More initials than an episode of BBC’s Line of Duty – a quick introduction to the wildlife designation of green spaces in Bristol.
People can get confused about the designations that apply to your local green space, and what they mean for planning decisions. This is a summary intended to provide an introduction to the designations – it is not meant to be comprehensive.
If there is a proposed development on a green space. When determining that application the City Council has to apply certain principles in line with National and its own Planning Policy depending on the designation. An example of a principle that could apply is that there is no “significant harm” to the site. If there is mitigation and compensation of the negative effects of the development on the site can be proposed. Enhancement of the site in addition to the other measures is also encouraged.
Ready for those initials – these are the ones that currently apply to wildlife sites either in or near BS3. The most important first. There are other designations, some of which are just to the north of BS3.
SSSI – Site of Special Scientific Interest (National status)
LNR – Local Nature Reserve
SNCI – Site of Nature Conservation Interest (City Wide status)
WNS – Wildlife Network Site – forms part of the Wildlife Network
IOS – Important Open Space – not necessarily related to just wildlife (City Wide Status)
There are also other designations relating to landscape, cultural heritage; and areas being a Town and Village Green which can also apply.
GI – Green Infrastructure (City Wide status) – a network of sites providing benefits to people and wildlife. Blue infrastructure is water related. Grey infrastructure – the built environment.
NNL – No Net Loss – after development (including its mitigation) there is no net loss of biodiversity on the site, or with compensation provided on site or somewhere else.
BNG – Biodiversity Net Gain – after development there is a net gain after losses of biodiversity, when mitigation, and compensation are considered either on the site, or somewhere else.
Then these are the ones that are likely to apply in the near future in the new Local Plan and are a “consideration” in decisions at the moment.
At the moment it is not clear whether these designations will be in addition to those above, or replace some of them (eg: IOS).
LGS – Local Green Space (City Wide) meant to be given a level of consideration which is consistent with Green Belt.
ROS – Reserved Open Space – are protected from inappropriate development, but are subject to change and will be regularly reviewed to see that the level of protection is reflective of local community value.
IOS – Incidental Open Space – areas which are locally important in terms of the character of the area for recreation, leisure, community use, townscape, landscape and visual amenity quality
If you want find out the designation(s) applied, or could be applied, to your green space go to:
Existing 2014 Local Plan: https://tinyurl.com/fbnc6fzy (Maps 24,25, 29 to 31)
Draft 2018/19 Local Plan: https://tinyurl.com/mhdxzc9p
The City Council’s Pinpoint website also contains some information:
https://maps.bristol.gov.uk/pinpoint/
Len Wyatt
BS3 Resident and wildlife enthusiast.