1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Sunderland
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Chapelgarth Housing Development
Short description of the intervention
A major housing development is proposed at Chapelgarth’s 112-acre site as part of a 20-year regeneration programme in Sunderland. The landscape strategy aims to enhance the natural green space and provide parks and green spaces for current and new residents. There will be a green buffer between Weymouth road and the new development which will include drainage ponds for water management. At the heart will be Central Park, defined by the mature trees and hedge grows, which are already in place. A large "Sustainable Alternative Natural Greenspace" will be created and Sustainable Drainage Systems will be installed throughout the neighbourhood (Ref1).
Address

Sunderland
United Kingdom

Location
The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by).
Area boundary
POINT (-1.421853 54.861058)
POINT (-1.43079 54.858714)
POINT (-1.410763 54.85706)
POINT (-1.427572 54.861017)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
Google maps. Available at https://www.google.com/maps/place/15+Balmore,+Sunderland+SR3+2HE,+UK/@54.8582934,-1.4241107,1202m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x487e64088dc5309d:0x298bad6b1781375f!8m2!3d54.8683147!4d-1.410986. accessed on 11th November, 2020.
Total area
450000.00m²
NBS area
135000.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Public Greenspace Area
Website of the intervention
http://urbed.coop/projects/chapelgarth-sunderland
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2014
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
unknown
End date of the intervention
ongoing
Present stage of the intervention
In planning stage
Goals of the intervention
To develop village-style neighbourhoods in Chapelgarth with accessible open space in a way that protects the woodland areas, naturally manages flood water, enhances natural greenspaces and creates new greenspaces (Ref 1).
Quantitative targets
1. Accommodate up to 750 new homes (1. Create 150 new and diverse homes (5% to be 2 bedroom houses, 20% to be 5+ bedroom houses and 75% to be 3 or 4 bedroom houses), 2. Provide 13.5 hectares of natural greenspace, 3. Include a minimum 25 metres buffer zone around woodland areas and 10 meter buffer zone around sensitive hedgerows, 4. Create woodland at less than 500 metres away from residential buildings, 5. Create access to open green space at less than 300 metres from residential buildings (Ref 1 & 2)
Monitoring indicators defined
Number of new homes accommodated; hectares of greenspace created; meters of buffer zone around woodland areas and sensitive hedgerows created (Ref 1, 2)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Water management (SDG 6)
Flood protection
Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Green space creation and/or management
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
Real estate development
Implementation activities
1. Create 150 new and diverse homes (5% to be 2 bedroom houses, 20% to be 5+ bedroom houses and 75% to be 3 or 4 bedroom houses), 2. Install swales (shallow vegetated channels to slow surface water run-off), 3. Install drainage ponds, 4. Plant trees to capture surface water, 5. Provide natural greenspace, 6. Maintain buffer zones around woodland areas and hedgerows, 7. Create a Central Park, 8. Create accessible (at least 2 hectares) woodland within 500 metres from every residential building, 9. All residents will live no more than 300 metres away from at least 2 hectares of accessible green space (ref 1 & 2), 10. Two areas are allocated to become allotments (Ref 2), 11. Create raised earth bund and green barrier to deflect noise from the A19. (Ref 2)
Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
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
Large urban parks or forests
Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Community gardens and allotments
Allotments
Blue infrastructure
Lakes/ponds
Green areas for water management
Rain gardens
Swales and filter strips
Sustainable urban drainage systems
Please specify the number of plots or allotment gardens
Unknown
What is the level of innovation / development of the NBS related to water management?
Low: Simple rain water collection intervention (rain garden, local seepage pit) or simple permeable areas
Medium / High: sustainable urban drainage systems which include water storage and diverts water flooding
Vegetation Type
Trees
Please specify how many trees were planted
Unknown
Amenities offered by the NBS
Playgrounds
Cultural (museum, concert areas)
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Regulating services
Air quality regulation
Noise reduction
Carbon storage/sequestration
Flood regulation
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Cultural services
Recreation
Scale
Spatial scale
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Local government/Municipality
Citizens or community groups
Governance
Governance arrangements
Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Non-government actors
Private sector/Corporate/Business
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
"Siglion" is an innovative development partnership between Carillion (private sector) and Sunderland City Council, the management of which is done by igloo Regeneration (private sector) (Ref 3). This partnership is the main driver of the project. In 2019, Siglion was taken over by the Sunderland City Council. (Ref 1, 3 and 8).
Key actors - initiating organization
Local government/municipality
Private sector/corporate actor/company
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Local government/municipality
Private sector/corporate actor/company
Citizens or community group
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the national regulations/strategy/plan
1. All residents will live no more than 500m from at least two hectares of accessible woodland, in line with The Woodland Trust’s Woodland Access Standard Nature Nearby, 2. All residents will live no more than 300m from at least two hectares of accessible green space in line with Natural England Accessible Natural Greenspace (Ref 1).
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
1. The Unitary Development Plan of 1998 designates the site to accommode for housing growth (Ref 2), 2. The area is part of the South Sunderland Growth Area (Ref 2).
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Mandatory (based on policy)
Intervention is mandatory
Spatial planning guidance
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The Sunderland Green Infrastructure Strategy Framework (Ref 4) predates the intervention and mentions the need for interventions that enhance woodland, open space, country parks, open access land, allotments and natural recreation space, all of which are implemented in the present intervention. Also, the need to adhere to the Accessible Natural Greenspace Standard is emphasises, something the present intervention also points to.
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
Siglion is to set up and carry out a 20 year regeneration programme that is to transform Sunderland, for which multiple projects around the city are executed. Nature-based interventions are sometimes part of this larger more general plan (Ref 3).
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
City specific green space strategy or plan
Urban redevelopment plan
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
Siglion is the key initiator and is a partnership (Ref 1, 2, 3)
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
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)
Siglion is a joint venture between Carillion and Sunderland City Council, for which igloo Regeneration is providing development, asset and fund management. It was launched in April 2015 to carry out Sunderland’s largest ever regeneration project to create new jobs and new places to work, live and relax. In 2019, Siglion was taken over by the Sunderland City Council. (Ref 6 and 8).
Source(s) of funding
Unknown
Type of fund(s) used
Unknown
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Business models
Risk reduction model
Green densification model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Private for-profit actor (e.g. firm, insurer)
Type of innovation
System innovation
Please specify system innovation
The creation of a new and socially diverse neighbourhood where green spaces in an integral part of the neighbourhood design (Ref 2 & 5).
Novelty level of the innovation
The innovation is completely new without connections to previous initiative(s)
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
The neighbourhood is newly designed and adjusted to the existing natural landscape (Ref 1).
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown.
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Environmental quality
Improved air quality
Reduced noise exposure
Water management and blue areas
Increased protection against flooding
Improved stormwater management
Green space and habitat
Increased number of protection areas
Increased green space area
Increase in protected green space areas
Increased number of species present
Please specify other economic impact
Real estate development
Description of environmental benefits
1. A number of new green spaces, surrounded by existing trees and hedgerows keep the biodiversity of the area very high.
2. This also provides very clean air and controls the traffic noise. Temporary noise screens and restricted working hours also reduce the exposure for the existing residents.
3. The area also has a sustainable drainage system throughout the site, which gives protection from any possible floods and stores rain and stormwater.
4. The project includes the protection and creation of some woods, like the Blakeney Woods, which is protected by a buffer zone of open space around it of a minimum 25m in width. Buffer zones will also be maintained around key hedgerows and trees in the site.
5. Bird species and foraging bats are being protected as well. (Ref 1, 2, 6 and 7)
Economic impacts
Other
Description of economic benefits
1. Chapelgarth will supply a need for new, high-quality family and executive housing in the city, with great access to the road network, the city centre, and the countryside. (Ref 2 and 7)
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved liveability
Improved access to urban green space
Health and wellbeing
Improved physical health
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Description of social and cultural benefits
1. The 45-hectare site also includes a community area, with space for shops and services such as a doctor’s surgery and community centre.
2. The residents are expected to get improved access to green spaces, within 200 metres of the living area for each resident.
3. The area is expected to have recreational areas where locals can spend leisure time.
4. Cyclist will have access to the majority of the site through both the proposed road network and shared pedestrian/cycle routes, linking the site to the existing National Cycle Route 70 route.
5. Residents are expected to enjoy the pedestrian permeability throughout the site, with the footways adjacent to the main vehicular routes, linking the masterplan site with the external pedestrian facilities. (Ref 1, 2 and 7)
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Indicators
The project is ongoing. Most of the impacts are expected. Number of protected green area, number of residents and users, total green space and the effectiveness of the sustainable drainage system. (Ref 1 and 2)
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Unknown
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
No information available
Please specify other method used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
The project is ongoing. Most of the impacts are ongoing.
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
Unknown as of November, 2020.
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
No evidence in public records
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Other
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
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown.
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: Chapelgarth
Ref 2: Chapelgarth Masterplan
Ref 3: Siglion. (n.d.). Welcome to Siglion
Ref 5: North East England Chamber of Commerce. (2016). Chapelgarth development…
Documents relevant to the intervention
Attachment Size
Ref 4: Sunderland Partnership. (2011). Green infrastructure strategy framework. (3.45 MB) 3.45 MB
List of references
Ref 1: Urbed (2016) Chapelgarth, Sunderland. Retrieved from http://urbed.coop/projects/chapelgarth-sunderland on 11th November, 2020.
Ref 2: Siglion. (2016). Chapelgarth Masterplan January 2016 Exhibition Handout Booklet. Retrieved from http://urbed.coop/sites/default/files/Chapelgarth%20January%20Exhibition_Handout%20Booklet.pdf on 11th November, 2020.
Ref 3: Siglion. (n.d.). Welcome to Siglion. Retrieved from http://siglion.co.uk/
Ref 4: Sunderland Partnership. (2011). Green infrastructure strategy framework. [attached]
Ref 5: Sunderland City Council (2016). Chapelgarth, Sunderland: Statement of Community Involvement. Retrieved from https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/media/19969/3-Statement-of-Community-Involvement/pdf/3._Statement_of_Community_Involvement.pdf?m=636523936814170000 on 11th November, 2020.
Ref 6: Make it Sunderland. (n.d.). Chapelgarth. Retrieved from https://www.makeitsunderland.com/investment-hotspots/chapelgarth on 11th November, 2020.
Ref 7: Thompson, F. (2020) £25 million bid to help support 4,000 new homes in Sunderland wins Government backing. Sunderland Echo. Retrieved from https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/people/ps25-million-bid-help-support-4000-new-homes-sunderland-wins-government-backing-2850095 on 11th November, 2020.
Ref 8: Ford, C. (2019) Sunderland council takes over Siglion to drive forward multimillion pound city vision. Chronicles live. Retrieved from https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/business/business-news/sunderland-council-takes-over-siglion-16353608 on 11th November, 2020.
Comments and notes
Comments
6/impact & evidence: An official Environmental Statement is produced for this project on request of the Sunderland City Council (Ref 2). It is not finalised and publicly available yet, but it will be based on specific indicators related to the environmental impact of green infrastructure and an official report will be created. As such, I have indicated "unknown" for the impacts and indicators, but "yes" for the presense of monitoring systems, indicators and assessment reports.
Public Images
Chapelgarth masterplan aerial sketch
Urbed
http://urbed.coop/projects/chapelgarth-sunderland
Chapelgarth masterplan aerial sketch
Sunderland City Council
https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/media/19969/3-Statement-of-Community-Involvement/pdf/3._Statement_of_Community_Involvement.pdf?m=636523936814170000