South Hampshire Green Infrastructure Strategy

Client: Partnership for Urban South Hampshire

The Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH) began to develop a GI strategy for the sub-region in 2007, touching on or containing eleven local authority areas along the south Hampshire coast. The study required an analysis of substantial volumes of data relating to access to greenspace, areas of flood risk and potential realignment, health deprivation, biodiversity, recreational areas and proposed development areas, among others.

Our team was involved in converting this work into a Strategy to translate the comprehensive sub-regional data and research into a workable plan for PUSH and its external partners.  The product provides a high level policy framework for the Local Development Documents and inform the detailed planning and delivery of GI across the sub-region. It includes recommendations for large scale strategic initiatives and a suggested programme of delivery using a range of financial and operational measures; at the time of writing 80,000 new homes were planned in the PUSH area by 2026.

Four sub-regional initiatives were established, the main commonality between which was the need to improve connectivity and multifunctionality, while providing new ‘stepping stone’ sites and enhancing existing assets. A further key aspect of the project was to create an important driver for the provision of avoidance and mitigation measures to protect the numerous internationally important nature conservation areas of the sub-region.

Hence the Strategy engages with the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 and includes recommendations at a range of scales to deliver the objectives of the green infrastructure framework. The environmental characteristics of the area include important coastal sites, chalk grassland, ancient woodland, urban hinterland and various famous chalk rivers including the Test and Itchen. The study has since been taken forward by the Partnership to develop locally-specific implementation plans and provide guidance to developers on green infrastructure requirements.