Green Infrastructure Planning Prospectus
The Forestry Commission, on behalf of the Assembly’s Regional Environment Partnership, commissioned the production of the West Midlands Green Infrastructure Prospectus and accompanying technical report, which is designed to inform regional, sub regional and local policy and practice.
Green Infrastructure has a vital role to play in enhancing the places we live, work and enjoy in our spare time, as well as providing an important network of wildlife habitats. It also helps to deliver against an agenda increasingly focused on sustainability and climate change.
Green Infrastructure is described as the network of green spaces and natural elements that intersperse and connect our cities, towns and villages. It is the open spaces, waterways, gardens, woodlands, green corridors, wildlife habitats, street trees and open countryside. Green Infrastructure provides multiple benefits for the economy, the environment and people.
The importance of this green space is highlighted in the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy, which states that “Access to quality green space can contribute greatly to the Region's urban renaissance, improving the quality of life in urban areas providing opportunities for sport and recreation and supporting biodiversity. Maintaining, enhancing and, where appropriate, increasing the amount of green space is, therefore, an important factor in considering the most efficient use of land.”
It is clear that regional and sub-regional strategies, action plans and frameworks are all increasingly recognising the importance of such green infrastructure.
The prospectus sets out the regional vision for green infrastructure and has five aims:
- To ensure politicians, policy developers and decision makers throughout the West Midlands are aware of the vital roles of Green Infrastructure.
- To advocate grater investment in, and improved management of, the Region’s existing Green Infrastructure.
- To ensure Green Infrastructure is appreciated as an essential element of delivering sustainable communities, underpinning growth and regeneration.
- To promote a robust and systematic approach to Green Infrastructure assessment, planning and investment by local, sub regional and regional planning bodies.
- To ensure Green Infrastructure is proactively planned from the earliest stages of strategic plan preparation through to concept and design stages of all future developments in the Region.
Green infrastructure can also help promote safer, cleaner and healthier communities and is a key ingredient in supporting Community Strategies and Local Area Agreements.
It is hoped that all stakeholders and partners are able to adopt the Green Infrastructure planning approach as part of their core activities and influence. It is important that the Green Infrastructure approach becomes an integral part of key regional processes such as the Growth Points development process and the reviews of the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy and Regional Economic Strategy
A Green Infrastructure Task Group will re-form in the region, linked to the Regional Assembly Environment Partnership and Regional Woodland and Forestry Forum, to help develop effective use of the Prospectus and technical document.
See the full Prospectus (in .pdf format: 52.1mb)
See the Technical Mapping Paper (in .pdf format: 1.8mb)
Press Release for the launch of the Prospectus (in Word format)
