Planning for a healthy environment

Planning for a healthy environment – good practice guidance for green infrastructure and biodiversity

The planning system in England has undergone fundamental change through the Localism Act and the National Planning Policy Framework, which have shifted power to the local and neighbourhood levels while continuing to emphasise the importance of sustainable development and supporting the objectives of the Natural Environment White Paper. The Government no longer sees it as its role to provide detailed policy guidance but wishes local authorities and communities to be active and innovative in shaping their own future.

Led by The Wildlife Trusts and Town & Country Planning Association, Planning for a healthy environment – good practice for green infrastructure and biodiversity, has been prepared with input from statutory and non statutory organisations with expertise in planning green infrastructure and biodiversity.  Endorsed by more than 30 organisations, it summarises the latest policy drivers; distils the best approaches and good practice; and signposts sources of further detailed information. The main objective of this guidance is to help local practitioners to deliver positive and practical solutions when planning for the future.

This guidance is designed to offer advice to planning practitioners on how green infrastructure (GI) and biodiversity can be enhanced and protected through the planning system. It summarises the latest policy drivers and distils the best of our current policy responses. It also sets out practical examples of successful projects and sources of further detailed information. It has been prepared with the support of a wide range of organisations who have specific expertise in the field of planning for green infrastructure and biodiversity.

The aim of this guidance is to demonstrate how planners and practitioners in England, from both the public and private sectors, can use Green Infrastructure as a multi-functional resource capable of protecting and enhancing the natural environment and providing the landscape, ecosystem services and quality of life benefits required to underpin sustainability.
The guidance is primarily intended to inform local plans, but also includes reference to neighbourhood planning and development management. It sets out for planners, practitioners and others:
? the key principles by which the provision of GI should be guided;
? guidance on developing local plan policy which ensures that the planning, design and long-term management of development results in a sustained positive outcome for GI and biodiversity; and
? the essential elements of how to deliver effective planning policy on GI and biodiversity through funding mechanisms and community involvement

Are you using the NBN Gateway data for planning work?

We are building up a set of case studies for how data from the NBN Gateway are being used to help with planning and development work.  If you would like to highlight your own example please do let us know.  All the current information we have can be found in the “Examples of Use” section of the website

Web design by Red Paint