To receive an overview of the Green Network.
Minutes:
The Committee received a presentation from the Biodiversity Technician on the Green Network.
The Green Network was defined in the Local Plan as a strategic, interconnected network of open spaces within the urban areas of Telford and Newport and included both publicly and privately owned spaces that contribute to the Borough's green infrastructure. Whilst it was a local designation, it does not offer the same level of protection as statutory designations such as Local Nature Reserves or Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).
Members heard that the concept of the Green Network originated with the design of Telford New Town as a 'forest city.' Initial mapping had been completed in the 1980s and was later digitised with the first review of the Green Network completed in 2016 which saw a combination of updates to the existing policy and mapping of designated areas. Since 2016, nearly 330.5 hectares had been added to the Green Network, representing a 13% increase in designated area. The total area designated under the Green Network at the time of the meeting was 2887.7 hectares, equivalent to over seven times the urban area of Newport.
The emergence of new legislation and guidance, such as the Environment Act 2021 and the National Green Infrastructure Framework 2023, prompted a review of the Green Network policy in 2024/25. The six functions of the Green Network were adapted into five principles in order to align with the National Green Infrastructure Framework as follows:-
A mapping update also took place in 2024/25 to remove any areas which had been lost or added within the Borough’s green infrastructure. The mapping update was carried out from June 2024 with the final version submitted for inclusion in the Local Plan in January 2025.
Following the presentation, Members posed the following questions:-
As the Green Network forms part of the Local Plan, can new areas be submitted that haven't already been identified and if the Local Plan is approved, will the identified sites be protected from potential planning applications?
The Biodiversity Technician advised that the policy was not intended to prevent development but advocates for better site design in applications. However, if development did not meet the five principles, it could be refused.
Does this policy include private land too? If so, the University of Wolverhampton campus in Telford has a large green space. What would happen if a developer proposed building housing in that area?
The Biodiversity Technician confirmed that the site referenced was included in the Green Network mapping and that its designation would be taken into consideration with any proposed development as part of the policy before planning permission is sought or granted.
What is the relationship between the green network and the green designation and are the areas mapped out primarily in rural areas?
The Biodiversity Technician advised that policy works on the basis of the original concept set out by the Loca Plan which was an urban-focused policy and therefore the policy was specifically looking at urban areas with the aim of protecting and enhancing green spaces.