Resisting the loss of existing green space

NE8: Resisting the loss of existing green space. 1. The loss of existing accessible natural green space or the incorporation of publicly accessible green infrastructure into private garden land is unacceptable and would be refused, unless it has been clearly demonstrated that the following criteria are met. a) For developments of more than ten homes, or which have maximum combined gross floorspace of more than 1,000 square metres (gross internal area), the Green Infrastructure has been subject to an assessment which proves it is surplus to requirements based on the Natural England’s quantitative/accessibility standards. b) The land does not fulfil a positive contribution in terms of its appearance, landscaping, recreational use or wildlife value. c) Following an ecology assessment, the land does not contain any priority habitats or species (i.e. those of principle importance as defined under the Natural environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (as amended)). d) The loss of GI would not cumulatively have an adverse effect on the locality or the environment. e) The Green Infrastructure lost must be replaced by equivalent or better provision following an assessment justifying this need based on applying the AGS standards in Appendix M. The replacement GI will be in the catchment area (see AGS standards) for the GI lost. 7.181 This policy is concerned with the loss of existing green space, not just accessible space for recreation and wellbeing but also allotments, which are important to local food production. The policy sets out the terms for how existing green space should be retained or circumstances where it could be replaced. This element of the policy links to Policy SE3 Community Food Growing which also calls for new allotment provision. Green Infrastructure Strategies in Buckinghamshire 7.182 The following Green Infrastructure and related Strategies cover Buckinghamshire: a) Vision and Principles for the Improvement of Green Infrastructure in Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes. County-wide. Produced by the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Natural Environment Partnership (“NEP”), the Vision and Principles set out 9 Principles which should be followed to achieve the NEP vision by 2030. b) Buckinghamshire Green Infrastructure Delivery Plan (2013). County-wide. The Delivery Plan includes specific project areas - Aylesbury Linear Park, Whaddon Chase, Wycombe, Amersham and Chesham, Gerrards Cross, Burnham and Farnham. c) Buckinghamshire Green Infrastructure Study (2026). County-wide. This document is currently in preparation. The Green Infrastructure Study will provide the latest strategic vision, show the extent of GI across the council area and any deficiencies and priorities for GI. The 2026 mapping will identify the number of dwellings that do not meet any of Natural England’s Accessible Green Space standards (AGS). d) Aylesbury Garden Town (2022). Aylesbury and surrounding parishes have an accompanying Masterplan which will set out how Green Infrastructure will be integrated into new and existing Garden Town developments. Accessible Green Space Standards (AGS) 7.183 These standards, formerly known as Accessible Natural Green Space Standards (ANGST) were developed nationally in the 1990s and reviewed by Natural England in 2008 and 2023. The standards are a response to Natural England’s belief that everyone should have access to good quality natural greenspace near to where they live. The Green Infrastructure Headline Standards states everyone should have access to good quality green and blue spaces close to home for health and wellbeing and contact with nature, to meet the Accessible Greenspace Standards, with an initial focus on access to green and blue spaces within 15 minutes’ walk from home. The Accessible Greenspace Standards define good provision based on different size, proximity, capacity and quality criteria. 7.184 In terms of meeting the standards, to be ‘Accessible’ a place must be available for the public to use free of charge and without time restrictions (although some sites may be closed to the public overnight and there may be fees for parking a vehicle). The places must be available to all, which means that every reasonable effort must be made to comply with the requirements under the Equality Act (2010 as amended by subsequent legislation). For a space to be ‘Natural’ it must be a place where human control and activities are not intensive so that a feeling of naturalness is allowed to predominate. Areas for biodiversity and flood mitigation, car and cycle parking (unless incidental) do not count as meeting the AGS standards. To meet the AGS standards, the space also must be ‘green’ and so a form of green infrastructure defined in 7.4.73. 7.185 The AGS accessibility/quantitative and qualitative standards will apply to development proposals of ten homes or more and which have maximum combined gross floorspace of more than 1,000 square metres (gross internal area). These thresholds are a national standard in Planning Practice Guidance for securing infrastructure contributions through planning applications. It is also considered a threshold whereby at 10 or more homes the development is more likely to itself create a deficiency. Where the standards are applicable, development proposals will need to demonstrate to the Council that a development itself, with committed developments, would not create a deficiency. 7.186 The emerging Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Local Nature Recovery Strategy will provide an important framework for developing and applying green infrastructure policy approach in this local plan to promote urban nature conservation, meet local biodiversity priorities and support delivery of mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain. 7.187 In addition to meeting the AGS standards, all major developments must provide sufficient provision to meet local needs for play space (see Policy SE3), with provision for all ages and based on accessibility and current provision. This will be done by meeting the Fields in Trust latest standards. These advise on the mix of different play spaces depending on the size of housing development proposed. All proposed children’s play areas/equipment should be designed to achieve a minimum rating of 'Good' against criteria set out in RoSPA's 'Play Value Assessment'. Principles for Delivering Green Infrastructure in Buckinghamshire 7.188 Development proposals, particularly on larger sites, provide an opportunity to improve the strategic green infrastructure network (as demonstrated through the Berryfields and Kingsbrook sites near Aylesbury), this Policy seeks to achieve this. green infrastructure will be delivered through development proposals and on site or off-site obligations will be imposed through the CIL regime, S106 contributions and/or conditions to the planning permission as appropriate. HS2 mitigation works will also deliver some green infrastructure in the south of the County. All green infrastructure proposals should include details of management and maintenance to ensure these areas are permanently protected. 7.189 Development proposals will be expected to identify, retain and enhance existing green infrastructure assets, including corridors and to ensure new links are provided between existing green spaces. Local green space designations, which are now commonplace in neighbourhood plans, will provide protection for those areas. 7.190 Green infrastructure must ensure permeability for wildlife through development and provide sufficient beneficial habitat to support target species, independent of its connective function. The policy requirement for significant habitat enhancement is the difference between creating habitat which is meaningful for biodiversity and climate change adaptation 11 rather than low value habitats such as cropland. 7.191 The incorporation of sustainable drainage systems can contribute to green infrastructure provision as well as help to alleviate flooding and provide other biodiversity benefits. New landscaping areas are important and will be required in larger development schemes to assimilate development into the landscape and assist in the transition between the urban and rural boundary. The size and location of green infrastructure is expected to be suitable for the function it is intended to fulfil. 11 See for example Natural England’s information on Carbon Storage and Sequestration by Habitat 2021 - NERR094 7.192 There are areas of the green infrastructure network in Buckinghamshire which are not in the council’s ownership or control, so partnership working is required to plan, provide and manage the network to achieve the objectives of the policy. 7.193 Long term stewardship of the public realm is important to ensure that open space provided from development is maintained to high standards. A maintenance and management strategy agreed by the council will ensure the developer put in place arrangements for at least 30 years maintenance regime. Then during that time arrangements shall be agreed by the council with the landowner for site management into perpetuity - an indefinite period.