Chapter Summary of Response Council’s Response GREEN SPACE There were 10 comments on this chapter. Background Where an area is used for a formal surface water The council’s updated Background on Local attenuation pond or a dry pond would these count as Green Space, paragraph 3.1, states that “lakes, areas that need protection? Many attenuation ponds ponds and water features may be found within are within public open spaces but occasionally these LGS sites”. The suitability of a site for LGS are outside of those areas and therefore could be designation largely depends on whether the vulnerable to development. designation criteria in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) are met. The above Background Paper paragraph 2.19 states that they are green spaces of “as particular local significance the council would normally expect LGS to be at least 0.2 ha in size, but this does not rule out smaller spaces where they are clearly shown to have particularly strong justification, normally requiring them to be out of the ordinary”. The plan should make it clear that the test for the The supporting text to policy SA7 appropriately designation of land for Local Green Spaces is that it refers to the NPPF paragraph 77 which states should be exceptional. that the LGS designation not be appropriate “will for most green areas or open space”. The supporting text also refers to the designation criteria set out in that paragraph. Policy SA7 The HBF would query whether circa 1,500 acres of The NPPF paragraph 77 indicates that the green green spaces in North Somerset are demonstrably areas for LGS designation should hold a special to a local community and of particular local particular local significance for example because significance to warrant designation. of their beauty, historical significance, recreational value, tranquillity or richness of wildlife. The sites considered have been appropriately assessed against these criteria.
Chapter GREEN SPACE Summary of Response There were 10 comments on this chapter. Council’s Response Background Where an area is used for a formal surface water attenuation pond or a dry pond would these count as areas that need protection? Many attenuation ponds are within public open spaces but occasionally these are outside of those areas and therefore could be vulnerable to development. The council’s updated Background on Local Green Space, paragraph 3.1, states that “lakes, ponds and water features may be found within LGS sites”. The suitability of a site for LGS designation largely depends on whether the designation criteria in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) are met. The above Background Paper paragraph 2.19 states that “as they are green spaces of particular local significance the council would normally expect LGS to be at least 0.2 ha in size, but this does not rule out smaller spaces where they are clearly shown to have particularly strong justification, normally requiring them to be out of the ordinary”. The plan should make it clear that the test for the designation of land for Local Green Spaces is that it should be exceptional. The supporting text to policy SA7 appropriately refers to the NPPF paragraph 77 which states that the LGS designation “will not be appropriate for most green areas or open space”. The supporting text also refers to the designation criteria set out in that paragraph. Policy SA7 The HBF would query whether circa 1,500 acres of green spaces in North Somerset are demonstrably special to a local community and of particular local significance to warrant designation. The NPPF paragraph 77 indicates that the green areas for LGS designation should hold a particular local significance for example because of their beauty, historical significance, recreational value, tranquillity or richness of wildlife. The sites considered have been appropriately assessed against these criteria.
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