Planning Policy Statement (PPS): Planning for a Natural and Healthy Environment has been published for consultation together with draft PPS1 Supplement: Planning for Low Carbon Future in a Changing Climate. 

The draft PPS contains policies to maintain, and enhance, restore or add to biodiversity and geodiversity through the planning system. It includes policies to promote opportunities for the incorporation of beneficial biodiversity and geological features within the design of development, and to maintain networks of natural habitats by avoiding their fragmentation and isolation. It suggests this may be done as part of a wider strategy for the protection and extension of open space and access routes such as canals and rivers. 

The draft PPS sets out streamlined and consolidated planning policy relating to:

• biodiversity and geological conservation (currently set out in Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation (PPS9))
• landscape protection, soil and agricultural land quality, and forestry (currently set out in paragraphs 21-23, 28-29 and 33 of Planning Policy Statement 7: Sustainable Development in Rural Areas (PPS7))
• coastal access, heritage coast and the undeveloped coast (currently set out in paragraphs 2.9, 2.10 and 3.9 of Planning Policy Guidance 20: Coastal Planning (PPG20))
• open space, sport, recreation and play (currently set out in Planning Policy Guidance 17: Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation (PPG17))

Proposed policy changes relate only to the strategic provision of green infrastructure and to the floodlighting of sports and recreational facilities.

Read the RTPI's response to the draft PPS submitted in June 2010.

The following consultation also relates to the draft PPS:

Draft Government Circular: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation - Statutory obligations and their impact within the planning system. This is a revised version of ODPM Circular 06/2005 Defra Circular 01/2005 - Consultation. Read the RTPI's response.

Author:

Rebecca Coates

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

04-Jun-10

Categories:

Policy, Practice 

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