BLABY DISTRICT
GREEN SPACE
STRATEGY 2012
Introduction
Purpose of the Strategy
Scope
p.3
Vision for our Green Space
How will we deliver this?
p.4
Current Green Space Provision
p.5
Consultation Key Findings
p.5
Green Space Standards & Practice
Summary of Green Space
Standards
Assessing Green Space
Adoption, Ownership
and Management
Disposal or Leasing
of Sites
Developer Contributions
Safeguarding Green Space
Partnership Working
p.6-7
Blaby District Council Strategic Sites
p.8
Delivering the Strategy
Action Plan
Evaluation & Review
p.8
2
Blaby District Council has risen to the challenge of preparing a strategy for its green
spaces in the light of the current financial situation to make the greatest use of the
resources and meet the needs of local residents. The Green Space Strategy is one of
a number of plans reflecting the Community Plan and will inform the development
of the Council’s Local Development Framework. The Strategy will inform planning
policy and enable the Council to protect and enhance Green Spaces. The strategy
should become the reference point for all the Council’s decisions in relation to the
design, development, management, maintenance and funding of green spaces.
Purpose of the Strategy:
Provide a shared vision for the future and ensure the linkages are evident
Provide a framework for parish / town councils and community groups
Help to identify improvements required and to set priorities
Help make the case for funding opportunities and planning obligations
Be responsive to the changing financial, planning and policy environment
Understand and manage public expectations in relation to green space issues
Improve access and usage
Scope
The scope of this strategy will include the following classifications of green space:
Green Space Classification
Description
Parks and Recreation Grounds
Recreation grounds, parks, and formal gardens often with a wide range
of uses
Outdoor Sports Space
Fixed sports spaces that are accessible to the public (sports pitches, tennis
courts etc)
Children’s and Young People’s Space
Equipped space (play areas) and provision for teenagers (multi-use games
areas)
Informal Open Space
Spaces open and free to use but neither laid out or managed for a specific
function
Natural Green Space
Natural Green Space open to the public (meadows, river floodplain & woodland)
Allotments
Areas for people to grow their own produce and plants
Churchyards and Cemeteries
Churchyards & cemeteries which can provide a tranquil haven for people
and wildlife
Green Corridors
Green links from urban areas to the countryside and other settlements
Green Wedges
Strategic green space to prevent settlements merging and to guide development
Public Rights of Way
Public rights of way can include bridleways, paths and cycle routes
Civic Spaces
This includes Market Squares, often in busy shopping areas
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
Sites designated as being ecologically or geologically important
3
The Strategic vision for Blaby’s green spaces was developed by the Council’s Green
Infrastructure Forum with key stakeholders and has the support of Elected Members.
The strategic vision for Blaby’s green space strategy is shown below:
“ To provide green spaces that make a positive contribution to the quality and
diversity of the local environment and to the health and well-being of our residents.
Our green spaces can be used, valued and enjoyed by everyone.”
How will we deliver this?
Promote our green spaces to increase usage
and encourage the use of green spaces as part
of a healthy lifestyle
Listen to the views of local residents about what
they want in relation to green space
Provide events and activities on our green spaces
Reduce deficiencies in green space across the
district through the planning system
Prioritise our green space sites and identify sites
of strategic importance
Prioritise investment and improvements at our
green space sites
Work in partnership with Parish / Town Councils
and other relevant organisations to ensure a coordinated approach to green space issues.
Monitor this strategy and review it annually.
Encourage voluntary & community groups to
participate in the management & development of
green spaces.
Manage & maintain green space sites to provide
quality local facilities.
Recognise the changing climate and manage sites
accordingly.
4
The charts below provide an overview of the supply and deficiencies of green space
throughout the District:
Category
Current level of provision
(Hectares/1000 population)
National standard
(Hectares/1000 population)
0.16
0.05
0.19
1.31
2.24
1.52
0.41
0.3
0.3
0
0.5
1
1
0.8
Allotments
Children and young people
Churchyards and cemetaries
Informal open space
Natural green space
Outdoor sport
Parks and recreation grounds
2.5
Current level of provision (hectares/1000 population)
2.0
National standard (hectares/1000 population)
1.5
1.0
0.5
0
Allotments
Children and
young people
Churchyards
and cemetaries
Informal
open space
Natural
green space
Outdoor
sport
Parks and
recreation grounds
A range of consultation has taken place with residents in relation to green space,
including a Community & Young Persons survey, a Public Satisfaction with Parks
& Open Spaces report and the Blaby Residents survey. Common themes can be
drawn from these different consultations, these are shown below:
Increasing the amount of provision for teenagers
Increasing the amount of park furniture (benches, bins & lighting)
Reducing the amount of dog fouling
Satisfaction levels with open spaces remains high
Only a small proportion of local residents want to
volunteer at a local open
space.
5
The following information highlights key standards and practice which will be
undertaken by the District Council when managing green space:
Summary of Green Space National Standards
This table below summaries the proposed quantity and access standards for green
space across the District.
Typology
Quantity Standard
Access Standard
Parks and Recreation Grounds
Outdoor Sports Space
Children & Young People’s Space
0.8 ha/1000
1.0 ha/1000
0.30 ha/1000
Informal Open Space
Natural Greenspace
Allotments
0.5 ha/1000
1.0 ha/1000
0.3 ha/1000
800 metres (15 mins straight line walk time)
480 metres (10 mins straight line walk time)
Junior Provision – 450m (just under 10 mins straight line walk time)
Youth Provision – 800 m (15 mins straightline walk time)
480 metres (10 mins straight line walk time)
960 metres (20 mins straight line walk time)
480m (10 mins straight line walk time)
A comparison with existing provision establishes the following key themes:
Protect and enhance existing sites
Increase play areas and facilities for
young people
Increase and improve rural provision
Develop multi-functional sites
Improve access and quality of sites
Increase allotment provision
Utilise existing natural green space
Assessing Green Space
Existing green space and new green space submitted through the planning process
will be assessed against a strategic criteria to determine its strategic value. The
Council’s criteria for assessing green space is based on the following elements:
Usage
Facilities
Size
Biodiversity & wildlife
Linkages to strategic green
infrastructure / wedges or corridors
Other considerations
(historical and cultural)
This strategic value will be used to determine our approach to adoption, ownership
and management to help establish future priorities and create a positive change in
service delivery.
Adoption, Ownership and Management
Following the above assessment, the process below will be followed to determine
who will take ownership of the site:
Stage 1 – Blaby District Council to adopt
(if no, progress to stage 2)
Stage 2 – Parish / Town Council to adopt
(if no, progress to stage 3)
Stage 3 – Management Company to adopt
(minimum standards to be applied)
6
Disposal or Leasing of Sites
The Council will use the following criteria when considering any sites for disposal
and in relation to any requests made to BDC by Parish / Town Councils or Community
Organisations wishing to take ownership of a BDC site:
Is there sufficient quantity
Is there sufficient quality in the locality?
in the locality?
What is the current and future value of the land?
Is there sufficient access to
Will the green space be improved or
other similar opportunities?
alternative/additional facilities provided?
The District Council will endeavour to re-invest into green space sites with receipts and
maintenance resources released from any such arrangements.
Developer Contributions
Contributions are typically secured against residential development but can also be
required for non residential development if it would have an impact on the area. The
provision of infrastructure, facilities and services which are required by a planning
obligation should, where possible, be provided on site. However, there will be
circumstances where this may not be practical or appropriate. In these circumstances,
the Council will seek financial contributions towards the provision and / or maintenance
of infrastructure, facilities and services at an alternative off-site location.
In relation to off-site contributions, due to the variation between sites and locations of new
residential housing developments, it is considered to be impractical (given the time scale
allowed to determine planning applications) to individually cost up each application where
an off-site contribution is required. Therefore the Council has developed a standard formula
for calculating the cost of providing the required facilities offsite. This model considers
the diverse range of recreational, play and sporting needs of the community along with
providing areas natural green space that will benefit wildlife and ecology.
Planning legislation requires for these off-site contributions to be invested in local
infrastructure that will benefit the residents of the new development. The Council has
established a Working Group to make recommendations on how these contributions are
used in consultation with local Parish / Town Councils.
Safeguarding Green Space
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) provides against building on green
spaces and the sites of sports and recreational buildings for non-recreational uses. The
NPPF indicates that local communities can identify for special protection green areas of
particular importance by designating land as Local Green Space. Green Wedges and Areas
of Separation along with their detailed boundaries will be reviewed through the District
Council’s Allocations, Designations and Development Management Plan Document.
Partnership Working
We will work in partnership with the County Council, Parish / Town Councils and
Community Groups to manage and enhance our green spaces. The Council needs to
develop strong relationships with external organisations and its residents to provide,
develop and enhance services. It will continue to work with its partners to improve
the District’s green spaces, from listening to what local users want to adopting new
ideas on their use, layout and management.
7
The sites listed below are the District Council’s strategic sites (these sites have the highest
score using the assessment described on p6 and will be prioritised for investment)
Fosse Meadows (Sharnford)
Bouskell Park (Blaby)
Glen Hills Nature Reserve (Glen Parva)
Crow Mills Way (South Wigston)
Osiers Nature Reserve (Braunstone)
Jubilee Park (Enderby)
Whetstone Way (Whetstone)
Whistle Way (Narborough / Enderby)
Countesthorpe Country Park
Action Plan
An Action Plan has been developed to implement the Strategy, this will deliver
against the following strategic themes:
Provide - we will seek to provide sufficient accessible green space to meet
current and future demand
Improve - we will seek to maintain and raise the quality of our green spaces
Connect - we will work in partnership to develop and manage continuous
green networks for people and wildlife
Involve - we will work in partnership with the community and stakeholders
to develop, manage and promote green spaces
Resource - we will seek to ensure sufficient resources are available to
develop, manage and maintain green spaces
Sustain - we will work to ensure that the management of our green spaces
have a positive impact on people, the local economy and the environment
Conserve - we will ensure that green space biodiversity,
landscape and natural heritage is protected and conserved
Evaluation and Review
The Green Space Strategy will be monitored and evaluated
through the following mechanisms:
The Council’s Green Infrastructure Forum
The Council’s Planning Obligations Monitoring Group
Public Satisfaction Surveys
Quality Audits
Regular Strategy Updates and Annual Review
Cabinet Executive Portfolio
Reports
Tel: 0116 275 0555
8
www.blaby.gov.uk