The Department for Communities and Local Government takes a broad definition of green infrastructure and through the Growth Area Fund supports improvements to parks and open spaces, improved access between the urban and rural fringe, and habitat creation and protection projects.
The Government believe that communities are more successful and enjoy a better and healthier quality of life if they have easy access to an attractive, well designed and managed green environment which is rich in bio-diversity.
The Department for Communities and Local Government is investing £38 million to support the delivery of green infrastructure projects, meeting our 10 per cent. funding commitment set out in the Government’s response to the Barker Report. Examples include the Forest of Marston Vale; the Nene Valley Regional Park; Green Park South, Peterborough; the Wicken Fen Vision; Singleton Environment Centre, Ashford; and Bedford River Valley Park.
In 2004, the Government published Greening the Gateway, a greenspace strategy for the Thames Gateway, which set a strategic context for the delivery of regional and local environmental initiatives. The Department for Communities and Local Government has invested over £26 million in green infrastructure projects in the Thames Gateway, and has supported the development of ‘Green Grids’ in Kent Thameside, East London and South Essex as examples of best practice in providing an accessible interlinking chain of local green space that encourages travel without cars.