Communities to get powers to protect green spaces

Published by Ross Macmillan for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Local Government

Local communities will be able to protect "much loved" green spaces such as playing fields to help preserve the benefits of nature, ministers said today.

The plans, contained in the Natural Environment White Paper, will give people powers to designate protected green areas on the basis of their natural beauty, recreational value or importance to wildlife.

Green spaces with historic resonance for local people or particularly tranquil spots could also be protected under the proposals, which will form part of neighbourhood reforms currently being drawn up under a new national planning policy framework.

The plans outlined today would complement and not undermine investment in homes, jobs and other essential services, the White Paper said, but would provide suitably strong protection to areas which are "demonstrably special".

The proposals follow the publication of a major assessment of the value of nature, which showed the health benefits of living with a view of green space are worth up to £300 per person per year in the UK.

The national ecosystem assessment found that access to urban green space is essential to good mental and physical health, childhood development and social cohesion, and that it should be integral to the way towns and cities are planned and managed.

Green spaces can provide a range of benefits, including boosting house prices, improving air and water quality and providing natural flood defences and drainage.

Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles said: "Green spaces are incredibly important to local life, which is why this Government is committed to protecting them.

"These are special areas that invigorate communities like local beauty spots, wildlife habitats or even local playing fields so important for healthy activities."

Conservation groups have raised concerns that the planning reforms, which will be unveiled in draft form in the summer, are too focused on promoting growth and giving the green light to development, potentially at the detriment to the environment.

But Mr Pickles said today: "Promoting economic growth and protecting our natural environment are the two ambitions of our planning reforms.

"By giving local people greater control over much loved green spaces we are placing the strongest emphasis on the protection of the environment and local communities' interests.

"We are also making sure that what we decide today leaves a positive and sustainable legacy for future generations."