Policy information sourced from the Guildford Local Plan: Strategy and Sites
ID4: Green and blue infrastructure
Biodiversity
The Council will maintain, conserve and enhance biodiversity and will seek opportunities for habitat restoration and creation, particularly within and adjacent to Biodiversity Opportunity Areas (BOAs). The Council will produce a Green and Blue Infrastructure Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) setting out how this approach will be implemented.
New development should aim to deliver gains in biodiversity where appropriate. Where proposals fall within or adjacent to a BOA, biodiversity measures should support that BOA’s objectives. The SPD will set out guidance on how this can be achieved.
The designated sites in the following hierarchy are shown on the Policies Map or as subsequently updated:
- European sites: Special Protection Areas (SPA) and Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)
- National sites: Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
- Local sites: Sites of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI) and Local Nature Reserves.
Permission will not be granted for development proposals unless it can be demonstrated that doing so would not give rise to adverse effects on the integrity of European sites, whether alone or in combination with other development. Any development with a potential impact on SPA or SAC sites will be subject to a Habitats Regulations Assessment.
Permission will only be granted for development proposals within or adjacent to national sites where it can be demonstrated that doing so would not be harmful to the nature conservation interests of the site and its function as an ecological unit.
Permission will not be granted for proposals that are likely to materially harm the nature conservation interests of local sites unless clear justification is provided that the need for development clearly outweighs the impact on biodiversity. Where this test is met, every effort must be made to reduce the harm to the site through avoidance and mitigation measures.
Blue infrastructure
The ecological, landscape and recreational value of watercourses will be protected and enhanced. Development proposals that are likely to have an adverse impact on the functions (including across their catchments) and setting of watercourses and their corridors will not be permitted. Proposals must demonstrate how they will support the achievement of Water Framework Directive objectives and have followed guidance from the Environment Agency on implementation of the River Basin Management Plan and flood risk management, and followed guidance in any local catchment management plans. In particular, developers should take any steps necessary to avoid any downstream adverse impact on water quality objectives that may arise from their proposed development.
Open space
Open space (encompassing all open space within urban areas, land designated as Open Space on the Policies Map and all land and water that provides opportunities for recreation and sport as identified in the most recent Open Space, Sport and Recreation Assessment) will be protected from development in accordance with the NPPF.
For more information please see the Local Plan