94

Object

Representation ID: 2879

Received: 14/12/2016

Respondent: Natural England

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

There is likely to be increased recreational and development pressures on designated international, European and nationally designated sites. While Natural England welcomes the inclusion of various measures of urban greening described in Policies: DS5, PA1, PA3, PA4, PA5, PA6, CS1, PA8, PA9, the Plan should include a strategic approach for networks of biodiversity and for green infrastructure. The SCAAP Consultation Draft Proposed Submission (2011) contained Policy PR1: Open Space Provision and the environment: a policy supported by Natural England. It contained a number of thematic-links: reducing recreational pressure on Benfleet and Southend Marshes SPA / Ramsar / SSSI and climate change mitigation within a framework of linking open spaces in the green grid. Every effort should be made to minimise the severance of green infrastructure. Therefore although we welcome the intention expressed in paragraph 96 to remedy the deficit of green spaces within the Town Centre within the relevant Policy Areas and Opportunity Sites, it is not clear that the approach described at paragraph 95 is consistent with the NPPF paragraphs 114 and 117. It is also not clear whether a robust and up-to-date assessment of the needs for open space, and opportunities for new provision has been undertaken, in accordance with paragraph 73 of the NPPF. Natural England has an Accessible Natural Greenspace Standard and has produced an analysis of the adequacy of open space provision for Essex, with details for each district.