SECTION 3.0 - Durham County Council

through the delivery of the following environmental,
social and
economic objectives: k) to promote the concept of green
infrastructure, a network of linked, multifunctional green space in and
around the region’s towns and cities” (GONE, 2007)
- Policy 33: Biodiversity and Geodiversity – “Strategies, plans and
programmes, and planning proposals should ensure that the
Region’s ecological and geological resources are protected and
enhanced to return biodiversity resources to viable levels by:
- Continuing to promote the protection and enhancement of
internationally and nationally important sites and species, d)
providing for the expansion and linking of existing habitats and
species populations
including the creation of semi-natural green
spaces in and around urban areas and for habitat restoration, e)
contributing to improving the Region’s SSSI’s
to a favourable
condition by 2010” (GONE, 2007)
- Policy 36: Trees, Woodlands and Forests – “Strategies, plans and
programmes, and planning proposals should: a) in line with the North
East Regional Forest Strategy, seek to maximise the social,
economic and environmental opportunities that trees, woodlands and
forests present,
particularly in regeneration areas and on derelict,
damaged and underused sites, e) seek to maximise the tourism
development opportunities presented by woodlands
and forests,
particularly in rural areas; and identify and ensure strong
protection of
areas of ancient woodland” (GONE, 2007).
• Th e North East Regional Economic Strategy
Lau nched in July 2006 by a consortium of business, community and governmental
bodie s to set out how North East England can compete in the
global economy,
wh ilst delivering improvements in quality of life. According
to the Strategy, “well
planned investment in environmental improvement
in urban and rural communities
can
boost commercial attractiveness and generate significant private sector
investment”. Overarching objectives to “target investment in quality of place,
creating healthy, safe, sustainable communities to help retain businesses and
skilled people within the region” and to “promote, enhance and protect our natural
heritage and cultural assets to maximise their potential to underpin rising levels of
productivity and participation”.
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