Policy information sourced from Thurrock Core Strategy and Policies for Management of Development
CSTP18 – GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Green Infrastructure Network
The Council, with its partners, will restore, protect, enhance and where appropriate create its green assets. The Green Infrastructure seeks to address the connectivity between urban and rural areas in the Borough and ensure that such green assets are multi-functional in use. Green assets can be those in public or private ownership and can be legally protected or covered by non-statutory designations.
A net gain and New Development
The Council will require a net gain in Green Infrastructure. This will contribute to addressing the existing and developing deficiencies, ensuring connectivity and relieving pressure on designated biodiversity sites such as SSSI’s.
Alongside the requirements for biodiversity set out in Policy CSTP19, development must contribute to the delivery of Green Infrastructure, including the acquisition, planning, design and ongoing management consistent with the emerging Greengrid SPD. A key element of this will be connectivity and the integrity of the network; sites should not be considered in isolation.
Opportunities to increase Green Infrastructure will be pursued in new developments through the incorporation of features such as green roofs, green walls and other habitat/wildlife creation and also innovative technology.
Green Infrastructure assets will be identified, enhanced and safeguarded through:
- Not permitting development that compromises the integrity of green and historic assets and that of the overall Green Infrastructure network;
- Using developer contributions to facilitate improvements to the quality, use and provision of multi-functional green assets and green linkages; and
- Investment from external funding sources.
Deficits
Where there is an identified deficit the Council will require the creation of green assets including parks and gardens; natural and semi-natural spaces; amenity greens; children’s play space; and outdoor sports facilities. Developments in areas of deficiency should provide for the supply and ongoing management of new areas of high quality natural and semi-natural space to address the new demand for green infrastructure. The guidance for provision of Green Infrastructure will be identified in the Greengrid SPD.
Programmes
The Council will work with partners to develop and implement Green Infrastructure through an area-based Greengrid Improvement Zones at a local level as necessary in order to deliver the green infrastructure in accordance with the overarching objectives of the Greengrid Strategy.
The Council will lead in Green Infrastructure management through developing best practice biodiversity enhancement throughout both urban-amenity and infrastructure land. This will be coordinated by programmes of education and community engagement and will support the development of environmental skills training in the region.
Allocations for new Green Infrastructure for Lakeside will be identified in other relevant Development Plan Documents.
The Council will identify projects to enhance the network further by improving the quality of existing provision and create new facilities to address existing deficiencies and serve the increasing population and to improve links between sites.
Key Diagram and Maps
Map 3: Location of Greengrid
Map 5: Location of Strategic Biodiversity Sites
Green Infrastructure proposals will be included in the Adopted Sites Specific Allocations and Policies DPD and identified on the Proposals Map.
For more information please see the Core Strategy and Policies for Management of Development