Contents Region 1 Introduction 3 2 Durham Magnesian Limestone Plateau 10 2.1 General comments about the area 10 2.2 Landscape 11 2.3 open spaces 12 2.4 Flood risk and water quality 14 2.5 Ecology 16 3 Seaham 20 4 Peterlee 28 5 Secondary and tertiary settlements 36 5.1 Blackhall 36 5.2 Chilton 38 5.3 Easington 40 5.4 Ferryhill 44 5.5 Fishburn 47 5.6 Murton 49 5.7 Shotton 51 5.8 Thornley and Wheatley Hill 53 5.9 Wingate 57 Green Infrastructure Implementation Plans Introduction 1 Green Infrastructure Implementation Plans 2 Introduction 1 Green Infrastructure Implementation Plans 1.1 The GI Implementation Plans are intended to translate the recommendations of the Durham County Council Green Infrastructure Strategy (2012) into actions. They will achieve this by: Detailed analysis of environmental qualities and issues, taking into consideration studies carried out by the Council and its partners, such as the Environment Agency, Natural England and neighbouring authorities Identification of priorities and mitigation/ amelioration measures, either as general objectives or, where appropriate, as specific projects Discussion of planned development in the County in the period covered by the forthcoming County Durham Plan (until 2030); suggesting, for each allocated development site, how green infrastructure might be incorporated within the site, and what improvements should be made to the quantity, quality and management of green infrastructure in the area. Structure of the Implementation Plans 1.2 Because the County is large and diverse, some form of breakdown is required in order to make meaningful locationally-specific recommendations. The GI Strategy breaks the County down into Area Action Partnership areas – the 14 areas within which community partnerships exist to bring organisations into contact with communities. 1.3 However, the Implementation Plans break the county down into Natural Character Areas - the areas within which similar environmental characteristics can be observed, often relating to their underlying geology. This was deemed to be the most appropriate approach because policies relating to GI will tend to relate to an area’s environmental qualities, and , therefore, are best planned across natural areas. Furthermore, the social and economic geography of County Durham have been dictated to a great extent by those natural characteristics: the most striking example, of course, being the way in which the location of communities, their appearance and their economic fortunes in recent years have been dictated by the presence and the marketability of coal. 1.4 There are five National Character Areas within County Durham and each will have their own individual implementation plan: Durham Magnesian Limestone Plateau Tyne and Wear Lowlands Durham Coalfield Pennine Fringe North Pennines Pennine Dales Fringe & Tees Lowlands (Combined into one section) 1.5 Within the discussion relating to each NCA, an initial discussion of the environmental, social and economic characteristics of the area in general is followed by a focused discussion of characteristics, priorities, projects and planning proposals at settlement level. These focus on those settlements identified as Main Towns and Secondary Settlements in the 2012 Settlement Study, together with tertiary settlements where appropriate – either where there are development allocations within them, or where they have functional characteristics which make them locally significant. Green Infrastructure Planning in County Durham 1.6 The NPPF defines “green infrastructure” as “A network of multi-functional green space, urban and rural, which is capable of delivering a wide range of environmental and quality of life benefits for local communities”. It states that Local Planning Authorities should “set out a strategic approach …planning positively for the creation, protection, enhancement and management of networks of biodiversity and green infrastructure.” Green Infrastructure Implementation Plans 3 1 Introduction 1.7 The 2012 Green Infrastructure (GI) Strategy for County Durham discussed the qualities and benefits of the non-built environment specifically with reference to its functions. These, it found, could be grouped under the following headings: Access and recreation – acting as a place for sports, play, walking and other activities and as a means for getting from A to B via walking and cycling Agriculture – providing food and other crops Biodiversity and geodiversity – providing habitats for wildlife; manifesting the County’s geological heritage through land and rock formations Economic development – supporting the economy by improving the image and “liveability” of places; supporting industries such as tourism and farming which depend on green spaces Energy – providing an energy resource in terms of biomass, hydro-electric and wind power. Health and wellbeing – supporting healthy lifestyles by providing venues for exercise; improving mental health Landscape – helping to define the character of different types of landscape Townscape – making towns and villages better places to live because they include gardens, parks, street trees and other features which improve appearance and regulate the climate of the urban environment Trees, woodland and forestry – supporting the forestry industry; providing woodland as a habitat and recreational resource Water supply, drainage and flood control – managing water resources by retaining and slowly releasing water, thus safeguarding against flood and drought. 1.8 Under each of these headings, the Strategy identified policies, priorities and other actions for the development of green infrastructure in the County (listed below). The Strategy then went on to map and discuss the environmental characteristics of the County. It identified the strategic GI network, ecological networks and priority areas for improvement. Within each AAP area, it listed potential planning policies, priorities and other actions for GI improvement. Thematic policies, priorities and other actions for the development of green infrastructure in the County Recreation Ref Description R1 Resisting development that would have an adverse impact on existing open spaces R2 Improving poor-quality open spaces R3 Addressing imbalances in typology R4 Ensuring good management of all open spaces, including recreational spaces, wildlife sites, and woodlands R5 Requiring new development to incorporate adequate good-quality open space, or improve or create open spaces nearby, as appropriate R6 Requiring new built development and GI to be interlinked to existing open spaces, rights of way and the wider countryside R7 Protecting and enhancing the existing Access and Rights of Way network R8 Promoting and improving national pedestrian and cycle routes 4 Green Infrastructure Implementation Plans Introduction 1 R9 Providing information on open spaces and rights of way R10 Seeking and supporting community management of open spaces R11 Implementing the Coastal Access Duty in collaboration with Natural England Agriculture Ref Description A1 Resisting development on the best or most versatile agricultural land. A2 Supporting agricultural diversification A3 Promoting agri-environment schemes A4 Promoting sustainable local food production Landscape Ref Description T1 Ensuring good design in new green infrastructure, taking account of townscape, landscape and the need to protect and improve the image of areas L1 Resisting development proposals that would have a significant detrimental effect on landscape quality, landscape conservation areas or designated landscapes L2 Supporting development proposals that would improve landscape quality L3 Focusing improvement on the urban fringes to create attractive settings for settlements L4 Supporting landscape-scale delivery partnerships L5 Promoting and supporting the County Durham Landscape Guidelines. Biodiversity Ref Description R4 Ensuring good management of all open spaces, including recreational spaces, wildlife sites, and woodlands R6 Requiring new built development and GI to be interlinked to existing open spaces and the wider countryside Ec2 Mitigating the environmental impacts of development and economic activity, including increased visitor numbers on protected sites B1 Protecting wildlife sites designated at European, national or local level, and UK and Durham Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) priority habitats and species. B2 Defining important habitats, landscapes and geological sites, and protected sites Green Infrastructure Implementation Plans 5 1 Introduction B3 Resisting development and other land use changes where they may have adverse effects on protected or ecologically sensitive habitats or priority species, or would cause fragmentation of green corridors or habitat networks. B4 Reconnecting habitats: protecting and enhancing green spaces within or adjacent to mapped ecological networks and protected sites B5 Requiring new development to ensure an overall net gain in habitat. Culture and heritage Ref Description C1 Defining historically- and culturally- significant landscapes and artefacts C2 Enhancing sites which are known to be of cultural or historic interest, and the settings of historic buildings and designations C3 Resisting development or changes of use that would have a significant detrimental effect upon green infrastructure features of cultural or historic significance. C5 Providing information on the cultural and historic aspects of the non-built environment C6 Supporting initiatives which connect people to their environment