Green Infrastructure Study for East Hampshire District Council This document should be referred to as: UE Associates (2011) Green Infrastructure Study for East Hampshire. UE Associates: Cheltenham, August 2011. Client: East Hampshire District Council Report No.: UE-0077_Draft_VI_EHDC_GI_Study_2_300811MGP Date: 30th August 2011 Status: Final Author: Neil Davidson Checked: Nick Chisholm-Batten Approved: Nick Pincombe Green Infrastructure Study for East Hampshire August 2011 UE-0077_Draft_VI_EHDC_GI_Study_2_300811MGP Contents Executive Summary i 1 Introduction to Green Infrastructure 1 2 Planning Green Infrastructure in East Hampshire 7 3 Baseline characteristics affecting green infrastructure 15 4 The GI Framework 23 5 Designing the GI Network 27 6 Alton 31 7 Clanfield 35 8 Four Marks / South Medstead 39 9 Grayshott 43 10 Horndean 47 11 Liphook 51 12 Liss 55 13 Petersfield 59 14 Rowlands Castle 63 15 Implementing the Study 67 References and Bibliography 83 Appendix A: Focus Group comments and Stakeholder Perspectives Appendix B: Justification behind the GI Framework Appendix C: Baseline Maps Appendix D: Core Strategy Objectives and the GI Framework Appendix E: Strategic Projects Appendix F: Green Infrastructure considerations in Planning Applications (All appendices are published in a second volume of this Study, the East Hampshire GI Study: Appendices) UE Associates Ltd © 2011 Green Infrastructure Study for East Hampshire August 2011 UE-0077_Draft_VI_EHDC_GI_Study_2_300811MGP List of Tables, Figures and Maps Table 1.1: Different types of green infrastructure and their functions Table 2.1: The PUSH Green Infrastructure Framework Table 2.2: Ten ambitions of the South Downs National Park Management Plan Table 4.1: The GI Framework Table 5.1: Open space standards Table 6.1: Project recommendations for Alton Table 7.1: Project recommendations for Clanfield Table 8.1: Project recommendations for Four Marks Table 9.1: Project recommendations for Grayshott Table 10.1: Project recommendations for Horndean Table 11.1: Project recommendations for Liphook Table 12.1: Project recommendations for Liss Table 13.1: Project recommendations for Petersfield Table 14.1: Project recommendations for Rowlands Castle Table 15.1: Ongoing PUSH GI initiatives Table 15.2: Summary of recommendations Table 15.2: District wide project suggestions Figure 2.1: Planning policy and guidance influences on the green infrastructure study and its outputs Figure 15.1: Community Forum areas in East Hampshire Figure 15.2: Potential for Cross-boundary Working Map 2.1: Distribution of GI zones reproduced from the PUSH GI Strategy UE Associates Ltd © 2011 Green Infrastructure Study for East Hampshire August 2011 UE-0077_Draft_VI_EHDC_GI_Study_2_300811MGP Map 2.2: Distribution of the PUSH GI strategic initiatives in relation to East Hampshire Map 3.1: The East Hampshire GI network including local and neighbouring GI projects Map 3.2: Spatial analysis of access to natural green space in East Hampshire (Natural England, 2010) Map 6.1: Green Infrastructure in Alton including target note recommendations Map 6.1: Green Infrastructure in Alton including target note recommendations Map 7.1: Green Infrastructure in Clanfield including target note recommendations Map 8.1: Green Infrastructure in Four Marks including target note recommendations Map 9.1: Green Infrastructure in Grayshott including target note recommendations Map 10.1: Green Infrastructure in Horndean including target note recommendations Map 11.1: Green Infrastructure in Liphook including target note recommendations Map 12.1: Green Infrastructure in Liss including target note recommendations Map 13.1: Green Infrastructure in Petersfield including target note recommendations Map 14.1: Green Infrastructure in Rowlands Castle including target note recommendations UE Associates Ltd © 2011 Green Infrastructure Study for East Hampshire August 2011 UE-0077_Draft_VI_EHDC_GI_Study_2_300811MGP Acknowledgements In preparing this Green Infrastructure Study for East Hampshire, we are grateful to the Steering Group which included the following people: Neil Davidson (UE Associates) Helen Davies (UE Associates) Valerie Dobson (EHDC) Amanda Dunn (EHDC) George Gittens (Natural England) Helen Goddard (UE Associates) Martin Healey (EHDC) Mike O’Mahony (EHDC) Marc Turner (Natural England). We also wish to acknowledge and thank people for their inputs to the three Focus Groups which were held at the start of the project. This provided useful information and views about relevant green infrastructure initiatives and issues taking place in and around the district from a wide range of external partners. In addition to the organised structures, we have received support from a number of individuals who have contributed significantly to the development of this project including, Nick Heasman (South Downs National Park), Jo Hale (Hampshire County Council) and Rob Gazzard (Forestry Commission). The consultation exercise conducted between January and March 2011 yielded positive and constructive responses for which the authors are grateful. We trust that consultees will be able to recognise that most comments have been incorporated into this final version. Consultees included stakeholder groups, environmental professionals, local authorities, town and parish councils. Details of the Stakeholder Focus Groups can be found in Appendix A. UE Associates Ltd © 2011 Green Infrastructure Study for East Hampshire August 2011 UE-0077_Draft_VI_EHDC_GI_Study_2_300811MGP Executive Summary E.1 Introduction E1.1 This Study has been prepared in order to support the sustainable development of communities, towns and villages throughout East Hampshire and that part of the South Downs National Park which passes through East Hampshire. It is an essential part of the evidence to support the joint East Hampshire/South Downs National Park (SDNP) Authority Core Strategy. Green infrastructure (GI) planning is a new and important means of ensuring that the green spaces and habitats which can be found close to where people live and work, are recognised as key features of day to day life. Long term planning and management are key characteristics of a strong green infrastructure network. E1.2 Green infrastructure is the network of green space and natural elements between and within cities, towns and villages. It includes open space, waterways, gardens, woodlands, green corridors, wildlife habitats, street trees and natural heritage. Planning Policy Statement 12, Local Development Frameworks, recognises the importance of sound green infrastructure planning. E1.3 Green infrastructure provides various functions and benefits at the places where people live and work. Benefits include strong physical health, mental well being, economic advantage, sustainable drainage and flood management, climate change adaptation and biodiversity gain. It provides people with opportunities to keep fit, and benefit from contact with nature. Strong green infrastructure networks are characterised by multifunctionality and connectivity. E.2 About the Study E2.1 The aim of this Study is to identify opportunities for strengthening the green infrastructure (GI) network and to mitigate any potential adverse effects that may be affecting the way in which the network currently functions to provide benefits to local residents and workers. In preparing this Study, we have expressly sought to identify the GI network at a number of the district’s principal settlements, recognise the services it currently provides and establish a framework for delivering a series of interventions and actions to strengthen and enhance the network. The Study has been deliberately written with the needs of the Core Strategy in mind. E2.2 The Study has identified a wide range of benefits that are provided by the green infrastructure that is present amongst the market towns, villages and smaller settlements in the district. In order to recognise the potential multiple benefits of green infrastructure, a comprehensive review of baseline environmental, social and economic data has been undertaken. Similarly, an in depth review of relevant plans and programmes has taken place. At the start of the project, three focus groups were held with a wide range of UE Associates Ltd © 2011 i Green Infrastructure Study for East Hampshire August 2011 UE-0077_Draft_VI_EHDC_GI_Study_2_300811MGP external partners to help inform the direction of the Study and gain local views and perspectives from practising professionals involved with green infrastructure in the district and beyond its boundaries. E2.3 The Study has used a carefully crafted GI Framework, created by drawing together the information gathered through the baseline review. The Framework consists of 8 themes and 16 objectives. It acts as a guide to planning green infrastructure, helping to ensure that proposals within different settlements are going to support existing green infrastructure. The network will be achieved by a combination of protection, enhancement, restoration and where necessary, the creation of new assets. E2.4 The Study has concentrated on the settlements identified in the Preferred Policies Core Strategy (November, 2009). These are most likely to be experiencing pressure for growth, and therefore increased demands for green infrastructure provision as the Core Strategy and its associated plans are rolled out. For each settlement, recommendations and suggestions have been made to protect, enhance, restore or create the GI network at each location. A separate