12. Natural Environment and Green Infrastructure

Designated sites of international, national and local value and extensive areas of wetland and farmland habitat harbour both protected and priority species. Diagram 1 shows the hierarchy of these designations from international, national to local importance. International and European designations and protected species are addressed in policies (SP27 and SP30).

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) are nationally designated sites under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which have important wildlife or geological value. This Act as amended by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 imposes a duty on public bodies exercising statutory functions which may affect SSSIs, to take reasonable steps to further enhance the features for which the site is designated. The nationally designated sites (SSSI and National Nature Reserve), also cover the coastline, and have similar features to the international sites, including over 30 nationally rare species of terrestrial and marine plants, 19 nationally rare and 149 nationally scarce invertebrate species and roost sites for migrating and wintering birds. Thanet has two SSSIs which are Thanet Coast SSSI and the Sandwich Bay and Hacklinge Marshes, one National Nature Reserve at Pegwell Bay which straddles the District boundary with Dover. The Thanet Coast is also a designated Marine Conservation Zone.

Protection of Nationally Designated Sites (SSSI), National Nature Reserve (NNR) and Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ)

The District has habitats and geological features which are of local significance. These are designated as Local Nature Reserves, Local Wildlife Sites and Regionally Important Geological Sites. Thanet has two Local Nature Reserves located at Monkton and Pegwell Bay, and eight Local Wildlife Sites: TH01 Monkton Chalk Pit, TH07 St Peter in Thanet Churchyard, TH09 Golf Course Roughs Kingsgate, TH12 Woods and Grasslands Minster Marshes, TH13 St Nicholas-at- Wade Churchyard, TH14 St Mary Magdalene Churchyard Monkton, TH15 Ramsgate Cemetery, TH16 Cliftonville Grassland Foreness Point. These sites host locally important habitats.

There are also four Roadside Nature Reserves which have been identified for their habitats and connections to areas of rich biodiversity, and include important features such as calcareous grassland, lizard orchids and diverse populations of butterflies and dragon flies. These are TH01 Cliff Promenade North Foreland, TH02 Stonelees A256, Pegwell Bay, TH03 Monkton Chalk Pit, Monkton, TH04 Chalk Farm Flete, Margate.

The Council considers it important to protect locally designated wildlife sites and the following policy seeks to maintain the biodiversity and wildlife at these locally designated sites.

Regionally Important Geological / Geomorphological Sites (RIGS) are non-statutory Earth Science sites designated by locally based RIGS groups. Thanet has three Regionally Important Geological Sites (RIGS) that are important for historical, scientific research or educational reasons. These are located at Monkton Nature Reserve, Pegwell Bay and St Peter’s Quarry. Their designation is a way of recognising and protecting features for the future. The importance and significance of these sites are acknowledged through the following policy.

An Open Space Strategy was carried out in 2018 which assessed Thanet's open space provision. The results and recommendations are set out in Table 12 which shows a deficit in all typologies against the Field in Trust guidelines. The following policies seek to deliver these recommendations for open space provision in new development. Further advice is given in Chapter 4 Environment Strategy. This sets out the intention of the Council to apply the Fields in Trust Guidelines to new developments in line with the draft recommendations in the strategy.

Table 12 sets out the provision guidelines, tables 10 and 11, set out the accessibility criteria and the Quantity Benchmark Guidelines for equipped/designated play space, respectively.

*Accessibility guidelines are provided as walking distance from dwellings. Indicative walking distances can be determined from the accessibility guidelines as set out below.

• 250m = 2 - 3 minutes' walk
• 400m = 5 minutes' walk
• 800m = 10 minutes' walk
• 1,200m = 15 minutes' walk
• 1,600m = 20 minutes' walk

Source: Fields In Trust - Guidance for Outdoor Sport and Play Oct 2015

Thanet's three main coastal towns each have a 'flagship' playground, as well as other standard playgrounds. There are currently also five skate parks in Thanet.

The cumulative impact of smaller housing developments and population increase will put pressure upon existing amenity green spaces and existing play facilities. With the drive to provide more housing on brownfield land in urban areas, whether it is new build or conversion, 'smaller' sites are likely to be developed. New family housing should provide gardens to ensure the provision of "doorstep" playspace. High quality areas of amenity space and children's play areas will contribute to quality of life and help social interaction.

Children's playspace should be adequately equipped and safely and conveniently available to all new residential developments of a size and type likely to meet the new demand. The location of facilities should, however, take into account the potential impact of noise and other disturbance on neighbouring properties. In addition to play space for younger children, facilities for teenagers should also be considered. New development will be expected to make provision for amenity green space and equipped play areas in line with the Fields in Trust guidelines as set out in tables 10, 11 and 12 and the approach set out in chapter 4. Provision will also need to be made for the continued maintenance of such facilities.

The provision of open spaces should be considered at an early stage in the design process and consider:

• accessibility in terms of highway safety and proximity to dwellings served
• security of children using amenity space and play areas (including whether the site and access to it is overlooked by dwellings) and
• Convenience of siting in relation to noise sensitive development (e.g. dwelling units designed for, or particularly suited to, occupation by the elderly).
• Making provision for biodiversity through appropriate landscaping schemes
• Addressing climate change for example, considering the effects of extreme temperatures through the provision of shaded areas by planting trees

The Planning Obligations & Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) gives details of how financial contributions can be made towards the upkeep and maintenance of existing play areas if on site provision is not possible. The SPD will be subject to review if the Council implements the Community Infrastructure Levy. The following policy seeks to ensure the recommended provision of amenity and children's play space is provided for.

*Family dwellings are considered to be those having two or more bedrooms.

** Doorstep playspace is defined as playspace for young children which is immediately adjacent to, closely visible and safely accessible from the dwellings served.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that planning policies should plan positively for the provision of sports venues, guard against the unnecessary loss of facilities and that access to high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and recreation can make an important contribution to the health and well-being of communities.

Outdoor sports facilities include pitches, greens, courts, athletics tracks and miscellaneous sites such as croquet lawns and training areas. These also include facilities owned by the local authority, education authorities or facilities within the voluntary, private or commercial sectors that serve the outdoor leisure needs for their members or the public.

The Open Space Strategy (2018) includes a more up to date assessment of the current provision of sports facilities and sets out the requirements for future provision.

The Council will seek financial contributions from developers for the provision of new facilities or the upgrade or renewal of existing facilities where on site provision of outdoor sports facilities is not possible. For new provision, the Council have regard to the Sport England Sports Facility Calculator when preparing proposals to determine the need generated by their development. The Planning Obligations & Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document gives details of how financial contributions can be made and how they will be calculated.

Protection of Playing Fields and Outdoor Sports Facilities

The important contribution that sport and recreation, as well as community facilities, can make in improving people's quality of life is now widely accepted. Participation in sport and recreation can improve the health and well-being of an individual, whilst sports clubs and community facilities can improve social interaction and provide a sense of community pride.

A positive natural environment can have economic benefits by making the area a place where people want to live. New developments should contribute to and enhance the natural environment.

Green infrastructure can be created through landscaping and design by providing wildlife corridors and stepping stones in new developments, creating links between existing habitats. This can contribute to people's health and well-being by keeping people in touch with their natural environment, providing opportunities for residents to manage their local environment and reinforce a sense of community.

Landscaping can create a pleasant setting for development, provide shade from the sun and pollution attenuation as trees and shrubs absorb water and dust. It should be an integral part of the design of a development, rather than consisting of 'offcuts' of leftover land or as a way of camouflaging poor design.

Landscaping designs should, in the first instance, be related to each plot of land so that each future owner would be responsible for its upkeep, reducing the burden on Council resources. If this is not possible or desirable, commuted payments through legal agreements may be negotiated in appropriate circumstances. Accordingly, landscaping matters should be considered at the earliest stages of the design process. For developments that fall within the identified landscape character areas, further guidance is available within the landscape strategy for each character areas in the 2017 assessment.

Thanet has relatively few trees. The Council will therefore seek to retain existing trees as part of any proposed developments through the making of Tree Preservation Orders and through use of planning conditions where appropriate. British Standard BS5837: 2012 (Guide for Trees in Relation to Design, Demolition and Construction) gives guidance regarding the best approach to new site development in relation to existing trees.

The Council seeks to retain hedges and other semi-natural habitat, such as ponds and species-rich grassland, together with new planting, as they lend maturity to a development and can enhance biodiversity and wildlife habitats, through the following policy.

Jackey Bakers sports ground is Thanet's main area for sports and recreation purposes. The site provides the best opportunity to both enhance existing facilities, and in the longer term, to increase the level of facilities.

Any new sports development may be supported by a limited development of D2 (leisure facilities) or A3 (restaurants) or D1 (community facilities) uses to subsidise the sporting use and ensure it is viable. Any such proposal will need to be subject to a full justification being made when any application is submitted and will be judged against the amount of land retained for open sporting purposes. There are current proposals for a new astro-turf pitch and pavilion with changing facilities.