Greener streets and behaviours, and green-eyed neighbours: a controlled study evaluating the impact of a sustainable urban drainage scheme in Wales on sustainability

McEwan, Kirsten, Xenias, Dimitrios ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2973-9664, Hodgkinson, Sarah, Hawkins, Jemma ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1998-9547, Clark, Sam ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4597-5162, Xing, Yangang, Ellis, Chris, Cripps, Rosemary, Brown, Jon and Titherington, Ian 2022. Greener streets and behaviours, and green-eyed neighbours: a controlled study evaluating the impact of a sustainable urban drainage scheme in Wales on sustainability. Sustainable Water Resources Management 8 , 143. 10.1007/s40899-022-00723-z

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Abstract

This study assessed the impact of introducing a Sustainable Urban Drainage (SuDs) scheme to a socioeconomically deprived area, on residents buy-in and sustainable behaviours. Surveys were completed before the scheme was implemented by 180 residents (in affected n = 79 and neighbouring streets n = 101) and 1 year after the schemes completion by 51 residents. Following scheme completion, sustainable behaviours significantly increased by 17% in the scheme area and by 9% in the neighbouring streets. Written feedback indicated increased buy-in from residents affected by the scheme, and from neighbouring areas. Written feedback before the scheme included: (i) Concerns about parking; (ii) Liking the scheme; (iii) Feeling consultation was lacking; and (iv) Feeling the scheme was a waste of funds. Feedback after scheme completion included: (i) Feeling the SuDs improved the area; (ii) Remaining concerns about parking; (iii) Valuing the extra green space in the neighbouring area; and (iv) Wanting the SuDs in neighbouring streets. Introducing Green Infrastructure may improve resident’s sustainable behaviours. Importantly, residents in neighbouring areas became envious of the SuDs once completed and showed increased sustainable behaviours indicating spill-over effects. The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) recently took place, and England is considering statutory SuDs as seen in the scheme discussed here. Therefore, this research is particularly relevant to local authorities and stakeholders who can struggle to communicate the multi-benefits of sustainable urban design solutions.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Psychology Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education) Architecture Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions for Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer)
Publisher:	Springer
ISSN:	2363-5037
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	31 August 2022
Date of Acceptance:	4 August 2022
Last Modified:	08 May 2023 01:46
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/152263

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