Surrey Heath Local Plan 2011 – 2028 Site Allocations Background Paper
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Surrey Heath Local Plan 2011 – 2028 Site Allocations Background Paper Urban Green Space Site Survey 2012 1 CONTENTS 1. Introduction 3 2. Methodology 5 3. Findings 7 Appendices 2 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Surrey Heath Borough Council undertook a comprehensive green space survey between 1989 and 1991 as well as carrying out incidental surveys between 1995 and 1998, the results of which informed the designation of Green Spaces within Settlement Areas in the Surrey Heath Local Plans of 1994 and 2000. These designations have subsequently been rolled forward into the adopted Local Plan (2012) as part of the Core Strategy and Development Management Policies DPD. There are a total of 118 rolled forward designations contained within the 2012 policies map. 1.2 The Borough Council is currently preparing its Site Allocations Development Plan Document (Sites DPD) and needs to review whether to take forward the current urban green space designations within the settlement area shown on the Local Plan 2012 Policies Map. This paper constitutes the informative basis of this review using data gathered through desktop and on-site surveying between August and September 2012. It should be noted that Camberley Town Centre is exempt from this review as it is not being considered as part of the Site Allocations LDD. Amendments to urban green space designations in the town centre (consisting of one designation) will be considered through a separate Area Action Plan. 1.3 Surrey Heath contains numerous green spaces within its urban areas, smaller settlements and rural villages. The urban green spaces perform a number of functions: - Formal recreation - Informal recreation - Visual breaks - Habitats for wildlife 1.4 The green spaces also add to the physical and visual attractiveness and quality of settlement areas and are a highly valued asset. Policy Background 1.5 Policy CP13 Green Infrastructure of the Core Strategy and Development Management policies 2011-2028 informs of the Boroughs intention to plan for a network of accessible and integrated green infrastructure across the borough of Surrey Heath. Importance is attached to ensuring new development schemes contribute towards, or provide, opportunities to enhance the function of existing green infrastructure, increase provision and improve connectivity. Policy DM15, (Protection of Green Spaces and Recreational Facilities), further emphasises this position stating that green spaces in settlement areas will be protected by restricting development to appropriate informal recreation uses or recreation facilities that are of a scale commensurate with the size of the space. Furthermore Policy DM15 highlights that the green spaces identified on the proposals map will be subject to review with any deletions, amendments or additions set through a Site Allocations DPD. Definition of Green Space 1.6 The Urban Green Space Taskforce (UGSTF) defines urban green space as ‘land that consists predominantly of unsealed, permeable, ‘soft’ surfaces such as soil, grass, shrubs and trees. They include all areas of parks, play areas and other green spaces specifically intended for recreational use, as well as other green spaces with other origins.’ Whilst PPG17: Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation has been cancelled and replaced by the National 3 Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), ‘ Assessing needs and opportunities: a companion guide to PPG17 1’ remains extant at the time of writing. 1.7 This guide provides a summary of typology of open spaces proposed by the Urban Green Space Taskforce (UGSTF). Table 1 identifies those typologies that are relevant to green spaces. Table 1: PPG17 Greenspace Typologies 1.8 The urban green spaces currently identified on the 2012 Policies Map span a number of these definitions and this needs to be taken into account when considering the methodology as individual function and purpose will vary. 1 http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/assessingneeds 4 2.0 Methodology 2.1 It is considered that the overall approach of the original 1989/91 green space assessment is still a relevant one (considering visual amenity, recreation and ecology) particularly in the absence of a definitive, nationally recognised appraisal process. 2.2 Therefore if an area of land is to be designated, or remain designated, as an urban green space it must be: a) For its visual amenity value b) For its recreational value c) For its ecological value 2.3 A size threshold for the designation of Green Spaces was adopted in 1989 as below: • A Green Space designated for its visual amenity value has a minimum area of 0.25ha (to go any lower would cause difficulty in terms of the high number of amenity green spaces) • A Green Space designated for its recreational value has a minimum area of 0.06ha. Where “recreational” Green Spaces of between 0.06 and 0.25ha have value for visual amenity then this is also recorded.(0.06ha has a connection with the typical size of a LEAP in relation to the NPFA standards) • A Green Space designated for its ecological value/potential can be of any size provided the criteria are met. (this is to take account of all the SNCIs and SSSIs in the borough) 2.4 The Surrey Heath Urban Green Space Assessment Form (2012) enables the measurement of these criteria which are set out in the following paragraphs. Visual Amenity Value 2.5 The ‘ Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment ’ (Landscape Institute, 2005) make a distinction between visual sensitivity (how easily can you see something) and landscape sensitivity (what can you see and how important is it). Accordingly, the visual amenity value is broken down into two separate assessments. 2.6 Visual sensitivity considers the types of views, the nature of the views and the potential to mitigate visual impact on the identified viewpoints. The more viewpoints, the more exposed the site, the greater the sensitivity of the viewers and the greater the difficulties in screen planting to mitigate the impact without harm to the landscape and visual attributes of the site, the higher the sensitivity. A visual amenity sensitivity sheet provides the criteria against which the green spaces visual amenity value is assessed and can be found in Appendix 3. 2.7 Landscape sensitivity considers the natural physical factors which make up the landscape character of the site, the cultural and built form aspects and the perceptual features (covering tranquillity, aesthetic perceptions of enclosure and openness and landscape pattern). The greater the incidence of landscape interest and diversity, historically important features and cultural associations, greater levels of access and perceptions of tranquillity and strong landscape pattern, the greater the sensitivity. Recreational Value 2.8 A Green Space has particularly significant value for recreation if it performs any of the following five functions: a) Outdoor Playing Space (recognised by SHBC) b) Other formal outdoor recreational use e.g. Golf Course 5 c) Informal Open Space (to which there is public access and for which there is evident demand) d) Allotments (in an area of evident demand) e) Potential to meet recreational deficiency (as identified in the Surrey Heath Open Space and Recreation Study (June 2007)) Ecological Value 2.9 An Urban Green Space has particularly significant value for ecology if it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or a Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI). Where further evidence to support the ecological value of a Green Space is available, such as from surveys undertaken as part of planning applications, this will be taken into consideration during the appraisal process. Process of Review 2.10 For the sake of consistency, the same person assessed all of the local authority’s green spaces. 2.11 A sufficient understanding of site boundary extents and recreational and ecological value were obtained from desktop mapping exercises using: • Google Street View • Geographical Information Systems (GIS) • Aerial photos Information was also obtained through: • Planning history searches on relevant local plan policy • Previous survey sheets • Proposals maps Through a combination of the above processes any anomalies or changes were picked up and dealt with accordingly. 2.12 A customised form, drawn up by the surveying authority (see Appendix 1), was used to evaluate the quality of green space, assessing its design and structure, management and maintenance and its value to people. Baseline information on typology, location, planning designations, size and facilities was recorded, along with the date of survey. 2.13 Sites identified as potentially needing change or new sites were then subject to detailed site surveys, to establish their amenity, recreational or ecological value. Sites were scored out of five using the visual amenity sensitivity sheet with five scoring a higher sensitivity and one, scoring lower sensitivity. If a site scores one 5 it was designated for is visual amenity. They were then assessed against their recreational value using the survey sheet (appendix 1). Further investigation into land designations was required to established ecological value. 6 3.0 Findings 3.1 The survey found: • 106 sites where the original selection criteria were still valid • 2 sites that could potentially be deleted • 10 sites that potentially needed boundary amendments • 8 new potential sites 3.2 The table below sets out the findings on a local area basis. Details are presented in Appendix 2. Summary Table by Local Area Local Area Sites with no Boundary Deletion New Total change change allocation Bagshot 14 0 0 0 14 Bisley 4 1 0 0 5 Camberley 24 4 0 5 33 Chobham 1 1 0 0 2 Deepcut 2 0 0 2 4 Frimley 29 4 1 1 35 Frimley 10 0 0 0 10 Green Lightwater 8 0 0 0 8 Mytchett 5 0 0 0 5 West End 4 0 0 0 4 Windlesham 5 0 1 0 6 Total 106 10 2 8 126 7 Appendix 1: Survey Form GREEN SPACE SURVEY ASSESSMENT SHEET 2012 Local Area: Date of Survey: Site Name: Database Ref No: Address: Local Plan 2000 Ref No: Weather conditions: GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF SITE Use: Open Space Appearance (main features, topography, character etc; Area ha: (visual amenity minimum 0.25ha/ recreational value minimum area of 0.06ha.