Sheffield has taken crucial steps towards becoming a European green city with the publication of new report.
The independent Sheffield Green Commission has published its final report and recommendations outlining four key priorities to transform the city into a more successful, sustainable, and competitive place.
Entitled Sheffield’s Green Commitment, the report draws on several months of research and lays out a number of recommendations under the headings: 1) Connected city 2) Transformative energy 3) European Green City 4) Learning City.
The recommendations include retrofitting existing developments to incorporate more attractive green space, and ensuring new developments have a requirement for good green and blue infrastructure to help future-proof the city against flood risk and heat waves.
A public consultation on the report will be conducted through Sheffield City Council’s online consultation portal ‘Citizen Space’.
Cllr Jayne Dunn, cabinet member for housing and chair of the Sheffield Green Commission said: ‘The Sheffield we want to see in the future is successful, competitive, sustainable and open for business.
‘A citywide response is required to transform Sheffield into the smart, sustainable, future city which we know it can be.’
She continued: ‘We are now asking for your commitment – as civic leaders, large and small organisations, business and communities as well as individuals – to help us turn this vision into a measurable, deliverable change programme. Sheffield has a wealth of expertise and enthusiasm to take forward these actions outlined in this report.’
Liz Ballard, chief executive officer of Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust and co-chair of the Green Commission added: ‘Sheffield really can become a more sustainable city, with a better quality of life for all, if we work together to achieve this common goal. And as one of our presenters said – the battle for sustainability will be won or lost in our cities.’
