Policy Intent:

Green and Blue Infrastructure is a term that covers a wide range of natural, ecological and recreational features, including parks, woodlands, water bodies, hedgerows, mature trees, lines of street trees, allotments etc that combine to create habitat networks. In urban areas like Leighton Linslade, they enable those networks to extend from the surrounding countryside into quite densely built-up areas, where open spaces and ecological value is more difficult to come by. All those features need to be mapped to show not just where they are but also to point to where the network may be improved to be better connected if land is developed or redeveloped.

The policy seeks to protect the existing green and blue infrastructure from harmful development and to encourage its improvement, expansion and better connectivity. Connectivity describes the links between different part of the green and blue infrastructure network as well as between the network and where people live both today and in the future. The policy will seek to utilise the outputs of the LL Green & Blue Infrastructure Plan (under review) to strengthen the status of this document as well as linking with and helping take forward the priorities and measures identified within both the Bedfordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) and the Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes LNRS. The policy can also reinforce the Leighton Linslade Green Wheel Masterplan and Local Walking and Cycling Implementation Strategy ( See LL14) as well as highlighting areas where there are deficits in green spaces. 

The CBC Local Plan provides strategic overview for Green and Blue Infrastructure, ( see CBC Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy 2022) but smaller scale plans, such as neighbourhood plans can provide more nuanced local detail to fit alongside the strategic document. It can also direct new development in respect of matters such as levels of tree canopy cover, retention of hedgerows and the use of alternative green infrastructure in urban areas such as green walls as well as measures to safeguard habitats and wildlife corridors as well as helping to address issues around flooding through “natural flood management” type interventions.