Nature England – Green Infrastructure Framework

On 2 February 2023, Natural England published the Green Infrastructure Framework (“the Framework”), a new tool to help towns and cities turn greener. Emily Knowles and Tiah Weekes look at its contents.

The Framework is intended for use by local planning authorities (“LPAs”) and developers and seeks to increase the amount of green cover in urban residential areas in light of national policy requirements contained within the National Planning Policy Framework (“NPPF”) to consider green infrastructure (“GI”).

The Framework supplements the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan which sets out how we, as a country, will improve our environment both here in the UK and around the world through collaborative efforts. The plan includes a commitment that the public should be able to access green space or water, such as woodlands, wetlands, parks and rivers, within a 15-minute walk from their home.

The Framework aims to help achieve this commitment by providing a structure to analyse where green space in urban environments is needed most in the UK. One of the key aims of the Framework is to support equitable access to green spaces across the country, with an overarching target of all citizens being able to reach good quality green space in their local area. With this in mind, Natural England has incorporated several helpful tools into the Framework such as the 15 Green Infrastructure Principles, the Green Infrastructure Standards, and the Green Infrastructure Planning and Design Guide.

The 15 Principles aim to cover ‘why’ GI is important, ‘what’ GI actually is and in particular what successful GI is, and ‘how’ GI can be used by LPAs and developers to bring about benefits. The GI Standards are a key component of the Framework and aim to provide more detailed guidance for planners and developers as to what constitutes good GI and how to incorporate it into developments and local plans. The Standards contain recommended levels of achievement for different types of development. The GI Planning and Design Guide provides further guidance by listing specific examples of GI that can be implemented to promote the goals of the Framework namely, allotments, traffic-free routes, green spaces, private domestic gardens, green walls, green roofs, sustainable drainage systems and many more. The Design Guide also provides guidance as to how to apply the Framework’s 15 Principles and the GI Standards as well as how GI can work with other tools for improving the environment, such as Biodiversity Net Gain.

Networks of green and blue spaces and other natural features can bring big benefits for nature and climate, health and prosperity which is beneficial for all. The Framework will be an incredibly useful tool for LPAs and developers helping LPAs to meet requirements in the NPPF to consider GI in local plans and in new development, and providing developers with a steer when preparing development proposals. In our experience developers are already well aware of the benefits of GI for their schemes and are increasingly interested in incorporating this into proposals but the Framework will provide more of a guide as to how to do so well. The Framework will also help LPAs and developers meet any green goals or environmental standards and will be an instrumental tool in considerations such as carbon offsetting and achieving net zero.

Sharpe Pritchard’s planning and parliamentary team advise LPAs and developers on projects of all types from pre-application through to the grant of planning permission. We advise on planning applications, environmental considerations, and GI across all development proposals and can help you to understand the requirements of the Framework and what it means for proposed development. We also assist in negotiations and drafting planning agreements. Contact a member of the team for more information.

Emily Knowles is a Senior Associate and Tiah Weekes is a Trainee Solicitor at Sharpe Pritchard LLP.

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