Green infrastructure strategy

The borough covers an area of about 245 square miles, the vast majority of which is countryside comprising a range of landscapes including downland, heath, woodland and the rivers Test and Loddon. The western third of the borough is within the nationally recognised North Wessex Downs National Landscape.

That network of natural areas and other green spaces is known as green infrastructure and it is vital to the health and quality of life of people in local communities as it provides benefits including attractive environments for outdoor recreation and exercise. It also creates a sense of place, biodiversity enhancements and offers other environmental benefits, including natural drainage to reduce flooding and helping us adapt to climate change.

The borough has a very good range of green infrastructure assets, including:

• Green Flag awarded parks in the heart of Basingstoke
• the Forestry Commission’s Basing Wood to the north of Popley
• some of the country’s most precious wildlife habitats
• many public rights of way
• accessible open countryside areas.

The types of green infrastructure and their benefits are not evenly distributed and the maximum benefits are not always realised. Our Green Infrastructure Strategy for Basingstoke and Deane 2018 to 2029 sets out a framework to address this. The strategy and its appendices can be viewed below.

Green Infrastructure Strategy 2018-29(PDF) [11 Mb]

Green Infrastructure Strategy Appendices A-E and G(PDF) [2 Mb]

Green Infrastructure Strategy Appendix F (part 1)(PDF) [5 Mb]

Green Infrastructure Strategy Appendix F (part 2)(PDF) [13 Mb]

Green Infrastructure Strategy Appendix F (part 3)(PDF) [13 Mb]