Since the adoption of the Essex Green Infrastructure Standards (2022), feedback from Local Planning Authority (LPA) planners has highlighted the need for clearer, more practical guidance on how to implement green and blue infrastructure through local plan preparation, development management and scheme design.

The Essex Green Infrastructure Planning Guidance (2026) builds on the Essex Green Infrastructure Standards by providing guidance on how these standards should be interpreted and applied through the planning system. The Guidance provides step‑by‑step support for planners, developers and decision‑makers across the full planning process, including:

• Local Plan preparation and policy development
• Evidence gathering and strategy preparation
• Masterplanning and early design stages
• Planning application submission and assessment
• Delivery and long‑term stewardship

The Guidance is intended for use by local planning authorities, developers and decision‑makers to help ensure that green and blue infrastructure is planned, designed and delivered in a consistent, coordinated and policy‑compliant way.

It also helps users understand what constitutes good-quality green and blue infrastructure in both policy-making and development proposals, while signposting to relevant tools, evidence and technical guidance.

It should be read alongside the Essex Green Infrastructure Standards and relevant national and local planning policy and is intended to inform the preparation of planning applications, supporting documents and conditions, rather than introduce new requirements.