Federal Bureau supplied data from 2003. According to the Input-Output analysis every euro spent on the VALUE investment generates approximately €1.40 for the regional economy or an additional €0.40. The Local Multiplier Analysis also calculated the project’s economic contribution to the local economy. It examines a project’s initial income and analyses, how income will be spent on different budget lines and how local residents and businesses will re-spend their money on local economy. Following three rounds of analysis, for every Euro spent on the VALUE Investment, additional €1.42 is generated for the local economy (Ref. 2).
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
No specific information available as of November 10, 2020.
Methods of impact monitoring
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
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
Main Evaluation Technique
- SPT (contingent valuation)
- Partial CBA* (Input-Output/Local Multiplier Analysis)

Complementary Methods
- Further interviews with local stakeholders, communities
- Matrix representation of costs and benefits of development scenarios
- Use of computer-modified images

Through this process partners were able to develop economic valuations based on project and wider assessments of green infrastructure investments (using Local Multiplier/Input-Output Analysis). These findings could be compared with the broader evaluations of projects derived from stated preference and willingness to pay (WTP) techniques
that related economic to social and environmental values. This constitutes a triangulated approach to economic
evaluation that encourages the examination of the nature of an investment against its development costs, localised
added value and the wider impacts on personal and communal perceptions (Ref. 2).
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
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
Questionnaires with visualizations in order to assess the current nature of the urban environment against potential future scenarios (Ref. 2).
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Documents relevant to the intervention
Attachment Size
Ref. 5 (737.54 KB) 737.54 KB
List of references
(1) Ian (2016). The end of an era – Closure of the South Yorkshire Forest Partnership – SYFP. Available at: https://ianswalkonthewildside.wordpress.com/2016/11/03/the-end-of-an-era-closure-of-the-south-yorkshire-forest-partnership-syfp/ (Accessed: November 10, 2020).
(2) Viaud-Mouclier, Christelle (2012). Valuing Attractive Landscapes in the Urban Economy Work Package 4, Action 4.2: Report on the estimation of non-market values from different scenarios in Verviers - Cycling and walking path along the river Vesdre. Available at: https://orbi.uliege.be/bitstream/2268/113592/1/VALUE_Final_report_7.08.2012.pdf (Accessed: November 10, 2020).
(3) Online Green City (n.d.). Vesdre River Greenway online project description. Available at: http://www.onlinegreencity.com/case-study/vesdre-river-greenway/ (Website not available in 2020).
(4) Allin, Simone and Henneberry, John (2010). Valuing Attractive Landscapes in the Urban Economy Final Report Action 1.2 Baseline Analysis of Existing Economic Valuation Tools for Application to Green Infrastructure Investments. Available at: https://orbi.uliege.be/bitstream/2268/105286/1/10-01-29%20VALUE%20Action%201.2%20Final%20Report%20v2.pdf (Accessed: November 10, 2020).
(5) Marek, Allyson, Viaud-Mouclier, Christelle, Halleux, Jean-Marie, and G. Devillet (2013). Theoretical discussion on economic valuation of greeness: from ecosystem services to green infrastructures. (Document attached).

Comments and notes
Comments
The project includes three sections and has several ambitious economic objectives. Firstly, connecting the eastern economic quarter to the city centre should encourage sustainable transport, whilst at the same time, it should also encourage building renovations or brownfield regeneration. For local residents, the clean-up of the Marie Henriette Park should also help to prevent the damage and anti-social behaviour that have occurred in the park. On a smaller scale, the VALUE investment aims to be part of the River Vesdre development scheme established by the city’s STU (Technical Service of Environment, Urbanism and Land Planning) by reviewing the development of the river’s banks. ) (Ref. 2).
Additional insights
The South Yorkshire Forest Partnership that had been the project owner (on behalf of The VALUE project funded by the EU North West Europe Interreg IVB programme) closed in 2016 October (Ref. 1, 2)

Confirmation that the intervention has taken place could not be found as of November 10, 2020. Previously uploaded link to monitoring report no longer functional: http://new.production.nwe.beenetwork.eu/admin/doc?id=362&download=1

The only indication that paths may have been created comes from a blog post from 2018 indicates that "Lovely views of Verviers, also called "the city of Water"... with an industrial past that links to "soft gold" (wool) and to "blue gold" (water)... situated in a rich rural region with countryside, wooded parks, pedestrian riverbanks, walks and cycle routes... today this daughter of the Vesdre river possesses a modern status of “ville d’eau” (water town) thanks in particular to its new 4 km route “Parcours des Fontaines” (Route of the Fountains)". Available at: http://mypostcard-page.blogspot.com/2018/06/belgium-verviers.html (Accessed: November 16, 2020).

"The project includes the construction of a continuous and secure green path
(foot/cycle path) along the River Vesdre. This project incorporates the needs and
wishes of local stakeholders through collaborative planning approaches (for example,
community engagement campaign, establishment of strategic partnerships). Particular
actions are related to green pedestrian/cycle infrastructure and greening works
(bankside safety works, footpath and recreational infrastructure, landscape and
planning along the route). The route is subdivided into three sections along the left
bank of the River Vesdre. Each section receives different kinds of works to increase
the accessibility and security of the banks and also to integrate the river into the urban
landscape (for example, observation pontoons, ramps).
So far, funding problems have prevented the realisation of the three sections, which
reduces the social, environmental and economic impact of the project. The budget
constraints forced SPI+ and the city of Verviers to prioritise investment in those parts
of the initial project that will make the most efficient use of available resources.
Recently, this unsatisfactory situation has lead to a request to the Walloon Region for
extra funding. This potential funding may have a significant effect on the impact of
the VALUE investment and, as a consequence, the determination of the works will be
made only after the response of the Minister is known" (Ref. 4).