Objecting to a Planning Application

Residential Design Guide - Open Space and Wildlife

1: Planning Law
History
Current Legislation
Interpretation
Delegation
Appeals

2: Local Plan Policies
FBE.2
FBE.3
FT.4

3: Residential Design Guide
Density
Housing Balance
Open Space and Wildlife

4: Grounds for Objection
Highways
Amenity
Policy
Environment

6: The Objection
Layout
Copy to Councillors
Parish Council

7: Property Law
Easements
Easement of Light
Right of Way

8: Planning lexicon

9: The Ombudsman

10: FODDC

11: Links

Does the development contribute to local open space provision and enhance wildlife potential?

Open space provision in the past has been seen as a question of providing a separate space for each separate need, such as playground, public park, playing fields, allotments and so on. But this disaggregated pattern missed out on the opportunity of providing for a general improvement in human and natural environment. An open space network in and around settlements is valuable in several interrelated ways: recreational footpath and cycling links; managing water; controlling pollution (especially through planting trees); enhancing wildlife potential and reducing wind speed (thus saving energy in buildings). Every new development should therefore make an appropriate contribution to local greenspace.

Criteria

	Have the natural features of the site - in terms of landscape, soils, mature trees and hedgerows, and distinctive / valuable wildlife habitats - been surveyed and evaluated?
	Are valuable natural history sites avoided?
	Does the proposed development incorporate public open space (where required by the local authority) so as to give good footpath connections to surrounding areas? give easy access from varied points in the new housing? preserve valued natural features, especially water courses, wooded slopes, mature trees and hedgerows? enhance wildlife potential especially by preserving / creating wildlife corridors? increase tree cover for aesthetic, wildlife and windbreak reasons? provide convenient local allotments for households without large gardens?