Green Infrastructure
Green infrastructure (GI) is a multi-functional network of green and blue spaces, urban and rural, that is capable of delivering a wide range of environmental and quality of life benefits for local communities. South Hampshire benefits from a strategic GI network that includes rivers, country parks, the coast, large tracts of woodland and an extensive public rights of way network. Local GI includes smaller scale features such as parks, play areas, allotments, street trees and a network of landscape features such as hedgerows. The GI network also includes recreational routes and green corridors that allow communities to access nature and wildlife to thrive.
Maximising the potential of green infrastructure across South Hampshire is a critical environmental priority for PfSH. High quality GI will help make communities more resilient to the effects of climate change. Enhancing the sub-region’s GI network will be essential in delivering sustainable development that supports the economic aspirations of the sub-region, whilst at the same time enhancing the area’s valued natural environment. Access to GI is proven to contribute to the health and well-being of local communities. High quality GI is as crucial to the delivery of sustainable development as transport, energy, waste and water infrastructure.
PfSH has developed a GI Strategy and associated GI Implementation Plan that together provide an ambitious long-term framework for GI and set out the strategic GI projects that will support and enable growth and development within the sub-region, whilst at the same time deliver a range of environmental and community benefits. PfSH recognise the importance of delivering GI at a ‘landscape-scale’ transcending administrative boundaries and as such the Strategy and Implementation Plan focus on strategic scale GI whilst supporting the delivery of smaller scale GI at the local level.
PfSH are working in partnership with many organisations and individuals to deliver GI improvements and recent successes include significant improvements in the development of strategic country park facilities at: Alver Valley Country Park, Gosport; Horsea Island Country Park, Portsmouth; Manor Farm Country Park, Hamble; and Royal Victoria Country Park, Netley; and to the rights of way network across South Hampshire.
It is important that the GI work of PfSH is integrated with and compliments the GI planning work of others, such as PfSH local planning authorities, catchment partnerships and adjacent administrations. As such, PfSH maintain a ‘live’ list of current GI-relevant strategies and plans within and surrounding South Hampshire.
The South Hampshire GI Strategy and Implementation Plan, together with a list of other GI strategies and plans are available below.
Downloads
South Hampshire Green Infrastructure Strategy 2017-2034
South Hampshire Green Infrastructure Implementation Plan June 2019
PfSH Table of Relevant Green Infrastructure Strategies and Plans (August 2019)
Flood Risk Management
PfSH Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) 2016 Update Report
The PfSH Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) 2016 update has delivered revised reporting, mapping and guidance notes to replace the document “Partnership for Urban South Hampshire Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Final Report, December 2007” which was compiled by Atkins Ltd and published in 2007. The update was undertaken on behalf of PfSH by the Eastern Solent Coastal Partnership and delivered in June 2016.
After the publication of the previous PfSH SFRA there were a number of changes to planning guidance and the enactment of new Legislation that includes the Flood and Water Management Act (2010). National planning policy is now defined in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the supporting Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG).
This Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment is a strategic document which assesses and maps all forms of flood risk from tidal, river, groundwater, surface water and sewer sources, taking into account future climate change predictions. The package of work provides appropriate supporting evidence for The PfSH Spatial Strategy review in addition to Local Plans being developed by the local partner authorities.
The purpose of the PfSH SFRA update has been to:
- provide information that reflects the changes to planning policy and guidance and new Legislation since the previous SFRA;
- provide a high level assessment of the flood hazard within the Flood Zones;
- provide a high level assessment of the effects of climate change scenarios on sea level rise at the coast and in estuaries and river flows upstream;
- provide information on existing defences and flood risk management measures;
- provide an evidence base to allow a sequential approach to site allocation to be undertaken within a flood zone;
- allow development of the policies and practices required to ensure that any development being considered in Flood Zones 2 and 3 is appropriate and satisfies the requirements of the NPPF.
You can access and download the updated PfSH SFRA reporting and guidance notes below.
Downloads and guidance
Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Update (2016)
East Hants Eastleigh Fareham Gosport Havant New Forest Portsmouth Southampton Test Valley Winchester
The Flood Risk Map can be found here.
Water Management: supply and waste water disposal
PfSH, working with the Environment Agency, Southern Water and Portsmouth Water, completed an Integrated Water Management Study (2008) into the requirements for water supply, water quality, drainage and disposal of waste water, and for designated conservation sites, on a sub-regional basis. Together with other work done by the Agency and the water companies this will guide investment in water related infrastructure over the next 25 years, including addressing existing inadequacies in such infrastructure such as severe capacity constraints in drainage and surface run-off infrastructure. A pilot project will be undertaken in Portsmouth to test ways of separating foul drainage and surface runoff infrastructure to increase capacity.