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Green Space Strategy 2011 - 2016

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Green Space Strategy 2011 - 2016 Green Space Strategy 2011 - 2016 January 2011 Green Space Strategy 2011 - 2016 GreenGreen Space Space Strategy Strategy 2011 2011 - 2016 - 2016 Our Vision In Dacorum, we aspire to protect and enhance our natural environment, heritage and habitats. With the involvement of the community, we will create attractive, sustainable, accessible and well-managed green spaces. Foreword Dacorum benefits from a tremendous resource of high quality parks and recreation areas, set within some of the most remarkable landscapes in the country. Our fantastic green spaces are one of the main reasons people choose to live, work, and visit here. This strategy sets out our commitment to manage and protect this legacy, to ensure it remains intact for current and future generations. The quality of some of Dacorum’s green spaces has deteriorated over time through the ageing of facilities and infrastructure, and new investment is required. This strategy gives us the impetus and tools to improve their quality and to help deliver what local communities want from their neighbourhoods. We will improve facilities, and encourage residents to become more involved in managing their local green spaces. We aim to balance the needs of the community with the demands on our service, working wherever possible to combat climate change and alleviate the pressures of the modern age. We have a number of challenges to face in the future, not least in providing enough homes for the community. This strategy provides a strong framework to help manage, refresh, and create new green spaces. Councillor Terry Douris Planning Portfolio Holder 2 Improving quality - Providing Facilities - Exploring the Countryside - Conserving Nature Improving quality - Providing Facilities - Exploring the Countryside - Conserving Nature 3 Green Space Strategy 2011 - 2016 Green Space Strategy 2011 - 2016 Contents 2.3.1 Provision for Children & Young People 44 2.3.2 Outdoor Sports 46 Executive Summary 9 2.3.3 Cycling 47 2.3.4 Allotments 48 Section One: Policies and Objectives 11 2.4 Priority: Nature Conservation 48 2.5 Priority: Easy Access to the Countryside 49 1 Introduction 12 2.5.1 Accessible Natural Green Space 49 1.1 What is a Green Space Strategy 12 2.5.2 Landscape Quality and Recreation 51 1.2 Scope of the strategy 13 2.5.3 Links to the Countryside 53 1.3 Links to other documents and strategies 14 2.6 Consultation Summary 53 1.4 The benefits of green space to Dacorum 16 1.5 The Borough context 17 3 Green Space Area Study – Berkhamsted & Northchurch 54 1.5.1 Borough Character 17 3.1 Context 54 1.5.2 Open Space Provision 18 3.1.1 Social Character 54 1.5.3 Green Infrastructure 19 3.1.2 Designations and strategic development issues 56 3.1.3 Open Space Provision 56 2 Community Priorities 19 3.2 Priority: Improve Quality 59 3.3 Priority: Increase Facilities 64 3 Priorities for Play 20 3.3.1 Provision for Children & Young People 64 3.1 Dacorum Play Strategy 21 3.3.2 Outdoor Sports 66 3.2 Quality Audits 22 3.3.3 Cycling 67 3.3 Play Priorities 22 3.3.4 Allotments 67 3.4 Priority: Nature Conservation 67 4 Policies – Putting the Vision into Action 22 3.5 Priority: Easy Access to the Countryside 69 Policy 1 – To protect green space from development 23 3.5.1 Accessible Natural Green Space 69 Policy 2 – To protect and enhance our natural environment, 3.5.2 Landscape Quality and Recreation 71 heritage and habitats 24 3.5.3 Links to the Countryside 71 Policy 3 – To create attractive, sustainable, accessible and well 3.6 Consultation Summary 73 managed green spaces 25 Policy 4 – To manage our green spaces with community involvement 4 Green Space Area Study - Hemel Hempstead General 74 to ensure they are fit for purpose 27 4.1 Context 74 Policy 5 – To make people feel safe 28 4.1.1 Designations and strategic development issues 74 Policy 6 – To use development opportunities to improve the quality 4.1.2 Open Space Provision 75 and provision of open space 29 4.2 Priority: Increase Facilities 77 4.2.1 Outdoor Sports 77 4.2.2 Cycling 78 Section Two: Area Studies 31 4.2.3 Allotments 78 4.3 Priority: Nature Conservation 79 1 Introduction – Structure and methodology 32 4.4 Priority: Easy Access to the Countryside 80 4.4.1 Accessible Natural Green Space 80 2 Green Space Area Study – Tring 33 4.4.2 Landscape Quality and Recreation 82 2.1 Context 33 4.5 Consultation Summary 83 2.1.1 Social Character 34 2.1.2 Designations and strategic development issues 35 5 Green Space Area Study - Hemel Hempstead North East 84 2.1.3 Open Space Provision 35 5.1 Context 84 2.2 Priority: Improve Quality 38 5.1.1 Social Character 84 2.3 Priority: Increase Facilities 44 5.1.2 Open Space Provision 85 4 Improving quality - Providing Facilities - Exploring the Countryside - Conserving Nature Improving quality - Providing Facilities - Exploring the Countryside - Conserving Nature 5 Green Space Strategy 2011 - 2016 Green Space Strategy 2011 - 2016 5.2 Priority: Improve Quality 86 8.3.2 Outdoor Sports 136 5.3 Priority: Increase Facilities 92 8.3.3 Allotments 136 5.3.1 Provision for Children & Young People 92 8.4 Priority: Nature Conservation 137 5.3.2 Outdoor Sports 94 8.5 Priority: Easy Access to the Countryside 137 5.3.3 Cycling 94 8.5.1 Accessible Natural Green Space 138 5.4 Priority: Nature Conservation 95 8.5.2 Landscape Quality and Recreation 139 5.5 Priority: Easy Access to the Countryside 96 8.5.3 Links to the Countryside 139 5.5.1 Accessible Natural Green Space 96 8.6 Consultation Summary 140 5.5.2 Links to the Countryside 97 9 Green Space Area Study – Ashridge and Watling 141 6 Green Space Area Study – Hemel Hempstead North West 99 9.1 Context 141 6.1 Context 99 9.1.1 Social Character 142 6.1.1 Social Character 100 9.1.2 Designations and strategic development issues 142 6.1.2 Open Space Provision 100 9.1.3 Open Space Provision 142 6.2 Priority: Improve Quality 101 9.2 Priority: Improve Quality 143 6.3 Priority: Increase Facilities - Provision for Children & Young People 106 9.3 Priority: Increase Facilities 146 6.3.1 Provision for Children & Young People 106 9.3.1 Provision for Children & Young People 146 6.3.2 Outdoor Sports 108 9.3.2 Outdoor Sports 147 6.3.3 Cycling 109 9.3.3 Allotments 148 6.4 Priority: Nature Conservation 109 9.4 Priority: Nature Conservation 149 6.5 Priority: Easy Access to the Countryside 110 9.5 Priority: Easy Access to the Countryside 149 6.5.1 Accessible Natural Green Space 110 9.5.1 Accessible Natural Green Space 149 6.5.2 Links to the Countryside 111 9.5.2 Landscape Quality and Recreation 149 9.5.3 Links to the Countryside 150 7 Green Space Area Study – Hemel Hempstead South 113 9.6 Consultation Summary 150 7.1 Context 113 7.1.1 Social Character 113 7.1.2 Open Space Provision 114 Section Three: Action Plan 151 7.2 Priority: Improve Quality 115 7.3 Priority: Increase Facilities 121 1 Introduction 152 7.3.1 Provision for Children & Young People 121 7.3.2 Outdoor Sports 122 2 Actions from Policies and Objectives 152 7.3.3 Cycling 122 Policy 1 – To protect green space from development 152 7.4 Priority: Nature Conservation 123 Policy 2 – To protect and enhance our natural environment, 7.5 Priority: Easy Access to the Countryside 124 heritage and habitats 153 7.5.1 Accessible Natural Green Space 124 Policy 3 – To create attractive, sustainable, accessible and 7.5.2 Landscape Quality and Recreation 125 well managed green spaces 154 7.5.3 Links to the Countryside 125 Policy 4 – To manage our green spaces with community involvement to ensure they are fit for purpose 156 8 Green Space Area Study – Bovingdon, Chipperfield Policy 5 – To make people feel safe 157 and Kings Langley 127 Policy 6 – To use development opportunities to improve the 8.1 Context 127 quality and provision of open space 158 8.1.1 Social Character 128 8.1.2 Designations and strategic development issues 128 3 Actions for Tring 158 8.1.3 Open Space Provision 129 8.2 Priority: Improve Quality 131 4 Actions for Berkhamsted and Northchurch 161 8.3 Priority: Increase Facilities 134 166 8.3.1 Provision for Children & Young People 134 5 Actions for Hemel Hempstead – General 6 Improving quality - Providing Facilities - Exploring the Countryside - Conserving Nature Improving quality - Providing Facilities - Exploring the Countryside - Conserving Nature 7 Green Space Strategy 2011 - 2016 Green Space Strategy 2011 - 2016 6 Actions for Hemel Hempstead – North East 168 Executive Summary 7 Actions for Hemel Hempstead – North West 173 Green spaces are integral to Dacorum, and important components of people’s health and well being, the Borough’s economic prosperity, the biodiversity of the environment and our 8 Actions for Hemel Hempstead – South 177 contribution to sustainability. The Green Space Strategy is our commitment to improving the quality of neighbourhoods, to meet community and planning needs, and to deliver the 9 Actions for Bovingdon, Chipperfield and Kings Langley 181 priorities of Dacorum Borough Council and The Dacorum Partnership. 10 Actions for Ashridge and Watling 185 The Green Space Strategy was developed in consultation with the local community and stakeholders. Their views are captured through our vision for the future of Dacorum’s green spaces.
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