CONTEXT AND JUSTIFICATION
The Government has made it clear that planning authorities have a duty to recognise the importance of protecting features of nature conservation and landscape interest (see Circular Environment No. 13/1991, the Scottish Executive’s Revised Guidance (June 2000) updating Scottish Office Circular No. 6/1995 and National Planning Policy Guideline 1: The Planning System (NPPG 1), National Planning Policy Guideline 3: Land for Housing (NPPG 3) and National Planning Policy Guideline 14: Natural Heritage (NPPG 14).
The City benefits from a large number of parks and other open spaces that are linked to the countryside beyond by a series of corridors of wildlife and/or landscape importance, and which together form the City’s green network. The retention and enhancement of the existing network and its extension by taking opportunities to address missing links will strengthen the framework within which urban regeneration can take place.
The Government is also committed to protecting biodiversity and has identified a number of key habitats and species that are under threat nationally. These are detailed in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and include rivers, streams and canals. These features support a wide range of plants and animals and, in some ways, are elongated Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs) and Sites of Special Landscape Importance (SSLIs) and as such, should be protected. Other typical corridors include the curtilage, embankments and/or cuttings of motorways, trunk roads and operational/disused railways.
The main Corridors of Wildlife and/or Landscape Importance in the City are shown on the Environmental Policy Designations maps (see Definition) and in the Table, below.
POLICY
There will be a presumption against any development likely to have an adverse effect on the integrity or character of a Corridor of Wildlife and/or Landscape Importance.
Notwithstanding the above, when proposals come forward within any Corridor of Wildlife and/or Landscape Importance, they will only be considered favourably provided they meet all the following criteria:
(i) development proposals should be consistent with the Plan’s other development policies and environmental policy designations;
(ii) development proposals must be of a high quality design, and include associated landscape works appropriate to the character of the surrounding area and in scale with the development, whilst respecting the integrity of the Corridor;
(iii) proposals must include details of methods to be adopted, including legal agreements etc., to guarantee future maintenance arrangements; and
(iv) applications for development must be shown in the context of the Corridor of Wildlife and/or Landscape Importance, and demonstrate that they enhance the existing situation in respect of wildlife, landscape character and visual amenity.
DEFINITION
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY DESIGNATION
Environmental policy designations cover the built and natural heritage of Glasgow. These areas are important because of their environmental quality, biological diversity and/or their historic, architectural or archaeological significance, and contribute positively to the quality of the environment, image and diversity of the City.
Corridors of Wildlife and Landscape Importance
1. Auldhouse Burn
2. Brock Burn, including Aurs Burn
3. Castlemilk Glen/King’s Burn
4. The curtilage, embankments and/or cuttings of motorways,
trunk roads and operational/disused railways
5. Forth and Clyde Canal
6. Glasgow to Loch Lomond Cycleway
7. Levern Water
8. North Calder Water
9. River Clyde
10. River Kelvin
11. White Cart Water