EMBEDDING NATURE’S VALUE IN LOCAL POLICYGREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING

LAURA AMBLERHEAD OF REGIONAL HOUSING AND PLANNINGWEST OF ENGLAND COMBINED AUTHORITY

INTRODUCTIONTHE JOINT SPATIAL PLAN (JSP)

• JSP AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES

• STRATEGIC POLICY FRAMEWORK

THE GI STRATEGY• ROLE OF THE STRATEGY

• LINK TO STRATEGIC POLICY

• MAPPING AT ALL SCALES

THE WEST OF ENGLAND JOINT SPATIAL PLAN

A PLAN FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

▪THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES OF BATH AND NORTH EAST

SOMERSET COUNCIL, BRISTOL CITY COUNCIL, NORTH

SOMERSET COUNCIL AND SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNCIL

HAVE JOINED FORCES TO PREPARE THE JOINT SPATIAL PLAN

(JSP).

▪THE PURPOSE OF THE JSP IS TO PROVIDE A POSITIVE PLAN-

LED APPROACH TO STEER THE NATURE AND LOCATION OF

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND SECURE FUNDING FOR

ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

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Introduction

Severn Estuary

Cotswolds

Mendip Hills

JSP AND GI PLAN5

PROPOSED VISION

“By 2036 the WoE will be one of Europe’s fastest growing and most

prosperous city regions with the gap between disadvantaged and other

communities closed and a rising quality of life for all.

The rich and diverse environmental character will be integral to

health and economic prosperity. Patterns of development and transport

will facilitate healthy and sustainable lifestyles.

Provision of a range of housing types, will be of high quality and more

affordable. Existing and new communities will be well integrated,

attractive and desirable places and supported by the necessary

infrastructure.

New development will be designed to be resilient to, and reduce the

impacts of climate change.”

THE JOINT SPATIAL PLAN SCOPE▪IDENTIFYING THE NUMBER OF NEW MARKET AND AFFORDABLE HOMES AND AMOUNT OF EMPLOYMENT LAND THAT IS NEEDED ACROSS THE WEST OF ENGLAND FROM 2016-2036.

• 105,500 homes

• 87,500 jobs

▪IDENTIFYING THE MOST APPROPRIATE SPATIAL STRATEGY AND STRATEGIC LOCATIONS FOR

THIS GROWTH.

▪OUTLINING STRATEGIC TRANSPORT, GREEN AND BLUE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT NEEDS TO BE PROVIDED TO SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND PROVIDE CERTAINTY FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND THOSE WHO WANT TO INVEST IN OUR AREA.

▪A PLACE MAKING APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT THAT ENSURES ALL NEW DEVELOPMENT ARE HIGH QUALITY SUSTAINABLE PLACES.

THE JSP AND GI PLAN6

JSP AND GI PLAN7

THE JOINT SPATIAL PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES

JSP AND GI PLAN8

THE JSP POLICY▪POLICY 1 – THE HOUSING REQUIREMENT

▪POLICY 2 – THE SPATIAL STRATEGY

▪POLICY 3 – THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TARGET

▪POLICY 4 – THE EMPLOYMENT LAND REQUIREMENT

▪POLICY 5 – PLACE SHAPING PRINCIPLES

▪POLICY 6 – STRATEGIC INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS

▪POLICY 7 – STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT LOCATIONS SITE

REQUIREMENTS:

POLICY 5 – CLAUSE 4,5,8.

POLICY 6 – INTRODUCTION OF A GI STRATEGY

POLICY 7S ENSURE THE INCLUSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL

MITIGATION AND ENHANCEMENT IN REGARDS TO GI PROVISION

DEPENDING ON LOCALITY.

JSP AND GI PLAN9

THE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGYROLE OF THE GI STRATEGY IS TO:

• ESTABLISH A JOINT WORKING GROUP UTILISING KEY PARTNERS

EXPERTISE

• IDENTIFY EXISTING GI ASSETS, OPPORTUNITIES AND GOALS

• IDENTIFY STRATEGIC GI MEASURES AND MECHANISMS TO

SUPPORT THE JSPS ENVIRONMENTAL AMBITIONS

• PROVIDE EVIDENCE TO ASSIST MASTER PLANNING OF

STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT LOCATIONS AND OTHER FUTURE

DEVELOPMENT

• TO SUPPORT DELIVERY OF PLACE SHAPING PRINCIPLES (POLICY

5)

A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR GROWTHGOVERNMENT

AGENCIES NPPF, 25Yr

Environment Plan

IDENTIFICATION OF

NATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

AND OBJECTIVES

(AND FUNDING MECHANISM)

JSP & JLTP

MECHANISMS TO ENSURE

CONSISTENCY ACROSS THE

WEST OF ENGLAND

Local Plans

LOCAL DELIVERY OF GI

WEST OF ENGLAND

UNITARY

AUTHORITIES , AND

PRESCRIBED BODIES

GI Strategy

MECHANISMS TO ENSURE FURTHER

JOINT WORKING ON GI EVIDENCE AND

GUIDANCE.

KEY DELIVERY PARTNERSHIPS

INCLUDING: SSP ,LNP, LEP, BACP

7. Stewardship

2. Development

Integration

3. Biodiversity

Habitats

4. Physical

Environment

5. Access Networks

6. Greenspace

D. Early/integral design

E. Early engagement

F. Multi-functional land use

G. Natural Capital & ES

H. Off-site analysis

I. On-site survey

N. SuDS designed as GI

O. Naturalised SuDS

P. Access to Waterbodies

Q. Aesthetics of Waterbodies

Abbreviated headings used in Assessment Tables

Green Infrastructure Design Elements

Assessment CriteriaSubject sub-headings

1. Policy Plan

Mainstreaming C. The vision, principles and culture of development positively support GI investment

A. GI is explicitly integrated with other economic and social priorities

B. GI is presented as delivering both economic and social benefits

A. Integration other priorities

B. Economic & Social benefits

C. Support for GI investment

F. GI will overlay multiple GI functions on the same land parcel

G. GI will enhance Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services

D. GI is an integral design component and must be considered at pre-planning stage

E. Designers of GI must engage with all relevant stakeholders at pre-planning stage

H. The development setting must be appraised for GI functions

I. The development site will be surveyed to identify opportunity locations to deliver GI functions

Biodiversity gain

Habitat connectivity

Water environment

Air Quality

N. SuDS to be designed as part of multi-functional GI

P. Watercourses and SuDS will be designed to provide safe public access

Q. Watercourses and SuDS must enhance the aesthetic and amenity value of the development

O. SuDS features (e.g. ponds, swales, wetlands) will have a naturalised design

GI

FU

NC

TIO

NS

Active travel routes

Recreational routes

L. GI will be designed to retain and expand habitat networks

K. GI must deliver habitat enhancements to increase biodiversity relevant to site K. Enhance biodiversity

L. Habitat networks

Open space Standards

Meet user needs

V. GI will meet the Council’s accessibility, quality and quantity standards for open space

W. GI will be designed to provide recreational facilities for different user & age groups

V. Open space standards

W. Multi-user design

S. Active travel routes will be off-road and link to community facilities and transport hubs

U. GI will be designed to provide local recreational walking and cycling routes

T. GI must link to wider path networks where they exist T. Links to wider networks

S. Active travel routes

U. Recreational routes

Management & maintenance

Resourcing mechanisms

X. Agreed management

Y. Functional maintenance

Z. Resourcing mechanisms Z. Mechanisms to fund the management & maintenance regime must be identified & agreed

X. Long-term Management & maintenance arrangements will be documented & agreed

Y. Documentation will state the function of all GI components and the maintenance regime

AFT

ERCA

RE

GI

INT

EG

RA

TIO

N

J. GI will be designed to strengthen a wider landscape scale network of green infrastructure Landscape scale

Early design and engagement

Development setting

Multi-functionality

Policy integration

Support of GI investment

M. Watercourses and coastal areas will be integrated into the GI design of the development

R. GI will be designed to ameliorate any air quality issues

J. GI Network

M. Integrated into GI

R. Ameliorate air quality

DELIVERING STRONG LOCAL POLICY

• GI WORKSHOPS - JUNE AND OCTOBER 2018 WITH LOCAL

AUTHORITY OFFICERS AND STATUTORY BODIES:

• DEMYSTIFYING THE POLICY LANDSCAPE – NATIONAL

PLANNING POLICY FRAMEWORK, 25YR ENVIRONMENT

AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY

• DEMYSTIFYING TERMS - NATURAL CAPITAL, ECOSYSTEM

SERVICES, GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, NET ENVIRONMENT

GAIN, NATURE RECOVERY NETWORK AND HOW THEY

RELATE TOGETHER

• GI POLICY ASSESSMENT- ROBUST AND SYSTEMATIC

APPROACH TO DEVISE STRONG LOCAL POLICY

MAPPING AND PLANNING FOR GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE: STRATEGIC LEVEL

MAPPING AND PLANNING FOR GREEN INFRASTRUCTURELOCAL LEVEL

CONCLUSIONS

• STRONG POLICY FRAMEWORK:

STRATEGIC AND LOCAL

• GI STRATEGY: TECHNICAL EVIDENCE

AND INFORMED DECISIONS

• A PARTNERSHIP APPROACH IS

CRITICAL