Investigating public demand for blue-green infrastructure
Flood reduction infrastructure is a vital aspect of many urban and peri-urban areas. To date, the majority of flood reduction projects use traditional “grey” materials and techniques. However, the use of blue-green infrastructure (BGI) such as, restoration of floodplains or wetlands and bioswales are becoming more popular. The move towards BGI is, in part, due to the additional ecosystem service benefits delivered through BGI in comparison to traditional grey infrastructures. Commonly for flood reduction BGI, these benefits include water purification, increased biodiversity, habitat protection or restoration and improved scenic quality. Although these additional benefits are well documented little is known about resident’s preference for BGI compared to traditional grey infrastructure when both provide the same level of flood protection.