Planning and Delivering Green Infrastructure

The Development Process
Planning Obligations
Community Infrastructure Levy
Green Space Standards
Local Area Agreements
Funding Sources
Further Guidance and Learning




 

This part of the portal links to information about the planning process, research on Local Area Agreements, current ideas about Standards, information on funding sources and links to further guidance.

The Development Process

Core Strategies

The development process provides opportunities to deliver GI and increasingly GI strategies linked to a local authority's core strategy will be the way to ensure that funds are released for Green Infrastructure delivery. The core strategy should be supported by evidence of what physical, social and green infrastructure is needed to enable the amount of development proposed for the area, taking account of its type and distribution. This evidence should cover who will provide the infrastructure and when it will be provided.

Examples

Swindon GI Strategy 
Forest of Avon GI Tool
Dorset Heathlands Interim Planning Framework

Planning Obligations

Planning law (PPG17) states that “planning obligations should be used as a means to remedy local deficiencies in the quantity or quality of open space, sports and recreational provision. Local authorities will be justified in seeking planning obligations where the quantity or quality of provision is inadequate or under threat, or where new development increases local needs. It is essential that local authorities have undertaken detailed assessments of needs and audits of existing facilities, and set appropriate local standards in order to justify planning obligations.”

In March 2008 GreenSpace South West Regional Forum and Natural England reported on their research project aimed at helping local authorities and their partners to make the most of the development process.

Examples

Bristol City Council Green Space Strategy
Cheltenham Borough Council

Community Infrastructure Levy

This approach is further reinforced in government statements regarding their proposals to introduce the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) the provisions for which are currently going through Parliament. This will be a new charge which local authorities in England and Wales will be empowered, but not required, to charge on most types of new development in their area. CIL charges will be based on simple formulae which relate the size of the charge to the size and character of the development paying it. The proceeds of the levy will be spent on local and sub-regional infrastructure to support the development of the area.
The Government aims to strike a careful balance between national consistency and local flexibility. To ensure consistency and simplicity the Government is minded to define at national level the descriptions of the unit of development that may be charged. It also proposes to set out exemptions, inflation indices and other similar matters at national level. However, the Government is also considering a number of flexibilities aimed at ensuring that charging schedules can be tailored to local circumstances. These include a facility to set differential rates geographically (for example, in order not to prevent development in regeneration areas).

Green Space Standards

Access to Natural Green Space Standards (ANGST)

Access to Natural Green Space Standards state that local communities should have access to an appropriate mix of green-spaces providing for a range of recreational needs, of at least 2 hectares of accessible natural green-space per 1,000 population. This can be broken down by the following system:

• No person should live more than 300 metres from their nearest area of natural green-space
• There should be at least one accessible 20 hectare site within 2 kilometres
• There should be one accessible 100 hectares site within 5 kilometres
• There should be one accessible 500 hectares site within 10 kilometres

In conjunction with developing this web portal, Natural England also commissioned the writing of a report on establishing quantity standards for natural space provision. To read report, click here

links to more information about Green Space standards:
Green Flag   
Civic Trust Awards 
Green Heritage Site
National Playing Fields Association 6 acre standard

There are also specific standards for Country Parks as set-out in Natural England's Country Parks Accreditation Scheme

Local Area Agreements

Local Area Agreements feature 35 improvement targets, drawn from the national indicator set, Local Strategic Partnerships can also choose additional targets from the set and develop their own. It is therefore important for Local Authorities to engage with those developing their Local Area Agreements. In doing so, they will promote the outcomes and values of parks and open spaces (eg promoting satisfaction in place, providing a place for young people to participate in active recreation; and empowering communities) rather than focussing on inputs (ie service delivery).

CABE Space Recommendations

CABE Space recommend that local authorities advocate for at least some of these to be included in the LAAs 35 improvement targets:

• NI 10 Visits to museums and galleries (parks and green spaces also have an important role in the cultural offer to communities)
• NI 188 Adaptation to climate change:
  • Tree and shrub planting to provide shade, trap dust and release moisture back into the atmosphere thereby acting as a cooling agent
  • Providing green surfaces to improve local drainage to reduce localised flooding
  • To promote green roofs and to collect water run-off
  • To ensure that tree, shrub and other plantings use plants that are adapted to minimise water use and tolerant of drought and higher ambient temperatures
• NI 189 Flood and coastal erosion risk management:
  • The design and development of ‘green solutions’ to coastal flooding and erosion
• NI 195 Improved street and environmental cleanliness:
  • The introduction of ‘patch working’ whereby teams of staff undertake a wider range of duties within the area across the whole of the public realm
• NI 197 Improved local biodiversity – active management of local sites:
  • Greater integration of biodiversity concepts and practice at street level, smaller scale schemes that enhance very local patches of land.

When local, non-designated targets are being set, local authorities can promote the importance and outcomes of those measures that indicate quality, use and satisfaction. These might include:

• number of Green Flag Awards and a self-assessment of quality of a range of sites using the scheme’s criteria
• evidence gathered using the Towards An Excellent Service (TAES) for parks and open space performance management framework (developed by CABE Space, I&DeA, GreenSpace, ISPAL, IPGS and parks professionals)
• indicators on satisfaction in parks and open spaces, using the surveys traditionally used for Best Value Performance Indicator 119E
• indicators relating to use of parks for example using GreenSTAT or private sector methodologies which can be used in benchmarking.

Already parks and green space services are benefiting from coordinated professional action within LAAs. Here are a few examples of how this has been achieved to date:

• The diversion of New Deal for Communities and Neighbourhood Renewal Fund monies to use for a series of environmental improvements to parks, open spaces and play areas. These have included designing out crime measures, improving lighting and access, new high standards of play and sports equipment and funding for a fixed period for a number of park wardens
• A health check of parks that focuses on the facilities devoted to improving health, e.g. trim trails, adventure playgrounds, healthy menus at cafes, volunteering activities. These can then be formed into local benchmarks that grade a parks contribution to health and well-being
• The development of Apprenticeship training schemes to take action to ensure that the parks have skilled local people to succeed the current generation of staff. At the same time it provides employment opportunities that are sustainable
  Developing and promoting cost comparison models that compare the cost and value of visiting a local park to other comparable recreational activities
• Developing the use of derelict or underused parks buildings as ‘start-up’ premises for small business
• Making parks and green spaces focal points for trialling new technologies that minimise the use of power and heat
• Provision and protection of ‘allotments’ in parks to demonstrate how to grow your own food, using locally available varieties thereby promoting the reduction of ‘food miles’
• Providing demonstrations of composting and re-cycling techniques

Funding Sources

This section of the portal has described the hooks by which green infrastructure can be linked into statutory and policy driven activity in the region. The funding opportunities below may also help deliver Green Infrastructure directly.

www.governmentfunding.org Provides information on grants awarded by government departments including Agri Environment Schemes.  Agri-environment schemes offer up the opportunity to enhance biodiversity and provide access and learning opportunities.  The Strategic activity table provides links to projects run by local authorities in potential and existing urban 'country' parks and estates, particularly Bristol, Plymouth, Bournemouth and Poole and Exeter.  http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/farming/funding/es/hls/default.aspx
 
Sea Change Aims to support innovative and inspirational cultural projects providing a high quality of experience, which make a lasting difference to the resort

Projects might include:

• cultural projects which will contribute to local place-making
• arts projects which provide new opportunities for local communities and visitors
• improving the quality and the experience of the historic environment
• natural and built environment and public space projects.

Countdown 2010 Countdown 2010 is a powerful network of active partners working together towards the 2010 Biodiversity Target. Each partner commits to specific efforts to tackle the causes of biodiversity loss.

Heritage and Big Lottery
European Social Fund
Growth Fund
Woodland Grant schemes
Parks for People
Landfill Communities Fund Scheme

Management Tools: Delivery of Green Infrastructure and the potential role of Community Land Management Trusts

Further Guidance and Learning

Information and advice about Green Infrastructure is developing all the time. The links below will provide further guidance.

General

Natural England - Park City

Natural England – Green Infrastructure Guidance

Environment Agency water infrastructure planning guidance

Eco towns and Green Infrastructure

Landscape Institute and Green Infrastructure

Green Infrastructure Planning Guidance

Natural England – Green Space Standards

Natural England – Coastal Access

Cabe has a grey to green campaign, which includes some guidance:

Sustainable Cities This web site has links to world wide good practice and guidance.

Defra; eco valuing

Sustainability South West's GI Briefing Note for all orgs involved in sustainable communities - Urban green infrastructure networks: the social, economic and environmental potential

Practitioner research undertaken by Sustainability South West - The Potential of GI to support sustainable urban communities

Outline of regional GI masterclasses (spring 2010) on the themes of the urban food and natural economy

Design and Quality of Place

DCLG – World Class Places

CABE – Open Space Strategy Guidance

CIWEM - Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management

Landscape and Biodiversity

Natural England –Countryside around towns

Built Environment and Growth Points

Natural England - Housing, Growth and Green Infrastructure

DCLG – Growth Points

Homes and Communities Agency – Growth Points

People, Health and Play

Natural England – Green Exercise

Play England – Natural Play

Natural England – Wildlife Gardening

HLF Grants - Parks for People

CABE - Green Apprenticeship Scheme 

Land Restoration Trust – Funding the Public Realm

Natural England – Access to Nature

Homes and Communities Agency – Growth Fund

Community Spaces


If you experience any problems with this page, please contact the content owner: rob.spence@forestry.gsi.gov.uk