I've just got back from a nice weekend away in the South Downs, and whilst London does have more than its fair share of parks it has been lovely to get out of town and enjoy some real peace and quiet. It would seem however that the British public place a high premium on having those green urban spaces nearby.
That at least is the finding of some new research from the University of Sheffield. The research found that people were willing to pay an extra £1.46 a month to maintain their neighbourhood in its current state, an extra £1.61 a month for some small trees and an extra £2.33 a month if their area had large trees and green landscaping added to it.
The study asked members of the public in Sheffield and Manchester their opinions on how their local area could be developed in future, and how much they'd be willing to pay for added greenery through their local council taxes.
A typical house in Manchester currently pays an average of £2.20 per month for street cleaning and £1.50 per month to maintain green spaces through council tax.
Rents would increase as well
In Sheffield city centre it was also found that people would be willing to pay an extra £4.27 per month in either rent or mortgage repayments to maintain a new footbridge, riverside walkway and flood defence scheme that have been recently completed.
If extra landscaping was added they'd be willing to pay an extra £8 per month, whilst they claim if the riverside was allowed to regenerate its natural vegetation they'd pay an extra £10.81 a month.
So it seems clear that the more green the neighbourhood, the higher the premium people are willing to pay for it. For instance the scenario that included a large area of green space attracted an extra £29.21 per month from the respondents, or £358.92 per year.
“The results of this research will be used to help to improve the design of green infrastructure investments so that they more closely meet the preferences of the local communities that use them,” says John Henneberry, professor of town and regional planning at the University of Sheffield.
“This is great news and a really important piece of evidence. This work proves that attractive, green landscapes really do help create the right setting for investment, to help deliver more sustainable jobs and growth,” says Tom Wild, director of South Yorkshire Forest Partnership.
“It couldn’t come at a better time, when we are all having to think more carefully about future priorities for what little funding is available."
How much extra would you pay for a greener neighbourhood?
I think that's ok actually and would really love all of our taxes to be itemized and transparent like this so we knew exactly what they were being spent on.
Would be nice wouldn't it? Can't see it ever happening though.
Sheffield does aspire to be the greenest city in the country though. It's a matter of local pride that in some places you can look out the window and imagine you're in a very rural area, just because the hills and trees are helping ot hide the houses. Only down side is shading effects if people want solar electric panels on their roof.
Ah I didn't know that. How are things going with the renewables side of things?
Lets be realistic here, these figures are still pretty small. It's not like people are willing to pay that much for a greener environment. Look at energy prices. How many people would be willing to pay more for their energy to come from renewable sources? Bet it wouldn't be that many.
If I could get clean energy for the same kinda figures being touted here I'd jump at it. The thing is that right now it tends to cost quite a bit more than that. Hopefully in time it'll start to come down a bit.