The rationale for the GI project was that adopting a strategic and proactive approach to conserving and improving the natural environment and people’s use of it, along with transport and the built infrastructure, would be critical if opportunities are not to be missed in the West of England.

This strategic GI approach reflects the best practice adopted in other growth areas such as the Thames Gateway, Milton Keynes and that advocated by other City Regions such as Manchester and Liverpool.

Areas proposed for substantial change in the West of England provide significant opportunities for securing GI in association with new development.  It is therefore important that a mechanism is available to planners, developers and the wider public to provide objective information and guidance as to the existing level of GI provision in the West of England and guidance to ensure that:

• Where new development in the Sub Region is proposed there is at the very least no net loss in environmental quality in relation to agreed local standards either through: 
  • The provision of quality GI space within the development site; or
  • The provision of suitable compensatory measures to create quality GI space off-site to mitigate any loss to be caused by the development.
• The overall quality of the West of England environment is being conserved and enhanced, rather than being eroded or lost.

It was therefore recommended that a GI Tool made available to a wide range of users via the Internet would be an appropriate way of delivering such a mechanism. 

This also provides the opportunity for the West of England, with a strong reputation for environmental quality and sustainability, to positively contribute to national best practice.

The stages of the project have are described in the following sections of the website:

• Phase 1
• Phase 2