Bedfordshire & Luton Green Infrastructure Consortium BEDFORDSHIRE & LUTON STRATEGIC GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN February 2007 CONTENTS PAGE Foreword i Acknowledgements ii Executive Summary iii 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Purpose of the Plan 1 1.2 Need for the Plan 2 1.3 Definition of Strategic Green Infrastructure 9 1.4 The Plan Preparation Process 11 2.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT & STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES 19 2.1 General 19 2.2 Natural Resources 19 2.3 Landscape Character 21 2.4 Historic Environment 35 2.5 Biodiversity 43 2.6 Accessible Greenspace 53 2.7 Access Routes 69 3.0 THE PROPOSED STRATEGIC GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE FRAMEWORK 85 3.1 General 85 3.2 Context 86 3.3 Aspirations for Green Infrastructure in Bedfordshire & Luton 86 3.4 Strategic Objectives for future Green Infrastructure provision 87 3.5 Limitations of the Plan 90 3.6 Making It Happen 93 3.7 The Strategic Green Infrastructure Network 93 3.8 Recommendations for Implementation of the Green Infrastructure Network 117 3.9 Areas for Further Consideration 118 APPENDICIES A. Bedfordshire & Luton Green Infrastructure Consortium Members B. National and Regional Policy Context C. Stakeholder Workshops D. Strategic Green Infrastructure Data Sources E. Historic Environment Character Areas in Bedfordshire & Luton F. Historic Environment Opportunity Areas in Bedfordshire & Luton G. Towns and Villages with a Population above 3750 in Bedfordshire & Luton H. Classification of Existing Accessible Greenspace by Type and Strategic Significance I. Anticipated Population Growth to 2021 J. Existing and Proposed Strategic Access Routes in Bedfordshire & Luton K. Visitor Attractions in Bedfordshire and Luton (Admission Charging) L. Major Housing Sites and Allocations BOXES 1.1 The Plan Preparation Process 3.1 Strategic Vision for Green Infrastructure in Bedfordshire & Luton FIGURES C1 Bedfordshire & Luton – Planning Context L1 Existing Landscape – Character Types and Designated Landscapes L2 Landscape Opportunities – Strategic Areas for Conservation & Enhancement H1 Existing Historic Environment – Character Areas H2 Historic Environment Opportunities – Strategic Areas for Enhanced Management, Presentation, Accessibility & Interpretation B1 Existing Biodiversity – Designated Sites B2 Biodiversity Opportunities – Strategic Areas for Habitat Enhancement, Linkage & Creation G1 Accessible Greenspace of Sub-Regional and Strategic Significance G2 Accessible Greenspace of Strategic Significance Assessment A1 Existing Strategic Access Routes A2 Access Route Opportunities F1 Existing Strategic Green Infrastructure Provision F2 Integration of Opportunity Areas from Theme Sections F3 The Bedfordshire and Luton Strategic Green Infrastructure Network F4 The Bedfordshire and Luton Strategic Green Infrastructure Network and its Relationship to Housing Growth FOREWORD This Plan sets out a proposed spatial vision, backed up by supporting baseline data and analysis, for establishing a strategic green infrastructure framework for Bedfordshire & Luton in the period to 2021. It is based on an independent study by Chris Blandford Associates (CBA) working under the close supervision of a steering group consisting of representatives from the Bedfordshire and Luton Green Infrastructure Consortium - a multi- functional partnership of local authorities, government agencies, countryside and community related organisations. The Consortium encompasses a wide range of interests from within the sector - including spatial planning, landscape, historic environment, biodiversity, countryside access and public open space. This has enabled us to draw from a deep pool of knowledge and experience in the production of this Plan. The publication of the Milton Keynes & South Midlands Sub-Regional Strategy in March 2005 contained proposals that signalled a period of rapid growth in housing and employment-related development, and associated infrastructure for Bedfordshire & Luton. The Sub-Regional Strategy recognises the need to ensure that development contributes to an improved environment, by protecting and enhancing environmental assets and providing related green infrastructure to meet the needs of existing and expanding communities. The Plan responds to the Sub-Regional Strategy by providing the strategic framework for green infrastructure provision. It is based on the principle of ensuring a net gain in green infrastructure provision to meet growth needs and address existing strategic deficiencies. It is intended that the strategic green infrastructure framework proposed in this Plan will be used: • by local planning authorities/Local Delivery Vehicles in guiding the location/pattern of development, and formulating green infrastructure policy in their Core Strategy and associated supporting policies/plans within the Local Development Framework • by the Consortium to prepare more detailed plans to guide the development/ delivery of the strategic green infrastructure investment priorities identified in the framework plan • to provide the strategic framework for production of green infrastructure plans at the district and community level, which identify local green infrastructure frameworks and associated investment plans • as a source of information and tool to guide landowners, planners and developers in formulating land use plans and proposals which maximise environmental benefits and deliver a net gain in green infrastructure. The need to meet the deadlines for planning the new Growth Areas has meant a demanding timetable for the production of this Plan. Many members of the Consortium have been working to provide the necessary information for this strategic level document. We also acknowledge the flexibility and efforts of CBA in meeting our demanding work programme. The production of this Strategic Green Infrastructure Plan for Bedfordshire & Luton marks an important first step in the process of proactively planning the future development and delivery of green infrastructure, necessary to build sustainable communities throughout the county. The preparation of the Strategic Green Infrastructure Plan was financially supported by the following organisations: Bedfordshire & Luton Green Infrastructure Consortium February 2007 i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank all the organisations represented on the Steering Group for their guidance and support throughout the preparation of the Bedfordshire & Luton Strategic Green Infrastructure Plan, in particular: • Joel Carré, Environmental Services Manager, BRCC • Alison Myers, Landscape Officer, Bedfordshire County Council (Heritage & Environment Service) • David Bevan, Heritage & Environment Manager, Bedfordshire County Council (Heritage & Environment Service) • Gill Cowie, Senior Planner (Policy), Bedford Borough Council • Simon Fisher, Greenspace Officer, Bedford Borough Council • Jackie Patterson, Acting Service Manager, Luton Borough Council (Environment and Regeneration) • Graham King, Senior Specialist, Natural England (East of England Region) • Jane Conway, Development & Business Manager, Luton Borough Council (Parks Service) • John Comont, County Ecologist, Bedfordshire County Council (Heritage & Environment Service) • Jon Balaam, Countryside Project Development Officer, Bedfordshire County Council (Countryside Access Service) • Jonathan Woods, Countryside Access Development Team Leader, Bedfordshire County Council (Countryside Access Service) • Mark Saccoccio, Senior Planning Officer, South Bedfordshire District Council • Richard Woolnough, Director, Greensand Trust • Sue Frost, Senior Planning Officer, Mid Bedfordshire District Council • Graham Bellamy, Conservation Manager, The Wildlife Trust • Tim Earthy, Assistant Principal Planning Officer, Bedfordshire County Council (Heritage & Environment Service) In particular, the Consortium acknowledges the guidance and assistance provided by the Steering Group’s project manager, Richard Woolnough. We would also like to thank the CBA Project Team who comprised Dominic Watkins, Bill Wadsworth and Jonathan Webb; and Katharine Banham of the Bedfordshire and Luton Biodiversity Recording and Monitoring Centre who was responsible for creation of the maps within this Plan. On behalf of the Steering Group, we would like to thank representatives of the organisations who participated in the two stakeholder workshops held in February and March 2006, and also those organisations who supplied data and background information for the project. David Hopkins Green Infrastructure Officer – Green Infrastructure Consortium February 2007 ii SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Purpose of the Plan This Plan has been developed by the Bedfordshire & Luton Green Infrastructure Consortium and is based on work undertaken by Chris Blandford Associates (CBA) to establish proposals for a Bedfordshire & Luton Strategic Green Infrastructure Plan. The aim of the Plan is to develop a spatial vision for establishing a strategic green infrastructure framework, necessary to provide the foundations for sustainable communities across Bedfordshire and Luton in the period to 2021. The Plan is intended to provide the spatial context and evidence base for guiding the location and pattern of development, formulating green infrastructure policy within Local Development Frameworks, and creating a framework for production of local green infrastructure plans, greenspace strategies and other similar documents at the district/borough and community level. It is also intended to be used as a source of information and tool to guide landowners, planners and developers in formulating land use plans