Draft Green Infrastructure Supplementary Planning Guidance Consultation

Draft Green Infrastructure (GI) Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) has been prepared for public consultation.

The purpose of this SPG is to provide additional detail on how Policy DNP8: Green Infrastructure (contained within the Replacement Local Development Plan, adopted March 2024) should be interpreted and applied in practice. It clarifies the policy’s requirements and details how proposals will be assessed to ensure they protect existing GI and integrate new high-quality GI throughout the county borough to support healthier, more resilient and biodiverse neighbourhoods.

It outlines how development proposals should integrate, protect, enhance and strengthen GI, while mitigating and compensating for any unavoidable losses, in accordance with the requirements of the RLDP and national planning policy.

Once adopted, this SPG will be a material consideration in the determination of all planning applications, including applications for renewal of consents.

This SPG provides specific guidance on:

• The principles of GI, including what it is, why it is important, and the range of assets and features that contribute to GI networks;
• The strategic and DM policy framework for GI; including the requirements of Policy DNP8 of the RLDP;
• Planning requirements for new development, including how to:
  • Develop a detailed understanding of existing GI assets within and adjacent to a site;
  • Understand, integrate, protect and maintain existing GI assets and features within and adjacent to development sites;
  • Enhance and strengthen the extent, quality, connectivity and multifunctionality of GI through development proposals;
  • Mitigate and compensate for unavoidable impacts on, or loss of, GI assets and features; and
  • Produce a GI Statement (template provided).

The public consultation will run for 6 weeks between 29 October - 10 December 2026.