Water Adds Value: highlighting the impact of the restoration of our waterways Dr Richard Hazenberg & Meanu Bajwa-Patel
Aims of the research on waterway restorations Highlight the economic impacts Understand the social impacts Assess the environmental impacts Develop a holistic matrix for capturing future social impact that can be used to support the evaluations of future restorations
Methodology & limitations Methodology A review of 7 case study restoration evaluations Interviews with key stakeholders A review of the global literature on waterway restorations Limitations Previous evaluations had limited baseline data, so difficult to evaluate full impact Previous evaluations measured different areas, differently made comparison difficult
Findings - Economic Impact on leisure & tourism jobs, (e.g. 150-160 jobs, Rochdale canal) Increase in visitor spending, e.g. ( 2.5-4 million, HNC) Creation of construction jobs, (e.g. 2600 fte jobs, K & A canal) Property values increased, (e.g. estimated 54 million, B & T ) Regeneration of communities (e.g. Chesterfield canal)
Findings - Social Improved IMD scores in LSOAs along canal corridors (e.g. Glasgow) Towpaths made accessible for people with disabilities (e.g. B & T canal) Range of health benefits, monetised at 6.4 million (Forth & Clyde & Union canals) Restored towpaths form part of Sustrans & National Cycle Route (e.g. Chesterfield) Increased opportunities for and interest in volunteering (all restorations)
Findings - Environmental Improved environment through regeneration of brownfield sites (e.g. Chesterfield) Improved drainage (e.g. B & T canal) Improved wildlife habitats (e.g. Forth & Clyde and Union canals) Canal included within conservation areas (e.g. K & A canal) Increased use of towpaths (e.g. Droitwich)
What do funders look for? Social, health & well-being benefits Environmental & heritage benefits Economic benefits Key impacts for funders Volunteering & community engagament
Why do we need to measure and Restorations are expensive, both in terms of money and volunteer time Funders want to know what they are going to get in return evaluate impacts? Demonstrate the benefits to local people Public Services (Social Value) Act (SVA) = National & local government must consider the impact of spending on the triple bottom line Services can be improved
What is triple-bottom line? Social Economic Environmental Social impact
Why does social impact matter to waterway restorations? Demonstration and measurement of the triple-bottom line can be as important as financial accounts in demonstrating the robustness of a tender. Restorations can be adapted to ensure maximum benefits
Outputs, Outcomes, Impacts: effects on the triple bottom line Outputs effects on the community Outcomes effects on an individual Impacts effects on wider society
Social impact matrix Economic Community- outputs People - outcomes Environmental - impacts Social Community- outputs People - outcomes Environmental - impacts Environmental Community- outputs People - outcomes Environmental - impacts
What can be measured? Economic Social Environmental Leisure & tourism jobs Number of school visits Flooding Number of start ups Number of walkers/cyclists Water quality Visitor spending Number of apprentices CO2 emissions Business growth Historic buildings Biodiversity Housing Use by community groups Goods transported
Key points for evaluating restorations Identify key areas of benefit that your project can deliver Identify baseline data that is available in these areas before the project starts Develop a robust forecast of benefits of your project using those measures Post restoration - compare actual data with forecast
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