"There can be easy solutions that contribute a great deal to the level of comfort in a business park"

Master's thesis on creating ecologically and socially sustainable industrial and business parks

Victoria Pasternak (M.Sc. Sustainable Development), who previously worked within the IB-Green project for LP Support Infrastruktur & Umwelt, completed her master’s thesis last summer with the title “Rethinking industrial and business areas for sustainable urban development – How climate change adaptation and mixed-use contribute to socially sustainable cities”. 

Picture (c) Carmen Vieten

In an online interview, we spoke with Victoria on how to transform industrial and business parks into more attractive areas and why it is important to look beyond the ecological benefit of adaptation measures.

1. What are the key findings from your master’s thesis?

There is a large potential for climate adaptation in industrial and business parks, especially to develop them beyond their economic function. It is important to develop a comprehensive concept and not just make improvements where the need is particularly high. For this adjustment, it is important to combine the ecological and social dimension: A greened space or area can provide relief because of the cooling effect or protect from the effects of heavy rainfall. However, it can also contribute to bringing people together, if an area is attractive for many people and brings comfort.

2. Thinking from an urban planning perspective: If you could develop a concept of an ideal industrial and business, what would it look like?

Ideally, it is important not to overplan measures at the beginning. The economic character of business parks should not be neglected, but it is important to find a compromise on how all stakeholders and users can optimally use a space or area - not just enterprises or municipalities. It is very important to take the status quo and the local context into account.

3. What are the challenges for implementing adaptation in (existing) industrial and business parks?

New business parks have a much higher standard and quality of life than those built between the 50s and 80s. Challenges to transform existing ones include a high bureaucratic effort, but also acceptance problems with persons in influential positions and some conditions in the legal framework. When trying to change existing business parks it is important to make a very detailed and specific analysis, like in any urban planning project: To gather physical and spatial data, e.g. on temperature or the water balance of existing areas. This can be used as a basis to approach municipalities or companies and to illustrate and quantify the benefit of adaptation measures.

4. How can industrial and business parks become attractive places where people enjoy spending time?

More green! At the moment, when we think of business parks, we have an image of “concrete jungles” in our heads. One first step is to make business parks more comfortable to pass through, for example by foot or bike. Then, next steps can be taken into account to improve the quality of time that can be spent there and to make social interactions possible for diverse groups. A broad spectrum of measures is possible to make industrial and business parks attractive: Childcare facilities nearby, maybe a cinema, but it can also be something simple like a cash machine, trash cans or public toilets.

"(...) It can be useful to first text activities on a smaller scale, and later transfer them to the entire business park, to see how measures are accepted." - Victoria Pasternak

5. In your master’s thesis you write that it is important to gather information on the needs of companies and citizens. How can IBP managers or municipalities go about doing this?

It is important to take everyone into account: And not just those that are already engaged to prevent further gentrification and a one-sided involvement. To do this, it can be useful to use low-key survey options and not put too much pressure on people, for instance by asking people to put down their wishes anonymously on a locally displayed blackboard.

6. Profitability of investments is an important issue for companies who want to implement climate adaptation measures. Were there findings on this topic in your thesis?

It does not always have to be the most expensive solution – there can be easy solutions that contribute a great deal to the comfort in a business park, especially if citizens’ needs are taken into account. Ideally, implemented measures are not fixed but can be adapted or adjusted at a later point. Finally, it can be useful to not implement a large project all at once, but first test activities on a smaller scale, and later transfer them to the entire (or other) business parks, to see how the measures are accepted.

7. You were involved yourself in IB-Green in the past: What results from your research should our Interreg NWE project take to heart?

Include and always consider the added value adaptation measures should have, especially beyond the ecological function! Also think about how “fit for future” can be implemented specifically and what different options there are. The role of a facilitator as a central person (or team) in the industrial and business park could be helpful to point out where the largest potential is, to gather information on local needs and to jointly find a compromise between different stakeholders.

8. What should municipalities consider in their strategies and action plans for climate adaptation in industrial and business parks?

Municipal strategies should display options, but also highlight possibilities to receive financial support or subsidies for adaptation measures. It is really important not just to have “best practice examples” of how something should look in the end, but additionally to give steps and a guideline on how to get to that point. Monitoring can also be helpful: Checking guidelines after five, ten years to see whether bottlenecks and difficulties still exist.

 




Third IB-Green Meeting in Mechelen
Visiting Green Energy Park and Drafting the IB-Green Strategy