The Lead Member for Planning introduced the  report regarding Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace capacity and Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) delivery to support the Borough Local Plan.

Cabinet were informed that the council is proactively progressing options to ensure that additional SANG comes forward through to 2033 to assist in mitigating the impact of new residential development. 

The Principal Member for Ascot Regeneration informed that he was the council’s representative on the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area that was represented by 11 councils.  He explained the importance of having SANG’s in place and how he was working with charitable bodies in the borough for the provision of a suitable site.

Resolved unanimously: That Cabinet notes the report and:

i)          Gives authority to the Executive Director, Place to pursue negotiations on behalf of the council with landowners, to enter into lease agreements or other legal agreements with landowners and to make a planning application for the purposes of providing SANG to meet BLP requirements to 2033.

ii)         Gives authority to the Head of Planning not to provide capacity in the council’s Strategic Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspaces (SANGs) for large prior approval schemes or other unplanned large applications located beyond the defined settlements Ascot, Sunninghill and Sunningdale or on allocated sites where the proposals are in excess of the BLPSV allocation by more than 9 additional units which are considered to undermine the Council’s Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy.

iii)        Gives authority to the Executive Director, Place to pursue negotiations on behalf of the council with any other council which may have surplus SANG capacity and to authorise the Executive Director to enter into any necessary legal or lease agreement with that council for the purposes of securing SANG capacity to support the BLPSV.