Green and blue infrastructure is defined as the network of natural and seminatural areas, features and spaces that lie within and between our towns and cities and which provide multiple social, economic and environmental benefits. Included are ‘green’ features such as parks, woodlands, street trees, wildlife habitats, and allotments along with ‘blue’ features such as rivers, wetlands, ponds and SuDS features. Green/Blue infrastructure allows the essential benefits of nature to be provided to people. These essential benefits are known as ecosystems services and include the provision of food, clean air and water, regulating the effects of climate change, and cultural benefits such as providing opportunities for recreation and exercise. In this section there is guidance, evidence and ideas to support developers and planning teams with the planning and design of essential green and blue spaces as part of our local developments
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Active Design Guidance Sport England
Active Design is a combination of 10 principles that promote activity, health and stronger communities through the way we design and build our towns and cities. In partnership with Public Health England, Sport England have produced the Active Design Guidance which works as a step-by-step guide to implementing an active environment. This guidance builds on the original objectives of improving accessibility, enhancing amenity and increasing awareness, and sets out the 10 principles of Active Design.
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Design Council – Healthy Placemaking Report
This Design Council report is focused on healthy placemaking. It examines the barriers identified by people building and designing our communities to creating places where people are healthier and happier. Great design is changing the way we live and the places we live in, making lives better by building happier, healthier and safer environments. It can bring communities together and facilitate long term behaviour change, transforming our lifestyles for the better
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Creating healthy places Perspectives from NHS England’s Healthy New Towns programme
The places we live in and the communities we belong to affect our health in countless ways – sometimes very visibly, sometimes more subtly, but with a significant combined effect. A coherent approach to improving population health therefore needs to include a focus on places, neighbourhoods and communities as well as interventions aimed at individuals and at the whole population (Buck et al2018).
Network of Multifunctional Open Space
Open spaces provide a potential site for sport and physical activity and the provision of such spaces should be overseen in a way that encourages their formal and informal use....
High Quality Streets & Spaces
Outdoor spaces can be the site of a variety of activities that can provide both physical and social benefits. As well as the organised activities that can take place within...
Introduction to the Green Infrastructure Framework
“Good quality Green Infrastructure (GI) has an important role to play in our urban and rural environments for improving health and wellbeing, air quality, nature recovery and resilience to and...
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Natural England: Green Infrastructure Mapping Tool
Natural England's Green Infrastructure (GI) Map allows users to view information on the type and location of GI, with easy-to-use filters allowing specific types of infrastructure to be selected, and additional datasets - such as deprivation indices, population density, demographics and health information - to be overlaid. The tool can assist in identifying gaps and opportunities to support policy and development decisions linked to green infrastructure.
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The National Model Design Code
The National Model Design Code provides detailed guidance on the production of design codes, guides and policies to promote successful design.
The National Forest: Connectivity Through Walking and Cycling
The National Forest embraces 200 square miles of the Midlands, and aims to link the two ancient forests of Charnwood and Needwood. Having planted over nine million trees, the National...
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The 20-Minute Neighbourhood (TCPA)
Around the world there is growing interest in creating places in which most of people's daily needs can be met within a short walk or cycle. The benefits of this approach are multiple: people become more active, improving their mental and physical health; traffic is reduced, and air quality improved; local shops and businesses thrive; and people see more of their neighbours, strengthening community bonds.
Mental Health and Town Planning
In the UK and Ireland, the rates of mental health illness are high. Where someone lives can have an impact on their mental health. The quality of the wider built environment is also a determining factor for mental health, with noise, pollution levels, quality of green space, access to services and even ‘beauty’ all playing a part. This practice note gives advice on how planners can work within the current UK planning systems and with other professionals to take account of mental health when making changes to the built environment.
RTPI Enabling-Healthy-Placemaking Research Paper
This RTPI research paper explores local, national and international planning practices enabling the creation and delivery of healthy places.
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National Planning Policy Framework (2021)
The National Planning Policy Framework sets out the Government’s planning policies for England and how these should be applied. It provides a framework within which locally-prepared plans for housing and other development can be produced.
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