Cannock Chase to Sutton Park Draft Green Infrastructure Action Plan
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Cannock Chase to Sutton Park Draft Green Infrastructure Action Plan Stafford East Staffordshire South Derbyshire Cannock Chase Lichfield South Staffordshire Tam wo r t h Walsall Wo lver ha mp ton North Warwickshire Sandwell Dudley Birmingham Stafford East Staffordshire South Derbyshire Cannock Chase Lichfield South Staffordshire Tam wor t h Wa l s al l Wo lv e r ha mpt on North Warwickshire Sandwell Dudley Birmingham Stafford East Staffordshire South Derbyshire Cannock Chase Lichfield South Staffordshire Ta m wo r t h Walsall Wo lverha mpton North Warwickshire Sandwell Dudley Birmingham Prepared for Natural England by Land Use Consultants July 2009 Cannock Chase to Sutton Park Draft Green Infrastructure Action Plan Prepared for Natural England by Land Use Consultants July 2009 43 Chalton Street London NW1 1JD Tel: 020 7383 5784 Fax: 020 7383 4798 [email protected] CONTENTS 1. Introduction........................................................................................ 1 Purpose of this draft plan..........................................................................................................................1 A definition of Green Infrastructure.......................................................................................................3 Report structure .........................................................................................................................................4 2. Policy and strategic context .............................................................. 5 Policy review method.................................................................................................................................5 National plan and policy context.............................................................................................................5 Regional planning context .........................................................................................................................7 Structure plan context.............................................................................................................................11 Sub-Regional initiatives.............................................................................................................................11 Local plan and policy context.................................................................................................................12 PART ONE: CHARACTERISATION & IDENTIFICATION OF EXISTING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE ASSETS....................... 15 3. Characterisation themes & approach............................................. 17 4. Socio-economic character............................................................... 19 Regional economic objectives ................................................................................................................20 Demographic context ..............................................................................................................................22 Socio-economic context..........................................................................................................................23 Delivering socio-economic benefits through Green Infrastructure ..............................................25 Key issues....................................................................................................................................................26 Opportunities.............................................................................................................................................27 5. Biodiversity ....................................................................................... 29 Policy context ............................................................................................................................................29 Overview of the ecological character of the study area..................................................................32 Designated sites within the BEA............................................................................................................33 Distribution, extent and significance of habitats within the BEA ...................................................34 Current biodiversity initiatives...............................................................................................................41 Key issues and opportunities..................................................................................................................43 6. Landscape character and cultural heritage.................................... 49 A. Landscape character............................................................................................................................49 B. Cultural heritage...................................................................................................................................54 Key issues....................................................................................................................................................57 Opportunities.............................................................................................................................................57 7. Open space........................................................................................ 59 Existing open space provision ................................................................................................................60 i Key issues....................................................................................................................................................79 Opportunities.............................................................................................................................................79 8. Access................................................................................................ 81 Existing access across the study area ...................................................................................................81 Existing initiatives ......................................................................................................................................84 Key issues....................................................................................................................................................88 Opportunities.............................................................................................................................................88 9. Existing initiatives and partnerships ............................................... 91 Natural England .........................................................................................................................................91 Forestry Commission/Enterprise ..........................................................................................................93 Forest of Mercia ........................................................................................................................................94 Black Country Consortium Ltd: The Future of the Black Country ..............................................96 Cannock Chase AONB Partnership.....................................................................................................97 Local authorities and other landowners..............................................................................................98 Key issues....................................................................................................................................................98 Opportunities.............................................................................................................................................98 PART TWO: GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE ANALYSIS, KEY ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES........................................................................ 99 10. Green Infrastructure issues, opportunities and deficiencies ...... 101 Summary of overall key issues and opportunities........................................................................... 101 GI deficiency............................................................................................................................................ 104 Summary of findings............................................................................................................................... 106 PART THREE: DRAFT VISION AND GI ACTION PLAN............. 109 11. Draft Green Infrastructure Vision ................................................ 111 The Draft Cannock Chase to Sutton Park BEA Green Infrastructure Vision.......................... 111 12. Draft GI Action Plan ...................................................................... 115 1. Enhancement of key existing GI sites............................................................................................ 115 2. BEA-wide themed projects.............................................................................................................. 116 3. Opportunity areas............................................................................................................................. 117 4. Greenways .......................................................................................................................................... 124 13. Outline implementation strategy ................................................. 127 Delivery framework............................................................................................................................... 127 Green