'Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace' (SANG) is the name given to green space that is of a quality and type suitable to be used as mitigation within the Thames Basin Heaths SPA planning zone. 

Its role is to provide alternative green space to divert visitors from visiting the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA). SANG is intended to provide mitigation for the potential impact of residential development on the SPA by preventing an increase in visitor pressure on the SPA. The effectiveness of SANG as mitigation will depend upon the location and design. These must be such that the SANG is more attractive than the SPA to users of the kind that currently visit the SPA.

SANG may be created from:

  • existing open space of SANG quality with no existing public access or limited public access, which for the purposes of mitigation could be made fully accessible to the public
  • existing open space which is already accessible but which could be changed in character so that it is more attractive to the specific group of visitors who might otherwise visit the SPA
  • land in other uses which could be converted into SANG e.g. agricultural land

The identification of SANG should seek to avoid sites of high nature conservation value which are likely to be damaged by increased visitor numbers. Such damage may arise, for example, from increased disturbance, erosion, input of nutrients from dog faeces, and increased incidence of fires. Where sites of high nature conservation value are considered as SANG, the impact on their nature conservation value should be assessed and considered alongside relevant policy in a local authority development plan.

The 'mitigation' strategies are required to conform to the regulations issued by Natural England; no development within 400 metres of the SPA boundary; any significant residential development beyond 400 metres and up to 5 kilometres of the SPA boundary must provide new areas of green land [SANGs] to act to attract new residents outdoor leisure activities (walking, off-road cycling, dog walking etc) away from the TBHSPA. SANGs are required to include car parking to encourage use and access and contain a circular walk of some kilometres.

There is a calculation used in planning practice regarding mitigation based on 8ha of SANG per 1000 people in new development.  In practice, this can be converted into a 'rule of thumb' 52 dwellings per hectare of SANG. For example, if an area of 25 hectares of agricultural land is proposed as SANG, this will offset the building of 1,300 new dwelling within the 400m-5Km zone of TBHSPA; alternately a proposed development of 400 dwellings within the 400m-5Km zone of TBHSPA attracts a mitigation requirement of approximately 8 hectares of SANG.

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