The combined challenges of climate change, finite resources, population growth and aging infrastructure demand a shift toward more resource-efficient, low-carbon sustainable cities. This may be achieved through new forms of eco-infrastructure delivered at the district scale. Despite considerable success in numerous demonstration projects globally, such development has not yet become mainstream. Finance remains a key obstacle preventing wide-spread implementation. This paper suggests that new funding models are needed that can help spread the costs of the infrastructure over a longer time period and across different land titles. It highlights a range of possible funding options and introduces the concept of Green Regenerative Improvement Districts, or ‘GRID’, as a possible new governance mechanism that could assist with financing and managing precinct scale ecoinfrastructure.

Keywords: Sustainable urbanism, infrastructure financing, eco-infrastructure, precincts, funding models