Issues and Options for the Ipswich Local Plan Review

The presence of swifts using integrated nest-bricks within the tall buildings around the waterfront, will undoubtedly enhance the vibrancy of the area. Swifts are the fastest bird in direct flight and apart from when they land to nest, spend their entire life in the air (eating, sleeping and mating). Their presence in communities is a true sign of summer and their high speed "screaming" parties around roof-tops provide an incredible, natural exhilarating display. They are the epitomy of & quot;vibrant".
They are in the UK for only three months of the year and are almost completely reliant on us providing places for them to nest in appropriate buildings. Since the 1990's the UK has lost over half its population of swifts. Urgent action is required to save them.
The RSPB in conjunction with Barretts has worked with Manthorpe building products and Action for Swifts to design and produce a low-cost integrated swift-brick (c.£20)

The RSPB commends IBC for having a specific policy on street trees. This policy should look to enhance the existing network and not just consider their protection.
Trees in urban areas provide significant benefits
1. Filtering pollutants and providing clean air,
2. acting to reduce surface water flooding,
3. improve health and wellbeing through visual impacts (e.g. autumn colours, spring blossom)
4. supporting wildlife and connecting the Ipswich Wildlife Network,
5. improvement of the perceptions of an urban area as aesthetically pleasing
6. the amelioration of high summer temperatures caused by the urban heat island effect and climate change.
We reference the following report - Forest Research (2010). Benefits of green infrastructure. Report to Defra and CLG. Forest Research, Farnham.

On a wider scale, extending the network across the IHMA through co-operation with neighbouring planning authorities is the first step.
Integrating SuDS in to new developments (see earlier representations on Q74/75) and retrospectively will enhance the network whilst at the same time offer wider socio-economic benefits as previously stated.
Working in effective partnership across agencies is critical to effective delivery.

Whilst it may not be practical or possible to provide on-site open space for small developments, the integration of SuDS, green walls or biodiverse roofs are still possible and as well as adding to Green Infrastructure network can provide wider benefits too.
The energy saving potential for green walls is quite significant. In the right situations this can be up to 30% over winter in the right situations due to foliage insulation and a reduction in wind chill to building envelope). For public buildings there are the benefits of summer cooling which can reduce air conditioning requirements.

Enhancing any existing routes around the fringe of Ipswich which are not going to impact upon the network of designated sites would be a logical progression for forming the core of the green rim.
It will be important that cyclists and walkers are accommodated by separate paths to ensure that conflict does not arise between the two user groups.
The width of the green rim should not be fixed, as it needs to take in to account existing habitat features and sensitives. Evidence for landscape-scale conservation clearly sets out that the wider and more connected the better.

The RSPB welcomes the Council's intentions for providing greenspace as part of the Ipswich Garden Suburb. However, the Council should ensure that it meets Natural England's Access to Natural Greenspace Standard.

Yes.
The Council should conduct a review of any significant areas of greenspace, i.e. the Parks network and designate any of these as Local Nature Reserves to ensure their statutory protection for not only the life of this plan, but for generations to come.