Contents 1. Introduction 1 1.1 Scope of the Strategy 2 1.2 National Agenda for Higher Quality Open Space 2 1.3 Policy Context – National, Regional & Local 3 1.4 Summary 5 2. Profile of Thurrock 6 2.1 Natural Environment 6 2.2 Built Environment 11 2.3 Social-Economic and Demographic Profile 11 3. Research Processes 14 3.1 Why? 14 3.2 Audit of Provision 14 3.3 Community Consultation 16 3.4 Community Views 17 3.4.1 Opens Spaces for all 17 3.4.2 Community Concerns 18 3.5 Identifying Open Spaces for Improvement 20 4. Strategy Research 21 4.1 Parks & Gardens 21 4.2 Country Parks 28 4.3 Natural and Semi Natural Greenspace 29 4.4 Amenity Greenspace 33 4.5 Children’s Play Space 35 4.6 Outdoor Sport Facilities 41 4.7 Allotments 45 4.8 Cemeteries and Churchyards 48 4.9 Urban Space 50 5. Policies 51 5.1 Open Space Standards 52 5.2 Policy Recommendations 54 6. Recommendations 55 7. Making it Happen 55 7.1 Strategic Improvements 55 7.2 Community Involvement 56 7.3 Funding 57 References 58 Appendix 1: Background Research 59 Appendix 2: Converting Standards 59 Appendix 3: Funding 60 Appendix 4: Useful Contacts 72 Map Index Map 1 – Flood Zones 7 Map 2 – Nature Conservation Designations 10 Map 3 – Multiple Deprivation 13 Map 4 – Open Spaces in Thurrock 15 Map 5 – Areas Deficient in Parks and Gardens 27 Map 6 – Areas Deficient in Natural and Semi Natural Greenspace 32 Map 7 – Areas Deficient in Children’s Play Space 40 Map 8 – Areas Deficient in Allotments 47 Acknowledgement: Thurrock Council would like to Thank CABE (Commission for Architecture & the Built Environment) Space’s Enabling Programme for their support throughout the research and Strategy formulation. Photo 2: Grays Beach 1. Introduction Through its Sustainable Communities Plan, the Government has identified the Thames Gateway as a key growth area seeking significant improvements to the quality of life for present and future communities. Thurrock lies at the heart of the Thames Gateway. The introduction of Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation together with the Government's liveability agenda provide a significant drive to making Thurrock a place where people make a positive choice to live and work. Providing open space is a key element in achieving a change in perception of Thurrock by making a positive contribution to sense of place, providing opportunities for a variety of sporting and leisure experiences in a range of safe and attractive settings and helping to engender a sense of community pride which will help to encourage investment and generate vitality. To deliver a network of high quality open space that will serve the whole community now and in the future, a new co-ordinated approach to the planning, design, delivery, maintenance and management is required. The Open Spaces Strategy is the first document in Thurrock to strategically plan for accessible open spaces that meet community aspirations. The recommendations in the Strategy will help Thurrock Council and external partners deliver the first phase of a 20 to 30 year process to deliver a network of attractive, vibrant, well maintained and accessible multifunctional open spaces. Thurrock’s Cultural Strategy identified that aspirations and priorities for open spaces needed to be developed in consultation with the community. Considerable research was therefore undertaken in the preparation of this strategy. This revealed that 84% of residents agree that parks and other open space contribute to the quality of the local environment. This feedback, from users and non-users of open space in Thurrock, means that the majority of the community value the environment in which they live. Strategic Planning of Open Space – Chattanooga, Tennessee. In the 1980’s the city was experiencing industrial decline and was faced with rising unemployment, crime and air pollution. To address the deteriorating quality of life in the city local government, businesses and community groups emphasised the need for a cleaner, greener and safer environment. Planned open spaces with connecting greenways has opened up the city for pedestrians and brought the city back to life. Conversion of an automobile bridge for pedestrians use has resulted in economic revival on both sides of the river that the bridge crossed. Other benefits from Photo 3: Pedestrian bridge. placing the environment at the heart of regeneration include: • Doubling the number of businesses and jobs in the district in eight years. • Recognition of the city as one of America’s best walking towns. • Increases in tax revenues. • Increases in Property values. • A more diversified economic base that includes tourism, recreation and agricultural industries. • A network of spaces that can help to reduce the risk of flooding. (The Trust for public Land, 1999. Open space investment pay big returns. www.tpl.org) www.thurrock.gov.uk/greengrid 1 1.1 Scope of the Strategy The Strategy has been carried out in accordance with Planning Policy Guidance 17: Planning for open space, sport and recreation (PPG17). The open spaces identified within the scope of the Strategy are part of the larger cross boundary green infrastructure network that incorporates the Thames Gateway South Essex Greengrid, Thames Chase and the Green Arc. Open spaces covered in the Strategy: • Parks and gardens • Amenity greenspace • Provision for children and young people (Children’s play spaces) • Outdoor sports facilities • Natural and semi-natural greenspaces (including urban woodland) • Allotments • Churchyards and cemeteries Open spaces not covered by the Strategy: • Water based green space • Common land • Civic spaces • Green corridors This Strategy is one document that contributes towards Thurrock’s Greengrid Strategy. The Open Spaces Strategy should be read in conjunction with the Green Infrastructure Framework Plan and Biodiversity Study. Thurrock’s Greengrid Strategy will provide a co-ordinated approach to the environment and landscape helping to create a sustainable network of multi-functional green space and links in Thurrock's town and countryside. The Open Spaces Strategy does not evaluate the role of open spaces beyond Thurrock’s boundaries that residents visit and this will need to be addressed in future strategies. The Open Spaces Strategy is supported by background research that has also been undertaken in accordance with Planning Policy Guidance 17: Planning for open space, sport and recreation (PPG17). Details of the supporting evidence are shown in Appendix 1. Information on Planning Obligations can be obtained from the Planning Guidance on Open Spaces. 1.2 National Agenda for Higher Quality Open Spaces “Over 2.5 billion visits are made to parks each year by over half the UK population”1 Lord Rogers identified the relationship between open spaces and urban living in his Urban White Paper, which was published in 1999. This report confirmed that parks and green spaces are essential to sustainable urban living and resulted in the establishment of the Urban Green Spaces Taskforce in 2001. The final report produced by the Taskforce was Green Spaces, Better Places that has set the agenda for improving green spaces and reversing the decline in the quality of these spaces. The government has reacted proactively to this report by establishing a national agency for well designed and managed public spaces (CABE Space) and has launched the www.thurrock.gov.uk/greengrid 2 Cleaner, Safer, Greener initiative to tackle the problems that face today’s communities. The main message emerging from the Governments agenda is that ‘now is the time for an urban renaissance with parks and diverse green spaces’. 1.2.1 CABE Space CABE Space is part of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, the Government’s advisor on urban design issues. CABE Space was set up to promote excellence in the design and management of public spaces. By demonstrating the economic, environmental and social benefits of public spaces, CABE Space hope to initiate reinvestment into parks and green spaces to help deliver sustainable communities. They recognise the contribution open spaces make to people’s quality of life and have liased with other organisations and councils across the country to develop strategic approaches to the delivery of high quality public spaces. 1.2.2 Cleaner, Safer, Greener Cleaner, Safer, Greener is a Government initiative to tackle anti-social behaviour that affects our neighbourhoods. In order to deliver sustainable communities the Government wants to ensure that public spaces are fit for their purpose. Research by MORI has informed the Government that people are more concerned about the quality of their local environment than anything else. Uncared for, degraded open space reflects negatively upon a community. To initiate change the Government has made various sources of funding available through the Cleaner, Safer, Greener initiative to local government, community groups and charities so they can deliver projects that will: • Create attractive and welcoming parks, play areas and public spaces. • Improve the physical fabric and infrastructure of neighbourhoods. • Manage services more efficiently and allow for better delivery of service. • Improve people's perception of the quality of their local environment. 1.3 Policy Context National Planning Policy Guidance 17: Planning for open space, sport and recreation PPG17 advises that local authorities develop strategies for delivering open spaces that meet the needs of local communities. The planning system can deliver open spaces close to communities and ensure that people have access to all types of open space. Through implementation of open space strategies the Government will ensure that local authorities create high quality networks of open spaces in both rural and urban areas that are fit for their purpose. Regional The draft East of England Plan, the regional spatial strategy for the East of England (RSS14) encourages a strategic approach to environmental infrastructure across the region.