Part One: Spatial Strategy and Policies (Regulation 19)
13. The Borough's Green Infrastructure
Introduction
13.1. Green 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.
Policy DLP49 Green Belt Comment
- In support of the Development Strategy (Policy DLP1) for the borough, a strong Green Belt will be maintained to promote redevelopment and regeneration within the urban area and provide easy access to the countryside where the landscape, visual amenity, nature conservation and outdoor sport and recreation value of the land will be protected and enhanced (where possible, and where in accordance with national and local planning policy).
- The boundaries and extent of the Green Belt in Dudley Borough are shown on the Policies Map. Proposals for development within the Green Belt will be considered in accordance with national planning policy and guidance on this matter, and Policy DLP50. In accordance with national planning policy, there shall be a presumption against inappropriate development in the Green Belt, which should not be approved except in very special circumstances. Proposals will be expected to provide sufficient supporting information to enable an assessment against the national planning policy provisions for development within the Green Belt.
Justification
13.3. The 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).
13.4. The 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.
13.5. The 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.
13.6. Applications 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.
13.7. Where 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).
