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Key information related to the Environment is summarised in a series of topic papers prepared to support the Bury Local Plan.

Landscape capacity study

In 2010, Bury Council joined together with Rossendale, Rochdale, Burnley, Calderdale and Kirklees Councils' to commission an assessment of landscape capacity for wind energy developments throughout the South Pennines.

The purpose of the study was to identify the landscapes in the area that could be sensitive to wind turbines as well as identifying the capacity of the area to accommodate wind energy developments in the future.

Brownfield land statement

In line with national planning policy, we seek to focus development on previously-developed, or 'brownfield' land, in order to make the best use of resources and minimise loss of greenfield sites, particularly in meeting requirements for housing provision. However, brownfield sites are often difficult to develop and Bury in particular has a large quantity of vacant and derelict land with contamination issues, owing to the borough's industrial past.

The Bury Brownfield Land Statement seeks to address the obstacles to the development of brownfield sites and help to bring vacant and underused brownfield land back into beneficial use. It sets out the history of the brownfield land stock in the borough, identifies the key sources of brownfield land and discusses the reasons around its formation. It also presents the issues in removing constraints to development, before outlining the strategies and programmes in place aimed at re-using brownfield land to its full potential.

Green infrastructure

The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) commissioned TEP to carry out a study examining the role of Green Infrastructure (GI) in supporting economic growth of the region, delivering new housing, climate change adaptation and the creation of sustainable communities.

Following on from this, we (in conjunction with Natural England and our AGMA partners) commissioned TEP to provide advice on developing an approach to Green Infrastructure (GI) planning that was locally focused but clearly placed Bury within the wider Greater Manchester context.

Landscape

Landscape character assessment

In order to understand the landscape character of the borough, a Landscape Character Assessment has been carried out. This involved identifying the features or combinations of elements that make one landscape unique from another.

Bury urban historic landscape characterisation interim report

This study was carried out by Greater Manchester Archaeological Unit, and completed in October 2008. It identifies landscape character types and historic character areas within Bury and provides an assessment of the relationship between present character, past historical character and its context.

Greater Manchester ecological framework

This study has been undertaken by the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit together with the Urban Nature Research Team from the University of Salford and the University of Manchester.

Its purpose is to establish an ecological framework for the whole of Greater Manchester, including all urban areas as well as open land / countryside. It seeks to address the decline of species diversity in the wider environment over and above 'protected sites'. In doing so it aims also to maintain and improve 'day-to-day' contact with the natural environment where people live and improve people's quality of life.

Flood risk

Details of research and information related to flood risk are available on flood and water management area.