GMSF FAQs: Green Infrastructure

What is green infrastructure?

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Green infrastructure (GI) is a term that describes ‘green’ features such as parks, open spaces, playing fields, countryside, gardens, hedges, trees and woodlands as well as ‘blue’ features such as rivers, ponds and canals. Section 8 of the GMSF sets out the green infrastructure assets that we have in Greater Manchester.

What is proposed for green infrastructure in Trafford?

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Trafford’s green infrastructure will be protected wherever possible through the GMSF, which contains specific policies relating to its management and enhancement for the benefit of people, places and wildlife. Where development proposals will have an impact on green infrastructure in Trafford, this will be minimised as far as possible and any loss offset by other green infrastructure improvements and enhancements either on the site or nearby.

In Trafford the key green infrastructure areas include the Mersey Valley, the Bollin Valley and The Bridgewater Canal. The Mersey Valley and Carrington are identified in the GMSF a “green infrastructure opportunity areas” as they have particular potential to help deliver improvements to the wider Greater Manchester green infrastructure network.

What is meant by a net gain in biodiversity and where are the opportunities in Trafford?

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Biodiversity is the variety of plants, animals and habitats that make up our natural environment. Biodiversity plays an important role in nature conservation, with benefits for human health and quality of life. Achieving an overall increase and enhancements (a net gain) of biodiversity across the whole of Greater Manchester is therefore a key component of the plan.

In Trafford there are particular opportunities to achieve net gain at Timperley Wedge and New Carrington, to be funded by the development planned in these areas. Carrington is identified in GMSF as a “green infrastructure opportunity area” and the regeneration of habitats in this area are proposed as part of the development, thereby achieving net gain in an area where funding opportunities to make improvements have previously been unavailable.

 

You can download a PDF of these  Frequently Asked Questions