SANG Explained: What Developers Near the Dorset Heathlands Need to Know

If your site sits within about 5km of the Dorset Heathlands Special Protection Area (and a remarkable amount of developable land in south-east Dorset does), your residential scheme will almost certainly need to contribute to, or deliver, Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace.

Why SANG exists

The heaths hold internationally protected populations of nightjar, Dartford warbler and woodlark, all vulnerable to disturbance from recreation, dogs especially. Rather than block housing outright, the planning framework requires new development to provide attractive alternative greenspace that draws daily walks away from the heath. No functioning SANG, no consent.

What makes a SANG actually work

Natural England's guidance is blunt: a SANG must be somewhere people genuinely choose to go. In practice that means:

• A circular walk of at least 2.3km on paths that work in wet weather
• Parking, access points and clear signage
• A feeling of space and semi-natural character, not a pocket park
• Dogs able to run off-lead safely
• Varied habitat that stays attractive year-round

From plan to greenspace, and 20 years beyond

A SANG exists twice: once in the planning documents, and once in the ground. Heartwood does the second part, clearance and groundworks, path construction, fencing and furniture, native planting and habitat creation, then the long-term management contract that keeps the site compliant: mowing regimes, scrub control, infrastructure maintenance and the annual reporting the management plan demands.

We work alongside your ecologist and landscape architect from pricing through to adoption. Read more about our SANG creation and management service, or ring 01929 480 995, site walkovers and tender pricing are free.