Green development process

All developments can contribute to GI by enhancing existing resources or improving local provision. The scale and cost of GI should reflect the scale and type of development proposed. Small developments like single houses could contribute with adequately sized gardens, nest boxes, or green rooves. Mid to high-density housing schemes could include food growing areas and other green spaces for healthy recreation.

The level of GI you should propose

The location of the development will also determine how much GI which we would expect in a proposed development. Residential developments and developments in residential areas which lack accessible open space are expected to provide more than those in rural areas with adequate GI.

The provision, character and distribution of GI opportunities depends on:

• the nature of the location
• the type of development
• the contribution it can make to eco-connectivity
• regulatory and provisioning services

Maps of existing GI

Together with Natural Resources Wales (NRW), we have developed ecosystem services maps. These show which of the county borough’s areas currently have the best water regulation provision, habitat connectivity, contribute to pollination or recreation provision. The maps can be used to identify how your development can best utilise and contribute to GI functionality.

We expect development proposals to help address the county borough’s social, environmental and economic issues.

How to address local issues

1. See the Local Development Plan to determine which issues may be particularly relevant to your planned development’s location.
2. Find out how GI assets can help address these issues.
3. Review and revise your ‘context map’ with the local issues and type of development intended to identify what issues can be addressed through GI.

For further advice please email planning@bridgend.gov.uk.

No matter how small, all changes to homes or environments can contribute to GI by enhancing existing resources. Small schemes such as single house developments can contribute by providing an adequately sized garden, nest boxes for birds and bats, or a green roof. The scale and cost of GI delivered should reflect the scale and type of development proposed.

A crucial first step before planning any changes is a simple site survey to determine what GI features are present on and around the site. Also note how important they are, and how significant features can be kept or enhanced in the proposal. This step will also help in deciding if detailed surveys or specialist help is needed.

Note the case studies which show best practice under ‘Documents’ on this page.

For further advice please email planning@bridgend.gov.uk.

A crucial early step in any development proposal should be completing a site survey and desk study. These should determine:

• what GI features are present on and around the site
• how important they are
• how significant features can be retained or enhanced in the development

This step will also help in deciding the scope of any further surveys that may be needed such as a/an:

• Extended Phase I Habitat Survey
• Protected Species Survey
• Tree Survey
• Landscape Character and Visual Impact Appraisals

If a Special Area of Conservation is in the zone of influence, a separate assessment under the Habitat Regulations 1994 may be required.

For further advice, please email planning@bridgend.gov.uk.

Once the GI features on and around the site have been identified and their value considered, they should be mapped. This ‘context map’ should act as a framework or ‘green print’ within which the development can be planned. It allows design in a way that best uses the site’s assets, maximises their benefits and ensures compliance with legislation and policy. See examples of the GI features which should be identified on the ‘context map’.

Consideration of site assets and careful design may negate the requirement for additional surveys and mitigation later in the planning process. Provide drawings, specifications and method statements for overall design concept, soft and hard landscaping, land drainage, proposed use allocations, phasing of developments, and so on.

For development control purposes, a site survey plan should include:

• date of survey
• site measurements, suitably scaled for plotting at up to 1:200
• boundary location and type like fence, wall, hedge, which should include land proposed for development and other nearby land in the owner’s or applicant’s control
• ground levels at boundaries and site-wide on a grid pattern, as well as and at the base of features like trees, culvert/manhole inverts with contours
• current land use, including relevant adjacent land
• water courses and water bodies, including rivers, streams, ditches and ponds, even if they are dry at time of the survey
• geological or geomorphological features such as rock exposures
• existing buildings and structures
• existing utility services above and below ground evident way-leaves, and evidence of former or buried services such as manholes, lamp-posts, junction boxes
• gates, access points, roads, paths, bridleways and cycleways, and also any obstructions
• approximate boundaries of major vegetation types such as trees, grassland, scrub, heath, ornamental shrubs, and areas of bare ground or hard-standing
• all individual and grouped trees with a stem diameter measured at greater than 7.5cm while 1.5m above ground
• woodlands with an outline showing the outer canopy edge, and outer edge trees’ trunks individually plotted along all sides within or facing the site
• significant patches of smaller saplings, newly-planted trees and ornamental shrubs shown typically as groups
• invasive species such as Japanese knotweed or giant hogweed, if possible
• extracts from recent aerial photographs and historic Ordnance Survey maps where copyright allows which can show former land uses that can stimulate creative landscape proposals

For further advice please email planning@bridgend.gov.uk.

Mapped GI features and identified local issues should inform the development design. Design GI in an integrated way, alongside the proposal’s built elements. It should:

• have ecological connectivity with the surrounding GI network
• be relative to the scale of the proposal
• have links incorporated to enable sustainable transport around or through the site, where appropriate

Further guidance can be found in the:

• Local Development Plan
• Open Space and Recreation Supplementary Planning Guidance
• Walking and Cycling Strategy (Sustainable Transport)
• Landscape Design Guidance
• Biodiversity Design Guidance Sheets

Where it is impossible to deliver appropriate features and functions in the site, this should be highlighted as an issue for discussion with the council. In these cases, we may suggest that offsite mitigation or contribution to nearby Green Infrastructure features is provided.

Consider the case studies under ‘Documents’ which show best practice.

For further advice please email planning@bridgend.gov.uk.

After seeking advice and completing a simple site survey, please ensure your planning application includes details of how you will create or enhance GI features.

For further advice, please email planning@bridgend.gov.uk.

Submit applications for a major or sensitive development

All major or sensitive developments will be expected to give detailed consideration to their proposal’s impact on the GI network. Please ensure that your planning application addresses GI requirements.

Specific consideration should be given to the following topics which are noted in the Bridgend Local Development Plan:

Biodiversity and nature conservation

• Policy SP2
• Policy SP4
• Policy ENV4
• Policy ENV6

Climate change

• Policy PLA4
• SPG12: Sustainable Energy

Green infrastructure

• Policy ENV5

Landscape

• Policy SP2
• Policy SP4
• Policy ENV3

Natural resource protection and public health

• Policy ENV7

Open space and recreation

• Policy COM11
• Policy COM12
• Policy COM13
• Provision of Outdoor Sports, Playing Spaces and Public Open Spaces SPG

Productive landscapes

• Policy COM14

Transport

• Policy PLA7

For further advice please contact planning@bridgend.gov.uk.

If your planning application is successful, we may set planning obligations to agree the exact contributions to GI. Also, these will ensure that there is minimal disturbance to GI features during construction.

For further advice please email planning@bridgend.gov.uk.

It is important that the long-term management of GI features within major developments are set out in a Landscape Management Plan. Funding the delivery and ongoing maintenance of GI is an important issue for discussion with us during the planning process.

For further advice, please email planning@bridgend.gov.uk.