Case studies

A green infrastructure pilot scheme that uses rain gardens, swale (a shallow grassy drainage channel for water to run through), tree planting, and over 1,300 plants has helped to reduce surface water flooding on a residential street in Essex.

When the Essex Partners Group commissioned research into the challenges facing the county, it became clear no organisation could tackle them alone. But before working out the solutions, the group had to find a story to unite everyone with a role to play.

A design team came together drawing from staff in CAMHS, education, the voluntary sector and Youth Offending Services from three local authorities. The team examined two local critical cases and identified a need for a primarily solution-focused emotional wellbeing support for children in the 8-13 age range.

The council is working closely with anchor institutions to identify the plans of large employers, mapping the asset base and developing a ‘Skills Engine’. This will support local recruitment and a drive to increase higher skilled and knowledge-intensive employment.

The Strategic Hate Crime Prevention Partnership (SHCPP), in Essex, is an association including voluntary, statutory and council bodies that work to raise reporting of hate crime and deliver preventative measures.  Membership includes:

Essex Record Office wanted to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the 1953 Essex flood, a disaster which claimed 120 lives. They worked collaboratively with community groups, the Environment Agency and National Coastwatch to create public events which were attended by 1700 participants.

The project identified a number of potential sites suitable for housing development.

In 2017, the coastal flooding emergency at Jaywick Sands in Essex highlighted the need for a merging of data sources between the county council and the districts in order to best identify and evacuate vulnerable residents.

In 2020, Essex County Council appointed Jacobs and Essex Highways to develop Sustainable School Travel Design Guide after identifying the need for greater guidance to optimise sustainable design.

The ‘Love Essex Not Plastic’ campaign aimed to change the mindset of how plastic is used, reduced and recycled in Essex. By encouraging residents to sign the Essex Plastic Pledge, and commit to changing their current behaviour, they receive information to help reduce single-use plastics and find suitable alternative, plastic-free options.