Strategic Thinking and The Natural Environment

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Strategic Thinking and The Natural Environment

• Peter Taylor
• Planning Policy Manager
• Warrington Borough Council

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Strategic Thinking The Natural Environment
Strategic Thinking The Natural Environment

• Is there any - whos thinking about it?
• Do we think enough about it?
• Is thinking all we are doing about it?

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Strategic Thinking The Natural Environment
Strategic Thinking - Key Examples?

• Strategic Planning Policy
• - National
• - Regional
• - Local
• Local Strategic Partnership
• - Community Strategy
• The Corporate Plan

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Strategic Thinking The Natural Environment
National Planning Policy

• PPS 1 - Delivering Sustainable Development
  (February 2005)
• - planning should protect and enhance the
  natural environment and the quality of the
  countryside and open spaces
• - vital resources for everyone
• PPS 9 - Biodiversity and Geological Conservation
  (August 2005)
• - planning should ensure that biological and
  geological diversity are conserved and enhanced
• - conserve enhance and restore the diversity of
  Englands wildlife
• - take account of the role and value that
  biodiversity can contribute to a better quality
  of life
• Circular 06/2005 - Biodiversity and Geological
  Conservation

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Strategic Thinking The Natural Environment
Current Regional Planning Policy (Regional
Spatial Strategy)

• Regional Planning Guidance for the North West -
  RPG 13 (March 2003)
• Policy ER5 - Biodiversity and Conservation
• Ensure that the overall nature conservation
  resource is protected and enriched
• Apply the principle of enhancing the quality of
  life
• Sets targets for Biodiversity in the North West -
  minimum zero loss
• Recognises the importance of Local Biodiversity
  Action Plans

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Strategic Thinking The Natural Environment
Emerging Regional Planning Policy (Regional
Spatial Strategy)

• The North West Plan - Submitted Draft Regional
  Spatial Strategy for the North West (January
  2006)
• Policy EM1 - Integrated Land Management
• Seeks to deliver a step-change increase in the
  regions biodiversity resources
• Protect, expand and link areas for wildlife
• Encourage protection, conservation and
  improvement of the ecological fabric
• Identifies broad locations where greatest
  opportunities for improvement exist

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Strategic Thinking The Natural Environment
Emerging Regional Planning Policy (Regional
Spatial Strategy)
Policy EM3 - Green Infrastructure Identify and
promote multi-purpose networks of
greenspace Improve access and connections to
natural greenspace Integrate Green Infrastructure
provision within new development
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Strategic Thinking The Natural Environment
Current Local Planning Policy

• Warrington Unitary Development Plan (January
  2006)
• Policy GRN 1 - The Green Belt
• Policy GRN 2 - Environmental Protection and
  Enhancement
• Policies GRN 3 - 9
• - General Control of Development in the Green
  Belt/Countryside
• Policies GRN 10 - 12
• - Protection and enhancement of Urban
  Greenspace, playing fields and open space
• Policies GRN 13 - 26
• - Protection of sites, habitats, priority
  species, wildlife corridors
• - Protection and enhancement of landscape
  features, the Mersey Forest, trees, woodlands and
  invasive plants

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Warringtons Green Infrastructure
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Strategic Thinking The Natural Environment
Source D.S.Hodcroft (Sept 2003)
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Strategic Thinking The Natural Environment
Supplementary Planning Guidance Information

• A Nature Conservation Strategy for Warrington
  (January 1995)
• Adopted Supplementary Planning Guidance
• Aimed at increasing understanding and commitment
  to protect the natural environment
• Biodiversity By Design in Warrington (July 2005)
• Non-statutory best practice advice note for new
  development

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Strategic Thinking The Natural Environment
Strategic Environmental Assessment

• EU Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive
  (2001)
• Adopted in 2001
• Came into force in the UK in July 2004
• Aims to ensure a high level of protection of the
  environment
• Requires the assessment of the environmental
  effects of certain plans and programmes
• plans and programmes prepared by national,
  regional or local authorities and/or prepared for
  adoption through legislative procedures
• Planning Land use
• Minerals Waste
• Transport
• Housing
• Water Energy

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Strategic Thinking The Natural Environment
Sustainability Appraisal

• Sustainability Appraisal of Regional Spatial
  Strategies and Local Development Documents
  (November 2005)
• Mandatory for all new Development Planning
  Documents
• Incorporates the requirements of SEA
• Requires consideration of a wide range of
  social, environmental and economic impacts
• Includes impact on the natural environment -
  positive or negative

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Strategic Thinking The Natural Environment
So far.
Looking good for the protection and enhancement
for the future in terms of strategic planning and
control of development.
What about priorities for the Community as a
whole.?
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Strategic Thinking The Natural Environment
Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) Warrington
Partnership

• Community Strategy Warrington Towards Tomorrow
  (January 2005)
• Environment, Regeneration and Housing Thematic
  Group
• Priorities include the need to take action to
  improve and conserve the natural environment
• Particularly concerned with access to natural
  greenspace from deprived areas
• Endorsed the Councils 2004 Regeneration Strategy
• Theme 2 - Protect and Enhance Green Spaces and
  the Natural Environment
• Endorsed Nature Matters

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Strategic Thinking The Natural Environment
Draft Corporate Plan 2006-2010
Make Warringtons Communities Safer, Stronger and
Sustainable
Improve Health Well-being and Promote
Independence
Improve Transport Infrastructure and Choice
Improve the Local Environment Economy and
Regenerate our Deprived Areas
Ensure All Children and Young People have the
Opportunity to Reach Their Potential
Transform our Organisation to Deliver our Outcomes
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Strategic Thinking The Natural Environment
But.
Community Strategy
Priority to take action to improve and conserve
the natural environment is only one element of
64 Priority Actions
Draft Corporate Plan 2006-2010
91 Specific Steps and Actions to achieve the five
community based ambitions, but Only 1 Specific
action relating to safety in parks and open
spaces
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Strategic Thinking The Natural Environment
Difficult to promote biodiversity improvements
and actions in this scenario. Not a current high
priority for resources generally because. The
Strategies and Plans have to take account of
competing priorities and the overall needs of the
community... - Affordable houses - Employment
for the disadvantaged - Tackling Traffic
Congestion - Acute health problems and social
care - Crime and Anti Social Behaviour -
Education Needs
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Strategic Thinking The Natural Environment
What do we do next? We need to make the most of
the ability of our partners to deliver positive
improvements. We must harness as much as we can
through new development. We must continue to try
and raise the profile of the importance of
Biodiversity to Quality of Life. People didnt
use to think much about climate change
either..but ask them about it now!
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Strategic Thinking The Natural Environment
We must not forget. NATURE MATTERS