Policy BG/GI: Green infrastructure

Consultation is open from 3 August 2026 9:00am to 25 September 2026 5:00pm

1. All development proposals must demonstrate how they protect and enhance green infrastructure appropriate to the development’s scale and location.

2. Planning applications for major development must submit a Green Infrastructure Plan, and at the outline planning stage must also provide a Green Infrastructure (GI) Statement, that demonstrates how green infrastructure has been integrated into the design approach at an early stage, to ensure that on-site green infrastructure is:

Multifunctional – individual features in combination contribute to a network of multiple benefits;
Connected – provides or enhances connectivity in the landscape for the benefit of nature and people;
Sympathetically placed – reflects and/or creates a sense of place, considerate to the context and character of the local environment and priorities of its people and wildlife;
Resilient – responds to the climate emergency in a positive, contributory way, reducing flood risk where possible;
Responsibly managed – has a sustainable mechanism to support its life-long function and benefits; and
Environmentally sensitive – mitigates its own local impact and improves the quality of the immediate natural environment.

3. Development of 100 dwellings or more or 5,000 square metres or more of gross internal floorspace (GIA) will be encouraged to seek accreditation under the Building with Nature Standards.

4. The following strategic green infrastructure initiatives are identified priorities for enhancing strategic green infrastructure across Greater Cambridge.

1.  Revitalising the chalk stream network
2.  River Cam Corridor
2a. River Cam Corridor (North East Cambridge to Waterbeach) 2b. River Cam Corridor (through Cambridge City)
2c. River Cam Corridor (south of Cambridge City)
3.  Gog Magog Hills and chalkland fringe
4.  Enhancement of the eastern fens
5.  The Great Ouse fenland arc
6.  North Cambridge green space
7.  West Cambridge Green Infrastructure buffer – Coton Corridor
8.  Western gateway multifunctional Green Infrastructure corridor
9.  Pollinator corridors

Dispersed initiatives

10.  Expanding Greater Cambridgeshire’s 'urban forest'
11.  Woodland expansion and resilience
12.  Urban greening and 'de-paving'
13.  Allotments and community gardening
14.  Environmentally friendly farming

5. Major development located within an area identified for one of the strategic green infrastructure initiatives must demonstrate how the design of on-site green infrastructure has had regard to the relevant initiative’s objectives.

6. A GI Operation and Maintenance Plan must be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority, before any development is occupied. The approved plan shall thereafter be implemented for the lifetime of the development.

Supporting information

5.37. The term green infrastructure encompasses a wide range of multi-functional green and blue spaces and other natural features, urban and rural, which can deliver a wide range of environmental, economic, health and wellbeing beneﬁts. Green infrastructure includes, but is not limited to, sustainable drainage systems, green and blue roofs, green walls, rain gardens, swales, features for species, trees in hard landscapes, street furniture and utility structures, traffic-free routes, allotments, orchards, private domestic gardens, more natural spaces (including woodlands, grassland, scrub and hedgerows), heritage features and the historic environment, and blue spaces (including wetlands).

5.38. The Greater Cambridge Green Infrastructure Strategy 2026 sets out the Councils vision for and approach to delivering green infrastructure. A key element of delivering the Strategy is through the suite of green infrastructure standards applied through the policies in this Local Plan to ensure the quantity, accessibility and quality of green infrastructure provided through development. The green infrastructure standards have been adapted from Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework (NEGIF) to respond to Greater Cambridge’s unique context.

5.39. All development is expected to protect and enhance green infrastructure. On-site green infrastructure should function and connect as a living network for people and nature, enabling the movement of people and wildlife. All development is expected to protect and enhance green infrastructure whilst protecting and enhancing existing natural features. Planning applications for major development will be expected to submit a GI statement at outline planning stage and, at the detailed planning stage a Green Infrastructure Plan; this can be submitted as a standalone
document or as part of a design and access statement.

5.40. Green Infrastructure Statements should summarise how GI and open space provision has been considered as part of the outline planning stage. GI Plans should be evidence-based and demonstrate how the development meets the relevant GI standards at the detailed planning stage.

5.41. Green Infrastructure Plans should:

Set out a clear vision for GI on the site, including dedicated spatial mapping showing how proposed features integrated within the wider GI network (with reference to the Greater Cambridge GI Opportunity Mapping Recommendations Report (2021)).
Clearly describe the multi-functional benefits delivered by the proposed scheme, with reference to the Natural England GI Framework and Greater Cambridge Green Infrastructure and Open Space Standards Framework April 2026.
Outline arrangements for delivery, long term stewardship and monitoring, ensuring that GI of all types is managed, valued and evaluated over time.

5.42. GI Plans should:

Set out a clear vision for GI on the site, including dedicated spatial mapping showing how proposed features integrated within the wider GI network (with reference to the Greater Cambridge Green Infrastructure Opportunity Mapping Recommendations Report (2021)).
Clearly describe the multi-functional benefits delivered by the proposed scheme, with reference to the Natural England GI Framework. Green Infrastructure and Open Space Standards Framework April 2026.
Outline arrangements for delivery, long term stewardship and monitoring, ensuring that GI of all types is managed, valued and evaluated over time.

5.43. An operation and maintenance plan must also be included which satisfactorily demonstrates that the GI interventions will be successfully retained throughout the life of the development.

5.44. Requiring a GI Statement or GI Plan to be submitted with every application for major development helps to ensure that GI is integrated into development from the outset and ensures its long-term management and maintenance. Guidance within the Greater Cambridge Green Infrastructure and Open Spaces Standards Framework Final Report (June 2026) (see Chapter 4) outlines the various requirements needed for GI Statements / GI Plans at various stages of the planning application process.

5.45. The list of GI principles set out in the policy (Point 2) reflect the Building with Nature Core principles which align but go further than the Natural England Green Infrastructure standards. These principals require schemes to deliver a multifunctional and connected network of Green Infrastructure features, responsive to local character and needs, minimising adverse environmental impacts, with provision for long-term management and maintenance. For strategic-scale developments, achieving external accreditation via full Building with Nature accreditation will demonstrate excellence in integrating green infrastructure into its design.

5.46. The fourteen area-speciﬁc and dispersed long term priority enhancements to Greater Cambridge’s green infrastructure network – described as strategic green infrastructure initiatives identified in the policy - form the Councils spatial vision for green infrastructure in Greater Cambridge. The initiatives were identified in our Green Infrastructure Opportunity Mapping Recommendations Report (2021), drawing on extensive engagement with partners and local groups.

Tell us what you think

For further guidance on how to submit comments, please see the Representation Guidance Note.

All comments must be received by 25 September 2026 at 5pm.