New Woodland Strategies in South Scotland Update

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1 New Woodland Strategies in South Scotland Update John Dougan

2 Current Approach to Spatial Guidance Based on factual datasets Effective at a strategic scale, particularly in respect to environmental constraints Positively orientated This approach still valid However: Concerns that it doesn t reflect effectively land use change and other aspects of LUS Not Dynamic in its nature

3 New Approach - Sub Regional Stick with existing spatial guidance based on factual datasets and constraints already illustrated First sift asks could you Adds a second, sub regional qualitative assessment Second sift asks should you

4 New Approach - Sub Regional Allows impacts and outcomes to be better assessed Dynamic in its approach, allows changes in policy and things like cumulative impact to be better reflected as required going forward Still based on quantifiable or at minimum assessable elements, but not constrained to just spatial datasets Better placed to consider alternative or competing options for the same land area

5 New Strategies - Overview Ayrshire

6 New Strategies - Overview Woodland Creation - Identifies 5 Woodland types Softwood Forests Woodlands for Energy Mixed Woodlands Native Woodlands Woodlands for strategic development and regeneration

7 Overall Potential For Expansion

8 Softwood Forests

9 Native Woodlands

10 Mixed Woodland

11 New Approach - Sub Regional

12 New Approach - Sub Regional Example Lowland Basin Potential for expansion Almost 46% of the zone is identified as having some capacity for woodland expansion (19,123ha preferred ; 40,572ha potential ). Within this area, there is significant flexibility to accommodate a range of woodland types, contributing to a wide range of objectives and delivering a suite of social, environmental and economic objectives. Woodland expansion in this zone could therefore comprise: New mixed woodlands, including farm woodlands, shelterbelts and expansion / restoration of policy woodlands; Significant native woodland expansion in riparian corridors to improve connectivity with key habitat resources, and to provide the focus for wider development of woodland habitat networks; Energy woodlands, such as short-rotation forestry or coppice, on vacant, derelict or under-used land, where this does not conflict with wider objectives; New softwood and mixed woodlands in transitional landscapes between lowlands and more sensitive uplands; Opportunities for greening urban fringe locations, particularly where there are concentrations of vacant and derelict land, helping to build the green network and create resources for recreation close to communities.

13 Ayrshire - Timeline Been through public Consultation, final amendments now being made, should be completed by end of April 2013 Then will need to be adopted by the three Local Authorities, initially as non statutory supplementary guidance In the future when timeline synchronises with LDP likely to be adopted as statutory supplementary guidance.

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15 New Strategies - Overview Dumfries and Galloway

16 New Strategies - Overview Woodland Creation - Identifies 5 Woodland types Softwood Forests Woodlands for Energy Mixed Woodlands Native Woodlands Hedgerow trees and Shelterbelts

17 Dumfries and Galloway Draft Maps

18 Dumfries and Galloway Draft Maps

19 Dumfries and Galloway Draft Maps

20 Dumfries and Galloway Draft Maps

21 Dumfries and Galloway - Timeline Final draft in preparation prior to Public Consultation Public Consultation likely to be Summer 2013 Then will need to be adopted by the Local Authority, initially as non statutory supplementary guidance In the future when timeline synchronises with LDP likely to be adopted as statutory supplementary guidance.

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