Item no
9
Report no
Open Space Strategy: First Annual Monitoring
Report
Planning Committee
8 December 2011
1
Purpose of report
1.1
To invite Committee to note the first annual monitoring report of the Open
Space Strategy Action Plan.
2
Summary
2.1
In September 2010, the Council published its Open Space Strategy. The
strategy sets standards and actions to improve open space provision across
Edinburgh. The strategy is supported by an action plan for each of the 12
neighbourhood partnerships in the city. The Council is required to annually
report on progress towards implementing the actions identified. Whilst many of
these actions are long term, progress against the short to medium term actions
is encouraging.
3
Main report
Background
3.1
In September 2010, the Council published its Open Space Strategy.
Strategy is being used to inform:
•
•
The
planning decisions on the loss of open space and the provision in new
development; and
investment and site-management decisions by the Council and other
responsible organisations.
3.2
The Strategy sets out a number of actions, described in more detail in 12 action
plans, one for each Neighbourhood Partnership area. The actions plans, which
are supported by budget estimates, provide a road map for improving open
space standards across the city. They also provide a basis for collecting
developer contributions in a way that achieves most benefit.
3.3
The Committee noted that the implementation of the actions would be
monitored annually and that the Strategy would be reviewed every five years.
1
2011 Monitoring
3.4
This is the first annual monitoring report. Information has been gathered from
the Neighbourhood Teams and other relevant parts of the Council. A summary
table is attached as Appendix 1.
3.5
Appendix 1 identifies the progress made for each action in the financial year
2010/11. It uses the following headings:
•
•
•
•
Completed.
On-site work in progress – this includes cases where a phase of work has
been completed but later phases remain.
Design or discussion stage – this includes cases where work is
programmed for the year 2011/12 and cases where preliminary discussions
regarding implementation are underway.
Works still to be programmed: this applies where there is presently no
timetable set for discussions, design work, or on-site work.
3.6
This provides a basic summary; more detailed information, including financial
sums spent or earmarked, has been gathered but not included here. This
information will be used to help prepare the next open space audit, which is
due to take place in 2014, five years on from the first one.
3.7
The monitoring shows:
•
•
•
3.8
Of those where there has been no progress:
•
•
•
3.9
four completed actions;
17 actions with on-site work in progress; and
15 actions at design/discussion stage.
seven are because the site is part of a wider development which is not
progressing;
38 are because the project has not yet been initiated by the Council;
one is because the land is not yet available (an active railway line to
Powderhall); and
An example of the benefits realised by the Open Space Strategy is Redford
Wood, where planning permission was granted for the creation of a new care
home on the site of the former NAAFI store in Redford Road. The approved
application includes the removal of a small part of the open space connected to
the store.
The Open Space Strategy Action Plan for the Pentlands
Neighbourhood has identified the need to improve the Parks Quality
Assessment standard of the Council’s adjacent Redford Wood site from poor to
good, and costed this work at £55,000. Having the policy background in place,
the Council was able successfully to seek a developer contribution to enable
this improvement to be carried out. Works are expected to proceed in 2012.
2
3.10
Play actions will be the subject of a separate report and are connected with the
draft Play Area Action Plan, which is currently out for public consultation.
3.11
It is considered that the progress reported against the action plans is positive
and encouraging for the first 12 months of the Open Space Strategy’s life. The
strategy and the standards contained within have provided useful guidance and
helped prioritise resources.
3.12
As the monitoring report does not require a decision by Planning Committee it
is proposed that future reports will be published as Planning Information
Bulletins.
4
Financial Implications
4.1
There are no direct financial implications arising from this report or its findings.
5
Equalities Impact
5.1
Protecting public green spaces on behalf of the city’s population ensures that
opportunities to access and recreate in them and the benefits that result
continue to be available to the widest range of people in perpetuity.
5.2
An Equalities Impact Assessment is not required for the purposes of reporting
progress.
6
Environmental Impact
6.1
There are no environmental impacts arising from this report or its findings. The
Open Space Strategy provides an overview of open spaces in the Council area
and the standards and action plans are designed to bring about better-quality,
accessible open space for all city residents and visitors.
7
Conclusions
7.1
The first annual monitoring report of the Open Space Strategy Action Plan
reveals that four actions are completed, 17 have on-site work in progress and
15 are at design/discussion stage. This is an encouraging level of progress and
is to be welcomed.
8
Recommendations
8.1
It is recommended that the Committee notes the encouraging progress made
against many of the actions identified in the Open Space Strategy action plan.
Dave Anderson
Director of City Development
3
Appendices
1
List summarising progress with actions identified in Open Space Strategy
Contact/tel/Email
Ben Wilson, Principal Planner, 0131 469 3411,
[email protected]
Keith Logie, Parks Development Manager, 0131 529 7916,
[email protected]
Wards affected
All
Single Outcome
Agreement
Supports National Outcome 6 – We live longer, healthier lives.
Supports National Outcome 10 - We live in well-designed, sustainable places
where we are able to access the amenities and services we need.
Supports National Outcome 12 – We value and enjoy our built and natural
environment and protect it and enhance it for future generations.
Supports National Outcome 14 – We reduce the local and global impact of
our consumption and production.
Supports Edinburgh Outcome: Edinburgh’s natural and built environment is
supported and enhanced.
Background
Papers
Open Space Strategy (2010)
12 Open Space Action Plans for Neighbourhood Partnerships (2010
BW/FM/PLANCOM/Open Space Strategy Annual Report
29 November 2011
4
Appendix 1
Open Space Strategy Action Plan
2011 Monitoring Report
Action
December 2011
Description
2011 Update
(relates to
2010/11
year)
Edinburgh Promenade
(creation of network)
New sections in Granton Harbour and Leith
Docks
Still to be
programmed
Edinburgh Promenade
(management/improvement)
Upgrading existing sections of the
waterfront promenade
On-site work
in progress
Powderhall and/or Abbeyhill
Loop railway
New green corridors if loop railway lines
close in future
Still to be
programmed
Roseburn to Dalry Community
Park and Union Canal
New pedestrian/cycle route connection
Still to be
programmed
Union Canal to Morningside
Off-road pedestrian/cycle link creating
green corridor access
Still to be
programmed
International Business
Gateway, West Edinburgh
New green network at business park
Charlotte Square
Open Charlotte Square for public access
Chesser Avenue
Opening up to public access of open space
which forms setting of listed building at
Chesser Avenue
Improve quality of open space for
recreation and habitat value
Design or
discussion
stage
Design or
discussion
stage
Design or
discussion
stage
Design or
discussion
stage
On-site work
in progress
Green Network Actions
Wester Hailes Canalside
Carrick Knowe to Edinburgh
Park Station
New paths and tree planting along green
corridor as part of tram project.
North Edinburgh Paths
Improve quality of open space for
recreation and habitat value
Upper Strand
New amenity open space / pedestrian link
Port Edgar
Improved access through existing
woodland at Port Edgar subject to
redevelopment
Upgrading the riverside route along the
Almond
Still to be
programmed
Open space proposal identified in
Edinburgh City Local Plan
Design or
discussion
stage
River Almond Walkway
Design or
discussion
stage
Still to be
programmed
Design or
discussion
stage
Local and Large Greenspace
Standards Actions
Leith Western Harbour Central
Park
Leith Docks Community Park
Open space proposal identified in
Edinburgh City Local Plan
Leith Links Seaward Extension
Open space proposal identified in
Edinburgh City Local Plan
Baronscourt Park
Raise PQA grade from fair to good
South East Wedge Parkland
Open space proposal identified in
Edinburgh City Local Plan
Design or
discussion
stage
Niddrie Burn Restoration
Project
On-site work
in progress
Proposed new park at
Craigpark Quarry, Ratho
Realignment of 1,800 linear metres of the
Burn, associated works, landscaping,
habitat creation, and road, footpath and
bridge construction.
Open space proposal originally identified in
Edinburgh City Local Plan but now
considered as quashed by court decision
on related housing allocation.
Proposal is linked to adjacent housing
development (application 05/01229/FUL)
Hunters Hall Park
Raise PQA grade from fair to good
On-site work
in progress
Jewel Park
Raise PQA grade from poor to good
On-site work
in progress
Portobello Park
Still to be
programmed
Inch Park
Raise PQA grade from fair to good, taking
account of proposals for replacement high
school on playing fields in southern portion.
Raise PQA grade from fair to good
Drum Park
Raise PQA grade from fair to good
On-site work
in progress
Gilmerton Park (The Dell)
Raise PQA grade from poor to good
Still to be
programmed
Braid Hills
Raise PQA grade from fair to good
On-site work
in progress
Paties Road Recreation
Ground
Raise PQA grade from fair to good
Still to be
programmed
Redhall Park
Raise PQA grade from fair to good
On-site work
in progress
Saughton Park
Raise PQA grade from fair to good
Design or
discussion
stage
Newcraighall Parkland
Still to be
programmed.
Proposal
under review
in LDP MIR
Still to be
programmed.
Proposal
under review
in LDP MIR
Still to be
programmed
Still to be
programmed
On-site work
in progress
On-site work
in progress
Dalry Community Park
Raise PQA grade from fair to good
Still to be
programmed
Colinton Mains Park
Raise PQA grade from poor to good
On-site work
in progress
Redford Wood
Raise PQA grade from poor to good.
Proposal to turn part of the site as a Local
Nature Reserve.
Raise PQA grade from fair to good
Design or
discussion
stage
Design or
discussion
stage
Design or
discussion
stage
On-site work
in progress
Kingsknowe Park (Dovecot
Park)
Curriemuir End Park
Raise PQA grade from fair to good
East Pilton Park
Raise PQA grade from fair to good
Gypsy Brae Park and
Recreation Ground
Raise PQA grade from fair to good
On-site work
in progress
Muirhouse Linear Park
Raise PQA grade from fair to good
On-site work
in progress
Granton Crescent Park
Raise PQA grade from fair to good
On-site work
in progress
Orchard Park North and South
Raise PQA grade from fair to good
On-site work
in progress
Easter Drylaw Park
Raise PQA grade from fair to good
On-site work
in progress
Inverleith Park
Raise PQA grade from fair to good
On-site work
in progress
Leith Links
Raise PQA grade from poor to good
Piershill Square East and West
Programme to improvement works has
been prepared for both sites
Design or
discussion
stage
Completed
Harvester Way – Hailesland
Road
Raise PQA grade to fair.
Still to be
programmed
Cemeteries and
Churchyards Actions
Dalry Cemetery
Raise PQA grade from poor to fair.
Still to be
programmed
New Calton Burial Ground
Raise PQA grade from poor to fair.
Still to be
programmed
Newington Cemetery
Raise PQA grade from poor to fair.
Still to be
programmed
North Leith Churchyard
Raise PQA grade from poor to fair.
Still to be
programmed
North Merchiston Cemetery
Raise PQA grade from poor to fair.
Still to be
programmed
Old Calton Burial Ground
Raise PQA grade from poor to fair.
Still to be
programmed
Jack Kane Centre
Proposed multi-pitch venue
Gyle Park
Proposed multi-pitch venue
Design or
discussion
stage
Still to be
programmed
Saughton Park
Proposed multi-pitch venue
Still to be
programmed
North Edinburgh Football
Academy (Ainslie Park)
Proposed multi-pitch venue
Broughton High School
Proposed multi-pitch venue
Design or
discussion
stage
Completed
Paties Road Recreational
Ground
Proposed multi-pitch venue
Still to be
programmed
Forresters/St Augustine’s High
Schools
Proposed multi-pitch venue
Completed
Seafield
Proposed multi-pitch venue
Still to be
programmed
Wardie
Proposed multi-pitch venue
Still to be
programmed
Bangholm
Proposed multi-pitch venue
Still to be
programmed
Duddingston/Cavalry Park
Proposed multi-pitch venue
Still to be
programmed
Kirkbrae (Double Hedges)
Proposed multi-pitch venue
Still to be
programmed
Playing Fields Actions
Play Space
No actions identified in Open Space Strategy. Actions set out in separate Play Area Action
Plan.
Allotments Actions
Stenhouse Phase 2 and 3
Proposed allotment extension
Still to be
programmed
Carricknowe – allotment
extension
Proposed allotment extension
Still to be
programmed
Jocks Lodge (Baronscourt
Park)
Proposed new allotment site
Still to be
programmed
Niddrie Marischal Road
Proposed new allotment site
Still to be
programmed
St Marks Park
Proposed new allotment site
Still to be
programmed
Frogston Road
Proposed new allotment site
Still to be
programmed
Inch Park
Proposed new allotment site
Still to be
programmed
Midmar Field 3
Proposed new allotment site
Still to be
programmed
Balgreen Road
Proposed new allotment site
Still to be
programmed
Blinkbonny Park
Proposed new allotment site
Still to be
programmed
Harrison Park East
Proposed new allotment/community garden
site
Still to be
programmed
Playing fields associated with
the old Dumbryden School
Proposed new allotment site
Completed
Redhall – allotment extension
Proposed allotment extension
Still to be
programmed
Whinhill Park
Proposed new allotment site
Still to be
programmed
Burgess Road
Proposed new allotment site
Still to be
programmed
Silverknowes farmland
Proposed new allotment site
Still to be
programmed
Note: PQA = Park Quality Assessment