Chapter 6 I Green and Blue Infrastructure, Open Space and Biodiversity
Green and Blue Infrastructure (GBI) Cork City Green and Blue Infrastructure Study 2021 6.4 Green and Blue Infrastructure (GBI) is the term used to describe the network of natural and semi-natural green and blue spaces and corridors in a given area including parks, woodlands, fields, hedges, lakes, ponds, gardens, coastal areas, cycle routes, rivers and water courses. A strong GBI network is essential to the quality of life and wellbeing of residents, businesses and communities, helping to create and sustain places where people want to live and work. It is now recognised as a cornerstone within resilient cities, being a ‘must have’ rather than a ‘nice to have’.
GBI provision is not limited to traditional green spaces such as parks and other open spaces but can involve various interventions to thread nature into streetscapes or provide corridors of connectivity between the GBI features described above, known as ‘assets’. 6.5 Cork City Council has undertaken a GBI study to review Cork City’s green and blue assets and to consider how best to protect, enhance and link this network. The study has been prepared as part of a coordinated approach to delivering compact growth in line with NPF objectives. Figure 6.2 shows how the study applies an evidence-based approach to policy formulation that involved data gathering, extensive stakeholder engagement and a review of international good practice.
Destination Spaces – Outdoor sports facilities – Heritage parks & gardens – Green high streets
Wilder Spaces
– Protected and underprotected biodiversity areas – Wildlife corridors – Allotments – Restored habitat
Healthy Spaces – Active travel routes – Urban greening – Access to nature – Sense of place
Resilient Spaces
– Green roofs and vertical greening – SuDS – Allotments – Low carbon travel
The components of GBI in Cork City
Figure 6.1: Protecting and Enhancing GBI in Cork City.
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Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028 I Volume 1
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