Draft Stockton-On-Tees Green Infrastructure Delivery Plan

DRAFT STOCKTON-ON-TEES GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY PLAN:

BREIFING NOTE

1.  Introduction

The Green Infrastructure Delivery Plan shows a wide range of possible projects which could be implemented under the Stockton-on-Tees Green Infrastructure Strategy[1]. The Plan can be viewed on a series of area maps available on the Stockton Borough Council website:

www.stockton.gov.uk/gideliveryplan

Or go to www.stockton.gov.uk/countrysideandgreenspace and follow the links

We would very much welcome feedback from any local organisations (including town/parish councils and community/residents groups, private sector partners) on these initial project proposals. Information on how to contact us is given at the end of this report. Please let us have your comments by 27 June 2012.

The Delivery Plan will provide the basis for Stockton Borough Council’s future work programmes on green infrastructure, often working in partnership with others. Indeed other organisations may be better placed to lead on the implementation of some projects.

However, the inclusion of a project on this plan does not mean it will definitely go ahead. In most cases there would need to be detailed local consultation with residents, landowners and other organisations - to determine whether a scheme should be implemented. Proposals may require more detailed feasibility and design work, and funding would need to be secured to meet the costs of implementing projects and covering any on-going costs.

Finally, the Delivery Plan shows a very large number of potential projects and clearly we can not implement all these projects in the short-term. However, by having these initial projects listed the Council is well-placed to secure external funding as and when it becomes available. This might be new grant programmes, through the National Lottery for example, or funds secured through the planning and development process through Section 106 Agreements and the new Community Infrastructure Levy.

2.  What does the Delivery Plan show?

The Plan shows proposals for new and improved green infrastructure across the whole Borough. The plans can be viewed on an area-by-area basis. Potential projects are grouped under eight related themes:

a)  Access Routes (e.g. footpaths, cycleways and bridleways)

b)  Biodiversity / Natural Greenspaces (e.g. wildflower meadows or ponds)

c)  Community Food (e.g. allotments, community gardens and orchards)

d)  Informal Sports (e.g. multi-use games areas and skate parks)

e)  Greenspaces and Parks (e.g. formal parks, cemeteries)

f)  Spaces for Play (e.g. play areas and more natural play environments)

g)  Sports Pitches

h)  Trees and Woodlands[2]

A full list of themes and the types of green infrastructure included under each theme is available at Appendix 1. This also shows the codes/colours used to present this information on the plans. Please note that Sports Pitches are included under the Greenspaces and Parks heading.

The Delivery Plan has been broken down into a series of area maps, which can be downloaded from the Stockton Borough Council website (see links provided on page 1). When viewing the maps in screen we recommend that you print out the associated key for each plan so you can refer to that separately.

·  Billingham & The Clarences

·  Ingleby Barwick & Thornaby

·  Stockton East

·  Stockton West

·  Yarm & Eaglescliffe

·  Rural Areas / Access Routes North

·  Rural Areas / Access Routes South

The Delivery Plan forms part of a wider Partnership Action Plan for the Stockton-on-Tees Green Infrastructure Strategy; other organisations may deliver other projects which are not featured on these plans. The Stockton-on-Tees Green Infrastructure Steering Group will help to ensure these various projects are delivered in a coordinated way.

3.  How will the Delivery Plan be used?

This information will be used in the following ways:

Development and delivery of a work programme:

The Delivery Plan highlights a large number of potential projects which could be delivered by the Council, in partnership with community groups, voluntary organisations and partner organisations. The Delivery Plan can be used to support external funding applications and help to effectively target the resources of the Council and partner organisations.

Spatial planning:

The Delivery Plan helps to show how key targets and standards for open space provision, as set out in the Sport Recreation and Landscaping Supplementary Planning Document, can be met. It provides planners and developers with some clarity on what local provision is required and how the planning process can be used to develop and enhance the Borough’s green infrastructure, e.g. through Section 106 agreements and the new Community Infrastructure Levy.

4.  What issues would need to be considered before any schemes go ahead?

As stated above, the Delivery Plan shows a large number of potential projects, but a number of issues would need to be taken into consideration before most of these individual schemes could be implemented.

a)  Detailed site assessment and feasibility work (list not exhaustive):

·  Does the site have any designations that would have a bearing on a project, e.g. protected habitats or species, Registered Village Green, Conservation Area, Scheduled Ancient Monument, Tree Preservation Orders, and so on?

·  Are there any other constraints which will restrict how the site is developed and managed, e.g. flood risk, underground services, land contamination, wayleave / easement routes, or restrictive covenants?

·  Is the site or access corridor in public or private ownership? Does the project need to cooperation or support of a third party?

·  Does the project require planning consent?

b)  Inter-dependencies with other projects and programmes:

·  Can the project be considered in isolation or is its delivery dependent upon other factors? e.g. a scheme may be strongly linked to a major new development, or the closure of an existing facility.

·  In some areas there may be more than one potential site identified for the same kind of project proposal. These may be complementary in which case both might be implemented, but in other cases the plan merely reflects different options for consideration.

·  Objectives may be achieved not only through new provision, but also by improving access to existing spaces or facilities. For example, a new safe road crossing or cycleway may make it easier to access an existing park and overcome the need for a new facility elsewhere.

c)  Confirmation of costs and sources of capital/revenue funding

·  What are the initial capital costs and on-going revenue costs associated with each proposal?

·  What are the potential sources of funding or other mechanisms for development and on-going management? e.g. developer contributions through Section 106 Agreements, Council funding, external grants or possible transfer of assets to a third party?

·  Would the scheme help to reduce current costs, e.g. by replacing infrastructure which is already in need of repair or costly to maintain?

d)  Local community consultation and involvement

·  Most schemes should be subject to more detailed local consultation; to seek broad agreement for the scheme and to inform the detailed design process. Through the consultation process we should also seek to actively engage local stakeholders in the project, e.g. individual residents, community groups, local businesses and schools. These individuals and groups may then be able to take on an active role in project development, with the support and guidance of the Council and other agencies as appropriate.

e)  Identifying the project partners

·  Who is going to deliver the scheme, and who is going to be responsible for on-going management and maintenance? This could be the Borough Council, but could also be a local town/parish council, community group, individual residents, local businesses, farmer or landowner, schools or other educational establishment. Other key partners might include organisations like Groundwork, Tees Valley Wildlife Trust or the Environment Agency.

Finally it is important to note a few other issues when using the Delivery Plan:

·  The locations and boundaries shown on the plan are not fixed at this stage, and as we move ahead if opportunities arise to achieve the same broad objectives by considering alternative sites in that area, or working beyond the suggested boundaries, then this should be considered. All subject to the issues/factors outlined above.

·  Even once there is broad agreement that a project should go ahead, the actual timescales for delivery will depend on the capacity of the delivery partners to undertake the necessary work.

·  The Delivery Plan does not show existing green infrastructure or make reference to the on-going management of those existing spaces or assets. However, it is recognised that this is a very important aspect of the work of the local authority and its partners, and requires significant resources.

5.  How does this Delivery Plan help to deliver the Stockton-on-Tees Green Infrastructure Strategy?

Green Infrastructure incorporates all types of open spaces, water bodies and environmental features. Carefully planned and well-managed green infrastructure performs many different functions which in turn deliver numerous environmental, social, health and economic benefits.

The Stockton-on-Tees Green Infrastructure Strategy sets out 10 strategic objectives which can be achieved through the future development and management of the Borough’s green infrastructure.

Every project identified in this Delivery Plan must address at least one of these Strategic Objectives, and projects may sometimes deliver against several objectives as shown in the following table.

Delivery Plan Themes
Access Routes / Biodiversity /
Natural Greenspaces / Community Food / Informal Sports / Greenspaces and Parks / Spaces for Play / Sports Pitches / Trees & Woodlands
Green Infrastructure Strategy – Strategic Objectives: / Promoting regeneration / ü / ü / ü / ü / ü / ü / ü / ü
Addressing the impacts of climate change / ü / ü / ü / ü / ü
Improving health and well-being / ü / ü / ü / ü / ü / ü / ü / ü
Promoting leisure and tourism / ü / ü / ü / ü / ü / ü / ü / ü
Promoting active & sustainable travel / ü / ü / ü
Increasing biodiversity & conserving other natural resources / ü / ü / ü / ü / ü
Enhancing landscape and the historic environment / ü / ü / ü / ü / ü
Producing food and renewable energy / ü / ü / ü / ü
Promoting awareness and lifelong learning / ü / ü / ü / ü / ü / ü
Making places safe, welcoming and accessible / ü / ü / ü / ü / ü / ü / ü / ü

Projects should not be viewed in isolation. Rather they should be seen as enhancing and extending the network of green corridors identified in the Strategy:

·  ‘Primary’ green infrastructure network: 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 17 on the following plan

·  ‘Secondary’ green infrastructure network: A to O on the following plan

·  Urban and rural green grids: local green networks, not mapped in the Strategy itself but recognised as being of significance at the neighbourhood scale.

Stockton on Tees Strategic Green Infrastructure Network

Looking at projects in this way will help to maximise the benefits to local people and the environment. For example:

·  Parks, play areas and other recreational sites should be served by high quality footpaths and cycle routes, to encourage sustainable travel and promote health and well-being.

·  Where possible new wildlife areas should link to existing habitats - creating wildlife corridors which may also provide attractive green settings for new development.

·  As well as supporting wildlife, natural green spaces may also slow the rate at which water runs into streams and rivers, and therefore help to reduce the risk of flooding further downstream.

The Green Infrastructure Strategy and other information is available at: www.stockton.gov.uk/greeninfrastructure

6.  What information has been used to prepare the Delivery Plan?

The Delivery Plan reflects the broad priorities set out in the Stockton-on-Tees Green Infrastructure Strategy and other related plans and strategies such as the Borough’s ‘Sport Recreation and Landscaping Supplementary Planning Document’, Playing Pitch Strategy, Rights of Way Improvement Plan and Cycleway Improvement Plan.

The Delivery Plan has also been informed by research, consultation and customer feedback as detailed in this report, and will itself be subject to further consultation over the coming months.

A full summary of the information that has been used to prepare the Delivery Plan is available as a separate document: Stockton-on-Tees Green Infrastructure Delivery Plan: Background Information. This can also be downloaded from the website (via the links provided on page 1).

7.  Next steps

We will review the Delivery Plan in light of the comments we receive over the coming weeks. We would then be pleased to attend a future meeting of the Area Partnership Board to discuss a revised Plan later in the year.

We will also publish the final version of the Delivery Plan on the Borough Council’s website later in 2012, together with a work programme listing short-term priorities for delivery.

Finally it is important to emphasise that the Green Infrastructure Delivery Plan will be a ‘live’, working document which is updated as projects are completed and as new priorities are agreed.

8.  How to make your comments

At this stage we would particularly welcome comments from local organisations on the broad proposals set out in the Delivery Plan. All interested parties would be consulted at a later stage on any detailed proposals.

A Feedback Form is provided at Appendix 2. Please submit your comments by 27 June. If for any reason you need more time please let us know.

Graham Clingan

Countryside & Greenspace Development Manager

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Appendix 1: Codes and categories used on Green Infrastructure Delivery Plan

Codes used on GI Delivery Plan
Main theme / Sub-category
A / Access Routes:
B / Bridleway
C / Cycleway
A / Multi-user route
F / Footpath
B / Biodiversity / Natural Greenspaces:
N / Natural greenspaces
M / Grassland Management
F / Community Food:
A / Allotment
O / Community Orchard
G / Greenspaces and Parks:
P / Park
R / Recreation Ground
S / Sports Pitches
C / Cemetery
W / Woodland
I / Informal Sports:
W / Wheeled Sports
M / Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA)
B / BMX Track
E / Outdoor Exercise Equipment
P / Spaces for Play:
F / Fixed Play
N / Natural Play
T / Trees and Woodlands:
S / Street Trees
W / Woodlands

Appendix 2: Draft Stockton-on-Tees Delivery Plan – Feedback Form