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Publication Local Plan, Chapter 22: Green infrastructure

Creating a fairer Salford by:

  • Enabling all residents to benefit from good access to a diverse range of green spaces and features
  • Reducing the shortage of greenspace affecting some parts of the city
  • Using green infrastructure to support health, wellbeing and quality of life

22.1 Green infrastructure is defined in the National Planning Policy Framework as a “network of multi-functional green space, urban and rural, which is capable of delivering a wide range of environmental and quality of life benefits for local communities”. It also includes ‘blue’ features such as ponds, rivers and canals.

22.2 Green infrastructure is essential to the success of Salford, not just because of the wide variety of environmental objectives that it helps to meet but also because it improves quality of life, supports economic growth, enhances the image of the city, assists in mitigating the impacts of climate change, and promotes social objectives such as good physical and mental health and wellbeing. Hence, investment in green infrastructure, such as the new RHS Garden Bridgewater, is an investment in the long-term health and prosperity of the city, its residents and its businesses.

22.3 The overarching aim is to establish a comprehensive, high quality network of green infrastructure throughout Salford, extending into surrounding districts. It will be important to ensure that all areas of Salford benefit from the provision of accessible and high quality green infrastructure, including within the more densely developed areas of the city. The green infrastructure network therefore needs to stretch throughout the whole city, and this will require the provision of new pieces of green infrastructure as well as the appropriate protection and improvement of existing ones. The contribution of Salford’s green infrastructure to the wider Greater Manchester network also needs to be recognised, and Chat Moss (see policy GI2) and the Irwell Valley (policy GI3) in particular are considered to be of sub-regional importance. Within the city, the West Salford Greenway (policy GI4) is also of strategic significance.

Map of Salford: Green infrastructure of strategic significance

Download a full size version of figure 16 - Green infrastructure of strategic significance (Adobe PDF format, 567kb)

Development and green infrastructure

22.4 Given the vital contribution of green infrastructure to the future success of the city, it will be essential that new developments protect existing and incorporate new green infrastructure wherever possible. This will help to ensure that all parts of the city benefit from high quality and accessible green infrastructure, and will avoid a disproportionate burden falling on any individual sites or developments.

22.5 Its immense benefits, coupled with competing pressures on land resources, means that ideally there would always be far more green infrastructure available than it is possible to provide in practice. This necessitates thinking creatively about the opportunities to incorporate green infrastructure into developments, utilising buildings, streets and landscaping to increase the overall level of greenery as well as specifically setting aside land for green infrastructure. It also makes it important to maximise the range of functions that individual pieces of green infrastructure can support as far as practicable, whilst recognising that it may be appropriate to prioritise certain functions given the particular site context and that tensions between different functions will need to be managed. This enables the maximum advantage to be derived from the green infrastructure as well as representing a more efficient use of land. Ensuring that green infrastructure features are interconnected will further enhance their functionality, for example by enabling the more successful dispersal of flora and fauna, and providing more continuous attractive pedestrian and cycling routes. The ongoing management and maintenance of green infrastructure features such as woodland, trees and reed beds will be important in enabling it to continue to fulfil its various functions.

Policy GI1 Development and green infrastructure

Development shall protect and enhance the green infrastructure network in Salford by helping to maximise its:

  1. Extent, whilst having regard to the development needs of the city;
  2. Interconnectedness, enabling individual pieces of green infrastructure to deliver greater benefits through links to the wider network;
  3. Multi-functionality, whilst not detracting from the important primary functions of individual pieces of green infrastructure; and
  4. Quality, ensuring that it can meet its various functions as effectively as possible.

In complying with the above points, developments shall:

  1. Respond to the specific location, characteristics and surroundings of the site to take opportunities to incorporate green infrastructure that can most effectively benefit the wider area, for example providing sustainable urban drainage systems that address identified problems such as flood risk and water quality, and deliver environmental and quality of life benefits;
  2. Ensure that green infrastructure is central to the design, rather than being relegated to ‘left-over’ land;
  3. Use land and building surfaces creatively to maximise on-site green infrastructure provision, particularly within areas where there are currently major green infrastructure deficits such as City Centre Salford and Salford Quays;
  4. Seek to maximise the benefits, and where appropriate public use, of the green infrastructure, with an emphasis on promoting healthier communities; and
  5. Ensure that appropriate long-term management and maintenance measures are in place for any green infrastructure.

Green infrastructure functions

Appropriate functions of green infrastructure may include:

  1. Providing habitats for plants and animals, particularly native species, and corridors and stepping stones for their movement
  2. Providing opportunities for food production, both commercial and non-commercial
  3. Mitigating the risks and impacts of flooding
  4. Mitigating air, water and noise pollution
  5. Providing carbon storage and sequestration
  6. Offering relief from high temperatures
  7. Providing sport and recreation opportunities
  8. Providing space for public events, meeting places and quiet contemplation
  9. Providing attractive walking, cycling and horse riding routes
  10. Contributing to the quality of townscapes and landscapes, and providing a high quality setting for development
  11. Supporting heritage and local identity
  12. Separating individual developments and settlements
  13. Providing an educational resource

Within the following parts of the city, some of which overlap, the provision and improvement of green infrastructure shall support and enhance the identified priority functions as far as practicable:

  1. Within flood zones 2 and 3 as identified by the Environment Agency, the provision of capacity for water storage in the event of a flood
  2. Within City Centre Salford, Salford Quays and other areas of high density development, the provision of relief from high temperatures, and the efficient use of surfaces to maximise the provision of green infrastructure including through green roofs, green walls and street trees
  3. Within areas of poor average resident health, the provision of opportunities for physical activity
  4. Within Chat Moss, the storage of carbon
  5. Within the Biodiversity Heartland, the wider Great Manchester Wetlands Nature Improvement Area, and areas that do not meet the standards relating to access to strategic and local natural greenspace (see Policy R1), the provision of habitats, movement corridors and stepping stones for plants and animals
  6. Within and around the waterway network and other water bodies, measures to achieve ‘good’ status of the water body in accordance with Policy WA1 and encourage movement of species

Definition

The definition of green infrastructure encompasses a wide variety of green and/or open features, including the countryside, parks, playing fields, public squares, rivers, canals, ponds, hedgerows, grass verges, trees, private gardens, green roofs and green walls.

Map of Salford: Green infrastructure priority functions

Download a full size version of figure 17 - Green infrastructure priority functions (Adobe PDF format, 470kb)

Chat Moss

22.6 Chat Moss provides a distinctive, flat landscape, forming part of a larger area of lowland wetlands that includes the Wigan flashes and which falls within the Great Manchester Wetlands Nature Improvement Area (see Policy BG1). Chat Moss accounts for almost 20% of Salford’s total land area, but it currently has relatively limited direct benefits for the city’s residents despite its immense potential. Consequently, a high priority for this plan is to open up public access across the whole area, providing opportunities for informal recreation activities such as walking and cycling, in a way that is consistent with enhancing biodiversity and protecting the openness of the Green Belt.

22.7 There were originally some 2,650 hectares of lowland raised bog across Chat Moss, which is one of Western Europe’s rarest and most threatened habitats with a unique range of wildlife, but there are now only around 310 hectares of relatively undamaged peat deposits primarily in Salford. The restoration of lowland raised bog can make a major contribution to achieving carbon neutrality in Salford by 2038, both reducing a significant source of emissions and locking in carbon, as well as supporting nature conservation objectives..

22.8 A Biodiversity Heartland has been identified within Chat Moss, which provides the main opportunity for securing lowland raised bog restoration. It includes several former peat extraction sites, with some parts of the area already under restoration. However, lowland raised bog restoration may not always be practicable for a variety of reasons such as the previous use of the site, the remaining depth and quality of peat, or the hydrology of the immediate area. In these circumstances, habitats that are complementary to lowland raised bog will be sought, focusing particularly on wetlands. The Biodiversity Heartland also includes Botany Bay Wood, the largest area of woodland in Greater Manchester, which contains an important heronry that is potentially of national importance.

22.9 A review of Green Belt boundaries is ongoing through the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework and some land within Chat Moss may be allocated for development in the future. Any allocations within the area covered by this policy would need to have regard to the priorities set out below.

Policy GI2 Chat Moss

Chat Moss, as shown on the Policies Map (GI2/1), will be protected and enhanced as a key component of Greater Manchester’s strategic green infrastructure network, forming part of a wider lowland wetland area extending into Wigan and Warrington.

There will be a strong emphasis on:

  1. Delivering nature conservation improvements, particularly within the Biodiversity Heartland, and providing ecological connections to surrounding areas;
  2. Enhancing public access, with high quality walking and cycling routes through the area and connecting it to surrounding communities and other parts of the Great Manchester Wetlands Nature Improvement Area, in a manner compatible with nature conservation objectives and in particular avoiding additional pressure on nearby Special Areas of Conservation [1], so as to enable local residents to benefit from this vital and distinctive piece of green infrastructure;
  3. Improving visitor facilities that support public use of Chat Moss and offer learning opportunities;
  4. Providing high quality walking and cycling connections to the RHS Garden Bridgewater to the north, so that the two areas offer a distinctive visitor opportunity, with the garden providing a gateway to Chat Moss;
  5. Protecting and enhancing the area’s role in storing and sequestering carbon, thereby supporting climate change objectives;
  6. Retaining the flat, open and relatively tranquil character of the area, and its relative darkness;
  7. Increasing the recreation use of land outside the Biodiversity Heartland, where this is consistent with maintaining the openness of the Green Belt; and
  8. Seeking opportunities to restore a more natural hydrology to Shaw Brook and Glaze Brook.

Within the Biodiversity Heartland as shown on the Policies Map (GI2/2), the priority will be to secure the restoration of lowland raised bog and the enhancement of the Botany Bay Wood site of biological importance. Elsewhere within the Biodiversity Heartland, complementary habitats shall be provided, particularly wetlands, and there will be a focus on improving habitats for species such as breeding birds, brown hare and water vole.

Any development within or near to Chat Moss shall be consistent with these priorities, and shall ensure that the capacity of the hydrology of the area to support bog restoration is not adversely affected.

Irwell Valley

22.10 The Irwell Valley is a tremendously important piece of green infrastructure, and is a key component of Greater Manchester’s strategic green infrastructure network. It fulfils a very wide range of functions, and makes a major contribution to the identity of Salford and several of its neighbourhoods. It will be essential that the valley is protected and enhanced as the city continues to grow.

22.11 Some of the valley is designated as Green Belt, but the openness of the broader area is important to its character. Some past developments have impinged on this, and any worsening of this situation needs to be avoided. The valley area contains a wide range of recreation facilities, and there is considerable potential to enhance this further. When coupled with new and improved strategic recreation routes, this will help to ensure that a large number of residents are able to easily access outdoor recreation opportunities, promoting healthy lifestyles in areas of the city that currently suffer from poor average levels of health.

22.12 Key priorities for the Irwell Valley include the management of flood risk and improvements to water quality. The area within Salford contains two flood storage basins and other flood management infrastructure, but also includes a significant number of properties at risk of flooding. The water policies of this plan (see Chapter 18) set out the overall approach to addressing flood risk issues, including by carefully controlling new development, but actions will also be required further upstream outside Salford in order to reduce the peak flows of water entering the city. Improvements to water quality and the associated waterside environments are still required throughout the Irwell Catchment in order to achieve the North West River Basin Management Plan objectives (see Policy WA1).

22.13 The Irwell Valley is home to a varied range of environmental and historic assets, including several sites of biological importance, half of the city’s existing and proposed local nature reserves, Salford’s only area of ancient woodland, parts of two conservation areas, sections of the former Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal, and historic open spaces such as Peel Park. This quantity and diversity of such assets is a key strength of the area, providing a wide range of benefits for local communities, and their protection and enhancement is therefore vital. There have been some successes in improving the river as a wildlife resource in recent years, and the watercourse now supports species such as otter, kingfisher and brown trout.

Policy GI3 Irwell Valley

The Irwell Valley, as shown on the Policies Map, will be enhanced as a key landscape and wildlife corridor connecting the urban area to the countryside, forming part of a large expanse of strategic green infrastructure extending into neighbouring districts, and providing multiple environmental, social and economic benefits.

Within Salford, there will be a strong emphasis on:

  1. Retaining the open character of the river valley and avoiding its severance;
  2. Securing an integrated and varied network of new and improved recreation opportunities;
  3. Improving walking, cycling and horse riding connections through and to the valley, including through the provision of continuous waterside routes and new bridges across the river;
  4. Taking a comprehensive and coordinated approach to mitigating flood risk;
  5. Improving the water quality of the river, and contributing to other North West River Basin Management Plan objectives including naturalisation of the riverbed, river banks and associated environments where possible;
  6. Protecting and enhancing the biodiversity, geodiversity and heritage of the area; and
  7. Ensuring that development contributes to the character and environmental quality of the valley, including by providing a high quality backdrop to the river and taking advantage of the waterfront setting.

West Salford Greenway

22.14 The West Salford Greenway extends through the centre of the western part of the city, and is bounded by neighbourhoods in Worsley, Eccles, Swinton and Walkden. It has been formally protected by adopted planning policy since 1995, originally as the Worsley Greenway, and is highly valued by the local communities that surround it. It has a very varied nature, including a village green at Roe Green in the north of the area, a cricket ground and adjoining open land, woodland, agricultural land, Duke’s Drive local natural greenspace, and a golf course. The northern part of the area lies within the Roe Green/Beesley Green conservation area, sections of the western part lie within the St. Mark’s and Worsley Village conservation areas, and a significant section of the northern half is designated as the Worsley Woods local nature reserve and site of biological importance. The historically important Bridgewater Canal runs along the south-west edge of the Greenway, with its original feeder reservoir of Old Warke Dam in the centre of the area and its starting point at Worsley Delph, which is a scheduled ancient monument. The Greenway also has a broader importance in providing the setting for historic settlements in this part of Salford.

22.15 A loopline strategic recreation route runs from Monton Village to the south through the area before branching into two at the northern end, and is important for connecting the Greenway to surrounding communities. Several public footpaths provide access across the Greenway and link to the loopline, enabling residents in the adjoining areas to take advantage of this important green space. The individual parts of the Greenway are demonstrably special to the adjacent communities, resulting in several parts being designated as Local Green Space (see Policy GI5), but the area has a wider strategic significance in terms of the contribution it makes to the character of West Salford, including through some distinctive views. It is therefore essential that a coordinated approach is taken to protecting and enhancing its green infrastructure functions, and that built development is limited accordingly.

Policy GI4 West Salford Greenway

The West Salford Greenway, as shown on the Policies Map, will be protected and enhanced as a series of interconnected greenspaces of varied use and character, and important heritage assets, providing a major contribution to the identity and well-being of the surrounding neighbourhoods and west Salford more generally.

There will be a strong emphasis on:

  1. Maintaining the openness and continuity of the Greenway, and avoiding any fragmentation of it;
  2. Protecting the historic character of the Greenway, and its contribution to the character and setting of four conservation areas (Monton Green, Roe Green/Beesley Green, St Mark’s, and Worsley Village), a scheduled ancient monument (The Delph), several listed buildings including the Grade 1 listed Church of St Mark, the Bridgewater Canal, and the historic settlements of Worsley, Roe Green, Beesley Green, Monton and Broadoak Park;
  3. Improving the extent and quality of public access to and within the Greenway, with the strategic recreation routes along the Bridgewater Canal and the former railway line providing connections to other parts of the city, and maintaining a diverse range of recreational uses;
  4. Enhancing the biodiversity functions of the Greenway, providing a mosaic of habitats that bring wildlife into the heart of west Salford, including through the careful management of the Worsley Woods Local Nature Reserve and Worsley Woods Site of Biological Importance;
  5. Managing land and water bodies to deliver a range of green infrastructure functions, including minimising flood risk and delivering North West River Basin Management Plan objectives relating to Salteye Brook and Worsley Brook; and
  6. Limiting new development within the Greenway to the sensitive, small-scale extension of existing public or social facilities, and new buildings consistent with national Green Belt policy.

Local Green Space

22.16 The Local Green Space designation is used to identify and protect green areas that are of particular importance to local communities, and which meet specific criteria set out in national planning policy [2]. Many green areas are protected under other policies of the Local Plan, such as recreation sites under Policy R1 and sites of biological importance under Policy BG1. The Local Green Space designation provides additional protection, similar to Green Belt, but the absence of such a designation in no way diminishes the importance afforded to other green areas.

Policy GI5 Local Green Space

The following sites, as shown on the Policies Map, will be protected and enhanced as designated Local Green Spaces, and will be managed in accordance with national and local Green Belt policy:

  1. The Meadow, Broughton (6.4 hectares)
  2. Brickfield Wood, Boothstown and Ellenbrook (2.0 hectares)
  3. Three Sisters, Eccles (4.5 hectares)
  4. Blackleach Country Park, Walkden North (32.3 hectares)
  5. Roe Green, Worsley (3.4 hectares)
  6. Land at Beesley Green and Kempnough Brook, Worsley (27.0 hectares)
  7. Worsley Woods, Old Warke Dam and Aviary Field, Worsley (32.0 hectares)
  8. Broadoak South, Worsley (27.0 hectares)
  9. Duke’s Drive, Worsley (10.1 hectares)
  10. Worsley Green, Worsley (1.8 hectares)

22.17 GI5/1: The Meadow is a distinctive and attractive open space located within a meander of the River Irwell, making a significant contribution to the identity of Salford. The site is well-used, positively managed for nature conservation, and valued by the local community. It is one of the few significant green spaces within the City Centre, and has an important role to play in ensuring that this part of Greater Manchester is an excellent place to live, work and visit. Improvements to public access, particularly from the Crescent and Adelphi Street, and potentially including at least one new footbridge across the River Irwell, would enable many more people to enjoy this green space, and for it to function more effectively as a City Centre park.

22.18 GI5/2: Brickfield Wood is an area of dense urban woodland, which is rare within Salford. It benefits from an informal footpath along its eastern side, connecting it to the surrounding neighbourhood and the loopline recreation route to the north. It is recognised for its nature conservation importance, forming part of the Brickfield Wood site of biological importance that also extends to the south-west, and makes a significant contribution to the character of the local area.

22.19 GI5/3: Three Sisters is a varied site incorporating a mixture of open and vegetated areas, three small ponds, marsh and neutral grassland, and contains footpaths, boardwalks, and viewing platforms for the ponds. It is designated as a local nature reserve and site of biological importance, and also contains sections of a Roman road. Local people are engaged in the management of the site through an active local ‘friends’ group, and it is well-used. This combination of recreation, biodiversity and archaeological significance is rare within the city, and the site is highly valued by the surrounding community.

22.20 GI5/4: Blackleach Country Park is a vital local resource providing a wide range of green infrastructure and recreation functions, including a woodland play area. It is a designated local nature reserve and site of biological importance, and functions as a strategic natural greenspace and district park. It supports a mosaic of habitats including open water, swamp, marsh, tall herb vegetation, species-rich neutral grassland, woodland and scrub, with the reservoir being of interest for its resident water birds and waders. It has a mixture of open and vegetated areas, connected by formal footpaths, boardwalks and viewing platforms, and benefits from a visitor centre. An active ‘friends’ group supports the Salford ranger team in managing the site, and it is well-used by the local community.

22.21 GI5/5: Roe Green makes a major contribution to the character and appearance of the Roe Green/Beesley Green conservation area. It has the character of a village green, with a mixture of open and vegetated areas, connected by tree-lined formal footpaths. It provides a range of green infrastructure and recreation functions, including a play area. An active ‘friends’ group contributes towards the management of the site, and it is well-used by the local community. The site is located within the West Salford Greenway (Policy GI4).

22.22 GI5/6: Land at Beesley Green and Kempnough Brook consists of areas of open land and woodland, which make a significant contribution towards the distinctive character, appearance and setting of the Roe Green/ Beesley Green conservation area. Beesley Green forms an open green surrounded by a cluster of buildings including the grade II listed Beesley Hall, Beesley Community Centre and areas laid out as a bowling green and tennis courts. To the south and east of the green lies Roe Green cricket pitch with its locally listed pavilion and two areas of agricultural land separated by the woodland along the course of Kempnough Brook. This combination of recreation, biodiversity and heritage significance is rare within the city, and the site is highly valued by the surrounding community. The woods are positively managed for nature conservation through an active local ‘friends’ group. The site is located within the West Salford Greenway (Policy GI4).

22.23 GI5/7: Worsley Woods, Old Warke Dam and Aviary Field is defined by its heritage and recreation assets within a woodland setting, punctuated by open land which contribute towards the distinctive character, appearance and setting of the Worsley Village conservation area. This varied local green space contains a scheduled ancient monument at Worsley Delph with its canal tunnel entrances and wharf (from 1759-60), grade II listed cottages, and The Aviary, the grade II listed hunting and fishing lodge for the 1st Earl of Ellesmere adjacent to Old Warke Dam which collects water from Kempnough Brook. The woodland of Worsley Woods is also designated as a local nature reserve and site of biological importance containing a network of public rights of way. The open areas consist of playing fields for the Bridgewater School and agricultural land, which provide open views. Local people are engaged in the management of the publicly accessible parts of the site, which are well-used, through an active local ‘friends’ group. This combination of recreation, biodiversity and heritage significance is rare within the city, and the site is highly valued by the surrounding community. The site is located within the West Salford Greenway (Policy GI4).

22.24 GI5/8: Broadoak South is defined by its openness and vistas. There is a large pond towards the south of the site, pockets of woodland around most of the boundary, and Sindsley Brook runs through the site. The site is dissected by several public rights of way that are well used, providing the only public access, including key connections between Tyldesley Loopline and the Bridgewater Canal. The site is highly valued by the surrounding community providing wide open views along the Bridgewater Canal and towards Monton Green. Broadoak South has a semi-rural character as a key aspect of Worsley’s identity, contrasting with the more urban nature of the surrounding built-up area. The site is located within the West Salford Greenway (Policy GI4).

22.25 GI5/9: Duke’s Drive is a former miniature golf course which has partially re-vegetated and has seen recent enhancements. The site now incorporates a varied mixture of open and vegetated areas, several small ponds, and grassland, and contains footpaths and boardwalks. It is identified as a local natural greenspace. Local people are engaged in the management of the site through an active local ‘friends’ group, it is well-used and is highly valued by the surrounding community. The site is located within the West Salford Greenway (Policy GI4).

22.26 GI5/10: Worsley Green makes a significant contribution to the character and appearance of the Worsley Village conservation area, being an elegant open space with a magnificent row of lime trees bordering Worsley Road, and there are a number of listed buildings fronting onto its southern side. Until the start of the twentieth century, this important green space was actually Worsley Yard, sitting at the centre of an industrial complex that had grown following the construction of the Bridgewater Canal. Evidence of the mineral railway tracks which ran into the former works yard can be detected by slight depressions in the grass, and the green contains a grade II listed ornamental commemorative fountain dedicated to the 3rd Duke of Bridgewater who commissioned the Bridgewater Canal. The site is a designated village green, and provides an important public amenity space, which is utilised for community events.

Map of Salford: Local green space

Trees, woodland and hedgerows

22.27 Trees, woodland and hedgerows are extremely important components of Greater Manchester’s green infrastructure network, fulfilling a very wide range of functions including sequestering and storing carbon, enhancing biodiversity, providing access to nature, managing water, air, soil and noise pollution, reducing flood risk, stabilising land, reducing soil erosion, strengthening landscape character, and providing shade and cooling to combat high temperatures. The city council supports the City of Trees target to plant a tree for every resident in Greater Manchester over the next 25 years.

22.28 Some parts of the city have significantly higher levels of tree cover than others, with trees making a major contribution to the character of certain neighbourhoods. The potential for increasing tree cover may be greater in some areas, but the vital roles of trees means that increases in provision will be sought everywhere. The inclusion of trees within development sites will often be appropriate, but where this is not practicable then street trees will be encouraged. The notable exception will be those landscapes and habitats where tree planting is generally inappropriate, in particular areas of lowland moss where there may be a need for tree removal to enhance this habitat. It will be important to ensure that new woodland protects existing habitats.

22.29 If the overall contribution of trees and woodland to Salford’s green infrastructure network is to be enhanced then it will be important to avoid harm to existing trees, and where this is not possible to secure appropriate replacements. Hedgerows typically provide one of the highest concentrations of biodiversity of any habitat, and can also be significant historic landscape features. Hence it will be important to retain the overall value of hedgerows in the city. Important hedgerows are provided additional statutory protection through The Hedgerow Regulations 1997.

Policy GI6 Trees, woodland and hedgerows

The extent of tree cover across Salford will be increased, with an emphasis on native species that support wildlife and carbon sequestration, and the vital role that trees and hedgerows make to environmental quality will be protected and enhanced, through a range of measures including by:

  1. Protecting the ancient woodland at Clifton Wood (BG2/42 on the Policies Map) and ancient or veteran trees elsewhere unless there are wholly exceptional reasons [3] as identified by national planning policy and a suitable compensation strategy exists;
  2. Affording strong protection to trees that are subject to a tree preservation order or are located within a conservation area;
  3. Ensuring that developments are designed and constructed in such a way as to minimise any adverse impacts on trees;
  4. Undertaking appropriate environmental assessment as part of significant new tree planting proposals including consideration of existing habitats;
  5. Requiring developments that would involve the loss of trees to provide replacement trees of a suitable size and species in an appropriate location to deliver a net enhancement in the character and quality of the treescape and biodiversity value in the local area, with a preference for on-site provision;
  6. Working towards the Woodland Trust standard of all households being within 4,000 metres walking distance of a publicly accessible woodland of at least 20 hectares in size (see Policy R1);
  7. Supporting the increased provision of street trees, ensuring that they meet minimum specification standards and maximise potential green infrastructure functions such as sustainable drainage and pollution control;
  8. Protecting hedgerows, particularly those of historic or biodiversity importance, and securing appropriate replacement, enhancement and expansion of this priority habitat in accordance with the Defra biodiversity offsetting metric where their loss is unavoidable; and
  9. Encouraging the positive management of trees, woodland and hedgerows so as to maximise their green infrastructure functions including ecological quality.

Any new tree provision will be expected to be accompanied by an appropriate management and maintenance plan with identified financial resources to deliver it.

Monitoring

22.30 The main indicators that will be used to monitor this chapter are:

Indicator Baseline position Target
Area of green infrastructure positively used for recreation See chapter 24 Recreation Increase (2019-2037)
Area of green infrastructure positively used for biodiversity purposes See chapter 23 Biodiversity and geodiversity Increase (2019-2037)
Area of green infrastructure positively used for flood risk mitigation 63 hectares [4] Increase (2019-2037)

22.31 Green infrastructure is influenced by several aspects of the Local Plan, therefore indicators in other chapters are also relevant to the delivery and monitoring of green infrastructure, particularly those on flood risk, biodiversity and recreation.

References

[1] Such as the Manchester Mosses Special Area of Conservation in Wigan and Warrington, and Rixton Clay Pits in Warrington

[2] Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (July 2018) National Planning Policy Framework, paragraph 100

[3] Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (February 2019) National Planning Policy Framework, paragraph 175c. At the time of writing defines ‘wholly exceptional reasons’ are defined as for example, infrastructure projects (including nationally significant infrastructure projects, orders under the Transport and Works Act and hybrid bills), where the public benefit would clearly outweigh the loss or deterioration of habitat.

[4] Unpublished work by Salford City Council

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