Theme 7
Ecology
How is the Group increasing green space and promoting biodiversity near homes?
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) will become a planning application requirement in November 2023, requiring a minimum 10 percent improvement. In preparation we’ve been assessing feasibility designs with a view to increasing the extent of open space and BNG on future schemes.
The drawings in Appendix 4 show biodiversity net gain landscaping, as well as play area and open space proposals for schemes of 18 dwellings in Bassingham and 121 dwellings in Bourne.
As part of Our Improving Lives 2025 strategy, we’re focused on the importance of green space in our development plans. This is underpinned and measured by a requirement to incorporate BfL12 into our developments.
Among the 12 BfL requirements (outlined in Appendix 6) are:
Thinking about what types of spaces are created and where they should be located
- We consider how spaces can be designed to be multi-functional, serving as wide an age group as possible and how they could contribute towards enhancing biodiversity.
- Where open spaces are provided, we consider where people might want to walk and what routes they might want to take and plan paths accordingly providing lighting if required.
- We also consider the sun path and shadowing throughout the day and which areas will be in light rather than shade. Areas more likely to benefit from sunshine are often the most popular places for people to gather.
Providing a management and maintenance plan
- Where areas of open space aren’t adopted by the local authority, we nominate a management company to look after the regular maintenance of the open spaces to an agreed and monitored management plan.
How is the Group increasing green space and promoting biodiversity near homes?
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) will become a planning application requirement in November 2023, requiring a minimum 10 percent improvement. In preparation we’ve been assessing feasibility designs with a view to increasing the extent of open space and BNG on future schemes.
The drawings in Appendix 4 show biodiversity net gain landscaping, as well as play area and open space proposals for schemes of 18 dwellings in Bassingham and 121 dwellings in Bourne.
As part of Our Improving Lives 2025 strategy, we’re focused on the importance of green space in our development plans. This is underpinned and measured by a requirement to incorporate BfL12 into our developments.
Among the 12 BfL requirements (outlined in Appendix 6) are:
Thinking about what types of spaces are created and where they should be located
- We consider how spaces can be designed to be multi-functional, serving as wide an age group as possible and how they could contribute towards enhancing biodiversity.
- Where open spaces are provided, we consider where people might want to walk and what routes they might want to take and plan paths accordingly providing lighting if required.
- We also consider the sun path and shadowing throughout the day and which areas will be in light rather than shade. Areas more likely to benefit from sunshine are often the most popular places for people to gather.
Providing a management and maintenance plan
- Where areas of open space aren’t adopted by the local authority, we nominate a management company to look after the regular maintenance of the open spaces to an agreed and monitored management plan.