Policy information sourced from Bexley Bexley Core Strategy.

Policy CS17 Green infrastructure

Bexley’s green infrastructure, including open spaces and waterways will be protected, enhanced and promoted as valuable resources. In particular, this will be achieved by:

a protecting metropolitan green belt and metropolitan open land from inappropriate development;

b seeking opportunities in new development to provide new open space and play space, and ensuring all new developments, where possible, make a positive and appropriate contribution to green infrastructure, and where appropriate, the public realm, either through direct provision of new open space or through planning obligations;

c resisting harmful backland development;

d protecting and enhancing the biodiversity, heritage and archaeological values of open spaces, including the Rivers Thames, Cray, Shuttle and their tributaries within the borough;

e protecting significant green corridors, and seeking opportunities to increase connectivity between the network of green spaces and habitats;

f working in partnership, seeking funding and supporting projects to promote the restoration and enhancement of open spaces, public realm and the Blue Ribbon Network within the borough;

g implementing the priorities outlined in the Bexley Open Space Strategy including, where appropriate, rivers and waterways restoration; and

h providing opportunities within waterside development for river restoration and the protection and enhancement of biodiversity.

Open Space:

  • The Core Strategy seeks to contain development to previously developed land and protect open spaces. This policy seeks to address open space deficiencies (Map 4.7) and ensure that Bexley remains a ‘green’ borough, well served by a network of high quality, safe and accessible open spaces, offering a range of opportunities and providing attractive relief to the built form.
  • New developments have an important part to play in the protection and enhancement of Bexley’s open spaces and waterways. This includes contributing towards open space provision, making a positive contribution to green infrastructure and the public realm, helping to implement the Open Space Strategy (and other strategies and plans that directly relate to open space provision) and enhancing biodiversity. Open spaces also have a significant impact on health and well being.
  • When seeking open space and play space opportunities in new development, the Council will have regard to its Open Space Strategy. The strategy sets a framework for the future planning and management of open spaces, outdoor sport and recreation facilities by encouraging developers, services and partners to plan for the future delivery and implementation of open space improvements. It also seeks the enhanced provision for biodiversity in open spaces, as supported by the Biodiversity Action Plan, and identifies local quality and accessibility standards. Regard will also be given to the London Plan requirements for play space provision.
  • Where it is not possible to provide new open space and/or play space provision, many new developments will have the potential to contribute to green infrastructure and the public realm. Green infrastructure includes the metropolitan green belt, metropolitan open land, open spaces, trees, green links, biodiversity designations and rivers. Public realm includes the parts of the borough, whether publically or privately owned that are available without charge for everyone to use, including parks, squares and streets.
  • The natural environment, and particularly our open spaces and waterways are also rich sources of biodiversity and archaeology. Back land areas in the borough include gardens and incidental open space. They should normally be excluded from development where developments results in harm to amenity and biodiversity. Further details in this respect will be set out in future policy documents, such as a development plan document that deals with detailed sites and policies.