2.6 Environment

2.6.1 North Norfolk is an attractive rural and coastal area which supports a thriving tourism industry and provides a valuable leisure and recreation resource for residents. Core Strategy policies aim to protect and enhance the character of the countryside, landscape and the built environment and the rich biodiversity and geological assets. Particular features that contribute to the unique quality of North Norfolk include the Norfolk Coast AONB, The Broads, Conservation Areas and a large number of Listed Buildings, and many international and national wildlife designations such as the North Norfolk Coast Special Protection Area (SPA). Natural environmental designations are shown on the Proposals Map and detailed in the 'Schedule of Natural Environmental Designations' available to view on the Council's LDF website.

2.6.2 Regional policy requires that local authorities seek to provide networks of accessible greenspace linking urban areas to the countryside and to set targets for the provision of green space in new development. Therefore Core Strategy policies:

• protect existing open space and areas designated for environmental purposes;
• require that new development includes open space to meet locally defined targets (see Appendix A: ‘Open Space Standards’)
• requires that development makes links to the surrounding countryside; and
• seeks to create an ecological network

2.6.3 The countryside that surrounds North Norfolk's settlements is attractive and will be protected for its own sake.  It also supports a healthy agricultural economy and Government policy ⁹ states that the presence of best and most versatile agricultural land should be taken into account alongside other sustainability considerations when determining planning applications.

2.6.4 A Landscape Character Assessment ¹⁰ has been prepared which identifies and describes distinctive landscape character areas in North Norfolk and incorporates biodiversity and historic landscape features. This will be used to implement Policy EN 2 ‘ Protection and Enhancement of Landscape and Settlement Character ’.

2.6.5 The built environment and public realm has an impact on everyday life and will be protected and enhanced. Public realm comprises spaces such as churchyards, market squares, roads and pavements, beaches, promenades and piers and high quality design and effective management will be encouraged in these areas.

2.6.6 As well as protecting the local environment, new development must also seek to limit the impact on the global environment by minimising resource use, increasing energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. The Spatial Strategy locates development in settlements that provide a range of services and facilities, therefore reducing the need to travel (and therefore carbon emissions). Other Core Strategy policies seek to increase the energy efficiency of buildings and increase production of renewable energy.

2.6.7 There is also a need to ensure that wildlife and habitats can adapt to future climate changes. Many habitats in North Norfolk which used to be widespread, are now fragmented and isolated. This has significant consequences for the long term protection and adaptability of biodiversity and the ability of wildlife and habitats to respond to climate change and there is therefore a need to expand and re-connect existing areas and restore habitats. The Norfolk Wildlife Trust and Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership have prepared Ecological Network maps which identify core areas for biodiversity where protection, enhancement and expansion of the existing resource will be a priority. These include increasing woodland, heathland and wood pasture in the Cromer ridge area and management of the Broads margins to develop semi-natural habitats including heathland. The North Norfolk Ecological Networks map and associated report is contained in Appendix B: ‘North Norfolk Ecological Network’.

2.6.8 Much of the coastal area, particularly in the east of the District, is at risk from coastal erosion and flooding and there is a need to prevent inappropriate development in areas at risk. This risk is likely to increase in the future due to climate change induced sea level rise. A restrictive approach is therefore applied to new development in areas at risk and the relocation of development that is at risk from erosion will be enabled through exceptions to general policy. Appropriate surface water drainage arrangements, such as Sustainable Drainage Systems, will be required to help control surface water flooding. The Council will (either on its own or in partnership) prepare plans, strategies and other measures as appropriate to ensure that the areas affected by the changing coastline are able to adapt without detriment to the overall sustainability of the coast or the wellbeing of coastal communities. These will address;

• the long-term spatial vision for the coastal area;
• the means by which local communities can adapt to the effects of the changing coastline;
• the means of sustaining the local economy;
• the means by which the local environment can adapt to the changing characteristics of the coast;
• infrastructure;
• tourist accommodation and facilities;
• archaeology and historic environmental assets; and
• issues relating to public access to the coast.