brentwood.gov.uk

Green Infrastructure -

Green Infrastructure (GI) is a network of multi-functional high quality green spaces and other environmental features, (such as street trees, green roofs and walls, which together deliver multiple environmental, social and economic benefits , that contribute to the quality, attractiveness and distinctiveness of the Borough. A number of the site allocations do not mention the opportunities to enhance the GIs, and ECC seek clarity on how GIs will be integral to all site allocations (including those for commercial and educational developments).

The Forestry Commission produced a report on the economic value of Green Infrastructure. Within this report it states that the perceptions of a region can be a barrier to recruitment for businesses within that region, especially in relation to highly qualified staff. However, high quality GIs will have a benefit on people's health, wellbeing, quality of life and contribute to improved educational capability. The investment into maintenance and creation of high quality GIs can act to encourage and attract commercial industry, entrepreneurs and workers to that region.

A strong example of this is from the north of England, that of Riverside Park Industrial Estate in Middlesbrough where investment in the GI of the park created a setting for stimulating business growth and investment. The redeveloped site attracted new, high profile, occupants and saw occupancy grow from 40% to 78%, and levered over £1 million of private investment (CLES/Groundwork, 2007)

Every development has the potential to enhance and create new GI and contribute to creating green corridors for better connectivity of the GI network. Therefore, ECC recommend that there should be a consideration for new housing and commercial development to have reasonable access and distance to green spaces and which includes the requirement to create new green spaces. Natural England produced a guide to help decision makers to ensure that everyone has access to good quality natural greenspace near to where they live and work. Accessible Natural Greenspace Standard (ANGSt) recommends for example green space of at least 2 hectares in size, no more than 300 metres (5 minutes' walk) from home and one accessible 100 hectare site within five kilometres of home. Another example is Bristol City which has put in place a distance standard to protect and promote an accessible network of green space, based on research with residents and layout to ensure credibility, including requiring a distance to the nearest green space of 400 metres or 9 minutes' walk, and natural green space within700 metres 18 minutes' walk etc. (Bristol's Parks and Green Space Strategy, 2008).

ECC welcomes the opportunity to engage with BBC to ensure that GI is imbedded in its Draft Plan.