Residents’ perceptions of green infrastructure in the contemporary residential context: a study of Kingswood, Kingston-upon-Hull, England

Abstract

Recent developments in the conceptualisation of green infrastructure have used ecosystems services as a framework to understand its multi-functionality. A number of studies explore green infrastructure functions and services, both outside and within the field of planning and design, primarily from the perspective of professionals. The research reported here uses an ‘on-site’ and ‘sharp-narrative’ qualitative approach in a typical urban extension in Kingston upon Hull, England, to gain further insight into how residents perceive green infrastructure and which aspects of it they value. The findings indicate that they understand green infrastructure experientially rather than functionally, predominantly appreciating its cultural services. The article addresses a gap in our understanding of residents’ perceptions of green infrastructure and its benefits within contemporary, master planned, speculative housing development. This knowledge is important at a time of rapid urban development to inform the successful planning and design of green infrastructure in new residential neighbourhoods.

Keywords:

• green infrastructure
• urban extension
• residents’ perceptions

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Funds for the study were provided though a staff student research initiative at Sheffield Hallam University. We thank Gabrielle Appiah for contributing to collecting that narrative material, the narrators from Kingswood and the anonymous reviewers for the valuable comments that improved the paper.