'Bold Type’ NE Policies -
the policy without
the supporting text
See
the Bristol Local Plan link for the full text.
Chapter 4: The Built Environment
Click on the heading
from list of contents or scroll down for full
list
NE1 Open Space
NE1
- (I) The distribution and variety of open spaces throughout the
city will be maintained and, where possible, enhanced.
- (II)
Sites which are important for nature conservation, recreation, historic
landscape interest, landscape quality, visual amenity, community or
outdoor leisure-related use, or providing setting or relief to the built
environment, defined on the Proposals Map, will be protected as open
space.
- (III) Development involving an unacceptable loss of
important open space (designated in section II and defined on the
Proposals Map), or which would have a significant adverse effect on the
interest, use, amenity, character or accessibility of such open space,
will not be permitted.
- (IV) Where sites are not defined as open
space on the Proposals Map, and are not subject to any other designation
or proposal, account will be taken of the need to protect open space
interests and uses in determining planning applications. Particular
attention will be paid to the amenity and nature conservation value of
undefined open space sites.
NE2 Landscape Features
NE2 Prominent or strategically important landscape features which make a significant contribution to the landscape character of the city, including
- green hillsides
- promontories
- ridges
- valleys
- gorges and
- man-made landscapes will be protected.
Development which would have a significant adverse effect on identified features of importance as defined on the Proposals Map will not be permitted.
NE3 Trees and Woodlands
NE3 Development involving the loss of or damage to trees or woodlands, which are of
landscape, amenity or nature conservation value will not be permitted -
unless unacceptable harmful effects of the development can be overcome and replacement or additional tree planting of appropriate scale and species, which is sufficient to compensate for the loss, can be achieved within the same site or on an equivalent site nearby.
NE4 Watercourses and
Wetlands
NE4
- (I) Development which would cause unacceptable harm to the natural watercourse system or to the extent of the loss of natural flood-plain will not be permitted unless satisfactory compensatory measures are provided which take full account of requirements for land drainage, watercourse management, good water quality, nature conservation and amenity.
- (II) Development which conserves or enhances the water environment will be permitted, provided that measures are included as appropriate to:–
- (i) Safeguard or enhance water quality (eg by decontamination);
- (ii) Ensure there is no unacceptable damaging run-off from hard surfacing;
- (iii) Prevent pollution where harmful discharges are likely to occur;
- (iv) Retain wetland habitats and natural waterside vegetation and ensure their future management.
NE5 Sites of Nature
Conservation Interest
NE5
- (I) Sites of Nature Conservation Interest, set out in the Schedule and defined on the Proposals Map will be protected, having regard to the relative significance of their designation.
- (II) Development which is likely to have an adverse effect on the nature conservation objectives or the integrity of a potential or classified Special Protection Area, a candidate or designated Special Area for Conservation or a Ramsar Site will not be permitted.
- (III) Development affecting a site of Special Scientific Interest will not be permitted unless it can be made subject to conditions that will prevent damaging impacts on wildlife habitats or important physical features, or if other material factors outweigh the national nature conservation considerations.
- (IV) Development which would harm the substantive nature conservation value of sites of citywide importance will not be permitted, except where the significance of the site for nature conservation is outweighed by the importance of the development.
See schedule of sites of Nature Conservation Interest on P54 of Bristol Local Plan
NE6 The Wildlife Network
NE6
- (I) The city’s wildlife network will be protected and, where
possible, enhanced.
- (II) Development on wildlife network sites,
as defined on the Proposals Map, will not be permitted unless:–
(i) An
open corridor is retained which maintains an effective link in the
network;
(ii) An open buffer zone which gives effective added
protection to any adjoining site of nature conservation interest is
retained;
(iii) Habitats or features of identified importance to
wildlife are retained and protected from any significant adverse
effect.
(iv) The site is shown not to serve or support any
substantive wildlife interest, including the necessary function of the
wildlife network, as a result of further detailed site assessment.
- (III)
Development which maintains the integrity of the wildlife network and
includes measures to enhance the nature conservation value of remaining
open land, will be permitted.
NE7 Local Nature Reserves
NE7 Local Nature Reserves are proposed on the sites listed below
and defined on
the Proposals Map:–
- (i) Troopers Hill
- (ii)
Stockwood Open Space
- (iii) Lawrence Weston Moor
- (iv)
Royate Hill
NE8 Protected Species
NE8 Development which would cause unacceptable harm to a species protected under national legislation, or its habitat, will not be permitted unless the adverse effect is capable of being overcome by measures to be carried out prior to or during development, as identified in a thorough site survey.
NE9 Historic Landscapes
NE9 Historic parks and gardens and other designed landscapes of national
and local importance defined on the Proposals Map and described in the
Appendix will be protected.
Development which would adversely affect the
character or appearance of historic landscapes and, in the case of
nationally important sites, their settings, will not be permitted.
See appendix List of Historic parks and gardens in Bristol Local Plan P56-60
NE10 Landscape Restoration
NE10 Development which conserves the integrity of and restores
historic parks, gardens and other designed landscapes of national and
local importance will be permitted. Priority will be given to pursuing
restoration of the following historic landscapes as defined on the
Proposals Map:–
- (i) Stoke Park
- (ii) Brentry House garden
- (iii) Kingsweston House grounds
- (iv) Blaise Castle
Estate
- (v) Arnos Vale Cemetery
- (vi) Oldbury Court Estate
and Frome Valley
NE11 New Development:
Natural Environment Considerations
NE11 In determining planning applications, account will be taken
of the retention and protection of existing natural features and
habitats, and, where appropriate, the benefits of new landscape
treatment which:–
- (i) Compensates for any unavoidable loss of
existing features or habitats
- (ii) Incorporates the greatest
possible proportion of appropriate native vegetation (unless special
circumstances dictate otherwise)
- (iii) Incorporates the maximum
possible area of permeable ground surface
- (iv) Includes
habitat features attractive to local wildlife species, (both in the
design of the buildings and the landscape elements)
- (v)
Respects the local landscape character
- (vi) Enhances the
landscape quality of the site
- (vii) Is included in management
plans for the whole site
- (viii) Is well integrated with the
buildings and existing landscape features on and surrounding the
site
NE12 Open Space: Creation
and Enhancement
NE12 In determining planning applications, account will be taken of the
benefits of creating new or enhancing existing open spaces, particularly
in the urban fringe, outer housing estates and inner city areas lacking
publicly accessible open space of high amenity, landscape or
recreational value, or nature conservation interest.
NE13 Green Belt: Boundary
NE13 An inner boundary for the Green Belt in Bristol is defined on the Proposals Map, so as to follow generally the limits of the existing development.
NE14 Green Belt:
Development Control
NE14 - (I) The open character of the Green Belt will be protected
- (II)Within the Green Belt, the construction of new buildings
will not be permitted, except in very special circumstances, unless it
is for the purposes of
- agriculture
- forestry,
- essential facilities for
outdoor sport and outdoor recreation,
- cemeteries,
- other uses of land
which preserve the openness of the Green Belt and do not conflict with
the purposes of including land in it;
- and for limited extension,
alteration or replacement of existing dwellings, provided that any such
development does not have any materially greater impact on the openness
of the Green Belt
- (III) Changes of use of existing buildings in
the Green Belt will be permitted, provided that:–
- (i) The new
use and other changes associated with it, including limited extension
and/or external alteration or replacement floorspace, will not have a
materially greater impact on the openness of the Green Belt than the
existing use.
- (ii) The new use will not conflict with the
purposes of including land in the Green Belt.
- (iii) The building
is of permanent and substantial construction and its form, bulk and
general design are in keeping with its surroundings.
- (IV)
Engineering and other operations and changes of use of land in the Green
Belt will not be permitted unless they maintain openness and do not
conflict with the purposes of including land in the Green Belt.
