Balne Lane Fields project

1. General information

Location and description of the intervention

City or FUA

Wakefield

Region

Europe

Native title of the NBS intervention

Balne Lane Fields project

Short description of the intervention

“Balne Lane Fields are an area of land close to the city centre of Wakefield. The site comprises of an area of nine hectares, which includes a former landfill site that has been restored to open green space. Part of the site is within a flood zone (Balne Beck).” “The field is popular with the local population for informal recreation. The potential to improve the variety of recreational uses, ecological value and environmental quality together with its links to both local communities and strategic greenspaces make it an important piece of green infrastructure in the City of Wakefield.” (Ref. 1)

Address

Wakefield
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).

Source of NBS area image

The only reference about the actual NBS is unavailable so no information can be found about this.

Type of area before implementation of the NBS

Industrial

Other

Please specify “other type of area” before implementation of the NBS

former landfill site that has been restored to open green space. Part of the site is within a flood zone (Balne Beck) (Ref 1)

Website of the intervention

http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/Documents/planning/planning-policy/information-moni…

Timeline of intervention

Start date of the intervention (planning process)

2010

Start date of intervention (implementation process)

in planning stage

End date of the intervention

unknown

Present stage of the intervention

Unknown

Please specify "other" stage of the intervention

2. Objectives of the intervention

Goals of the intervention

The overall aim is to help deliver Wakefield’s vision for green infrastructure (through the ‘Wakefield forest’ project). (Ref. 1)
“The main drivers for this project will be climate change and health and well-being, as parts of the site will be enhanced to integrate measures for flood alleviation and an improved recreational offer. Sustainable growth and development and, to some degree, biodiversity, are additional drivers with the field absorbing some of the additional pressure for green infrastructure that housing growth within Wakefield is likely to create. Improvements to the quality of the landscape by enhancing habitats along Balne Beck will also have a positive impact on biodiversity.” (Ref. 1)

Quantitative targets

Unknown

Monitoring indicators defined

Unknown

Sustainability challenge(s) addressed

Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)

Climate change adaptation

Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)

Habitat and biodiversity restoration

Water management (SDG 6)

Flood protection

Health and well-being (SDG 3)

Enabling opportunities for physical activity

Improving physical health

Creation of opportunities for recreation

Climate change adaptation: What were the goals of the NBS?

Reduce exposure to climate risks directly

Build resilience

Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?

Implement sustainable urban drainage infrastructure (e.g. to make space for water)

What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?

Ecosystem-focused

What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?

Restore ecological connectivity

Public engagement

Implementation activities

“Establish a more structured, layout that will retain large areas as grassland, but will integrate additional recreational functions and ecological enhancements; Engage with the local community and make their ideas a core objective; Keep the fields open and avoid any loss of accessibility through fencing; Integrate an equipped area for play as residential areas close by suffer from deficit; Integrate community food production on a small scale, e.g. fruit trees; Improve attractive and safe links into the city centre; Increase flood water storage in the area; Improve access points onto the fields; Integrate areas for tree planting; Integration of an equipped play area into the Balne Lane Fields.” (Ref. 1)

Type of NBS project

Creation of new green areas

Maintenance and management of urban nature

Strategy, plan or policy development

Improved governance of green or blue areas

3. NBS domains, ES and scale

NBS domain and interventions

Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented

Blue infrastructure

Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries

Community gardens and allotments

Community gardens

Green areas for water management

Sustainable urban drainage systems

Grey infrastructure featuring greens

Alley or street trees and other street vegetation

Green playgrounds and school grounds

Parks and urban forests

Large urban parks or forests

Please specify the number of plots or allotment gardens

Unknown

What is the level of innovation / development of the NBS related to water management?

Vegetation Type

Please specify how many trees were planted

Unknown

Amenities offered by the NBS

Playgrounds

Services

Expected ecosystem services delivered

Regulating services

Flood regulation

Habitat and supporting services

Habitats for species

Maintenance of genetic diversity

Cultural services

Recreation

Mental and physical health and wellbeing

Social and community interactions

Scale

Spatial scale

Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level

Beneficiaries

Primary Beneficiaries

Local government/Municipality

Citizens or community groups

4. Governance and financing

Governance

Governance arrangements

Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Non-government actors

Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches

Researchers, university

Citizens or community groups

Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative

The ‘Lead Partner’ is Wakefield Council, and the ‘Delivery Partners’ are White Rose Forest, Local Community Groups, BTCV, Groundwork Wakefield, Wakefield College, Environment Agency. (Ref. 1)

Key actors - initiating organization

Local government/municipality

Land owners

Public space owned by the city

Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)

National government

Local government/municipality

Non-government organisation/civil society

Citizens or community group

Land owners

Public space owned by the city

Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used

Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)

Dissemination of information and education

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"

Wakefield Council’s Local Development Framework Core Strategy (with its overall spatial vision) and Wakefield Council's Green infrastructure plan. (Ref. 1)

Mandatory or voluntary intervention

Mandatory (based on policy)

Intervention is mandatory

Spatial planning guidance

Environmental regulation

Enablers

Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project

Yes

Please specify

Wakefield Council's 'Green infrastructure plan' and Wakefield Council's 'Local biodiversity action plan' (with regards to e.g. creating "new habitat and enhance biodiversity value" along Balne Beck). (Ref. 1)

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

Wakefield Council's 'Leisure, recreation and open spaces local plan' (Local development framework). (Ref. 4)

If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.

City specific green space strategy or plan

Biodiversity strategy or plan

Urban redevelopment plan

Please specify other vegetation type

- Currently [in 2010] the site is covered by grassland with trees and shrubs (includes a former landfill site that has been restored to open green space).
-Integrate community food production on a small scale, e.g. fruit trees (Ref 1)

Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project

Yes

Please specify

The White Rose Forest Partnership (which established the “Trees for Yorkshire” campaign with a donation facility through their website (www.whiteroseforest.org.uk), which allows businesses and householders to pay for trees to be planted within a project of their choice”. (Ref. 1)

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)

Investment programmes through the Council’s GI (i.e. “Investment Programmes to create new investment opportunities for green infrastructure action across the city region with a focus on specific, common types of local intervention”). (Ref. 1)

Source(s) of funding

Public regional budget

Type of fund(s) used

Earmarked public budget

Donations

Other

Please specify other type of fund used

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Please specify other Business model

Community food production on a small scale, e.g. fruit trees (Ref 1)

Business models

Green densification model

Other

Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?

Public actor (e.g. municipality)

5. Innovation

Type of innovation

Social

Governance innovation

Cultural innovation

Novelty level of the innovation

Ambiguous (e.g. multiple interpretations)

Please specify novelty level of the innovation

The project proposal is part of the strategic projects (through the 'Wakefield forest' project) aiming to deliver Wakefield's vision for green infrastructure. (Ref. 1)

Replicability/Transferability

Unknown

Please specify Replicability/Transferability

Unknown

6. Evaluation and learning

Impacts, benefits

Environmental impacts

Climate change

Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters

Water management and blue areas

Increased protection against flooding

Improved stormwater management

Green space and habitat

Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development

Increased green space area

Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems

Reduced biodiversity loss

Restoration of derelict areas

Description of environmental benefits

In 2010 the planned changes were (All points from Ref 1)
- the site is covered by grassland with trees and shrubs (includes a former landfill site that has been restored to open green space).
- The main drivers for this project will be climate change and health and well-being
- parts of the site will be enhanced to integrate measures for flood alleviation
- biodiversity gains is additional drivers with the field absorbing some of the additional pressure for green infrastructure that housing growth within Wakefield is likely to create.
- Improvements to the quality of the landscape by enhancing habitats along Balne Beck will also have a positive impact on biodiversity.
- Establish a more structured, layout that will retain large areas as grassland, but will integrate additional recreational functions and ecological enhancements
- Keep the fields open and avoid any loss of accessibility through fencing
- Integrate community food production on a small scale, e.g. fruit trees
- Increase flood water storage in the area
- Improve access points onto the fields
- Integrate areas for tree planting (Ref. 1)

Economic impacts

Unknown

Please specify other socio-cultural impact

- Sustainable growth and development
(Ref 1)

Description of economic benefits

Unknown

Type of reported impacts

Expected impacts

Indicators

Balne Lane Fields: potential for recreation. (Ref. 2)

Environmental, social and economic impacts

Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)

Health and well-being (SDG 3)

Analysis of specific impact categories

Job creation: The NBS created ...

No information available

Please specify other method used to evaluate the impacts of NBS

"Consultation would be part of this process." (Ref. 3)
"It is recommended that the Blueprint [mentioned above] is reviewed at least annually." (Ref. 2)

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 30 September 2020

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

Other

Unknown

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

http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/Core%20documents/LR5.12%20Wakefield%20Central%20Blu…

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

Impact assessment mechanism

Name of any specific impact assessment tools

“The Blueprint proposes changes to make the greenspace network fairer and more sustainable. To ensure a consistent approach across the whole district a two stage assessment will be made of greenspace provision alongside local knowledge of the area: Access to greenspace and facilities will be assessed using the catchment distances (table 1); The amount of Accessible Greenspace and facilities will be assessed using quantity standards.” (Ref. 2)

Link to the output of assessments

http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/Core%20documents/LR5.12%20Wakefield%20Central%20Blu…

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

Other

Please specify other modes of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment

In 2010, Mr Humphries [the council's service director for 'cleaner and greener'] said: "It is too early to give more details at this stage as these discussions are ongoing, but once it has been determined what purpose and value this site can offer to the community, the council could then look into how to develop and maintain this site. Consultation would be part of this process." (Ref. 3)

Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation

Unknown

Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment

Yes

Please specify

"It is recommended that the Blueprint [mentioned above] is reviewed at least annually." (Ref. 2)

7. Sources

References

Web links relevant to the intervention

List of references

Ref. 1. Wakefield Council (2010) Wakefield Green infrastructure plan. Source: http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/Documents/planning/planning-policy/information-monitoring/green-infrastrcture-plan-october-2010.pdf [Accessed 30 September 2020]
Ref. 2. Wakefield Council (2016) Wakefield Central Draft Blueprint. LR5.12. Source: http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/Core%20documents/LR5.12%20Wakefield%20Central%20Blueprint%20Draft%20March%202016.pdf [Accessed 30 September 2020]
Ref. 3. Wakefield Express (2010) Mystery over Balne Lane playing fields future. Information obtained: 2017-07-14. [Website unavailable in 2020]
Ref. 4. Wakefield Council (2017) Local Development Framework: Leisure, Recreation and Open Space Local Plan. Source: http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/Core%20documents/LROS%20Adopted%20Jan%202017%20Web.pdf [Accessed 30 September 2020]

Comments and notes

Additional insights

2020 comments:
The only reference about the actual NBS is unavailable and I cannot find anything more that talks about it.

Status: The project proposal is part of the ‘Strategic projects’ to deliver Wakefield’s vision for green infrastructure (through the Wakefield Forest project/scheme). (Ref. 1)
The action plan for Wakefield Council (2016/17) states: "develop and agree master plan for Balne Lane Fields". (Ref. 2)

In 2010, Mr Humphries [the council's service director for 'cleaner and greener'] said: "It is too early to give more details at this stage as these discussions are ongoing, but once it has been determined what purpose and value this site can offer to the community, the council could then look into how to develop and maintain this site. Consultation would be part of this process." (Ref. 3)

Public Images

Balne Lane Fields Before the Project

Pam Smithers (Wakefield Council), retrieved 09/20/2018

Balne Lane Fields After the Project

Pam Smithers (Wakefield Council), retrieved 09/20/2018