A KEY FACT - A rich natural environment reduces urban heat island effect in town centres and softens the hard urban character

Essential to any vital town centre is the balance between hard and soft landscape, ensuring a symbiotic relationship between the urban and natural environment. As town centres expand, natural habitats are enveloped by the urban environment, altering the natural ecosystems and bringing the urban environment into direct contact with the natural environment. Key points to consider when evaluating and strategising ‘Natural Environment’ are as follows:

- Natural Hazards

- Nature and Biodiversity

- Street Trees and Planting

- Topography and Views