Dudley Local Plan Part One

13. The Borough’s Green Infrastructure

Introduction

13.1Green infrastructure is a network of multi-functional green spaces and other green features, across the urban and rural landscape, which can deliver many benefits for local communities. These benefits can include providing space for biodiversity, flood storage the provision of ecosystem services, improving health and wellbeing as well as providing walking and cycling routes. Conserving and enhancing Dudley’s green infrastructure networks to ensure that they are multi-functional and provide linkages across the borough and beyond is reflected throughout the Plan.

Green Belt

13.2 This section sets out the policy for the strategic approach to the Green Belt within the borough and the approach to considering future development proposals within it.

Justification

13.3The main purpose of the Green Belt is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open; the essential characteristics of Green Belts are their openness and their permanence (as per the NPPF).

13.4The Plan is not proposing to review any of the borough's Green Belt boundaries or allocate any development sites or proposals within the Green Belt in accordance with the preferred spatial strategy.

13.5The NPPF (and supporting national guidance) sets out the approach to considering individual development proposals within the Green Belt, including what is considered appropriate and inappropriate development. Inappropriate development is, by definition, harmful to the Green Belt and should not be approved except in very special circumstances. In accordance with the NPPF, substantial weight will be given to any harm to the Green Belt. ‘Very special circumstances’ will not exist unless the potential harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm resulting from the proposal, is clearly outweighed by other considerations.

13.6Applications should be supported by sufficient information to enable an assessment against national planning policy, taking into account the most up to date national guidance on matters such as the impact upon openness.

13.7Where mitigation measures are required to address the harm to the Green Belt, the Council will ensure these are secured via planning condition and/or planning obligations (as appropriate) as part of any approved development (e.g., landscaping and maintenance conditions).

Agricultural and Rural workers dwellings

13.8This policy provides specific criteria for the consideration of Agricultural and Rural Workers dwellings in the Green Belt.

Justification

13.9In assessing proposals for new agricultural, forestry, horticulture or countryside workers’ dwellings in the Green Belt, national Green Belt policy will apply. DLP49 policy reflects this and provides further local clarification on the information requirements to support such proposals. Such proposals will be required to establish a functional need for any such dwelling e.g. to establish whether it is essential for one or more workers to be available at site at most times for the proper functioning of the agricultural enterprise.

The Borough’s Green Infrastructure Network

13.10 Dudley Borough has an extensive network of formal and informal greenspaces including areas of Green Belt, Green Wedges, designated nature conservation sites including Fens Pool Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs) and Sites of Local Importance for Nature Conservation (SLINCs).

13.11 Green Infrastructure performs a variety of functions including the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity as well as providing space for informal and formal recreation. Green infrastructure can include parks and gardens, natural and semi-natural urban green spaces, green corridors, outdoor sports facilities, allotments, cemeteries and churchyards, rivers and canal corridors.

13.12Due to the importance of Dudley’s Green Network it is required that all developments falling within it or adjacent to it, provide a Green Network Impact Statement as part of a Design and Access Statement, which would, in particular, provide proposals as to how the integrity and connectivity of the affected area of the Green Network would not be prejudiced, and how the proposal would respond to, and, in particular, strengthen the relevant section of the Green Network. Evidence submitted as part of Green Network Impact Statements should be proportionate to the scale and the location of development being proposed. The Council recognises that there are situations, such as works required for health and safety, which will inherently impact on biodiversity but will consider such proposals where sufficient mitigation has been proposed.

13.13 To emphasise the importance of Dudley’s Green Network and ensure its delivery, by specifying a minimum width of the corridor (15 Metres), recognised as being the minimum to sustain a meaningful and effective wildlife corridor, which development proposals should maintain. Not all of the Green Infrastructure Network is publicly accessible nor need it be, to perform its wider function.

13.14 There is a need to provide connectivity within the Green Network, including where there is severance, particularly through the layout of proposed development, and that, in some instances, where the designated Green Network runs through the existing built environment, alternative means of ensuring connectivity by the implementation of, for example, Green Roof, Green Walls, Street Trees and the creation of boulevards.

13.15 As the Green Network brings together a number of planning designations under a single “umbrella” (for example Green Belt and sites of acknowledged nature conservation value), it is important to recognise that this does not exempt development from addressing and responding to those other designations: the need for development to respond to its inclusion in, or adjacency to, the Green Network being an additional requirement.

13.16 While certain sections of the Green Network will, depending on their inherent value or potential, have a focus on a particular open space/nature conservation aspect, overall, the network has a multi-functional role as:

1. a wildlife corridor, to provide coherent ecological networks.
2. accommodating pedestrian and cycle paths, particularly in linking the urban area with the Green Belt and open countryside as well as linking towns and places of employment with residential communities.
3. providing opportunities for informal recreation.
4. helping to form a break between locally distinct areas and centres.
5. grazing land for horses and other livestock.
6. means of maintaining the integrity of water courses across the borough as well as enhancing the natural value and restoration of water courses including de-culverting where opportunities arise.

• urban nature recovery;
• an urban greening factor;
• an urban tree canopy cover standard;
• accessible greenspace standards; and
• a green infrastructure strategy.

13.18 Through the Local Plan many of these areas are addressed, relevant plan policies include those on SuDs, Canals, Design, Biodiversity Net Gain and Local Nature Recovery Strategies, as well as Open Space, and climate change mitigation, which address nature recovery and urban greening. Polices on trees and hedgerow policies address urban tree canopy cover. Access to green and open spaces are addressed through the Open Space Audit evidence base.

13.19 The National Trust are developing proposals for the creation of 8 Hills Regional Park, a c.50 square mile regional park which aims to enhance and prioritise the landscape in the south of the West Midlands conurbation, whilst increasing people’s access to it and boosting its biodiversity and ecological connectivity. The areas proposed to be included within Dudley are: Areas to the West of the M5 and south of Manor Way (A456); Land at Wychbury Hill – stretching to Pedmore; and Land to the East of Wollescote. This proposal will assist in strengthening the boroughs green infrastructure network and promote cross boundary links into and out of Dudley.

The Borough’s Geology

13.20 Geology affects where and how we build, as well as how we deliver, and design associated infrastructure and services. The geology of Dudley is rich in industrial minerals and has played a significant role in shaping the areas heritage.

Justification

13.21 New developments should have regard to the conservation of geological features and should take opportunities to achieved gains for conservation through the form and design of development.

13.22 Where development is proposed that would affect an identified geological site the approach should be to avoid adverse impact to the existing geological interest. If this is not possible, the design should seek to retain as much as possible of the geological interest and enhance this where achievable, for example by incorporating permanent sections with the design, or creating new interest of at least equivalent value by improving access to the interest.

13.23 Negative impacts of development should be minimised, and any residual impacts mitigated. Development is required to prescribe and apply the relevant guidelines contained within the Council’s latest Nature Conservation Supplementary Planning Document.

13.24 In 2020 the Black Country UNESCO Global Geopark was declared due to it internationally important geology and cultural heritage. Developments affecting UNESCO Global Geopark sites should also met the requirements of DLP35.

13.25 Development (soil sealing) has a major and usually irreversible adverse impact on soils. Mitigation should aim to minimise soil disturbance and to retain as many ecosystem services as possible through careful soil management during the construction process.

13.26Agricultural Land Classification and Best and Most Versatile mapping and data includes but is not limited to the MAGIC (defra.gov.uk) website and Natural England. For example, Agricultural Land Classification Map West Midlands Region - ALC004^[47] and Likelihood of Best and Most Versatile (BMV) Agricultural Land - Strategic scale map West Midlands Region - ALC01665.

Parks

13.27 Parks play an important role in providing areas of open space and recreation for residents offering many social and health benefits. They are multi-functional spaces that offer a range of actives for visitors and provide benefits such as improving air quality and places for wildlife.

Justification

13.28Within Dudley there are a number of Community Parks located strategically across the borough. This ensures that every resident of the borough has equal access to this type of facility. Two parks are Registered Parks and Gardens of Special Historic interest and are therefore designated heritage assets. Some parks are identified as Designed Landscapes of High Historic Value (DLHHV). Therefore, this policy should also be read in conjunction with the Historic Environment chapter.

13.29Access to parks is an important part of high quality and healthy places and therefore developments which would have a detrimental impact on the function and use of the community parks will not be supported.

Table 13.1 - List of Community Parks

River Stour

13.30The River Stour rises in the Clent Hills of Northern Worcestershire, before flowing in a northerly direction down into Halesowen and then due west through Cradley and Lye to Stourbridge and beyond into South Staffordshire. There it joins the Smestow Brook before flowing South and on into Worcestershire once more where it joins the River Severn. The Stour once helped to power the industrial revolution, and the countless mills and forges which were found all along the rivers course, particularly in the upper reaches within the borough.

Justification

13.31Over time developments that have occurred alongside and over the river have been accompanied by culverts and other man-made features to control or redirect the flow of the river. This has had a detrimental effect on the natural environment as well as leading to a decrease in natural drainage and run-off which has increased the possibilities of flood risk in certain locations. Where possible, future development alongside and close to the river must take steps to reverse or improve this situation. The Stour Valley is recognised as an important wildlife corridor running east to west in the Southern Black Country, linking Western Birmingham to the border of South Staffordshire. When all the tributaries are included, it makes up a large network of interconnected corridors where wildlife can move through a densely populated urban area.

13.32 Cross boundary and partnership working with agencies such as the Environment Agency and the Canal and River Trust and neighbouring authorities may be required where development proposals could impact upon the River Stour.