Heywood Green Infrastructure Plan Draft for Consultation

1591.027b July 2010 2

Contents: Chapter 1 Why a Green Infrastructure Plan for Heywood? Chapter 2 What is Green Infrastructure? Chapter 3 Green Infrastructure in Heywood: Policy Context Chapter 4 Green Infrastructure in Heywood: What do we want it to do? Green Infrastructure in Heywood by area Chapter 5 Green Infrastructure: Objectives for Heywood Chapter 6 Key Partnerships for Delivery Appendix Policy Context Glossary Further References and links

35

1011182740434748

List of Figures: Figure 2.1 Components of GI Figure 2.2 Heywood Green Infrastructure: City Region Context Figure 4.1 Policy Context Figure 3.1 Managing Flood Risk Figure 3.2 Biodiversity: Support Biodiversity Sites and Networks Figure 2.2 Heywood Character Areas Figure 2.3 Character Area 1: Heywood Urban Core Figure 2.4 Character Area 2: Roch Valley East Figure 2.5 Character Area 3: Roch Valley/Ashworth Valley Gateway Figure 2.6 Character Area 4: Roch Valley West Figure 2.7 Character Area 5: Heady Hill and Darnhill Figure 2.8 Character Area 6: South of East Lancashire Railway Figure 2.9 Character Area 7: Hopwood to Castleton Figure 5.1 River Roch Regeneration Corridor Figure 5.2 Heywood Greenways Network Figure 5.3 Heywood Green Infrastructure Plan

67

1014161920212223242526303539

1591.027b July 2010 3

Chapter 1: Why a Green Infrastructure Plan for Heywood? Heywood has an ambitious but achievable vision for its future where it will be an attractive location for living, working and visiting with good access to the countryside and surrounding towns and cities. It will be a part of a prosperous and thriving borough of Rochdale which in turn contributes to the continued economic growth and well being of the Manchester City Region and achieving its objective of being a world class city. Heywood has many potential advantages to help it achieve its potential. It has a strong sense of identity and community underpinning its ambitions. How residents, visitors and investors experience the environment of Heywood will help determine how successful Heywood is in achieving its future ambitions for quality of place and well-being. This is important for the local community but also for Rochdale borough and Greater Manchester. If Heywood is to grow sustainably, it must deliver a high quality environment that can support its regeneration and growth ambitions, meet the needs of its community and help Heywood manage the challenges of climate change. In Heywood, the relationship between green spaces and water is important in defining the character of the town and its surrounding countryside, the Roch Valley in particular. Green spaces and water bodies have traditionally been seen as providing visual amenity, a haven for wildlife and areas for recreation and leisure. However, we are also now asking them to do much more to support community life and economic growth by managing flood risk and helping the urban core of Heywood adapt to the effects of climate change. The green spaces of Heywood are part of the essential infrastructure needed by the community to support daily life, health and well-being and future growth and they provide a variety of environmental services individually and together as Heywood’s ‘green infrastructure’. The Heywood Green Infrastructure Plan will help ensure green infrastructure achieves its full potential to support Heywood’s objectives for growth, regeneration and well being in the community. It will help to deliver the Heywood Township Plan along with the plans and policies of Rochdale borough and the Manchester City Region. It will provide a simple definition of what green infrastructure is and what it is expected to do in Heywood so that the township can achieve its vision for the future in a sustainable way. The Plan sets out key objectives for green infrastructure and major long term projects that will help to deliver good green infrastructure where it is needed most. The Green Infrastructure Action Plan cannot be delivered overnight and to be successful it requires the support and ownership of all interests including the local authority, healthcare organisations, residents, school children, developers, businesses and landowners. A positive approach to increasing the benefits of green infrastructure to our communities involves looking at what we need green spaces to do both now and in the future. We need to ensure that through good management, design and location we have enough of the right types of green infrastructure in the right places doing what we need it to do.

1591.027b July 2010 4

The Plan’s major projects will be delivered through a series of large and small actions throughout the life of the Action Plan. New opportunities for green infrastructure projects and ways of delivering them will arise at different times through development proposals, regeneration schemes and a range of funding packages. The Plan will therefore be delivered up to 2026 to maximise the opportunities arising from the borough’s Local Development Framework and a range of other plans, strategies and programmes. It will be reviewed on a three yearly basis to ensure that all plans, strategies and programmes important to Heywood’s future prosperity, growth and well-being are captured and Green Infrastructure delivery opportunities maximised. The Action Plan will be supported by an annually updated work programme, which includes short, medium and long-term projects and details of how they will be delivered.

1591.027b July 2010 5

Chapter 2 : What is Green Infrastructure? Green infrastructure is the ‘natural’ outdoor environment all around us and is part of the life support system of the community. It can include all green spaces and water bodies in and around our communities from private gardens and street trees, ponds and playing fields to the extensive river valleys and open countryside surrounding our towns. Many of the elements, which make up our green infrastructure, are shown in figure 2.1, on page 6. A draft Government Planning Policy Statement (Planning For A Natural And Healthy Environment) defines green infrastructure as: “ a strategic network of multi-functional green space both new and existing, both rural and urban, which supports natural and ecological processes and is integral to the health and quality of life in sustainable communities. It delivers a broad range of functions and provides vital socio-economic and cultural benefits which underpin individual and community health and well-being.” Green infrastructure functions include conserving and enhancing the natural environment, providing wildlife corridors, reducing noise and air pollution, helping communities adapt to climate change by managing water and carbon, providing green routes in and around communities, managing flood risk and providing space for play, quiet relaxation, sport and leisure. Green infrastructure is therefore not simply concerned with the amount of green spaces that we have but in the environmental services they provide which supports everyday life, our economy and the future well-being of our communities. Well located, designed and managed green space and water bodies can bring many benefits to a community and make a place attractive as a place to live and invest in. Low quality green spaces which are poorly located, badly managed with no clear functions for the community can discourage investment

Queens Park Lake, an example of a multifunctional Landscape

1591.027b July 2010 6

in an area and can attract problems such as of anti social behaviour and fly tipping. Each green space or water body however small is multi functional, which means that they can perform a number of different roles. These different functions are performed by individual spaces but also as part a larger network of green infrastructure, which can extend well beyond Heywood. For example the lake in Queens Park is important for recreation, wildlife and sustainable drainage, it is also part of the wider network of footpaths and access routes for local people within the Roch Valley and to the countryside beyond. On a regional scale it is part of flood risk management along the Roch Valley, reducing flood risk well beyond Heywood in the Manchester City Region. The Roch Valley is part of a potential landscape for tourism, biodiversity and recreation, which with the Irwell Valley, extends into the heart of Manchester City Centre. Heywood’s contribution to the wider region is shown in Figure 2.2 on page7.

Figure 2.1 Components of Green Infrastructure

1591.027b July 2010 7

1591.027b July 2010 8

An introduction to Heywood Heywood is located between Rochdale and Bury with the Roch Valley and A58 corridor at its core connecting all three towns. It is surrounded by countryside including the Roch, Irwell, Ashworth and Cheesden valleys which connect with the South Pennine Moors. Heywood grew substantially through the industrial revolution as part of an industrial corridor along much of the Roch Valley with a dense urban core of terraced housing surrounding the town centre following the A58. More recent social housing estates and industrial development surround the urban centre. The East Lancashire Railway connects Heywood with a preserved railway network linking Bury town centre and the Irwell Valley to Rawtenstall which may in the future extend commuter and leisure travel to the main railway network at Castleton. Heywood forms a part of the M60 and M66 Motorway corridor and includes junctions to both at Hopwood and at Heap Bridge respectively. Queens Park in central Heywood is one of Rochdale Borough’s most important historic public parks and provides the main formal green space for Heywood. Whilst Heywood has substantial advantages of location and is within a generally attractive countryside setting, there are, in green infrastructure terms, many challenges to be addressed:

• Urban open spaces are of varied quality and do not provide a distinctive, positive character for Heywood in many locations;

• Access to the countryside from many parts of the urban area is poor; • There is a strong relationship between low green space standards and

provision with areas of highest need due to poor health and low incomes; • There is a legacy of derelict land and poor environment in many parts of

the Roch Valley which detract from its recreational value; • Parts of Heywood are subject to significant flood risk; • There is a recognised need to improve and extend Heywood’s housing

stock and the physical environment of many of its inner area and social housing neighbourhoods;

• The environmental quality of the A58 corridor is variable with pockets of poor quality land and buildings in prominent locations such as Heap Bridge and the approaches to Heywood town centre;

• Poor health is an issue in many parts of Heywood; and • In addition to poor access to the countryside, there are also poor urban

green space networks with a series of ‘barriers’ to movement including the line of the East Lancashire Railway, the A58 corridor and the town centre which discourage linear green routes and corridors.

Addressing many of these challenges has started through regeneration initiatives such as the Heart of Heywood, New Deal for Communities programme. The Township Plan and the Heywood Sustainable Urban Neighbourhood initiative have also recognised the need to improve the environment of Heywood but much still needs to be done to ensure that Heywood makes a good first impression and creates lasting benefits through its green infrastructure. Heywood’s green infrastructure and how it relates to Heywood and its community can be clearly seen from the aerial view overleaf.

1591.027b July 2010 9Heywood’s green infrastructure from the air.

Heywood’s green infrastructure from the air

1591.027b July 2010 10

Chapter 3: GI in Heywood Policy Context Green Infrastructure is part of a complex policy mosaic and cuts across a range of objectives at all levels from the North West region down to plans for individual neighbourhoods. Through the life of this action plan, it is expected that policy guidance for green infrastructure plans will have grown and changed and will be much more explicit as new or revised plans, policies and programmes from Government and its agencies, local authorities and major delivery bodies such as health providers, emerge and recognise the importance of green infrastructure in their delivery. A diagram highlighting the main components of a policy and strategy framework for delivering green infrastructure is shown in Figure 3.1. Within this framework it is worth highlighting some key documents which provide strong policy support and guidance for green infrastructure and highlight the importance of green infrastructure to support economic growth, quality of life for communities and a high quality, resilient environment in Heywood, Rochdale borough and the Manchester City Region. See appendix, page 43 for further discussion of policy context.

1591.027b July 2010 11

Figure 3.1 Policy Context

1591.027b July 2010 12

Chapter 4: GI in Heywood- what do we want it to do? Green infrastructure in Heywood must help deliver Heywood’s objectives for economic growth and to make Heywood a better, more attractive and healthier place for residents, workers and visitors both now and in the future. Green infrastructure in Heywood must also provide benefits for the borough and for Greater Manchester where possible. The functions we want green infrastructure in Heywood to perform are: Provide a sense of place and positive identity and image for Heywood and

the borough of Rochdale

The perception of visitors or potential investors have can have a direct impact on tourism and the attraction of a place to live, work and invest in. Green spaces, parks and gardens, the countryside, gateways and corridors all significantly influence perceptions about positive image and quality of place and the quality of life it will provide. Heywood has attractive parks and countryside but also parts of Heywood’s environment are poor through dereliction, neglect or lack of visual interest for example. Heywood has great potential as a place to visit and has ambitious plans for new and improved housing and a range of jobs to make Heywood an attractive place to live and work. It is also part of the strategic road and motorway network for Greater Manchester and helps to create a first impression for visitors to Rochdale borough and Greater Manchester as a whole. It is therefore important that Heywood creates a positive first impression based on lasting environmental quality with a strong sense of place.

Provide access for all ages and abilities to good quality urban green space

and the countryside around Heywood for recreation and tourism

Good quality urban green spaces, parks and gardens, recreational facilities and countryside are major assets for promoting a town for tourism and recreational activities. The market for tourism is diverse including leisurely pursuits, along with more active recreation such as cycling, sport, walking or visiting heritage such as the East Lancashire Railway and former industrial landscapes and structures. There is a similar demand from local people and also from those who may be considering Heywood as a place to live.

Heywood Cemetery and Queens Park- distinctive landscapes providing a strong sense of place

1591.027b July 2010 13

It is also important to ensure that people of all abilities, including those with mental or physical disabilities can enjoy as wide a range of activities and experiences as possible whether they are visiting or living in Heywood. Heywood has some excellent facilities, which are able to welcome a wide range of users of all abilities such as Queens Park. The East Lancashire Railway will bring many more visitors to Heywood as a heritage railway line. The school grounds, parks, woodlands and countryside in and around Heywood also provide a diverse outdoor classroom resource where children of all ages can experience and learn about wildlife, local food and healthy eating, climate change and industrial heritage.

The countryside around Heywood in the Roch and Ashworth Valleys in particular contains a wealth of wildlife and industrial heritage with attractive wooded landscapes stretching to the South Pennine Moors. Whilst close to many of Heywood’s main neighbourhoods, access to the countryside from the urban area is poor in many cases and there are environmental problems, which need to be tackled at key gateways to the countryside such as fly tipping and dereliction.

Encourage walking and cycling for everyday journeys, healthy lifestyles and well being

Access to good quality green spaces in urban areas and the countryside is central to the ability of local people to lead a healthy and active life. There are a range of benefits for mental health, tackling child and adult obesity and helping reduce the incidence of respiratory and cardiac problems. Making walking and cycling more attractive involves creating greener streets and an open space network with clearly identified routes for recreation, routes to school, shops and services and employment. These should provide a safe and welcoming

The Roch Valley - an opportunity for healthy living and countryside recreation close to the urban area.

1591.027b July 2010 14

environment where people feel confident. Heywood’s streetscape and open spaces have great potential to provide a sustainable movement network but at present there are barriers to movement and a lack of defined urban green routes.

• Help manage flood risk Flooding can cause significant harm to communities through damage to property, danger to the public and disruption to travel and the local economy. Flood risk can arise from watercourses and a range of other sources including drainage from the nearby South Pennine uplands, surface water run off and the local sewer system. As climate change continues, there is a greater likelihood of more extreme rainfall events which may be more frequent and also more damaging. The Roch Valley and its tributaries such as Millers Brook is part of an extensive network of watercourses in Greater Manchester. In Heywood there are flood risks from these watercourses but they also help reduce the impact of flooding both locally and throughout the City Region. An indicative illustration of Heywood’s areas of surface water flood risk is shown in figure 4.1. It is important to help maintain and enhance the value of the Roch Valley for flood risk management by avoiding development activities, which may increase flood risk but also by supporting actions that could improve the ability to manage flood risk for example de-culverting water courses and appropriate land management. An indication of flood risk in Heywood is included in the Bury, Oldham and Rochdale Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (2009).

Heywood is a Critical Drainage Area as identified in the Bury, Oldham and Rochdale Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (2009) recognising the higher risk of surface water flooding in parts of urban Heywood. It is important to ensure that development does not increase flood risk and also to recognise the role of existing and new green infrastructure assets in public and private spaces (including farmland, playing fields and gardens) as part of a sustainable urban drainage network which helps to reduce flood risk for neighbourhoods and businesses. A future Surface Water Management Plan for Greater Manchester may identify specific actions that will benefit both Heywood and adjoining communities in managing surface water flood risks.

Heywood’s countryside should be safe, welcoming and accessible to everyone

1591.027b July 2010 15

1591.027b July 2010 16

• Support biodiversity sites and networks The Roch Valley is an extensive ‘natural’ corridor with water, woodland and farmland hosting a range of species and habitats (Figure 4.2). Large parts of the Roch Valley in Heywood are designated as Sites of Biological Importance (SBI) recognising their value to the biodiversity of Rochdale borough and Greater Manchester. A further SBI is based on the lake at Queens Park, which forms a part of the Roch Valley corridor. The East Lancashire Railway corridor also includes a SBI and provides further opportunities for extending its wildlife corridor value. These wildlife corridors are an important part of the borough and Greater Manchester biodiversity network helping to deliver the Greater Manchester Biodiversity Action Plan (2009). They also provide opportunities for enjoying a wide variety of wildlife close to neighbourhoods and schools but there is a need to improve access in many locations, provide better information for visitors and to ensure long term management of woodland and other landscape features to reduce the impact of non-native invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam.

Urban Heywood has many green spaces with existing biodiversity value including public open spaces, small urban woodlands, mature residential gardens but many have limited value due to a lack of features or management that would encourage biodiversity. Greener streets and urban areas that people want to use and live, work, learn and play in are brought to life by wildlife interest through the seasons.

Caption for both pics: The Roch Valley: A window on wildlife

The Roch Valley, a window on wildlife

1591.027b July 2010 17

1591.027b July 2010 18

• Providing food and fuel for the community Heywood’s urban open spaces and countryside have potential to provide wood-fuel and biomass for use in heating local schools, businesses and homes. There are also opportunities to grow a range of fruit, vegetables and herbs in schools, public open spaces, woodlands, gardens, parks and green streets. These can add character to the urban environment and provide opportunities for education, encouraging healthy eating, community enterprise and food trading.

• Help Heywood adapt to climate change Climate change may bring challenges to living and working in Heywood due to more extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall and increased temperatures in the more densely developed urban neighbourhoods and the town centre. Green infrastructure such as permeable open spaces, green roofs, woodland and street trees can provide an improved ability to conserve natural resources, manage and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, reduce flood risk and to provide cooling and shade.

Street Trees provide character for neighbourhoods and can help Heywood to tackle the impact of climate change

1591.027b July 2010 19

Green Infrastructure in Heywood by area

Heywood has a diverse character and each area or neighbourhood has its own specific challenges and opportunities for Green Infrastructure. These ‘Character Areas’ provide a focus for better understanding need and opportunity and developing effective local actions. Figure 4.3 illustrates the character areas in Heywood. These character areas enable residents and service providers to understand and influence how actions in their area can contribute to local quality of life and also help to deliver bigger, more strategic actions such as regenerating the Roch Valley.

Green desert and poorly managed areas do not encourage people to use them. Urban Green space should provide a variety of interest and

benefits to the community

1591.027b July 2010 20

1591.027b July 2010 21

Character Area 1: Heywood Urban Core

The main retail and service centre for Heywood forms a ribbon along the A58 and is bounded by social housing, older terraced housing and a retail park. The urban core has limited green infrastructure in the form of street trees with few public open spaces outside the civic area and private garden spaces. The environmental quality of the A58 is currently variable and includes areas of untidy road corridor, poor quality buildings and limited green verges. Opportunities for walking and cycling along green routes are limited. The Heywood Sustainable Urban Neighbourhood (SUN) (2007) initiative provides an opportunity for creating a stronger green structure with greener streets, improved green spaces and better connections to important local destinations within the town centre from the neighbourhoods to the north and south and also to the countryside beyond.

Traffic Dominated Town Centre

Heywood Town Centre has limited greenspaces but many opportunities for change.

1591.027b July 2010 22

Character Area 2: Roch Valley East (Queens Park to Springfield Park)

Queens Park is one of Rochdale borough’s most important parks providing a high quality, popular destination for the people of Heywood and an important area for wildlife focused on the lake. It is also an important gateway to the Roch Valley. The Roch Valley around Crimble Mill and the urban edge around Mutual Mills has a significant industrial heritage. This section of the Roch Valley corridor also includes Heywood Cricket Club and Heywood Cemetery and enjoys generally good access from the urban area. Routes through the Roch Valley connect with another important river valley landscape and historic public park at Springfield Park lying just beyond the Township boundary. Queens Park Road has a green character with an extensive avenue of mature trees helping to create a green gateway to Heywood and a strategic hub for green infrastructure centred on the park and the Roch Valley. The landscape also has an important flood risk management role in the Roch Valley and at Millers Brook.

to Queens Park

Queens Park: A popular destination with green links to the Roch Valley and beyond

1591.027b July 2010 23

Character Area 3: Roch Valley/Ashworth Valley Gateway

The Back o’th’ Moss and Summit are close to a large stretch of the Roch Valley, which includes extensive woodland, wildlife interest and Sites of Biological Importance. The countryside north of the river includes a footpath network and woodland corridor, which links with the Ashworth Valley, one of the most important natural and historic landscapes in Greater Manchester. However, access from urban Heywood is poor and parts of the valley, especially those close to Back o’th’ Moss, are currently

derelict and neglected due to former industrial uses and recent problems such as fly tipping. The Heywood SUN initiative will help to create improved neighbourhood links and green corridors along with routes linking the town centre and South Heywood with Heywood Sports Village (HSV) and the Roch Valley. Some routes could also be signposted exercise routes linking HSV with the Valley. Improving Green Infrastructure will focus on creating high quality green routes and corridors, regenerating derelict and neglected land, improving recreational routes and creating heritage trails. These will link Heywood with the South Pennines through the river valleys.

The Ashworth Valley (a) and Roch Valley (b) provide a superb heritage trail and quiet landscape for all to enjoy.

a

b

1591.027b July 2010 24

Character Area 4: Roch Valley West (Summit to Heap Bridge)

West of Summit, the Roch Valley is a mixture of agriculture, reclaimed landfill and an older industrial and residential area at Heap Bridge. The more extensive sections of the Roch Valley currently have poor public access from adjoining neighbourhoods and linear access through the valley is also limited. There are opportunities to consider improving access to the valley in the Prettywood area and to work with Bury MBC to identify ways to improve connections between the Roch and Irwell river valleys. Heap Bridge is a major gateway to Rochdale borough from the junction of the A58 and M66 motorway. The Heap Bridge area is defined by older industrial and commercial premises. Currently it has poor public realm, which does not project a good first impression to Heywood or to the borough. Opportunities to enhance the public realm with better development quality along the road frontage and highlighting the river and views into the river valley where possible would substantially improve this important gateway.

Greening and softening the A58 corridor at Heap Bridge

will improve this major gateway.

Access improvements would open up the Roch Valley for more

people to enjoy

1591.027b July 2010 25

Character Area 5: Heady Hill and Darnhill

Lying to the west of Heywood town centre, Heady Hill and Darnhill are extensive residential areas with significant social housing, bounded to the north by the A58 and south by the East Lancashire Railway (ELR). There are major green spaces within this area including playing fields and Bullough Moor Recreation Ground, however their standard is variable with large areas of bland open space known as green desert, which provide limited community benefits and do not provide local character. Currently these areas do not form a green network and have limited Green Infrastructure functions. Access to the surrounding countryside is limited through lack of routes in the west and by the ELR to the south. Green Infrastructure improvements will focus on linking open areas using innovative street greening and maximising the impact of private gardens to create high quality green routes. These will link with Heywood town centre, schools, Heywood Sports Village and to the wider countryside. Opportunities to improve green deserts include diversifying planting and management, along with local food growing initiatives

Making space more diverse will provide community benefits for

wildlife, recreation and play

Grassed green verges could provide opportunities for

seasonal colour and wildlife

1591.027b July 2010 26

Character Area 6: South of East Lancashire Railway

This is a mixed area, which includes industrial uses along a corridor adjoining the railway line, bounded by Pilsworth Road and Hareshill Road. The area also includes the Hopwood neighbourhood, which has a range of recreational spaces. Pilsworth Quarry and an extensive area of countryside around Birch extends to the M62 and M66 motorway corridors. There are a number of paths and tracks providing access to the countryside but they do not form a clear trail linking areas of countryside within Heywood or to other destinations such as Pilsworth Quarry, Bowlee, Heaton Park or adjoining parts of Middleton or Bury. Linkages to parts of Heywood north of the East Lancashire Railway are also poor.

Pilsworth provides a link between

Heywood and a range of other visitor destinations such as Heaton Park

View across to Pilsworth from Heap Bridge

1591.027b July 2010 27

Character Area 7: Hopwood to Castleton

This area extends from Hopwood and the eastern edge of central Heywood to Chamber House and the East Lancashire Railway corridor extending to Castleton. The area is a mixed residential and industrial area. There are a series of paths and tracks extending into the countryside providing opportunities to develop cycle links with the Sustrans Connect2 cycle route centred on the Rochdale Canal (National Cycle Route 66). Development of the tourist value of the East Lancashire Railway and future uses of land around Chamber House Farm will provide opportunities to enhance the value of this countryside and routes within it including linkages with the Roch Valley.

Chadwick Lane will become the Connect2 cycling route

Hopwood Recreation Ground is an important greenspace within Hopwood

1591.027b July 2010 28

Chapter 5: Green Infrastructure Objectives for Heywood We can see from the policy framework outlined in this plan that delivering good Green Infrastructure in Heywood has to bring many benefits and contribute to positive change for local people and businesses and also for Rochdale borough and the Manchester City Region. What we want Green Infrastructure in Heywood to do cuts across many traditional areas of activity. Green Infrastructure is multi functional, supporting daily life in Heywood, improving its attraction as a place to live, work and invest in and helping to ensure that it is resilient to flooding and the future impacts of climate change. The priority objectives for Green Infrastructure which this Action Plan will deliver seeks to ensure that protecting, improving and creating Green Infrastructure happens in the right place and performs the range of functions that we want it to. The objectives aim to ensure that land managers, developers and all relevant delivery partnerships and organisations invest in and deliver Green Infrastructure so that it achieves its cross cutting public benefits. Our Green Infrastructure objectives are:

Growing Heywood Green Infrastructure will support economic and housing growth and regenerating the town centre, older urban neighbourhoods and social

housing estates.

Healthy Heywood We need to encourage physical and mental well-being in a safe and welcoming environment for all ages and abilities. Active lifestyles will

help to tackle obesity, coronary heart disease, respiratory illnesses and other health priorities in Heywood. Encouraging local food growing will lead to better eating habits, better gardening skills and opportunities for community gardening and food sharing and trading projects.

Getting Around Heywood Encouraging walking and cycling for leisure and daily trips to school, work, shops and services will increase health and also reduce

pollution. Greener streets, urban trails and better signage to important destinations in Heywood and its surrounding countryside will provide a better and more attractive environment for walking and cycling

Living Heywood The Roch Valley and the environment in and around Heywood including street trees, gardens, school grounds, woodlands and

parks provide a window on local wildlife to be enjoyed by residents, school

1591.027b July 2010 29

children, workers and visitors. Improving access to nature for education and enjoyment supports learning, natural play and encourages better use and appreciation of urban green space and the countryside. Improving urban wildlife corridors will add interest and environmental quality to our neighbourhoods and help to protect and enhance wildlife habitats and species, which are important for local and regional biodiversity.

Resilient Heywood Green Infrastructure will help to manage and reduce flood risk from the River Roch and surface water to benefit local communities and

businesses within and downstream of Heywood. Trees, woodland and other green assets in urban Heywood and the surrounding countryside will help Heywood to adapt to the impacts of climate change and may provide opportunities for sustainable wood fuel or energy crops.

Visit Heywood High quality public realm and landscapes will make a positive first impression and lasting impact on visitors to Heywood. Distinctive

gateways and corridors including high quality public realm and views into attractive countryside will project a positive image of Heywood both for motorists and East Lancashire Railway passengers. Improved signage, interpretation and access to the Roch Valley landscape and parks destinations in and around Heywood will enable Heywood to promote a stronger visitor package.

A Distinctive Heywood By delivering the above themes, Heywood has the opportunity to make its green infrastructure work harder to create a distinctive and sustainable settlement that will achieve the township’s vision for

growth, regeneration and the quality of life and place for its residents, workers and visitors. Heywood will become a community and destination with a stronger sense of place, where the value of its green infrastructure to the communities and economy of Heywood, Rochdale borough and Greater Manchester is maximised.

Our Strategic Projects Green Infrastructure is delivered through a range of actions both large and small over the period of this action plan to 2026. The Action Plan has a long term vision that accommodates proposals which will be delivered at a later date as opportunities emerge and also ‘quick wins’ where there is an opportunity to do something more immediately. The Action Plan is based on a series of long term projects i.e. they will be delivered incrementally through the life of the Green Infrastructure Action Plan linked to development opportunities, area based

1591.027b July 2010 30

regeneration, in particular Heywood SUN, opportunities for external funding and smaller scale activities centred on how the Council and others who manage public and private green spaces including private gardens can contribute to Heywood’s Green Infrastructure needs. All of Heywood’s neighbourhoods and Green Infrastructure character areas have a part to play in delivering these projects. The annual work programme supporting the Action Plan provides an opportunity to check progress and to respond to new opportunities and challenges as they emerge. The Roch-Irwell Investment Corridor The Roch Valley provides essential Green Infrastructure for Heywood, Rochdale borough and Greater Manchester (Figure 5.1). It helps to deliver, support and protect more than £1billion of ongoing and future economic development, neighbourhood regeneration and housing growth in Heywood and Rochdale

borough and provides additional growth support and protection for Bury and Salford as a part of the City Region’s strategic Green Infrastructure. Together with the River Irwell corridor there is a major opportunity to create a major landscape destination for tourism and recreation stretching from Irwell River Park in Salford through to the South Pennine Moors, and which provides further improved essential environmental services for growth and regeneration in Greater Manchester, managing flood risk, promoting biodiversity and contributing to climate change adaptation. The Roch Valley in Heywood is a crucial link in the Roch Valley where landscape regeneration and transformation will bring major benefits for the whole Roch-Irwell corridor. It has direct linkages to town centre and neighbourhood regeneration, housing growth, economic development and new tourism and cultural facilities and opening up the valley will enable greater recreational and tourist use and accessibility for disadvantaged communities. The Roch Valley is a part of one of the major transport gateways into Greater Manchester and is one of the key river valleys forming a part of Greater Manchester’s strategic flood risk management and its biodiversity network.

The Roch Valley: an opportunity to create a major tourism destination

1591.027b July 2010 31

1591.027b July 2010 32

In the context of Heywood, the Roch Valley will provide:

• high quality and accessible countryside close to urban neighbourhoods many of which have poor access to green space and health issues

• a gateway to the South Pennines, the wider Roch and Irwell Valleys and visitor destinations such as the Irwell Sculpture Trail, Springfield Park, the Rochdale Canal and further afield

• opportunities for people of all ages and abilities in Heywood to enjoy the countryside, its heritage and wildlife

• an open air classroom for local school children to learn about the environment and climate change, healthy lifestyles and local food growing

• opportunities for sustainable land management to provide local food, wood fuel and biomass

• opportunities for volunteering, developing landscape management and food growing skills

• a distinctive setting for Heywood which provides a strong sense of place

The Roch Valley near Queens Park Bridge

1591.027b July 2010 33

Key proposals for delivering this project in Heywood are:

• An urban green corridor link to the Roch Valley from Heywood town centre between George Street and Bottom o’th’ Brow

• Reclaiming derelict land within the Roch Valley at Back o’th’ Moss with improved gateways linked to neighbourhood and town centre regeneration proposals to be delivered through Heywood SUN

• A new Roch Valley gateway at Prettywood

• Working with Bury MBC and other partners to establish a Roch-Irwell project that will create a Roch-Irwell trail and significant landscape transformation and enhancement in areas of greatest need and opportunity.

• A strategic Green Infrastructure hub for central Heywood based on Queens Park, Millers Brook and the Roch Valley

• Improved linkages between the Roch Valley at Queens Park and Springfield Park

• Improved woodland management through the Roch Valley in partnership with landowners and the Forestry Commission

The Roch Valley between Prettywood and Jericho

Informal links between the A58 and the Roch Valley provide an opportunity to create,

accessible routes for all.

1591.027b July 2010 34

• Delivering new woodland planting opportunities • Identifying opportunities for wood fuel and biomass crops through

woodland management and specific growing sites • Working with partners including the Environment Agency to identify

opportunities for improved flood risk management along the Roch Valley and its tributaries including Millers Brook.

• A Biodiversity Action Plan for the Roch Valley • Extending opportunities for local schools, businesses and residents to get

involved in managing the Roch Valley • Better information for tourists and visitors to the Roch Valley

Delivering the Roch Irwell Investment Corridor is a challenging and long term project involving a wide range of actions large and small not just within Heywood. It will be delivered through new development, area based regeneration initiatives, environmental regeneration programmes and smaller actions linked to countryside management and volunteering activities. In order to ensure that actions and their relationships can be more effectively delivered and managed a wider Roch Valley Masterplan will be produced as part of the Rochdale borough

Woodland path alongside the Roch Valley

Millers Brook valley is part of a green hub surrounding Queens Park but also has flood

protection

1591.027b July 2010 35

Green Infrastructure Strategy with the co-operation and involvement of delivery partners and environmental and regeneration agencies. Heywood Greenways Network A network of greener streets and connected green spaces will ensure people of all ages and abilities have more opportunities for getting around Heywood on foot or bicycle in a pleasant urban setting. This will contribute to improved health and well being for the community. This is particularly important where there are limited opportunities for creating or improving local green spaces close to where people live. Routes will link a range of destinations including schools, shops and services, places of worship, recreation facilities, parks and countryside, East Lancashire Railway and employment sites. The Heywood Greenways network will also provide a complete urban trail around Heywood linking recreational facilities and routes, heritage and wildlife attractions. Greener streets will allow communities to develop their own distinctive green character and use the environment as a living map of the neighbourhood for routes supporting their daily life. The project will use the good practice established in the Pennine Edge Forest Natural Signposting initiative and Red Rose Forest’s Green Streets project. Greener streets projects will be delivered through new development, regeneration programmes and green space and highway management carried out by the Council. An illustration of Heywood’s proposed greenways network is shown in figure 5.2.

1591.027b July 2010 36

1591.027b July 2010 37

Key proposals for delivering this project are:

• Establish a strategic urban trail linking all Heywood neighbourhoods and key destinations in and around Heywood.

• A priority greener streets programme for each Heywood neighbourhood. • Extend the Pennine Edge Forest ‘Routes to the Roch’ and Natural

Signposting projects to Heywood. • An initiative with local schools, healthcare providers and businesses to

promote green routes and encourage their usage. • A series of signposted and self guided neighbourhood routes for health

walks and cycling, heritage and urban wildlife. • Link the Heywood Greenway’s Network to the Sustrans Connect 2 cycle

route and the national cycleway network from the Rochdale Canal. • Priority green routes linking Darnhill and Heady Hill with the town centre

and Heywood Sports Village using natural signposting methods, including maximising the impact of private gardens.

• Develop distance marked green exercise routes linking Heywood Sports Village with the Roch Valley and beyond.

Living Neighbourhoods Green Infrastructure in Heywood’s neighbourhoods will provide a range of products and services to meet the needs of the community and create a distinctive network of multi-functional green spaces at the heart of community life. Existing and new green spaces will be managed for a variety of uses including local food growing, accessible urban wildlife, outdoor classroom spaces, quiet relaxation and natural play. The Living Neighbourhoods network will include public spaces, parks, school grounds, private gardens and employment sites. Each neighbourhood will be able to define a distinctive character based on the range of use of its green spaces, signature trees and other features. Connected by the Heywood Greenways project neighbourhood green spaces will also provide stepping stones to the countryside and landmark spaces along green routes as part of a living map to a variety of destinations using the principles of the Pennine Edge Forest’s Natural Signposting approach. Existing green spaces will be enhanced and new green spaces created through development and regeneration projects according to community aspirations and the opportunities available to contribute to the Living Neighbourhoods network at particular locations. Key proposals for this project include:

• A local food growing initiative involving local schools, communities and businesses to promote healthy eating, use of local produce, co-operative and gardening skills. All managed public spaces and facilities will be assessed to identify opportunities for fruit, vegetable and herb growing including community orchards, vertical gardens linked to new buildings and building refurbishment and the use of greener streets e.g. window boxes, highway verges and gardens.

1591.027b July 2010 38

• Maximising opportunities for tree planting, green walls, green roofs, flood

risk management and other green infrastructure to help conserve natural resources and address the impacts of climate change

• Developing area based green infrastructure themes to create distinctive neighbourhoods based on tree species or other landscape features, food growing, key views, heritage or wildlife associations and seasonal colour.

• Intelligent play and recreation catchments, which establish better routes to play, sports and recreation facilities and improved fixed and natural play assets to encourage active play and care for the natural environment.

• An urban wildlife project supporting wildlife gardening and the management of public spaces to deliver Biodiversity Action Plan priorities (2009).

• An assessment of all community spaces and actions to maximise their contribution to sustainable urban drainage and surface water flood risk management.

• Identifying opportunities for wood fuel and biomass through woodland

management and specific plantation sites for use in the local community. • A network of open air classroom spaces linked to food growing,

promoting local wildlife and the role of the local environment in tackling the effects of climate change.

• Establishing a network of community green infrastructure volunteers to help promote, develop and manage the Living Neighbourhood network.

Greener Gateways and Corridors A focus on improving the environmental quality and character of the main road and rail gateways and corridors in Heywood will provide a distinctive character and positive image for Heywood, Rochdale borough and the City Region. Gateways will create a positive first impression for those entering Heywood and

Queens Park Lake forms part of a sustainable drainage system

1591.027b July 2010 39

high quality transport corridors will create environmental quality for local neighbourhoods, major employment sites, recreational destinations and the town centre. The transport corridors will provide connections and continuity between Heywood’s neighbourhoods rather than act as a barrier. Key proposals to deliver this project include:

• Public realm enhancements at Heap Bridge to create a distinctive, high quality landscape connection with Bury and the M66 corridor and give greater prominence to the River Roch corridor

• Improve countryside character e.g. hedgerows and the Roch Valley gateway at Prettywood and highway verges in the A58 corridor from Heap Bridge to Summit

• Open space improvements in the A58 corridor between Summit and Heywood town centre to create distinctive gateway spaces in the town centre approach

• Establish an exemplar ‘green gateway’ based on Queens Park Road and the Queens Park/Roch Valley hub

• A signature tree planting programme for prominent gateway and corridor locations

• Enhance biodiversity value and seasonal colour in all highway verges and amenity landscaping in main road corridors i.e. A58, Queens Park Road, Manchester Road, Green Lane.

• A landscape plan to extend the East Lancashire Railway wildlife corridor and improve seasonal colour and interest for rail users.

An overview of the main Strategic Projects is shown in figure 5.3 overleaf.

A tree lined road functions as a wildlife corridor

1591.027b July 2010 40

1591.027b July 2010 41

Chapter 6: Key Partnerships for Delivery Key Partnerships for Delivery Delivering the plan is not the responsibility of one single organisation. Over the life of the plan actions will be delivered through individuals and how they manage their private space and choose to get involved in improving or using their local environment. Developers and land managers will be involved by how they design and manage land and buildings based on GI need and opportunity. Local businesses and service providers also have a delivery role in how they promote and use Heywood’s environment as an asset for health, well being and sustainable economic growth. Funding streams are likely to change frequently through the life of the action plan in terms of their scope, criteria and availability. Funding opportunities relating to specific actions will be included in the annual work programme, which can be more easily kept up to date. Heywood Township will have a key role in ensuring appropriate political and community support for projects to be delivered so that funding opportunities can be pursued with confidence and opportunities for delivery are maintained and strengthened through the Township Plan and its delivery structures for example those relating to health and well being, physical regeneration and quality of place. In addition to the central role of Heywood Township, there are a number of established delivery partnerships and bodies which will be central to ensuring that funding opportunities for GI projects are maximised and that key GI projects are developed and delivered effectively and with maximum value for Heywood and as appropriate the wider borough and City Region. These include:

• Heywood Sustainable Urban Neighbourhood (SUN) • East Lancashire Railway • Pennine Edge Forest • Red Rose Forest • Community Forests North West

It is important to ensure that Heywood’s GI priorities gain strong support from key agencies and organisations who have a Greater Manchester or regional remit for supporting or investing in GI which supports sustainable low carbon growth and urban renewal, environmental regeneration, nature conservation, health services, environmental services such as climate change adaptation, surface water or flood risk management. These currently include:

• Forestry Commission • Natural England • Environment Agency • North West Strategic Health Authority • Homes and Communities Agency

1591.027b July 2010 42

• Association of Greater Manchester Authorities and Greater Manchester Commissions

At a local scale it is important that GI is central to and embedded in the delivery of sustainable growth, regeneration and quality of life as set out in the Rochdale Borough Renaissance Masterplan, Pride of Place and the Local Development Framework in order that funding and delivery opportunities can be maximised linked to development, area based regeneration, community safety and health and well being strategies and initiatives.

The borough Green Infrastructure Strategy (to be completed in 2011) will provide a framework for each of the four Township Green Infrastructure Action Plans and how they individually and collectively deliver Green Infrastructure priorities for Rochdale borough and the Manchester City Region. The Local Strategic Partnership provides a broad based partnership for helping to achieve cross cutting delivery of GI actions with its Quality of Place thematic partnership providing a strong lead and advocate for GI across the borough. The voluntary sector, such as Oldham and Rochdale Groundwork and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers have an important role to play in ensuring that local communities are given opportunities to help shape and improve their environment. The voluntary sector can also access unique funding opportunities and has particular expertise in working with volunteers and young people who are a major resource for delivering GI actions.

Making Progress?

The Heywood Green Infrastructure Plan will be delivered through a series of large and small actions through the life of the strategy to 2026. The accompanying annual work programme sets out details of actions that are proposed, who will deliver them and by when. It will also include details of outputs, outcomes and key milestones against which progress and performance can be measured and corrective action taken where needed.

‘Quick wins’ will result from often small changes to how green space is managed or by identifying projects within the next one to three years which can be linked to a specific development, regeneration project or funding source. In the medium term i.e. three to five years, projects will be developed in detail and their status or progress reviewed on an annual basis.

Projects which are proposed for more than five years into the future are currently aspirational but all are linked to potential enabling development, regeneration or opportunities which, although currently without a firm timescale, are likely to come forward through the life of the Action Plan. It is important to ensure these proposals are part of the long term vision and planning process so that they can be moved forward more quickly should circumstances allow.

Progress in delivering the action plan will be reviewed annually with Heywood Township and presented to key Township working groups dealing with physical change, health and the environment.

Ongoing consultation will also be carried out for key projects as they move forward to ensure they meet the needs of the community and provide opportunities to get involved in planning, delivering and managing projects wherever possible.

1591.027b July 2010 43

Appendix: Policy Context North West Regional Strategy1 The Regional Spatial Strategy for the North West of England 2008 (RSS) sets out a broad regional spatial planning policy approach, which is further developed by local planning policy. The Plan promotes delivering a better environment and addressing climate change impacts through land and water management, and supports the creation of multi functional networks of green spaces. Policy EM/3 advocates that local plans and strategies should aim to deliver socio-economic and environmental benefits through conserving, managing and creating green infrastructure and enhancing its functions, quality, connectivity and accessibility. The Plan also advocates promoting the physical and mental health benefits of green infrastructure through improved accessibility and usage of open spaces by disadvantaged groups and communities. RSS is complemented by the Regional Economic Strategy (RES), which focuses on economic growth and regeneration in the region. RES supports proposals with a transforming effect on the quality of the environment to strengthen regeneration and help deliver sustainable growth. High quality green infrastructure in locations where such transformational change could occur includes the reclamation of previously developed sites and neglected landscapes adjoining and within areas which are undergoing significant social and economic regeneration and where high quality green infrastructure is a fundamental part of that change. At the time of writing, the new single Regional Strategy (RS2010) is in the early stages of production. A major opportunity for economic growth in the Manchester and Liverpool City Regions, ‘Atlantic Gateway’ is introduced in RS2010 proposals with a vision of creating a low carbon, sustainable economic growth zone of international importance. Green infrastructure is seen as a major asset to help deliver the Atlantic Gateway objectives by providing environmental services to support growth e.g. flood risk management and climate change adaptation assets in addition to providing high quality recreational environments and a positive image that will help to attract and retain skills and investment in neighbourhoods and housing growth. Much of this vision for green infrastructure and attractive destinations i.e. rural landscapes, country parks etc is captured in a supporting document ‘Adapting the Landscape’. Prosperity for All: The Greater Manchester Strategy (2009)2 The Greater Manchester Strategy (GMS) sets out the vision for the Manchester City Region to achieve sustainable economic growth for all ten Greater Manchester districts. It aims to secure the place of Manchester City Region as one of Europe’s premier city regions with a good quality of life, a thriving low carbon economy and a strong commitment to sustainable development. At the 1 North West Regional Plan – Regional Spatial Strategy, (2008), GONW 2 Prosperity for All – The Greater Manchester Strategy, (2009), Manchester’s Commission for the New Economy for AGMA

1591.027b July 2010 44

heart of the this vision and the supporting objectives for its delivery is a commitment to achieving a greater sense of place i.e. a strong and positive image and within this a focus on much improved public realm including improved green infrastructure which creates a high quality environment but which also improves flood risk management and adaptation to climate change impacts. A Greater Manchester Spatial Framework is currently being produced by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) to provide a land use planning basis for sustainable growth and regeneration of the city region. AGMA has carried out work to identify a strategic green infrastructure framework to support housing and economic growth taking on board the need to manage flood risk, create accessible recreational landscapes, adapt to climate change and conserve biodiversity. The Roch and Irwell river valleys are a significant part of this framework helping to provide essential green infrastructure functions both locally and for the city region. Rochdale Borough Renaissance Masterplan (2005)3 The Masterplan sets out a vision for the borough with the key priorities and projects that will help to deliver physical, economic and quality of life changes to transform the borough. The vision is that “Rochdale borough will offer an attractive location in a successful city region with a distinctive lifestyle and identity” The role of the borough’s natural environmental assets is highlighted in helping to create a borough that can grow sustainably and create a real sense of place. The borough will be physically attractive, distinctive and healthy with good accessible countryside, high quality public spaces and parks in and around our neighbourhoods and town centres, effective flood risk management and which is well placed to address the impacts of climate change. The Roch Valley is recognised as a major asset for the borough and the need to improve urban neighbourhoods such as those within Heywood SUN and transport corridors such as the A58 is also recognised as a major opportunity to deliver physical transformation which will achieve this vision.

Rochdale Local Development Framework The Local Development Framework (LDF), due to be published in 2011 will promote, direct and manage physical change in the borough. It is a statutory spatial planning document providing a strategic framework for growth and development in the borough until at least 2026. It also includes borough-wide planning policies to guide decisions on planning applications. The lead document of the LDF is the Core Strategy which sets out the overall direction of growth and development establishing in broad terms where it should go. The core strategy also sets out policies and identifies objectives for how environmental objectives are protected and delivered as part of growth and

3 Rochdale Borough Renaissance Masterplan, (2005), EDAW for Rochdale Local Strategic Partnership in association with GVA Grimley and ARUP

1591.027b July 2010 45

regeneration. Enhancing green infrastructure is one of the strategic objectives of the Core Strategy and the delivery of the core strategy is supported by a series of proposals including those which are specific to individual townships. In Heywood Township this includes a focus on the Roch Valley as a strategic environmental corridor with improved access from the urban area, enhancing the environment of road and rail corridors and gateways to Heywood and the borough and improving the public realm and open spaces as a network of connected routes and spaces for walking, cycling and leisure.

Pride of Place – The Community Strategy for Rochdale Borough4 Pride of Place (PoP) brings together and drives the delivery of the social, economic and environmental priorities for the borough to create “a thriving place where people want to live, work, visit and do business – a place in which we can all take pride” The PoP priorities include a cleaner, greener environment and a focus on well being, health and community safety for which a high quality and accessible environment is essential. There are objectives for good green infrastructure for recreation, tourism, biodiversity, managing flood risk, encouraging sustainable travel such as cycling and walking and climate change adaptation. The Local Strategic Partnership for the borough in delivering the PoP have identified ‘thematic’ partnerships to co-ordinate planning and delivery more effectively and the Quality of Place partnership is providing support for the production and delivery of a borough Green Infrastructure Strategy with an Action Plan for each Township to ensure that strategic and cross-cutting opportunities for delivering and promoting green infrastructure projects are maximised. The borough Green Infrastructure Strategy and GI Action Plans for the Middleton, Pennines and Rochdale Townships will be completed by 2011.

Heywood Township Plan5 The Heywood Township Plan sets out a vision and priorities for Heywood to deliver its physical regeneration and the prosperity and well being of its community. It has a cross cutting approach to delivery recognising that a successful Heywood will be based on understanding its needs and opportunities for positive change, capturing the energy and enthusiasm of all of its residents and making the most of investment in Heywood from developers, health and community services providers, facilities and environmental management and social housing organisations. The Township Plan recognises the opportunities for a cleaner, greener Heywood which is a pleasant place to live and work, more attractive to visitors and which

4 Pride of Place – The Community Strategy for Rochdale Borough 2007-2010, (2007), The Pride Partnership and Rochdale Borough Metropolitan Council 5 Heywood Vision and Strategic Framework, Heywood Township and New Heart for Heywood New Deal for Communities

1591.027b July 2010 46

supports improved health and well being. The plan also recognises Heywood’s connections with Rochdale and Bury through the Roch Valley with a specific objective for improving green infrastructure which will be delivered through a range of actions linked to:

• Improving the Roch Valley and access to it • Enhancing Heywood’s countryside through landscape improvements and

better management, signage and access • Creating sustainable neighbourhoods with high quality parks, play

facilities, green spaces and public realm that meet the needs of all ages and abilities

• Improving transport corridors including the A58 and key gateways into Heywood

• Improving walking and cycling in and around Heywood • Reducing crime and improving community safety • Encouraging physical activity to reduce childhood obesity and improve

general physical and mental health and well being • Providing opportunities for education, training and volunteering

The Heywood Township Green Infrastructure Plan and its accompanying work programme provides details of how GI delivers the economic, social and environmental priorities of the Township plan through cross cutting actions and a range of delivery approaches.

1591.027b July 2010 47

Glossary Biodiversity Biodiversity is the variation and amount of life forms in a given area, or even worldwide. It is often used as a measure of an ecosystem’s health, the more biodiverse the more healthy and resilient the wildlife resource. Biomass Biomass is the term used to describe plant matter or other organic waste that can be used for fuel. This could be in the form of woodfuel, farm waste or even some household waste. Environmental services Environmental services describes the functions that the environment provides, often those which are not obvious or at the forefront of the public perception, such as flood relief, reducing pollution, providing clean water and reducing noise pollution. Green Desert The term ‘green desert’ describes the familiar open grassed areas within housing with which we are all familiar, often of little wildlife interest and of limited service to those communities that it is supposed to provide with useful green space. Green Gateway Used to describe an access point to the wider green/recreational network, gateways are designed to provide a sense of arrival, provide access and clearly identify the value of a space or network. Local Development Framework (LDF) The LDF replaced the Local Plans which guide the future development planning policy of local authorities. The LDF is more flexible, allowing a wider range of planning issues, including conservation and recreation, to be considered in greater detail. It also sets out the Authority’s approach to community consultation in planning matters. Manchester City Region The Manchester City-Region comprises of the 10 Local Authorities of Rochdale, Bury, Bolton, Trafford, Salford, Manchester, Stockport, Oldham, Tameside and Wigan. This grouping does not give political preference or power to Manchester, but is merely a reflection of the shared environmental, social and economic interdependencies and the need to consider a spatial approach in protecting, enhancing the shared assets and working together to maximise the economic growth and prosperity of the City Region authorities.

1591.027b July 2010 48

Further References and Links AGMA (Association of Greater Manchester Authorities) Green Infrastructure Framework www.agma.gov.uk AGMA (2009) Prosperity for All: The Greater Manchester Strategy Bury, Oldham and Rochdale Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Greater Manchester Biodiversity Action Plan (2009) www.gmbp.org.uk Green Infrastructure North West Website www.greeninfrastructurenw.co.uk Heywood SUN (2007) www.heartofheywood.org/heywoodsun.html Heywood Township Plan(2010) www.heartofheywood.org/ Natural Economy North West Prospectus www.naturaleconomynorthwest.co.uk Northwest Regional Development Agency www.nwda.co.uk Pennine Edge Forest Plan www.pennineedgeforest.org.uk Rochdale Borough Community Strategy - Pride of Place www.rochdale.gov.uk/community_and_living/community_advice/community_strategy.aspx Rochdale Borough Local Development Framework – Core Strategy www.rochdale.gov.uk/environment_and_planning/planning/local_development_framework/main_ldf_policy_documents/ldf_-_core_strategy.aspx Rochdale Borough Renaissance Masterplan www.rochdale.gov.uk/environment_and_planning/regeneration/regeneration_projects/renaissance_masterplan.aspx Further Information

1591.027b July 2010 49