XClose

UCL Grand Challenges

Home
Menu

Everyday Evidence for Environmental Justice

Everyday Evidence for Environmental Justice: Gathering evidence on local environmental justice

Green space in a public park

1 October 2016

Grant


Grant: Grand Challenges Small Grants
Year awarded: 2016-17
Amount awarded: £4,000

Academics 


  • Professor Jane Holder, Centre for Law and Environment, Laws
  • Professor Muki Haklay, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering

The collaboration has generated numerous important outcomes. The Somers Town and Euston Area Environmental Justice Inquiry was a major research project into the environment in Somers Town and the Euston area, immediately adjacent to UCL, directed by local community groups such as the Somers Town Neighbourhood Forum and Voluntary Action Camden. 91 people participated, giving evidence about the impacts of development on their health and well-being. This Inquiry elicited responses from local people affected by the scale (spatial and temporal) of major development in the area and has led to important academic work on (a) cumulative impact assessment, (b) the application of the Equalities Act 2010 to major infrastructure development; and (c) the impact of loss of green space on air pollution. The results of the Inquiry on cumulative impact assessment fed directly into Camden’s Clean Air Action Plan.   

The resulting report ('Environmental Justice in Somers Town and the Euston Area: An Inquiry into the Cumulative Impacts of Development on the Health and Well-being of Local People' (Oct 2018)) has been disseminated to local politicians and funding groups, and grounded an action plan for making better and more sustainable planning decisions about the area. 

In addition, this collaboration also contributed to the work of UCL Engineering Exchange.