Green Infrastructure (GI) and Biodiversity: Guidance for Householders

What is this guidance for?

This guidance is for householders in Powys submitting planning applications for:

• Extensions
• Outbuildings
• Single dwellings
• Landscaping works
• Swimming pools
• Agricultural prior approvals
• Small-scale changes of use with external impacts

What is Green Infrastructure?

Green Infrastructure (GI) is the network of natural and semi-natural features that connect places and support biodiversity. It includes:

• Large-scale features like rivers, wetlands, and woodlands
• Local features like parks, gardens, hedgerows, ponds, and public rights of way
• Small-scale elements like street trees, green roofs, wildflower areas, and living walls

Why is a Green Infrastructure Statement (GI Statement) needed?

Under Planning Policy Wales (Edition 12), all planning applications must include a Green Infrastructure Statement. This should:

• Be proportionate to the scale of the development
• Identify existing GI and biodiversity features on or near the site
• Explain how the development will protect, enhance, or restore these features

What is a GI Assessment?

A GI Assessment identifies the green and biodiversity assets on or around your property. These might include:

• Trees, hedgerows, shrubs
• Wildflower areas, grassland, ponds
• Orchards, woodland, or scrub

The assessment helps you understand how your development might affect these features and how to design your project to protect or enhance them.

The Stepwise Approach

When preparing your GI Statement, follow this six-step approach:

1. Avoid
   Design your project to avoid harming valuable habitats or features (e.g. rerouting access, protecting tree roots, avoiding ponds or bat roosts).
2. Minimise
   If harm can't be avoided, reduce the impact by retaining features, maintaining habitat connectivity, and planning for aftercare.
3. Mitigate / Restore
   Repair any damage by planting trees, hedges, or wildflowers, and adding features like bird/bat boxes, green roofs, or rain gardens.
4. On-site Compensation
   If impacts remain, provide additional habitat or GI features on-site, with plans for their long-term care.
5. Off-site Compensation
   As a last resort, provide equivalent GI enhancements off-site, with appropriate management plans.
6. Refusal
   If the development causes significant harm to biodiversity or GI that cannot be addressed, planning permission may be refused.

What to Include in Your GI Statement

Your statement should briefly describe:

• The existing GI and biodiversity features on or near your site
• How your development might affect them
• The steps you'll take to avoid, minimise, or mitigate harm
• Any enhancements you'll include to support biodiversity

This doesn't need to be complex—just clear and thoughtful.