Green infrastructure (GI) is a planned network of open spaces that perform a range of environmental, sustainability and quality of life benefits for local communities. Green infrastructure includes parks, open spaces, playing fields, woodlands, allotments and private gardens.

Why is GI important?

GI has many economic, health and welfare benefits that are critical to making Haven Gateway a place where people want to live, work and invest. Completing the network of GI will allow future economic and housing growth to take place and reduce its impact. Click here to learn more about the benefits of Green infrastructure.

A good network of GI already exists in the Haven Gateway and this should be valued as it is a significant factor in why people choose to live and work in this area.

The planned growth in the Haven Gateway could impact on the quality of life of the existing and future communities. The production of a Green Infrastructure Strategy is seen as an important document ensuring that a balance is struck between new development and community needs.

Accessible Natural Greenspace (ANG)

Not all Green infrastructure (GI) land is open to the public but it is still important eg salt marsh or allotments. Much of the GI that is being developed by the Haven Gateway Partnership is accessible, in other words the public can visit the land and use it for recreation. Organisations like Natural England, the Town and Country Planning Association and others have set out some standards about the amount of ANG people should have near their homes.

• 2 hectares or more of ANG within 300m of home -called the Neighbourhood Level
• 20 hectares or more of ANG within 1.2km of home - called the District Level
• 60 hectares or more of ANG within 3.2km of home - called the Sub-regional Level
• 500 hectares or more of ANG within 10km of home - called the Regional Level

These standards can be used to work out if neighborhoods have got enough green space or not. You can download maps and documents that show how much accessible green space there is in the Haven Gateway and where the gaps are. 65,100 more homes are expected to be built in the area over the next 20 years and so more ANG will be needed in some areas than others. The Haven Gateway Partners are planning to fill these gaps as and when funding becomes available but developers, councils and residents can all play a part in creating and looking after green spaces.

Click here to find out what the Haven Gateway Patnership is doing about Green infrastructure.