Green Infrastructure Standards Project

This project will assist Natural England in delivering a commitment in the Government's 25 Year Environment Plan to develop a practical framework of easy to use Green Infrastructure (GI) standards to help local authorities, developers, landowners and communities to deliver more good quality GI, and provide the many benefits local communities need and want, consistently across England, in particular addressing areas where the benefits are needed most. The project is also assisting the Parks Action Group, set up by MHCLG, to help England's public parks and green spaces meet the needs of communities now and in the future. The main project outcomes include - improvements to green infrastructure in England to increase the provision of public goods/benefits, through provision of ecosystems services. - increased and consistent investment in GI over and above current levels, for both the establishment and long term maintenance of GI; utilisation of new, different models of funding. - more equitable provision of GI; Increased number of visits to greenspace. The outputs / scope includes - An evidence review of GI Standards - A Framework of GI Standards, accompanied by guidance on how to apply them - Piloting and testing of the draft framework of Standards by stakeholders - Launch of the Standards and guidance - Training of Natural England staff and provision of training materials, and - Developing a monitoring and evaluation framework for implementation of the Standards. The Project is steered by a cross-departmental group, chaired by Defra. Natural England has established an Advisory Group of stakeholders, and will set up a wider Reference Group to advice and engage in the development of the Framework. Following completion of the Framework of Standards, the Project Steering Group will work with MHCLG to see how Government's commitments on green infrastructure can be incorporated into national planning guidance and policy