Green Grid Strategy 2005
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READ ME Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership Greengrid Strategy If the CD does not run for any reason then double-click on 1stAutoRunExpressLauncher This CD contains the following items: • The fi nal project report - .pdf fi le with full text and illustrations. • Three appendices: these provide background information – further appendices will be available shortly • Brand logo information To enlarge any of the text or maps you will have to press ‘esc’ button and then use magnifying tool to operate from within the .pdf fi le. To return to full-screen go to ‘View’ and ‘Full Screen’. Enter >> contents < > The Strategy is promoted by the Greengrid Partnership Guide to Using the Strategy Acknowledgements and funded by the Offi ce of the Deputy Prime Minister’s The Strategy is in three sections and supported by fi ve We would like to thank the Steering Group for their guidance (ODPM) Sustainable Communities Plan put forward in appendices: and support throughout the preparation of this Strategy: 2003 for delivering growth in the Thames Gateway. LDA Design was appointed by the East of England Section 1: provides an introduction and the background Mary Spence, Chief Executive, Development Agency (EEDA) in December 2003 to prepare to the Strategy. Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership the Strategy. Figure 1 defi nes The Strategy Area. Section 2: describes and analyses the resource of the Martin Wakelin, Principal Landscape Architect, Strategy Area, and describes the broad Essex County Council A partnership has been brought together to take forward Strategic Opportunities for the Greengrid. Catherine Cairns, Countryside Agency the Greengrid initiative comprising: Section 3: describes the Vision for the Greengrid, Catherine Bailey, Green Spaces Strategy Offi cer • Founding members of the Thames Gateway South delineates a spatial Strategic Framework for John Meehan, Thames Chase Community Forest Essex Partnership (TGSEP): Basildon District Council, the whole Strategy Area supported by Vince Thurkettle, Forestry Commission Castlepoint District Council, Rochford District Council, Strategic Guidance for local authorities, Tim Caulfi eld, East of England Development Agency Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, Essex County statutory agencies, planners, developers and Domenico Cirillo, East of England Development Agency Council, Thurrock Council all others with an interest in development in Richard Rigby, Essex County Council • Government agencies: Countryside Agency, Forestry the Strategy Area. It also delineates Area Jonathan Ducker, Thames Estuary Partnership Commission, Environment Agency, English Nature, and Frameworks for Thurrock, Basildon and Steve Scott, Forestry Commission English Heritage Castlepoint, and Southend and Rochford, Alex Brearley, Forestry Enterprise Local/national environmental trusts: Essex Wildlife • describes key issues and opportunities, The Steering Group would like to thank the Greengrid Trust, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, British and provides guidance. Partnership and all those who participated in the Trust for Conservation Volunteers, Sustrans, and Section 4: concludes the Strategy addressing the Workshops, and those who gave us their time in numerous Groundwork UK principles of delivery, community individual meetings. Other non-governmental bodies and partnerships: • engagement, and promotion and marketing. Thames Estuary Partnership, Thames Chase The Thames Gateway South Essex Greengrid Strategy is Community Forest; and also available on CD-Rom from: • East of England Development Agency. Thames Gateway South Essex Greengrid Partnership Brand Guidelines 3rd Floor, Acorn House Click here for Brand Guidlines Great Oaks, Basildon Essex, SS14 1AH Tel: 01268 595345 www.greengrid.co.uk This document has been prepared and checked in accordance with BS EN ISO 9001 : 2000 Contents < > Executive Summary 1.0 Introduction 4.0 Strategic Frameworks 4.8.8 Leisure and Recreation 1.1 Background and Guidance 4.8.9 Urban form 1.2 Purpose, Aims and Objectives of the Strategy 4.1 The Harlequin Landscape 4.8.10 Views and landmarks 1.3 Policy Context 4.2 Sense of Place, Sense of Belonging 4.8.11 Infrastructure 1.4 Other Thames Gateway Green Grid, and strategic 4.3 Overall Strategic Framework 4.8.12 Healthy living and mental health environmental infrastructure initiatives • Parkways 4.8.13 Social and economic benefi ts 1.5 The economic argument for investment in the • Urban Green Roadways Greengrid • Railways 5.0 Making it Happen • Riverways 5.1 Community engagement 2.0 The Resource • Greenways 5.2 Promotion and marketing 2.1 Land Resources and Natural Systems: 4.4 Strategic Area Frameworks 5.3 The time is right, the time is now • Geology 4.5 Thurrock Strategic Area Framework Hydrology • 4.6 Basildon and Castle Point Strategic Area Framework Topography Appendices • 4.7 Southend and Rochford Strategic Area Framework Biodiversity • Appendix 1 - Policy Context 4.8 Strategic Guidance 2.2 Land Use and Human Systems: Appendix 3 - Index of Collated Background Information Urban development 4.8.1 Accessibility • Appendix 4 - Landscape Character Analysis • Access and movement 4.8.2 Planning Archaeology, historic and cultural resources • 4.8.3 Character - landscape, townscape and riverscape Landscape character • 4.8.4 Biodiversity • Designated public open space 4.8.5 Archaeology, historical and cultural resources 2.3 Climate Change 4.8.6 Flood risk and water management 3.0 Strategic Opportunities 4.8.7 Education, skills and learning Executive Summary Contents < > What is the Greengrid? What is the Resource? Thames Gateway South Essex sits within the Thames It proposes nothing less than an environmental The Strategy begins by establishing the national, regional, Gateway which is a national government priority for infrastructure that protects, enhances and creates new: and local policy context for the Greengrid. Through a series regeneration and development. The government expects • areas of outstanding landscape, riverscape and of consultations with key stakeholders, the documentation 43,800 homes to be built, and 55,000 jobs to be created townscape character and analysis of the existing resource was verifi ed, and the within Thurrock, Basildon, Castle Point, Rochford and • biodiversity value multiple Strategic Themes to be addressed by the Strategy Southend by 2021. There will be regeneration within • archaeological, cultural and built heritage; and identifi ed, these are listed below under Strategic Frameworks existing communities and new development will be on • settings for development; views and landmarks and Guidance. The existing resource base analysed previously developed land. includes: and that: Geology The government is also committed to developing promotes sustainable energy production • • Hydrology sustainable communities. This means meeting the provides for clean air, food and water • • Topography social, economic and environmental requirements of manages fl ood risk • • Biodiversity today’s communities without compromising the ability ameliorates the effects of climate change; and • • Developed/non-developed areas of future communities to meet their requirements. promotes healthy living, a strong sense of • • Access and movement community and a sustainable economy. • Sustainable Communities: Greening the Gateway makes • Archaeological, historic and cultural resources a powerful case for the government’s expectations of a It will link every resident with the fi ne townscapes, • Designated public open space; and high quality, functional green space network throughout landscapes and riverscapes in the area from Doorstep • Landscape character. the Thames Gateway. The Thames Gateway South Essex to Countryside and Estuary by foot, by bicycle, by road Greengrid Strategy is an equally powerful response to and by rail via a sequence of civic squares, streets, that expectation. boulevards, parks, gardens, green corridors, outdoor Our Vision is to achieve: sports areas, children’s play areas, allotment and community gardens, city farms, cemeteries and A living system threading through the urban and rural churchyards, country parks, hills, marshes, creeks, landscape, connecting places that are attractive to estuaries, etc. The notion of the Harlequin Landscape is people, wildlife and business, and providing clean air, also promoted to ensure that the emotional dimensions food, water, energy, minerals and materials. of outdoor space are not forgotten. This is a radical vision which places: The Thames Gateway South Essex Greengrid Strategy • Landscape at the heart of the development process; is promoted by: and local government members of the Thames Gateway Environmental process at the heart of sustainable • • South Essex Partnership; development and the economy. • government agencies; It is a vision which will require sustained investment • local and national environmental trusts; and long-term commitment from national, regional and • other non-governmental bodies and partnerships; and local politicians, communities, businesses, developers, • the regional development agency. the voluntary sector and other institutions. Walkers at Coalhouse Fort Executive Summary Contents < > The potential implications of climate change are also The Greengrid will also be delivered through investment • Railways - as ecological corridors, a window on the discussed. in, and the implementation of public transport, utilities landscape with stations recognized as gateways to and stand-alone environmental infrastructure projects. There are some fi ne landscapes,