Agenda item

Resolved: that the Committee would refer its views to Mayor and Cabinet as follows –

Recommendation 1: Hither Green sidings SINC case study

1.1.        The Committee recommends that the Council should update 2015/2016  site of importance for nature conservation (SINC) review with a biodiversity action plan to include the priority habitats of wet-woodland for Hither Green Sidings SINC in time for its inclusion in the Local Plan.

Recommendation 2. Woodland and area tree protection orders

1.2.        The Committee recommends putting in place a woodland TPO in the enclosed area inside the Nature Reserve *(this a privately owned site in the south east corner of the nature reserve adjoing Railway Children Walk)*, to ensure the many saplings and young trees are given a chance to succeed into a mature woodland;  and an area TPO on the triangular site behind the Ringway Centre to protect the established trees amongst the mosaic scrubland, to avoid the extinction of habitats and species across Grove Park Nature Reserve SINC as well as – especially in their subsequent recording in the Local Plan – making it clear that ecological lapses will not be tolerated and underlining the strength of the ecological corridor and its role in establishing an Urban National Park.

Recommendation 3: Protection of ecological corridor along railway line from South Circular to Chinbrook Meadows and the borough boundary

1.3.        The Committee recommends that a survey for the implementation of a Site of Metropolitan Importance (SMI) be carried out along the entire corridor to protect wet woodland, chalk grassland, rivers, ponds and ancient woodland and all other green sites.

Recommendation 4: Delay in the Grove Park Neighbourhood Plan examination date.

1.4.        The Committee recommends that the Council should agree re-designation immediately and set date for examination for the Grove Park Neighbourhood Plan to gain material weight.

This item was considered following the declarations of interests.

This item was considered following the declarations of interests (item 3).

5.1.      Councillor Mark Ingleby was invited to address the Committee. He outlined a number of issues relating to the protection of the Railway Children Urban National Park initiative and green spaces in and around Grove Park.

5.2.      Emma Talbot (Director of Planning) and David Syme (Strategic Planning Manager) responded to questions from the Committee on the following key issues:

•           The importance of the Grove Park the nature reserve – and the shared aspiration to protect the reserve and promote the urban national park initiative.

•           Designation of the areas in question as ‘metropolitan open land’ (the equivalent of green belt in London) providing protection against inappropriate development (alongside two existing area tree protection orders and site of important nature conservation status) as well as a pending a local nature reserve designation.

•           Pressures on the amount of time and the resources available to prioritise landscape and tree protection orders alongside officers’ other statutory duties.

•           Incorporation of principles from the Grove Park neighbourhood plan into the development of the local plan.

•           The outline timetable for the adoption of the Grove Park neighbourhood plan (and other neighbourhood plans).

•           Potential use of neighbourhood community infrastructure levy funding and delays caused by the response to the pandemic.

•           The interactions between Network Rail and the Council over destructive works carried out in the vicinity of the Grove Park nature reserve.

•           The complexity of the issues involved and that the large area covered which comprised of land in different ownership.

5.3.      Members expressed concerns about the actions of developers in the Grove Park area in damaging green areas and the natural environment.

5.4.      The Chair of the Committee thanked officers for their work on proposing the local nature reserve designation for the Grove Park Nature reserve.

5.5.      Resolved: that the Committee would refer its views to Mayor and Cabinet as follows –

Recommendation 1: Hither Green sidings SINC case study

5.6.      The Committee recommends that the Council should update 2015/2016 site of importance for nature conservation (SINC) review with a biodiversity action plan to include the priority habitats of wet-woodland for Hither Green Sidings SINC in time for its inclusion in the Local Plan.

Recommendation 2. Woodland and area tree protection orders

5.7.      The Committee recommends putting in place a woodland TPO in the enclosed area inside the Nature Reserve *(this a privately owned site in the south east corner of the nature reserve adjoing Railway Children Walk)*, to ensure the many saplings and young trees are given a chance to succeed into a mature woodland;  and an area TPO on the triangular site behind the Ringway Centre to protect the established trees amongst the mosaic scrubland, to avoid the extinction of habitats and species across Grove Park Nature Reserve SINC as well as – especially in their subsequent recording in the Local Plan – making it clear that ecological lapses will not be tolerated and underlining the strength of the ecological corridor and its role in establishing an Urban National Park.

Recommendation 3: Protection of ecological corridor along railway line from South Circular to Chinbrook Meadows and the borough boundary

5.8.      The Committee recommends that a survey for the implementation of a Site of Metropolitan Importance (SMI) be carried out along the entire corridor to protect wet woodland, chalk grassland, rivers, ponds and ancient woodland and all other green sites.

Recommendation 4: Delay in the Grove Park Neighbourhood Plan examination date.

5.9.      The Committee recommends that the Council should agree re-designation immediately and set date for examination for the Grove Park Neighbourhood Plan to gain material weight.