Add green infrastructure as a nationally significant project to the Planning Act

Green infrastructure is a planned network of natural and semi-natural spaces with other environmental features designed to deliver a range of ecosystem services. The Government should do this to promote importance of the UK environment and conservation in its national planning. At present, the legislation is centred around mitigation, when there should be a greater promotion of new green infrastructure. It should be up to the planning authority to determine whether there is a 'Case for the Scheme' in the interest to the public. Currently there is no mechanism for green infrastructure schemes to come forward and be assessed.