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<p>As set out in our 25 Year Environment Plan, this Government recognises the importance
of green spaces for health and happiness as well as for environmental benefits such
as sequestering carbon, absorbing noise, cleansing pollutants, absorbing surface water
and reducing high temperatures. In the right place, using green spaces in towns and
cities to help divert or store flood water can be beneficial, including using sustainable
drainage systems such as permeable surfaces and ponds or natural flood management
techniques in towns and cities as well as upstream.</p><p> </p><p>As we build more
homes, preserving and creating green spaces in towns is more important than ever.
We want to encourage local authorities to consider all flood management opportunities
and developers to take into account all the benefits when deciding how much land to
allocate as green space.</p><p> </p><p>To support this we have worked with colleagues
in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to revise the National
Planning Policy Framework to further encourage sustainable drainage systems, and published
our Surface Water Management Action Plan which includes actions that will join up
planning for surface water management and build local authority capacity. In addition,
Natural England is developing a framework of national standards for green infrastructure
in close consultation with stakeholders.</p>
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