Manchester, United Kingdom
City population: 2679318
Duration: 2013 – 2013
Implementation status: Completed
Scale: Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Project area: unknown
Type of area: Residential
Last updated: October 2021

Manchester’s Stevenson Square was given a green makeover. In addition to securing funds from Manchester City Council, the project underwent a substantial crowd fundraising campaign to transform the square into an ‘urban oasis’ and provide street trees, permeable pavements and planters.The pavement was extended on one side of Stevenson Square which enabled street trees to be planted. More tree planting undertook on the central reservation and a green roof was designed to collect and store rainwater. Self-irrigating hanging baskets were installed on lamp posts (ref 4).

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Nature on buildings (external)
  • Green roofs
  • Other
  • Grey infrastructure featuring greens
  • Alley or street trees and other street vegetation

Key challenges

  • Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
  • Climate change adaptation
  • Water management (SDG 6)
  • 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)
  • Improving physical health

Focus

Creation of new green areas, Maintenance and management of urban nature

Project objectives

To derive benefit from the planting more trees in urban areas and improve people’s health and well-being. Providing shading and cooling in the summer can help in the battle against climate change. Trees can also reduce the risk of flooding in urban areas by soaking up rainfall (ref. 1) 1. The pavement to be extended on one side of Stevenson Square which will enable street trees to be planted 2. More tree planting would be be undertaken on the central reservation to create a green spine down the square's middle 3. The green roof would be designed to collect and store rainwater. It will use a strata system to encourage capture of rainwater. 4. Self-irrigating hanging baskets would be installed on lamp posts. 4. A derelict toilet block building equipped with a green roof added to the building 5. Planting of edible plants such as herbs and fruits on the green roof

Implementation activities

Eleven Gingko biloba trees planted, with newly resurfaced permeable pavements made from recycled tyres. Added a green roof along a disused toilet block with new plants, flowers and shrubs and to add colour and greenery to the square. (ref 3)

Climate-focused activities

Climate change adaptation:

  • Increase or improve urban vegetation cover to help reduce outdoor temperature

Main beneficiaries

  • Local government/Municipality
  • Non-government organisation/Civil Society
  • Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

  • Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

  • Other

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

The Stevenson Square green makeover was a partnership between Red Rose Forest, CityCo and Manchester City Council. CityCo is the city centre management company for Manchester and Salford. A city centre greening group 'A New Leaf' was also involved. (ref. 1)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Unknown
... a national policy or strategy? Unknown
... a local policy or strategy? Unknown

Financing

Total cost

€10,000 - €50,000

Source(s) of funding

  • Public local authority budget
  • Crowdfunding

Type of funding

  • Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
  • Donations

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Environmental quality
  • Improved waste management
  • Water management and blue areas
  • Improved stormwater management
  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased green space area

Economic impacts

  • Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces

Type of reported impacts

Achieved impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

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

References

1. Fleming G. 2015. Crowd-funding success for Stevenson Square and Red Rose Forest. OnthePlatform. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 18 July 2020)
2. Red Rose Forest. 2013. Stevenson Square Green Makeover. Spacehive. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 18 July 2020)
3. Manchester City of Trees. n.d. Stevenson Square, Manchester. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 18 July 2020)
4. Manchester City of Trees. 2017. Stevenson Square blooms after spring spruce. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 18 July 2020)
5. Bainbridge, P. 2013. Flushed with success: Artists turn derelict city centre toilet block into canvas. Manchester Evening News. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 18 July 2020)
6. Lovin Manchester. n.d. The City Of Manchester Is Going Green To Create A Healthier Environment. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 18 July 2020)
7. European Commission. 2017. Green Cities for Climate and Water Resilience, Sustainable Economic Growth, Healthy Citizens and Environments. European Commission. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 18 July 2020)