Public to have say on draft plan to help deliver a greener Swansea

People across Swansea are being asked for their views on a draft plan that aims to help deliver a greener city.

Their ideas and thoughts will help the emergent Regenerating our City for Wellbeing and Wildlife strategy become reality.

It aims to help deliver:

• a greener city, with fewer hard surfaces, to help create a city centre that is a more attractive place in which to live and more resilient to climate change;
• more use of nature to provide space for wildlife, bring people pleasure and offer an improved experience for visitors and traders.

The draft – developed in partnership by Swansea Council, Natural Resources Wales (NRW), the Green Infrastructure Consultancy, stakeholders and the community – is now out for consultation.

Fran Rolfe, of NRW, said: “The strategy has been developed through significant engagement across the public, private and third sectors and – importantly – the community.

“We now want to gather feedback on what we have created to make sure this document is a useful tool for enhancing the green infrastructure we will see in future development and retrofits across the city.”

Green infrastructure is a term used to describe all the features of the natural environment between and within our towns and cities. It is not about just creating more greening but ensuring that greening provides a variety of opportunities and benefits for people and nature to thrive.

The Swansea strategy sets out a vision for the central area of the city to be much greener. It promotes a joined-up approach to incorporating green infrastructure in future city centre regeneration work.

Phil Holmes, the council’s head of planning and city regeneration, said: “I urge all those with an interest in the future of Swansea to have their say on this draft strategy.

“This work has already benefitted from the ideas of specialists and the local community – now we want them to give us their feedback on the strategy as it stands.

“Green infrastructure provides an opportunity for Swansea to bring nature into the heart of the city and widen its appeal to residents and visitors. This will bring benefits such as boosting biodiversity and improving climate change resilience.”

Swansea city centre is undergoing regeneration and the new strategy will guide developers on how nature can be integrated into their designs.

Once adopted, the strategy will complement the council’s Swansea Central Area Regeneration Framework (SCARF). It will meet the objectives of the Welsh Government’s Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and the Environment (Wales) Act 2016.

The strategy also aligns with the council’s corporate priority to maintain and enhance Swansea’s natural resources and biodiversity.

The consultation will run until December 31. The strategy can be accessed online – www.bit.ly/consultGI. Printed copies are available at the Civic Centre reception, Swansea Central Library or from Penny Gruffydd, Nature Conservation Team, Ground Floor Zone A, Civic Centre, Oystermouth Road, Swansea SA1 3SN and penny.gruffydd@swansea.gov.uk.