Hastings Strategic Open and Play Space Assessment Hastings Borough Council Final report Prepared by LUC July 2020 Hastings Strategic Open and Play Space Assessment Hastings Borough Council Version Status Prepared Checked Approved Date 1. Draft Report H. Liddle D. Manson D. Manson 01.04.2020 K. Stenson 2. Updated Draft Report H. Liddle M. Parkhill D. Manson 29.05.2020 K.Stenson 3. Final Report D. Manson D. Manson D. Manson 22.07.2020 Bristol Land Use Consultants Ltd Landscape Design Edinburgh Registered in England Strategic Planning & Assessment Glasgow Registered number 2549296 Development Planning Lancaster Registered office: Urban Design & Masterplanning London 250 Waterloo Road Environmental Impact Assessment Manchester London SE1 8RD Landscape Planning & Assessment Landscape Management landuse.co.uk 100% recycled paper Ecology Historic Environment GIS & Visualisation Contents Hastings Strategic Open and Play Space Assessment July 2020 Contents Summary of feedback from stakeholder consultation 32 Chapter 1 Executive summary 3 Chapter 7 Purpose of this study 3 Quantity assessment 36 Approach to the study 4 Key findings 4 Updating the baseline 36 Developing a framework for providing healthy, active Verifying and updating site boundaries 36 open space and play space in Hastings 5 Developing a hierarchy 40 Current provision 42 Chapter 2 Play provision 45 Introduction 7 Background 7 Chapter 8 Quality and value assessment 47 Study aims and objectives 7 Structure of this report 8 A welcoming place 48 Healthy, safe and secure 51 Chapter 3 Clean and well-maintained 53 Methodology 9 Sustainability 56 Conservation and heritage 56 Step 1: Identifying local need 9 Community involvement 58 Step 2: Auditing local provision 11 Marketing, communication & culture 58 Step 3: Setting local standards 11 Equipped play facilities 61 Step 4: Applying local standards 12 Beach and Seafront Promenade 63 Step 5: Making policy recommendations 12 Chapter 9 Chapter 4 Development and application of Planning policy and strategic context 14 proposed open space and play standards 68 National planning policy 14 Regional context 16 Accessibility assessment 68 Local policy 16 Quantity assessment 72 Local Plan Refresh 19 Quality and value assessment 72 Application of the proposed quantity standards 75 Application of the proposed quality, value and Chapter 5 accessibility standards 77 Understanding the need for open space and play space 20 Chapter 10 Population & social context 20 Developing a framework for providing healthy, active open space and play Chapter 6 space in Hastings 97 Consultation Findings 27 The value of open space and play space to health and well-being 97 Public Consultation 27 LUC I i Contents Hastings Strategic Open and Play Space Assessment July 2020 Contents Defining the characteristics of healthy, active open Appendix D spaces for play and informal recreation in Hastings 98 Audit form scoring system D-1 Recommendations for future open space 105 provision Appendix E Audited sites E-2 Appendix A Open Space Audit Form A-1 Appendix F Site quality and value ratings summary F-1 Appendix B Neighbouring Authority Standards Review B-1 Appendix G Detailed audit forms G-1 Appendix C Consultation Outputs C-1 LUC I ii Chapter- 1 Executive summary Hastings Strategic Open and Play Space Assessment July 2020 Chapter 1 Executive summary Purpose of this study Hastings Borough Council commissioned LUC to undertake a Strategic Open Space and Play Space Assessment to support the development of the Borough's Local Plan. Development of the new Local Plan will ensure the local plan is up to date, can meet the needs of the Borough’s current and future residents, and is able to work towards achieving the requirements for housing delivery. Hastings is an urban coastal town in East Sussex with a population of just over 90,000. The town boasts a number of European and nationally designated sites, and these natural areas, together with the coast, rivers, woods, streams, fields, parks and open spaces are the assets that make up the natural fabric of the town. In contrast to the relatively affluent rural areas that surround the Borough, Hastings contains significant pockets of deprivation. This deprivation has a knock-on effect resulting in higher rates of long-term illness, and poor lifestyle choices with people tending to have worse health and lower life expectancy compared to other areas. There is increasing pressure to deliver new housing in the Borough. With a diverse and growing population, it is more important than ever to ensure that people have a local network of parks and open spaces to provide them with the opportunity to improve their health and quality of life. The main objectives for this study are to: Update the evidence base for informal open space and play in the Borough; Set out the wider benefits of open space and play for Hastings residents; Audit and assess the quantity, quality, accessibility and value of open space and play facilities now and into the future, spatially identifying deficits and surpluses and setting appropriate local standards; and Provide evidence within a strategic context to inform any future related strategies, planning policy and developer contributions. The methodology for the assessment of open spaces in the Borough reflects the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework 2019 (NPPF) and has been informed by LUC I 3 Chapter 1 Executive summary Hastings Strategic Open and Play Space Assessment July 2020 recognised guidance on planning for open space and play Key findings space. Although considered typology by typology in the The findings of this study should also be used to inform analysis, when considered together, areas with greater priorities for future investment. This report sets out the deficiency are much clearer. Hastings as a whole has process for assessing open space provision within each relatively good access to open space. Most of the Borough Analysis Area to help prioritise the enhancement of the either has good access to all levels of the open space network. This is supported by a summary 'fact sheet' for each hierarchy or is only deficient in access to one level of the Analysis Area. hierarchy. There are some areas deficient in access to two or three levels of the hierarchy, predominantly these are around Approach to the study the edge of the Borough at the settlement edges: There are 172 sites totalling 703.68ha throughout the Baldslow (West Spatial Area) Borough. 158 of these sites were subject to a detailed audit Around the B2093 in the north of the West Spatial Area based on the Green Flag Award themes. Rye Road near Bachelor’s Bump (East Spatial Area) Of the total quantity of open space, 681.34ha are considered accessible. In addition to this, there are 17.16ha of Northern area of St Helen’s (East Spatial Area) allotments in the Borough. There are also a number of small areas deficient in Consultation with Hastings residents and local access to two or three levels of the hierarchy within more stakeholders has informed this study. This included a public densely populated areas of the Borough: survey, community workshops, consultation with neighbouring Mount Pleasant Road (East and Central Spatial Areas) authorities and consultation with several external stakeholders. Shirley Drive and Old Harrow Road (West Spatial Area) Sites were given scores for: Parts of St Leonards Green and St Leonards (West and Central Spatial Areas) 'value' (the presence of various features and facilities, and value to the local community); or There are two small areas deficient in access to two or three levels of the hierarchy near the beach in the 'quality' (aspects relating to management and the Central Spatial Area. Whilst deficient in access to Parks condition of features and facilities). and Gardens, Natural and Semi-Natural Green Space The ‘quantity’ of sites (the overall amount of a particular and Amenity Green Space, the areas of deficiency are typology) was also calculated to highlight any oversupply, within very close proximity to the beach which will sufficiency or deficiencies. Figure 1.1 shows the sites by provide the area with access to recreation and play typology. areas. A large portion of Hastings is within the access Typologies: catchment of allotments. The main area of deficiency is in the Parks and gardens north of the West Spatial Area and there is a small area of deficiency around Bachelor’s Bump in the East Spatial Area. Natural and semi-natural green space The Central Spatial Area and the populated areas of Amenity green space East Spatial Area have good access to Neighbourhood play. Allotments The West Spatial Area has large areas of deficiency in access in Silverhill Park, in the north of the Spatial Area, east of Cemeteries and churchyards Hollington Park and east of Church Wood. Provision for children and teenagers (as a primary and secondary typology) Areas deficient in access to Local play include: Outdoor sports provision (as a secondary typology) Northern section of the Central Spatial Area Beach and seafront promenade Old Town, St Helen’s and Bachelor’s Bump in the East Spatial Area Silverhill, east St Leonards, north and south of Church Wood in the West Spatial Area LUC I 4 Chapter 1 Executive summary Hastings Strategic Open and Play Space Assessment July 2020 There are large areas throughout the Borough deficient Areas with poor access to open space (based on the in access to Doorstep play spaces. accessibility standards), especially in areas where open spaces perform poorly against the quality and value Developing a framework for providing standards. healthy, active open space and play space Areas with an under provision of open space in terms of in Hastings quantity. Application of the Play Needs Index developed as part of Future management should aim to create a joined up the audit.