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Creating green spaces in dense city centres can be a challenge. Yet, integrating trees within urbanised areas and streets can offer the opportunity to breathe life into grey streets, turning them into vibrant, liveable places.
The City Re-Leaf initiative aims to increase greenery in Manchester city centre, by planting over 1,000 trees over the next ten years. We are collaborating with City of Trees and Allied London to identify over 1,000 locations across Manchester and Salford city centres where high impact street trees could be planted. Working with a range of other partners, the ambition is to transform Greater Manchester’s urban environment for the benefit of local business, people and the environment.
Street trees have been proven to combat climate change, reduce air pollution in cities, improve our health and wellbeing whilst reducing surface water run-off. We have undertaken a Total Value assessment of the benefits that City Re-Leaf would deliver for the city.
Project Summary
£1.6 billion the total value to local businesses, people and the environment
100trees planted each year for ten years
A Total Value approach to
Arup’s Total Value approach is an integrated way to appraise and evidence the wider value case for infrastructure. In combining methods to quantify and calculate social value and natural capital, we can offer our clients a way to appraise their total financial return on investment.
We used our bespoke approach to assess the benefits that City Re-Leaf will deliver for a range of stakeholders and beneficiaries in Manchester.
Assuming that 100 trees will be planted each year for ten years, the benefits of the City Re-Leaf programme have been prospectively assessed over a 50 year period from their first planting. These benefits include land value, health & wellbeing, productivity, local spending, crime levels, carbon, air quality, heat and water.
With a Total Value of £1.6 billion to local businesses, people and the environment within a 50 year period, the City Re-Leaf programme effectively shows the benefits that can be achieved through urban greening initiatives.
