Policy information sourced from the Reigate & Banstead Local Plan - Core Strategy

CS2 : Valued landscapes and the natural environment

  1. In considering the allocation of land and /or proposals for significant development, the Council and developers will be required to protect and enhance the borough’s green fabric.
    1. The Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is a landscape of national importance and therefore will be provided with the highest level of protection. The same principles will be applied to protect the AGLV as an important buffer to the AONB and to protect views from and into the AONB, until such time as there has been a review of the AONB boundary.
    2. All areas of countryside have their own distinctive landscape character. The landscape character of the countryside outside the current (or revised) AONB boundary will be protected and enhanced through criteria based policies in the DMP including, if and where appropriate, new local landscape designations. In those areas of countryside allocated for development, policies will be included in the DMP in relation to the design and siting of development to minimise the impact on landscape character.
    3. The borough’s commons will be maintained and enhanced for the benefits of farming, public access and biodiversity.
    4. The Mole Gap to Reigate Escarpment SAC will be afforded the highest level of protection in line with European legislation. Proposals for development that is likely to have a significant effect on the SAC, alone or in combination with other development, will be required to demonstrate that it will not adversely affect the integrity of the site.
    5. Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Sites of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCIs), Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) and ancient woodland will be protected for their biodiversity value and where appropriate enhanced.
    6. Urban green spaces, green corridors and site specific features which make a positive contribution to the green fabric and/or a coherent green infrastructure network and will, as far as practicable, be retained and enhanced.
  2. The Council will work with a range of partners to promote, enhance and manage a substantial network of multi-functional green infrastructure across the borough, to maximise the social, economic and environmental benefits of the borough’s green fabric.

This policy will be implemented through:

  • DMP policies including to protect and enhance landscape character, biodiversity and urban green space
  • Design and Parking SPD
  • Green Infrastructure Strategy and action plan, including measures to protect, promote, enhance and extend the GI network and to deliver a range of measures to mitigate the effects of development and avoid potential effects of development on the SAC
  • close working with Natural England, the National Trust and other partners as appropriate to identify areas of focus for the delivery of avoidance measures to protect the SAC
  • partnership working to implement the Surrey Biodiversity Strategy and to implement projects and initiatives identified through the GI Strategy, and to implement and monitor the AONB Management Plan and secure a review of the AONB boundary
  • Habitats Regulations Assessment of future policies, programmes and projects which are likely to have a significant effect on the SAC.
  • developer contributions, through Section 106 payments and/or Community Infrastructure Levy, and other funding mechanisms as appropriate
  • consideration and determination of planning applications and appeals.

Indicators used to monitor this policy will include:

  • the scale of change and development within areas of landscape and nature conservation value.

Evidence base:

  • Sustainability Appraisal
  • Habitats Regulations Assessment
  • Landscape and Townscape Character Assessment
  • Area of Great Landscape Value Report
  • PPG17 Open Space, Sport and Recreation Assessment.

For more information please see the Reigate & Banstead Core Strategy