Basingstoke GI Strategy

Front Cover Image – View of Bourne Rivulet, near Hurstbourne Priors Executive Summary sustainable development and protecting our protects the health and attractiveness natural heritage. of our natural environment, enhancing Green Infrastructure (GI) is defined as an those areas which can make a positive interconnected network of natural areas and The borough already has a significant network contribution to biodiversity; and, other green open spaces that is integral to the of green infrastructure assets, ranging from allows the natural environment to health and quality of life of people in local Green Flag awarded parks in the heart of thrive alongside the built environment. communities and which supports and Basingstoke to some of the country’s most enhances natural and ecological processes. precious wildlife habitats. This is In order to achieve this, the strategy aims to:- complemented by an extensive network of manage, protect and restore existing The borough’s network of parks, open spaces public rights of way and publicly accessible green infrastructure; and habitats provide an important resource for open countryside areas. The extent, type and achieve measurable net gain for people, wildlife and plants, GI benefits the quality of GI and its benefits, however, are not biodiversity within all new major public and wildlife by providing attractive evenly distributed and the maximum benefits development schemes; and, environments for outdoor recreation and are not always realised for reasons including expand and reconnect green exercise; helping to create a sense of place; accessibility, lack of awareness, poor linkages infrastructure where there is an providing biodiversity and habitat enhancement or inadequate management. identified deficit or where housing opportunities; as well as presenting other growth is planned and additional environmental benefits such as assisting There are also external pressures which could provision is needed. natural drainage to reduce flooding and help us affect GI assets, including on-going trends in adapt to climate change. biodiversity loss, conflicts between the differing Building on the borough’s previous GI Strategy priorities of wildlife and people as well as high adopted in 2013, this strategy set out Overall, the borough has a very good range of levels of growth and new development. These proposals on how GI can be improved, for green infrastructure assets, including Green trends could reduce the value of the GI example, by the creation of better links in the Flag awarded parks in the heart of resource if appropriate and pro-active existing network, together with focussed Basingstoke, the Forestry Commission’s measures are not taken. improvements in potential project areas. This Basing Wood to the north of Popley, some of builds upon further assessments of the nature, the country’s most precious wildlife habitats, The Green Infrastructure (GI) Strategy sets out benefit, extent and distribution of the borough’s registered parks and gardens, an extensive a framework for the management of our existing GI, including an assessment of where network of public rights of way, as well as network of spaces and habitats, reflecting the current deficiencies exist. publicly accessible open countryside areas. priorities and objectives of the Council Plan and the borough’s adopted Local Plan. The strategy also recognises that improving Protecting and enhancing the natural the borough’s GI resource requires the input of environment of the borough is important. It is The Strategy’s Vision is to provide a planned a range of external groups and organisations. essential that we make a step change in and managed network of GI across The document sets out how the council will restoring, protecting and improving the Basingstoke and Deane which: work in partnership to address relevant issues. ecological fabric and adopt practices that provides residents with adequate local Work with external partners will be particularly underpin the delivery of a richer, healthier and access to a network of high quality important, as networks, habitats and spaces biodiverse landscape, contributing to our parks, open spaces, green links and often cross boundaries of ownership and corridors; responsibility. 1 The strategy gives protection to those parks and open spaces that are considered particularly important by local communities and also looks to develop greater engagement in the protection and development of the borough’s GI network, for example by local conservation volunteer groups. This is supported by the inclusion of targets and standards for biodiversity and green space provision, and an action plan which identifies priorities for the next five years. The strategy supports the Local Plan ensuring that provision for GI is made within new development as part of the planning process. This includes policies that seek to conserve, protect and enhance the natural environment along with quantity and accessibility standards for green space provision. 2 Glossary Wildlife areas and landscape features, green Ecosystem services are the benefits provided corridors and buffers – areas whose primary to humans by natural systems that range from purpose is for wildlife protection/enhancement; food provision, management of flooding, protection of important landscape features; recreation and climate regulation. providing pedestrian, cycle and/or wildlife transport links and/or buffering, but where Natural capital involves elements of nature that public access for informal recreation can be directly or indirectly produce value to people, accommodated. including ecosystems, species, freshwater, land, minerals, the air and oceans. Equipped Play - outdoor sites with equipment (The UK Natural Capital Committee) and facilities aimed specifically at children and young people and where play is the River Catchment Management Plans are plans predominant use of the site. created by organisations, stakeholders and communities to protect and improve the quality Allotments – a suitable site for growing fruit of the water environment in an identified area and vegetables with facilities to meet the needs of allotment holders including appropriate perimeter fencing and gates to prevent Multi-functional green space (MFGS) types unauthorised access, water supply, waste storage, hard access for pedestrians and Amenity Green Space – green space suitable vehicles. for team games and robust play including level mown grass minimum rectangular area 1600 sq.m plus a buffer of 10m to housing, tree planting and shrub planting. Parks - green spaces that have well defined boundaries and a strong sense of place and design. They contain a range of facilities which cater for a wide range of users including young children, teenagers, families, office workers and the elderly. Accessible Natural Green Space (ANGS) - green space which is designed and/or managed to encourage biodiversity but is freely accessible to people and where a sense of naturalness is allowed to predominate. 3 Contents 4.3 Landscape Scale APPENDICES 4.4 Local Scale – Green Space Standards Executive Summary 4.5 Quantity Appendix A – Stakeholder consultation 4.6 Accessibility Appendix B – Policy documents and extracts Contents and Appendices 4.7 Quality Appendix C – Biodiversity 4.8 Valued Parks and Open Spaces Appendix D – Green space standards 4.9 Valued Parks and Open Spaces and Appendix E – Funding 1.0 INTRODUCTION the GI Strategy Appendix F – Baseline and analysis mapping 1.1 Green Infrastructure in Basingstoke Appendix G – Plans, Programmes and Projects and Deane 5.0 GI STRATEGY FOR 1.2 Definition BASINGSTOKE & DEANE 1.3 Vision 5.1 Landscape, Heritage & sense of place 1.4 Aims 5.2 Biodiversity 1.5 Objectives 5.3 Water resources 1.6 Scope 5.4 Tree & woodland resource 5.5 Economy 1.7 What is Green Infrastructure? 1.8 Functions and multifunctionality 5.6 Access & recreation 1.9 The benefits of Green Infrastructure 5.7 Health & well-being 1.10 Method 5.8 Local Awareness and Involvement 1.11 Stakeholder Consultation 1.12 Structure of the document 6.0 NEXT STEPS, DELIVERY AND 2.0 LEGAL AND POLICY CONTEXT IMPLEMENTATION 2.1 Introduction 6.1 Introduction 2.2 European Legislation and Regulation 6.2 GI in development 2.3 National Legislation and Regulation 6.3 Retrofitting GI in existing 2.4 National Policy and Guidance development 2.5 Local Policy and Guidance 6.4 Land management 6.5 Planning conditions, obligations and tariffs 3.0 EXISTING GI RESOURCE 6.6 GI Targets and Monitoring 3.1 Overview 6.7 Biodiversity Offsetting 3.2 The State of Nature In the Borough 6.8 Partnerships 3.3 Types of Green Infrastructure 6.9 Funding 6.10 Plans, Programmes and Projects 4.0 PROVIDING GI STRATEGICALLY 7.0 ACTION PLAN 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Current biodiversity provision 4 1.0 Introduction comprehensive and connected network of GI will support the economic development of the 1.6 Scope 1.1 Green Infrastructure in Basingstoke town, attracting new investors, residents and and Deane. visitors to the Borough. This strategy covers the whole of Basingstoke and Deane Borough. As GI does not stop at Green Infrastructure (GI) is vital to the quality the borough boundary, consideration is given of life, biodiversity and business of Basingstoke 1.4 Aims to the GI strategies of neighbouring authorities and Deane Borough. Recognising its to ensure an integrated approach. Where importance, the council first adopted a strategy The aims of the strategy are to: appropriate, this strategy’s action plan includes to sustain and enhance GI in 2013. This projects and topics that span the borough’s document is a review and update of the original Manage, protect and restore existing boundaries and adjacent districts. version, and continues to identify the GI assets for widest public and opportunities for planning and implementing GI biodiversity benefit; and in the borough, where investment in GI will Create a comprehensive and support growth and deliver the widest public connected GI network responding to benefits, environmental improvements and need in Basingstoke, outlying enhancement of the economy. It supports and settlements and rural area. informs the Local Plan and the Infrastructure Delivery Plan.

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