The South West Region is rich in special
landscapes, biodiversity and cultural heritage. These assets underpin many of
the region’s recreational attractions and are appreciated as a crucial element
of the South West economy.
Development has the potential to work in
harmony with these assets - watching our step, conserving key features, some
times needing to change and move on, always
keeping a rich mix to share with visitors. For example, a new development might
allocate some land for a wildlife habitat and can adopt existing historic and
cultural features to establish an identity for new or existing communities. In
the South West, we are acutely aware of the economic and social benefits of
‘getting it right’ for the environment. “Development”, in this context includes
the immediate site, its context (above and below ground, upstream and
downstream, aesthetic and cultural), and the structures on the site (buildings,
earthworks, infrastructure, landscaping).
- Does the development respond to the landscape and
cultural heritage of the area and, wherever possible, enhance the surroundings?
- Does the development affect local wildlife habitats? Is
there a Plan for long-term management of those habitats? Are there natural
‘treatments’ for products of the development? (eg Sustainable Drainage Systems
(SuDS), reed beds for drainage water, composting of organic materials, etc)
- Are features that are worth keeping, for example, mature
trees, shrubs or hedges, ponds & wetlands, historic buildings, street
furniture, archaeological resources, cultural landscapes and features treasured
by local people, being sufficiently integrated into overall project design? Are
they being protected during construction of the development? Can any of these
features be enhanced?
- Have the impacts (positive and negative) on nearby
buildings and archaeological sites been considered? Could once redundant
historic buildings be incorporated into the development?
- Have you thought about leaving undeveloped land, or
restoring previously developed land, as formal or informal play space,
allotments, community or education facilities or wildlife habitats etc? Could
this link local features together?
- Have you planned for soil protection during development,
so that topsoil is conserved and subsoil is not compacted, disturbed or drained
causing problems later on?
- Healthy and inspiring places in which to live, work and play
- Rapid identification by new
occupiers with their cultural and natural environment
- Involvement of the community -
existing or new - in management of their own sustainable environment
- Local wildlife and historicfeatures valued and protected, with gains beyond the development site
- Reduced vandalism
- Lower maintenance costs
- An Environmental Prospectus for South West England -
contact the Environment Agency, Tel: 01392 444000
- ECTP Good Practice Guide for
Sustainable Development
- A Biodiversity Guide for Planning and Development
Sectors in the South West - ALGE and SW Biodiversity Partnership
- Developing Naturally - A Handbook for Incorporating the
Natural Environment into Planning and Development - Mike Oxford
- Valuing Our Environment - a study of the economic impact
of conserved landscapes and of the National Trust in the South West. Tourism
Associates 1999
- National Trust Wildlife & Buildings practice notes
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