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<p>The Government is committed to protecting our environment. As set out on the <a
href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/25-year-environment-plan" target="_blank">25
Year Environment Plan</a>, we are drawing up a national framework of green infrastructure
standards, ensuring that new developments include accessible green spaces and that
any area with little or no green space can be improved for the benefit of the community.
We intend to publish the standards in 2019 and incorporate them into planning guidance
so that councils can use them when making planning decisions across the country -
including in the south east.</p><p>Our revised <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/740441/National_Planning_Policy_Framework_web_accessible_version.pdf"
target="_blank">planning rule book</a> sets out how new development should happen
in right places across the country including in the south east, through:</p><ul><li>making
as much use as possible of suitable brownfield and under-used land;</li><li>optimising
density of development, significantly raising minimum densities in town and city centres,
and in other locations well served by public transport;</li><li>maintaining strong
protection of the Green Belt;</li><li>making clear that existing open space, sports
and recreational buildings and land should not be built on unless they are clearly
shown to be surplus to requirements or their loss would be replaced by equivalent
or better provision in a suitable location;</li><li>setting out that council’s planning
policies should include sufficient provision for the conservation and enhancement
of green spaces;</li><li>highlighting the importance of green space in encouraging
healthy lifestyles; and</li><li>making provision for communities to identify and protect
green areas of particular importance to them through the designation of land as Local
Green Space through <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-plans--2" target="_blank">local</a>
and <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/neighbourhood-planning--2" target="_blank">neighbourhood
plans</a>, which gives them a very high level of protection from redevelopment or
inappropriate use.</li></ul><p>In September 2017, the Government created the ‘Parks
Action Group’ comprising of experts from across the parks, heritage and the leisure
sector and invested £500,000 to support the development of initiatives to identify
solutions for safeguarding our parks and green spaces, to ensure they have long and
sustainable futures.</p><p>The group has been working collaboratively across key priorities
– including assessing quality standards and sharing good practice. We are currently
developing a programme of work aimed at transforming the way in which green spaces
are developed, managed and sustained. <br> <br>We expect to announce our progress
on this in early 2019.</p><p> </p>
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