Green infrastructure policy

Planning policy and guidance can be used to embed green infrastructure in regional spatial strategies and local development frameworks.

Planning policy and guidance

PPS 12: local spatial planning requires local authorities to identify within their core strategy the amount of green infrastructure required, who will provide it and when it will be provided, to enable the amount of development proposed within the development plan to be delivered.

PPS1: planning and climate change recognises that open spaces and green infrastructure can contribute to 'urban cooling, sustainable drainage systems, and conserving and enhancing biodiversity'.

PPS9:biodiversity and geological conservation expects local development documents to 'identify areas for the restoration or creation of new priority habitats which contribute to regional targets, and support this… through appropriate policies'.

PPG17: open space, sport and recreation requires authorities to produce co-ordinated open space strategies which encourage the full range of green infrastructure functions and benefits to be realised.

PPS25: development and flood risk highlights the role of green infrastructure in supporting sustainable drainage and reducing flood risk.

Section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act contains a duty to conserve biodiversity.

Regional spatial strategies

Regional spatial strategies provide a useful mechanism to embed green infrastructure strategies at the regional and sub-regional scales - both of which are particularly appropriate for green infrastructure.

The North West regional spatial strategy integrates green infrastructure provision within existing and new development.

Local development frameworks

Local development frameworks establish local policy for areas of new build and regeneration, providing the opportunity to steer city-wide planning and design of green infrastructure.

St Helens core strategy contains a green infrastructure policy which mentions 'mitigating the effects of climate change'.

Bradford's sustainable design guide focuses on green space and sustainable design guidance.

Sefton's trees and development supplementary planning guidance requires developers to plant at least three new trees for each new home in housing developments and conversions.