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Ms Emma Bee
British Geological Survey
Environmental Science Centre
Nicker Hill
Keyworth
Nottingham
NG12 5GG
NG2 Business
8 Experian Way
Nottingham
NG2 1EP
20 th October 2015
Dear Ms Bee,
RE: Letter of Support for NERC Green Infrastructure Innovation Grant Proposal
Enhancement of Green Infrastructure Decision Making through 3D modelling applications
I am writing on behalf of Lowland Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Local Nature Partnership (LNP) to express my strong support for the research programme that the British Geological Survey (BGS) is submitted to NERC for support.
The LNP, founded in 2012, aims to put the economic value of its area natural capital assets in the heart of decision making to ensure that those assets can sustain the local economy. We are a partnership organisation with top management representatives from industry, education, agriculture, health, environment, and Local Government. We have a close working relationship with both the Local Enterprise Partnership, to ensure that up to 10% of a £174 million Local Growth fund
Government creates an effective green infrastructure, and with the Local Planning Authorities to ensure that strategic development plans take account of the extent and condition of our natural capital. Both Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire over the coming years will see dramatic development in housing and infrastructure, particularly along the M1 corridor, the cities of Derby and Nottingham, and a Gateway Hub centred near our East Midlands airport with future plans for a HS2 line and station. One area of intense development will be the Trent Valley with its associated mineral extraction industry. Therefore, the proposed research is fundamental to furthering our understanding and promoting the value of green infrastructure in our strategic and investment decision making over the next 5 to 10 years.
The LNP has developed a strong working relationship with Professor Robert Ward of the BGS through our Natural Capital Working Group, formed in 2013 and comprising additional experts from the Environment Agency, Natural England, Forestry Commission, and Derbyshire and
Nottinghamshire County Councils. This relationship, following Natural Capital Committee research and publications, has developed a new natural capital baseline for our area, including mineral and green infrastructure assets, providing an understanding of their general spatial distribution and extent. We now understand the baseline for 60% of our natural capital components. The limited understanding of the spatial distribution and quality of mineral assets is a knowledge gap that must be resolved to support proactive green infrastructure planning and decision making in the Trent
Valley alongside mineral planning and extraction. The BGS research proposal has been designed to address this gap.

The relevance of this research to the LNP is clear. The LNP aims to put the economic value of green infrastructure into strategic decision making. At present, decisions by policy makers, planners and organisations responsible for developing the Trent Valley (ie Local Enterprise Partnership, aggregate industry, construction and house builders) is a threat to preventing development of effective green infrastructure to ensure this natural capital can support the local community and economy.
Our close collaboration with the BGS through the project design process resulting in this proposal will continue in partnership with the aggregate industry, and Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
County Councils and Mineral Planning Authorities. The LNP and its partners will benefit from the knowledge exchange which aims to disseminate new understanding and information to various policy and decision makers to support green infrastructure investment. This evidence based knowledge will be used to develop the LNP strategy for green infrastructure in collaboration with the
Local Enterprise Partnership.
For the project we are offering in-kind support through the LNP natural capital working group staff and support from the LNP administration working group. The LNP will share key environmental datasets that it has collected for its natural capital assessment purposes with the BGS and will offer guidance to the project through attendance at project steering group meetings and regular meetings of the LNP. The LNP will help to facilitate wider engagement with the LEP and decision makers to ensure the project benefits have wider outreach and impact.
At a time when the economy is recovering and expanding the anticipated improvement in understanding and knowledge resulting from this project will provide a solid science based foundation for green infrastructure planning and investment in the Trent Valley.
I look forward to hearing that the project will gain your support.
Yours sincerely,
Tony Walker
Chair, Lowland Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire LNP board cc.
Professor Rob Ward, British Geological Survey
Emma Bee, British Geological Survey