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CHAPTER 11 - CREATING A QUALITY ENVIRONMENT

 

INTRODUCTION

11.1     Whilst Middlesbrough is highly urbanised in character it also has significant expanses of open space such as the beck valleys, green wedges, and green flag parks, that provide a recreational and visual resource, whilst also providing valuable habitats for wildlife. The LDF will seek to protect and enhance these areas which contribute to the attractiveness of the town. They will be increasingly important in contributing to the overall attractiveness of the town to realise future regeneration plans.

11.2The many development and regeneration initiatives proposed in the town will incorporate improvements to the natural environment that reflect Middlesbrough’s position at the urban core of the Tees Valley city region. Successful integration of the built and natural environments is an important component in achieving a successful and prosperous city region. The LDF will also need to ensure that new development takes account of future climate change and that natural resources are used in a sustainable manner.

11.3   An important environmental resource outside, but close to, the boundaries of Middlesbrough is the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast SPA. The River Tees has an important role to play in the maintenance of SPA habitats, and there is a consequent need to ensure that riverside development respects the integrity of the designated site.

 

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

11.4   Middlesbrough’s open space network consists of a variety of spaces of differing size, quality and function. These spaces range from parks (Albert Park and Stewart Park), land for sport and recreational activity (Prissick Base), green wedges which are large tracts of mainly undeveloped land, and beck valleys. The beck valleys penetrate towards the urban core from the outer suburbs and countryside, providing recreational and/or visual amenity and helping to maintain local identity.

11.5     The Council has undertaken an assessment of open space in Middlesbrough to establish its quantity and quality. From this work a Green Spaces Strategy has been developed, which identifies a vision for open space in Middlesbrough. This vision is based on Middlesbrough having a network of accessible, high quality greenspaces, sport and recreation facilities. This network will meet local needs, enhance the ‘livability’ of the town, support regeneration and bio-diversity, promote sustainability and make the best use of land.

11.6   To deliver this strategy, the Council needs to enhance the quality of existing open space provision rather than seeking new provision and also align provision with maintenance budgets. This approach is a combination of all three options. It seeks to maintain all open space where it makes a positive contribution, and make good deficiencies where they exist. Only when open space does not meet these criteria and has no biodiversity interest or potential will it be considered for redevelopment. The SA/SEA supports this approach.

11.7          Development will be required to contribute to the delivery and implementation of this network by, where appropriate, providing green infrastructure that:

  1. contributes to the management, conservation and improvement of the local landscape;
  2. contributes to the protection, conservation and management of historic landscape, archaeological and built heritage assets;
  3. maintains and enhances bio-diversity to ensure that development and implementation results in a net gain of Bio-diversity Action Plan habitats;
  4. enhances existing, and creates new, woodlands;
  5. creates new recreational facilities, particularly those that present opportunities to link urban and countryside areas;
  6. takes account of and integrates with natural processes and systems;
  7. is managed and funded in urban areas to accommodate nature, wildlife and historic and cultural assets, and provide for sport and recreation;
  8. is designed to high standards of quality and sustainability to deliver social and economic, as well as environmental benefits; and
  9. provides a focus for social inclusion, community development and lifelong learning.

POLICY CS20  GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

The Council will work with partners to ensure the successful creation of an integrated network of green infrastructure. This will be delivered through a planned network of multi-functional green space and inter-connecting links which are designed, developed, and managed to meet the environmental, social, and economic needs of communities across Middlesbrough and the wider Tees Valley city region. It will be set within, and contribute to, a high quality natural and built environment and will be required to enhance the quality of life for present and future residents and visitors, deliver liveability for sustainable communities, and contribute to the Middlesbrough Biodiversity Action Plan.

 

At a strategic level this network will include the following open spaces:

 

  1. Green Blue Heart;
  2. Middlesbrough’s green lung;
  3. beck valleys;
  4. green wedges;
  5. green flag parks;
  6. River Tees frontage; and
  7. South Middlesbrough country park.

The loss of green space that contributes to the achievement of an integrated network of green infrastructure will be resisted. In assessing the role of any particular area of green space regard will be had to the provisions of the Green Space Strategy. Where appropriate, SPD and masterplans will be prepared to provide further guidance on the provision of green infrastructure.

 

This policy has been superseded by the Housing Local Plan

 

STOCKTON-MIDDLESBROUGH INITIATIVE – GREEN BLUE HEART

11.8     A principal element of the SMI is the creation of the Green Blue Heart focusing on the River Tees. This will involve the exploitation of the river hinterland and the area between the town centres of Middlesbrough and Stockton. A step change will be required in the environment of this area to assist in the creation of a city-scale urban core. Regeneration activity, however, should not damage the biodiversity that is dependent upon the River Tees. Development within the Green Blue Heart will include opportunities for building in beneficial biodiversity or geological features as part of good design as well as protecting, enhancing and connecting habitats through existing and new networks.

POLICY CS21 GREEN BLUE HEART

Within the Green Blue Heart between Middlesbrough and Stockton town centres the emphasis will be on the creation of a high quality urban landscape that provides a gateway to the Tees Valley city region urban core and an appropriate setting for city-scale development. This will be achieved by the Council working with partner organisations to:

 

  1. ensure the integration and use of water within developments as part of the design concept, and the creation of linkages between the Tees Valley city region urban core and active waterfront on the river Tees;
  2. ensure that all proposals incorporate landscaping and environmental measures appropriate to the creation of a Tees Valley city region urban core;
  3. identify opportunities for sport, leisure and recreational uses, in accordance with the provisions of an up to date needs assessment, and application of the sequential approach where appropriate; and
  4. incorporate beneficial biodiversity features as part of good design. This should include ensuring that development activity does not result in damage to the biodiversity that is dependent upon the River Tees, including the interest features of the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast SPA.

 

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