This projects aim is to create a cross-borough spatial approach to improve Sefton’s land estate especially within highways and sustainable transport corridors and on small parcels of land which are not allocated for development and may be creating environmental blight and a location for anti-social behaviour.

The project aims to deliver a high-quality network of green spaces and highways will be connected right across Sefton borough, between countryside, coast and urban areas, providing a positive impact for climate adaptation and mitigation, measurable biodiversity gains, improving well-being, creating prosperity and reducing social blight.

The working assumption with the highways and sustainable transport corridors is that significant areas of land such as verges, embankments and drainage schemes are under-performing for climate and biodiversity and are unattractive which is detrimental to the borough.  Furthermore, substantial opportunities exist to improve functionality and quality thus creating opportunities to attract funding for the services provided e.g. water purification, air quality improvements, biodiversity gain etc.

Additionally, with town centre regeneration and master planning e.g. Crosby, Bootle Strand, there is a major opportunity to improve connectivity and mobility by using sustainable transport corridors.

• MEAS and Sefton MBC are in the process of collecting data and mapping potential sites suitable for improvements.
• The Project Steering Group will be developing a pilot strategy and timeline which will be used to  monitor progress.
• The project links to other dashboards including SLUP, Biodiversity Net Gain, Tree Planting activity (inc. Mersey Forest), Grassland project (and more as project develops).

External Partners

MEAS and Sefton MBC will be working with the following external partners on this project:

•  Lancashire Wildlife Trust
• Forestry Commission
•  Mersey Forest
• Scouse Flower House