Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council Play Area Review//Final Draft PleydellSmithyman Contents// Executive Summary // 1 What Will Success Look Like?// 4 Where Are We Now?// 6 Where Do We Want To Be?// 45 How Are We Going To Get There// 50 Appendices// Appendix 1. Stakeholder Workshop Attendees Appendix 2. Play Space Audit Form Appendix 3. Play Area Mapping Appendix 4. Quality Scores Appendix 5. Value Scores Appendix 6. Contribution Scores Appendix 7. Risk Benefit Assessment Appendix 8. Play Space Evaluation Appendix 9. Planning Policy - Greater Manchester Local Authorities Appendix 10. Recommendations Summary Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council Play Area Review Executive Summary// About the Play Area Review Encouraging and Enabling the Outdoor Play A child’s right to play is enshrined in the by UN Convention on the Rights of the Child which states “the right to play and informal recreation, for all children and young people up to 18 years of age, is enshrined in Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by the UK government in 1991. The government has a duty under this convention to protect and promote play opportunities for all children and young people1.” The benefits and positive outcomes of play have been identified by a range of organisations including Play England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Stockport Council currently has a portfolio of 135 play area across the Borough, which provide a range of play facilities for children of all ages. However, the provision of play areas is not a statutory service and in an era of cuts and limited resources it is important to realistically consider the provision of play areas in the future to ensure that Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council is able to continue to be able to provide safe, accessible, quality and fun play area provision. This report is a Play Area Review and is based on the following stages: i. A baseline assessment of existing provision and the strategies and policies which impact on play areas. ii. Consultation and engagement with key stakeholders. iii. A play space audit to understand the quality, value, accessibility and contribution of existing provision. iv. A needs assessment to evaluate the local demand for play in a national and local context. v. A risk benefit assessment to consider how play areas can balance risks and benefits to provide inspiring and fun play experiences. vi. Informed and strategic recommendations for the future. These stages have sought to develop a strategy for play area provision for the future which will delivering our vision: For every play area to be a destination, by creating a variety of sustainable play spaces that offer children and young people of all ages and abilities accessible, quality, challenging and fun opportunities for play. This report considers the challenges of maintaining and investing in play areas with reduced and limited budgets. It evaluates the impact of Planning Policy, examines the use of developer contributions and highlights the need for continued support from Section 106 monies. In addition it uses national benchmarks, including the Fields In Trust (FiT) accessibility and quantity standards to evaluate the need for provision. Whilst this benchmarking exercise suggests an under provision of equipped space for play, in some areas, at Borough wide level provision is sufficient. The FiT standards are a useful benchmark but Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council may wish to consider developing and implementing its own standard which seeks to used the planning process to deliver meaningful play area which contribute to quality and value play at a strategic level. 1 http://www.playengland.org.uk/about-us/why-is-play-important.aspx 1 Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council Play Area Review Executive Summary// About the Play Area Review Having considered the existing provision and the need for sustainable and deliverable approach to play area provision across Stockport this report recommends the following: Recommendation 1: Maximise the Quality and Value of Play Provision The report explores the contribution of each play area in the Borough and assesses its quality and play value. The Play Review recommends that a strategic approach is taken to ensure available resources and investment are used to ensure play quality and value across the Borough is sustained, diversified and improved. Recommendation 2: Improve Access to Existing Play Provision Support, encourage and enable children, young people and families in new and existing communities to access and enjoy existing provision. Recommendation 3: Effectively Use Planning Policy to Benefit Play Provision Use planning policy to contribute strategically to the provision of play for the benefit of new populations and those already living in Stockport. Recommendation 4: Maximise the Potential of Section 106 (S106) and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Funding Secure Section 106 Commuted Sums for Open Space Provision. Recommendation 5: Review Developer Contributions Ensure the maintenance and sustainability of play area provision by adopting a policy whereby maintenance responsibility is retained by the developer and / or increasing the maintenance funding from commuted sums to ensure that sufficient funding is secured to fully support a 25 year maintenance period. Recommendation 6: Work with Housing Associations Housing Associations such as Stockport Homes are already providing quality play areas across the Borough. Continued partnership working with these organisations and the development of this approach will ensure new and improved provision responds to strategic need. It will also enable the Council to benefit from Housing Associations skills, capacity and funding in relation to play area provision. Recommendation 7: Take a Risk Benefit Approach The Council’s current approach to play can be considered risk adverse, taking a risk benefit approach to play will deliver more challenging and engaging play areas. Recommendation 8: Consider Natural Play Seek opportunities for natural play, in suitable locations will add variety and challenge to the play area provision offered across the Borough for the benefit of children and young people. A natural play approach will result in more creative, stimulating and challenging play provision and potentially reduce the Council’s expenditure on maintenance. 2 Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council Play Area Review Executive Summary// About the Play Area Review Recommendation 9: Partnership Working with the Greenspace Forum Community groups and organisations are able to access funding which is not available to the Council, strategic working with the Forum will enable the development of projects which will enhance play provision and make a strategic contribution. Recommendation 10: Build on the Play Space Audit and Share Findings with Key Stakeholders Maintain, update and share the data and mapping that forms the basis of this review so that it continues to be a useful and meaningful tool for decision making. 3 Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council Play Area Review What will success look like?// A Deliverable Vision for Play Area Provision in Stockport 1.0 WHAT WILL SUCCESS LOOK LIKE? 1.1 A Vision for Play Area Provision in Stockport “The right to play and informal recreation, for all children and young people up to 18 years of age, is enshrined in Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by the UK government in 1991. The government has a duty under this convention to protect and promote play opportunities for all children and young people1.” Play areas play a role in supporting, encouraging and enabling a child’s right to play, offering a safe and stimulating environment for children to enjoy and explore. Recent Play England research suggests that children’s access to good play provision can: • increase their self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-respect • improve and maintain their physical and mental health • give them the opportunity to mix with other children • allow them to increase their confidence through developing new skills • promote their imagination, independence and creativity • offer opportunities for children of all abilities and backgrounds to play together • provide opportunities for developing social skills and learning • build resilience through risk taking and challenge, problem solving, and dealing with new and novel situations • provide opportunities to learn about their environment and the wider community. This report identifies and considers the 135 play areas within the Council’s portfolio and therefore does not take account of other play area provision such as those provided by schools, community centres and Churches. Play areas make a contribution to the delivery of these benefits for children, families and carers across Stockport. Working with stakeholders, who have a role and impact on play area provision enabled us to understand their perceptions of existing provision, the wider issues that impact on play areas and their aspirations for the future. A summary of this consultation can be found in section 2.0 of this report. For every play area to be a destination, by creating a variety of sustainable play spaces that offer children and young people of all ages and abilities accessible, quality, challenging and fun opportunities for play. The above vision seeks to put the users, children, young people and families at the core of the strategy for play area provision. It is based around acknowledging that every play area