Natural England

The announcement of plans for six Growth Points across the North West and their intention to build nearly 160,000 new homes by 2016 is both a challenge and an opportunity for the region, says Natural England.

And it believes that critical to the success of the Growth Points initiative to build sustainable communities will be the need to ensure that water abstraction and effluent discharges do not harm some of the most important landscapes and wildlife sites in Britain, particularly in the Lake District and the region’s rivers, estuaries and coasts.

The overall aim of Growth Points is to create inspirational new communities through high quality design integrated with proper public services and infrastructure. To ensure this, green infrastructure should be regarded as essential as any form of built infrastructure such as roads, power and other utilities.

Green infrastructure is the system of green spaces and natural features designed, delivered and maintained in order to provide benefits such as flood protection, space for wildlife, opportunity for recreation and healthy activity. In addition, green infrastructure can help places to adapt to the impacts of climate change by moderating the impacts of extreme weather events, keeping places cool in summer and warmer in winter.

Liz Newton, North West Regional Director for Natural England explained:
“The Growth Points offer a great opportunity to improve the quality and sustainability of the new communities it will create and take a real step forward in raising the quality of place for many areas and aid their regeneration. But we cannot afford to see the Growth Points failing to deliver on the critical environmental services that should underpin the successful creation of sustainable communities.”

“Growth Points must ensure that they deliver high quality green infrastructure so that their developments make a positive quality of life contribution to the communities that are being created. In addition, it will be important that each Growth Point programme links up with established partnerships such as Community Forests and Regional Parks to help capture the wider off site benefits of enhancing the local environment to improve local landscape quality, provide improved opportunity for wildlife and close to home opportunities for recreation, leisure and healthy activity.

“If we get them right, Growth Points will provide a triple win for the economy, the environment and the social well being of the regional population.”

Natural England welcomes the Growth Points initiative and will be working to help Government, agencies and planners develop inspirational places that achieve the highest environmental standards and improve the lives of people and nature.

Notes to editors:

For further information please contact Anne Arnold at COI North West, tel 0161 952 4505

Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings.

The ‘North West Green Infrastructure Guide’, has been prepared to support Green Infrastructure planning at local, sub-regional and regional scales (or different spatial scales). This guide provides a valuable planning tool for delivering the Growth Point agenda; ensuring that building well designed and sustainable communities across the region is fully integrated with the overall quality of the natural environment.

For further details, see the North West Green Infrastructure Guide