An Open Spaces Strategy for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets 2006 – 2016 Mid-Point Update December 2011
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An Open Spaces Strategy for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets 2006 – 2016 Mid-point update December 2011 1 Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 The Case for an Open Space Strategy.................................................................4 Parks and Open Spaces and the Community Plan ..............................................5 An Open Space Strategy that Supports Sustainable Growth ...............................7 Key Points.............................................................................................................7 SECTION 2: SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF THE OPEN SPACE STRATEGY9 Purpose ................................................................................................................9 Defining Open Space............................................................................................9 Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 17 on Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation & the Mayor’s Guidance on Open Space Strategies........................10 The Open Space Strategy and the Local Development Framework...................11 The Green Grid Strategy and the Local Development Framework.....................12 SECTION 3: REGIONAL AND SUB REGIONAL POLICY CONTEXT 14 The London Plan ................................................................................................14 The East London Green Grid Framework...........................................................14 Lea Valley and the Olympic Park........................................................................15 Key Points...........................................................................................................15 SECTION 4: METHODOLOGY AND OPEN SPACE HIERARCHY 16 Methodology .......................................................................................................16 Open Space Hierarchy: Classification and Typology..........................................17 SECTION 5: THE QUANTITY OF OPEN SPACE 19 Open Space Standards ......................................................................................19 Borough-wide Open Space Quantity ..................................................................19 Local Open Space Quantity................................................................................20 Key Points & Strategic Outcome ........................................................................21 SECTION 6: THE ACCESSIBILITY OF OPEN SPACE 22 Access Standards...............................................................................................22 Access to Housing Amenity Land .......................................................................23 Key Points & Strategic Outcome ........................................................................24 SECTION 7: THE QUALITY OF OPEN SPACE 25 Site selection ......................................................................................................25 2006 Quality Audit ..............................................................................................25 Summary of 2006 audit findings .........................................................................25 2011 Quality Audit ..............................................................................................26 Summary of 2011 audit findings .........................................................................26 Key Points & Strategic Outcomes.......................................................................26 SECTION 8: COMMUNITY VIEWS AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT 28 Parks and Open Spaces Annual Survey ............................................................28 Annual Residents Survey ...................................................................................29 Consultation on the Open Space Strategy 2011 ................................................30 Key Points...........................................................................................................34 SECTION 9: UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING DEMAND 35 2 Overall demand ..................................................................................................35 Main reasons for visiting parks and open spaces...............................................35 Demand for play for children and young people .................................................36 Demand for formal outdoor sports facilities ........................................................37 Sustainability and Environmental Demands .......................................................39 Preferred locations and typology of new strategic open spaces.........................39 Key Points...........................................................................................................45 SECTION 10: IMPLEMENTATION & MONITORING 46 Leading local placemaking and monitoring impact .............................................46 Attracting investment & ensuring local government efficiency............................46 Prioritising Investment ........................................................................................48 Strategic Outcome ..............................................................................................49 SECTION 11: ACTION PLAN UPDATE 50 Overarching Outcomes.......................................................................................50 Objectives and Actions .......................................................................................51 APPENDIX A: OUTLINE LDF CORE STRATEGY ‘PLACE’ MAP 52 APPENDIX B: OPEN SPACE DEFINITION, DESIGNATIONS AND TYPOLOGIES 53 APPENDIX C: EVIDENCE METHODOLOGY FOR THE TH GREEN GRID AND OPEN SPACE STRATEGIES 57 APPENDIX D: OPEN SPACE AUDIT 2011 - OPEN SPACE PROVISION AND QUALITY BY ‘PLACE’ 58 APPENDIX E: SPORTS FACILITIES IN PARKS AND OPEN SPACES 69 APPENDIX F: HISTORY OF PARKS AND OPEN SPACES IN TOWER HAMLETS AND THEIR HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE 74 APPENDIX G: SITES OF IMPORTANCE FOR NATURE CONSERVATION 81 APPENDIX H: ANALYSIS OF COUNCIL OWNED PARKS AND OPEN SPACES BY SIZE 83 APPENDIX I: 2011 AUDIT - QUALITY & VALUE SCORES FOR COUNCIL OWNED PARKS AND OPEN SPACES INCLUDING CAPITAL INVESTMENT DETAILS FROM 2006 TO 2011 87 APPENDIX J: MAPS 1 TO 17 (2011) 93 APPENDIX K: ACTION PLAN 94 3 SECTION 1: THE NEED FOR AN UPDATED OPEN SPACE STRATEGY The Case for an Open Space Strategy 1.1 Parks and open spaces offer many benefits for people and communities, the environment, wildlife and the local economy. The overall provision of publicly accessible open space is low in Tower Hamlets compared to most other London Boroughs and national standards, and some parts of the borough are acutely deficient. The borough has a growing population which combined with plans for additional housing presents a changing picture of need over the coming years. 1.2 A strategic approach is required to protect existing spaces and to ensure that the most effective use is made of resources for improvements to access, quality and availability of publicly accessible open space. A key function of the Strategy is to identify the measures required to mitigate the impacts of a growing population based on an assessment of future need relative to current provision. 1.3 Updating the Strategy focuses on refreshing the quantitative and qualitative assessment of open space in Tower Hamlets to guide future investment in new and existing open space. The update also ensures that the Strategy remains consistent with the refreshed Community Plan. The Strategy is not intended as a day to day guide to service management but as a tool for safeguarding the benefits of open space for future residents. 1.4 Tower Hamlets covers an area of less than 8 square miles. It has an estimated population of over 250,000, which is growing rapidly with an increase of over 60,000 since 2001. Tower Hamlets now has one of the highest population densities in London and one of the highest levels of high- rise housing. These two facts have a profound implication for the provision, role and quality of open space in the borough. 1.5 At the same time as seeing significant job growth in the financial sector, Tower Hamlets remains one of the most deprived areas in the country. About three-quarters of children living in Tower Hamlets are in low-income families. Unemployment rates are significantly above London and national rates. The percentage of claimants who are long-term unemployed (over 6 months) is significantly higher than for both Greater London and England. 1.6 Open spaces, and particularly parks, are playing an increasingly important role for tourism by providing some of the most striking images of the borough and an important infrastructure to support some of the largest festivals and events in the UK. The potential for open spaces to contribute to economic regeneration must continue to be developed, but increased event usage needs to be managed carefully. 1.7 Tower Hamlets’ population is ethnically diverse. The GLA 2010 Round Ethnic Group Projections identify that in 2011 almost half (46.6%) of the population is made up of minority ethnic groups. The largest of these groups is the Bangladeshi community, comprising 29.6% of the population. It is the largest 4 single minority ethnic population of any London borough. There are also sizeable Chinese and African groups, including a growing Somali community. 1.8 A significant number of young people live in Tower Hamlets. 19.3% of the population is under 15 years old, compared to 19.1% for Greater London. The 20 - 39 year old age group represents 46.7% of the total population compared to 35.2% for Greater London. 1.9 With such