The Wildlife Trusts has urged the government to make climate- and nature-friendly design mandatory for new housing developments, warning of a public health “access crisis”.
The call comes in a new paper, published this month, which argues that improving access to nature should be a priority for the government following this summer’s heat emergency, when inner-city temperatures exceeded 38C.
Research accompanying the paper, carried out with Liberal Democrats for Nature and Climate, found that 238 English parliamentary constituencies – 44% of the total – have at least 20% of local properties situated more than 15 minutes’ walk from green or blue space. This falls short of the government’s own 15-minute access target.
Among the paper’s recommendations for housing and planning are:
- Making it mandatory for developers to build climate- and nature-friendly housing estates
- Recognising access to natural spaces as a core part of development and planning
- Making it more affordable for local authorities to use compulsory purchase powers to acquire land for parks and gardens
- Making it easier for community groups to buy land
- Treating nature as essential infrastructure, freeing up capital funds for the ongoing maintenance of natural spaces
Matthew Browne, head of public affairs at The Wildlife Trusts, said: “This research reveals stark inequalities in access to nature across England with direct parallels between economic and nature deprivation. Seven of the ten most economically deprived constituencies feature on the low access to nature list, including Bradford West and Birmingham Perry Barr, for example.
“Coupled with the extreme heat we’re experiencing in urban areas, this access crisis is on a par with that of Victorian Britain, when filthy air and water led to a programme of public park building for the benefit of all. In facing today’s challenges, we need to embrace this same level of urgency once more, utilising existing legislation so that real change can be felt quickly in local communities.
“At a time when the prime minister is promising growth in every postcode, he must ensure this is true in every sense of the word, building nature into the heart of community resilience and regeneration. Otherwise, he risks leading the only Labour government since World War Two to fail to recognise the importance of access to nature.”
Dom Higgins, head of health and education at The Wildlife Trusts, added: “The mountain of research and evidence from the public that shows the impact of nature on our physical and mental health is hard to ignore – natural spaces in our cities can literally save lives by keeping the air cooler and cleaner and reducing the strain on our hearts and lungs.
“Yet, despite the growing body of scientific evidence, having access to the natural world in whatever form that takes – from a river walk to a pocket park in an urban neighbourhood – is still not equal across the UK. In an age of increasing climate-driven extreme weather events and growing health implications, access to nearby healthy natural spaces should be the right of every citizen.”
The Wildlife Trusts said it was already working with local authorities on nature-focused schemes, including tree planting in Wigan, community gardens in Greater Manchester, and the redevelopment of a former shopping centre into green space in Nottingham.
Main image: Beacon Hill Country Park, Leicestershire. Credit Ross Hoddinott 2020VISION, courtesy of the Wildlife Trusts
Read next: CHIC launches consultancy framework for social landlords
Are you a social housing professional? Sign up for a FREE MEMBERSHIP to upload news stories, post job vacancies, and connect with colleagues on our secure social feed.
