Private Investor Research - Urban Greening Accreditation

Natural England requires the services of a contractor to undertake research to grow our understanding of private sector interests in driving forward the greening of urban areas for all the benefits to health and wellbeing, nature and climate. We are exploring a potential new national urban greening accreditation, to create Nature Towns and Nature Cities across England.

In summary this work will involve; 1. Identifying the drivers for private sector investors in urban greening (either new or retrofit green infrastructure, urban nature or biophilic buildings), and the levers that would encourage greater investment in urban greening. We would particularly like to explore the potential role of an area-wide urban greening or urban nature accreditation such as a Green or Nature City/Town/Neighbourhood/Street in attracting investment for green interventions and nature-based solutions. Market segmentation is likely to be required to understand a range of private sector drivers. We are interested in understanding the potential scale of any future investment and particular outcomes or products investors would like to 'buy into'.

2. Scoping out one to one interviews with private investors and a private investors roundtable with Natural England and its partners to explore these drivers in more detail. Use this research to advise on the development of accreditation outcomes, potential criteria and evaluation questions.

Additional information: This work for Natural England is focusing on urban areas driven by the importance of nature on people's doorsteps for people, nature, climate and prosperity. NE is seeking to galvanise opportunities for investment around urban greening and are developing our thinking for an accreditation that would act as a 'wrapper' for activity in this area. To explore this further we want to; • Work with 6 - 10 local partnerships and learn from National Trust's Future Parks Accelerator • Make this work self-sustaining - the accreditation needs to be self-financed which is why we're exploring private investment as part of the package • Understand how an accreditation could deliver systemic change and bring in investment

NE engagement to date NE has engaged with Local Authorities to grow our understanding of what LA's need from an accreditation. We have also engaged across Government departments and with NGO's to grow our understanding. We would now like to engage the private sector. We have listened to a group of private companies through our colleagues in the Nature Recovery Network but would like to focus our learning now in the urban context.

For more information contact : [email protected] or [email protected]