Delivering Green Infrastructure through development

1. Delivering Green Infrastructure through development Laura Kitson, Bedfordshire and Luton Green Infrastructure Consortium

2. Bedfordshire and Luton Green Infrastructure Consortium • Promoting the concept of green infrastructure • Co-ordinating green infrastructure planning • Co-ordinating delivery of green infrastructure projects

3. Delivering GI through development • GI delivery integrated with development proposals – the MKSM GI design guide • GI delivery at a strategic level – planning obligations in Central Bedfordshire

4. The GI design guide for MKSM

5. The basis ‘Planning Sustainable Communities’ • Definition of GI • Principles for delivering GI • Case studies

6. GI planning across MKSM

7. Developing the design guidance • Initial idea tested at a workshop in April ’09 • Project commissioned in late ’09 • Consultation event in February ’10 • Launched at MKSM Housing and Planning Forum in April 2010

8. Testing with real examples • Consultation with developers • Working with developments on the ground to develop the guidance • Case studies

9. How will the design guide help? • The guide shows how policies at all levels can be implemented; it bridges the gap between policy and implementation

10. Working with the development process • The design guide fits with the various stages of the development process; • Preparation • Design • Implementation • What questions need to be asked at what stage?

11. Focussing on design • The guide identifies a range of ‘design considerations’ - functions that a GI network should deliver;

12. What the guide includes;

13. Complementing other guidance;

14. Delivering GI at a strategic level through development • Case study from Central Bedfordshire

15. Informing the LDF policies Policy CS17: Green Infrastructure The Council will: • Seek a net gain in green infrastructure through the protection and enhancement of assets and provision of new green spaces as set out in the Strategic, Mid Bedfordshire and Parish Green Infrastructure Plans. • Take forward priority areas for the provision of new green infrastructure in the Forest of Marston Vale (including the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway), the Ivel Valley, the Greensand Ridge, the Flit Valley and the Chilterns. • Require new development to contribute towards the delivery of new green infrastructure and the management of a linked network of new and enhanced open spaces and corridors. • Development that would fragment or prejudice the green infrastructure network will not be permitted.

16. The evidence base needed • Infrastructure Plan – to justify the planning obligations SPD • GI plan – to justify the policies in the LDF • Detailed costs – to develop the standard charge in the SPD

17. Funding green infrastructure delivery through development

18. The current situation • The planning obligations strategy was adopted in May 2008 • Development has been slow • When received, contributions are pooled across the area, and the funding allocated to GI projects

19. Partnership mechanism for funding allocation • Funding is collected by the council • The GI Consortium advises the council on appropriate GI projects. • This advice is based the GI plans, and an assessment of projects against agreed priorities • This provides the council with a robust mechanism that is agreed across all GI delivery partners • The result is funding allocated to strategic GI projects that are a key part in the jigsaw of the GI network

20. laura.kitson@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk www.bedsandlutongreeninfrastructure.org