Page 22 - The Land Trust Annual Review 2018
P. 22

Economy                                                                                                                                                         Land Trust Annual Review 2018










                                                                            Well managed                    Alliance Manchester Business School
                                                                            green space
                                                                            can have a                      Research – Port Sunlight River Park
                                                                            hugely positive
                                                                            effect on the                   We commissioned research with the Alliance
                                                                            local community                 Manchester Business School to evidence
                                                                            and economy                     the positive impact that well managed green
                                                                                                            spaces can have on house prices and the
                                                                                                            local economy.
                                                                                                            The research focused on our site at Port
                                                                                                            Sunlight River Park. This park is a former landfill
                                                                                                            in Wirral, Northwest England and located by
                                                                                                            some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in
                                                                                                            the country.

                                                                                                            In 2014 the Land Trust working with the           “ I’ve been involved
                                                                                                            land owner Biffa Waste Services Ltd and
                                                                                                            other partners transformed the site into a 30      with Port Sunlight River
                                                                                                            hectare park and wetland, after securing £3.4      Park from the outset,
                                                                                                            million of public and private investment for       so have seen how the
                                                                                                            its creation and long term maintenance.
                                                                                                                                                               Land Trust’s model
                                                                                                            The research highlighted that good quality         for managing parks
                                                                                                            green spaces, when well managed, can:              long term can really
                                                                                                               Improve an area’s attractiveness                benefit communities.
                                                                                                               Increase property values
                                                                                                               Encourage local investment                     “ But this research
                                    Along with employing local managing                                        Generate local business revenue                 goes further and can
                                    partners and suppliers our sites add a                                     Create and safeguard jobs
                                    value to local communities, encouraging                                    Enable volunteering, learning                   show that long term
                                    positive investment.                                                      and development                                  management of green
                                                                                                               Protect homes and businesses from flood risk.
                                    We are committed to developing our                                                                                         spaces improve property
                                    understanding of the economic and other                                 The green space around Port Sunlight               values and local business
                                    benefits to households, business and wider                              River Park has had a direct positive               revenues, which is crucial
                                    society of us holding and managing land for                             impact on local property values.
                                    charitable purposes and the value that                                                                                     evidence that should
                                    it creates.                                                                £3.4 million investment to create               increase investment in
                                                                                                              and maintain the park in perpetuity
                                                                                                               5.4% increase – the increase in value           public green spaces.”
                                                                                                              every 100 metres that a house is                 Alison McGovern MP
                                                                                                              closer to the park within 500 metres
                                                                                                               £7.8 million – estimated total value that the
                                                                                                              park adds to houses located within
                                                                                                              500 metres
                                                                                                               £8,674 – the average addition per house
                                                                                                              price within 500 metres of the park.




         22                                                                                                                                                                              23
   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27