Last updated: October 2021
This intervention involved the realignment and merging of St. Mary's Way and Livingstone road into "St. Mary's Way Boulevard" of which a sustainable urban drainage (SUD) system is a key component. It consists of 31 large specimen trees that are planted in soil cells. The purpose of this project was to improve pedestrian accessibility, attract net investors, and to enhance the water drainage system (Ref 1).
Deeproot
https://www.deeproot.com/blog/blog-entries/transforming-the-character-of-st-marys-way-silva-cell-case-study
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Alley or street trees and other street vegetation
- Green areas for water management
- Sustainable urban drainage systems
Key challenges
- 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
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
- Noise reduction
Focus
Creation of new green areas
Project objectives
1. To revitalise the city centre by improving pedestrian accessibility,
2. Attract investors,
3. Improve the quality of life for residents, workers and visitors,
3. To enhance the water drainage system,
4. Improve the appearance of the area,
5. Improve air quality,
6. Reduce noise pollution (Ref 1).
Implementation activities
Create a boulevard in Sunderland city centre that entails a Sustainable Urban Drainage system with 31 trees. 1,772 frames and 866 decks were installed in a two-layer system along the boulevard, bringing 16.18 m3 of soil volume to each of the 31 newly planted trees. The pedestrian pathway was created by Silva Cell design, which provides void space for uncompacted soil underneath while supporting the pavement above. This provides a facility for stormwater management. (Ref 1)
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Private sector/Corporate/Company
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Unknown
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The Sunderland City Council was the project designer, but the execution was by DeepRoot Urban Solutions (Ref 1).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The Sunderland Central Area Urban Design Strategy 2008 (Ref 4). )
Financing
Total cost
€2,000,000 - €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- EU funds
- Public national budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
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 green space area
Economic impacts
- Attraction of business and investment
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved social cohesion
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No
References
Ref 1: Deeproot. (2014). Transforming the Character of St. Mary’s Way
Silva Cell Case Study. Retrieved from Source link on 11th November, 2020.
Ref 2: Sunderland Partnership. (2011). Green infrastructure strategy framework. [attached]
Ref 3: City Services Scrunity Panel. (2014). Flood risk management in Sunderland. [attached]
Ref 4: Sunderland City Council. (2008). Sunderland central area urban design strategy supplementary planning document. [attached]
Silva Cell Case Study. Retrieved from Source link on 11th November, 2020.
Ref 2: Sunderland Partnership. (2011). Green infrastructure strategy framework. [attached]
Ref 3: City Services Scrunity Panel. (2014). Flood risk management in Sunderland. [attached]
Ref 4: Sunderland City Council. (2008). Sunderland central area urban design strategy supplementary planning document. [attached]
Deeproot
https://www.deeproot.com/blog/blog-entries/transforming-the-character-of-st-marys-way-silva-cell-case-study
Deeproot
https://www.deeproot.com/blog/blog-entries/transforming-the-character-of-st-marys-way-silva-cell-case-study