 |
|
|
urban brownfield sites: |
| Author | Message |
|
spaniel Member Joined: 16 Oct 2004 No. of posts: 25  View other posts by spaniel |
Posted: 19 Oct 2004 As a child I recall disused sites, old factories and derelict buildings were the best places to play and to find lizards. All over grown, nature had got a firm hold on what was always hers before the buldozers moved in. Years on these memories came flooding back when I saw a story in our local paper on central goverment putting pressure on local council to develop these sites saying that they are eye sores on the land scape. So I got thinking is it possible that these site could be home to a undiscovered source of wildlife including amphibians and reptiles. In an ideal world the land agents and developers would request a study to see if they are going to destroy a already reducing population of wildlife. Just a thought has anyone ever done a survey on a urban brownfield site? |
|
GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090  View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 19 Oct 2004 I would guess most of us have. They often prove to have exceptional reptile populations.. don't start me off on the subject! Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
|
Vicar Senior Member Joined: 02 Sep 2004 No. of posts: 1181 View other posts by Vicar |
Posted: 19 Oct 2004 I'm sure I'm not the best person to answer this, but I'll give my perspective on the subject...and when Gemma 'puts me straight' we'll both learn something ! The Government issues planning policy guidance (PPG) concerning development (building). One of these PPGs may require a council to determine the archaeological significance of a site, another PPG (PPG9) requires the ecological value of the site to be assessed. The summary of PPG9 states: "Planning Policy Guidance notes set out the Government's policies on different aspects of planning. Local planning authorities must take their contents into account in preparing their development plans. The guidance may also be material to decisions on individual planning applications and appeals. This PPG (9) gives guidance on how the Government's policies for the conservation of our natural heritage are to be reflected in land use planning. It embodies the Government's commitment to sustainable development and to conserving the diversity of our wildlife." That's what the Government says...I'm sure there are councils who apply this guidance better than others. Usually, where a PPG issue is raised, the council may force a developer to hire an independant consultant to assess the site. such as Lee ! It might be worth looking up PPG9 on the web and get a better idea of what 'should' happen :P Steve Langham - Chairman 
Surrey Amphibian & Reptile Group (SARG). |
|
-LAF Senior Member Joined: 03 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 317 View other posts by -LAF |
Posted: 19 Oct 2004 As a rule... Brownfield Site - Tomorrows Houses Greenfield Site - Tomorrows Motorways SSSI/NNR - Tomorrows Airports Tomorrow's pretty f*****. :( Lee. Lee Fairclough |
|
Juanita Member Joined: 11 Oct 2004 No. of posts: 1  View other posts by Juanita |
Posted: 19 Oct 2004 Bad day Lee ? *snix* It can't be quite that bad :-) Crazy Canuk Juanita |
|
-LAF Senior Member Joined: 03 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 317 View other posts by -LAF |
Posted: 19 Oct 2004 Yeah. Is it manifesting? Sorry! When it comes to the issues here I guess our votes are going to count more and more in coming general elections. A Green government still seems naively optimistic though. It's not that I don't think that the pen can influence our environment, I just think that it needs to be Joe Pesci weilding it. Lee. Lee Fairclough |
|
calumma Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2003 No. of posts: 351 View other posts by calumma |
Posted: 19 Oct 2004 Now don't start me off on this as well....! Lee Brady Kent Herpetofauna Recorder | Independent Ecological Consultant |
|
calumma Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2003 No. of posts: 351 View other posts by calumma |
Posted: 19 Oct 2004 In fact PPG9 is now somewhat out of date. There is a new document (currently in draft) that advises local authorities that where there is reasonable evidence to suggest that protected species may be present on a site, the local authority should review the results of a survey before deciding on planning permission. A wildlife survey should no longer be just a condition of planning (I already know of 2 LAs who have quoted the draft guidelines - one of whom did refuse planning permission because of no survey data). Gemma, I'm typing from my laptop and don't have the link for the website. However, I have put a copy in my downloads web site. Can you put the document on the KRAG site and provide a link? EDIT: found the link, you can download the draft document here. Lee Lee Brady Kent Herpetofauna Recorder | Independent Ecological Consultant |
- urban brownfield sites |