Delivering integrated water management benefits: the North West Bicester development, UK

Abstract

This paper discusses the approach, challenges and outcomes of delivering a water-sensitive urban design, incorporating comprehensive sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), for a major eco-town in Oxfordshire, UK. The 406 ha North West Bicester development is the UK's first eco-town, involving 6000 new homes and associated social, commercial and environmental infrastructure. A key challenge was to deliver the government's ambitious criteria for eco-towns while working in a large multi-disciplinary setting with the public and other stakeholders. The key aims of the project are to respond to climate change, create enjoyable and liveable cities, promote healthy lifestyles, design multi-functional and interconnected green infrastructure, reduce flood risk and maximise multiple benefits. Common barriers to the uptake of SuDS include limited evidence in quantification of economic benefits along with maintenance concerns. This paper demonstrates that the initial 17·5 ha of the exemplar site, comprising 393 homes, will deliver natural capital benefits of £307 550 per year from the proposed SuDS, thus highlighting economic benefits and easing maintenance concerns.

Justice in (English) Water Infrastructure: A Systematic Review

“…Capability justice in terms of infrastructure for well-being and equality is mentioned but only in passing in the Collins lecture [47]. Applying a justice lens, however, leads this study to ask capability questions of two developments referred to in the texts-these two texts discuss two separate unconnected developments that involve urban, blue infrastructure designed for multiple purposes including well-being [52,68]. The developments in question are situated in relatively affluent areas in the South East [52] and Oxfordshire [68].…”

“…Applying a justice lens, however, leads this study to ask capability questions of two developments referred to in the texts-these two texts discuss two separate unconnected developments that involve urban, blue infrastructure designed for multiple purposes including well-being [52,68]. The developments in question are situated in relatively affluent areas in the South East [52] and Oxfordshire [68]. The benefits to well-being of blue infrastructure interventions are increasingly understood, with the Oxfordshire development in particular yielding a positive impact on house prices and health and well-being.…”