Wolverhampton City Council Open Space, Sport & Recreation Study A
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WOLVERHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL OPEN SPACE, SPORT & RECREATION STUDY A FINAL REPORT BY PMP OCTOBER 2008 CONTENTS Page Section 1 Introduction and background 7 Section 2 Strategic context 21 Section 3 Parks and gardens 31 Section 4 Natural and semi natural open space 61 Section 5 Provision for children 81 Section 6 Provision for young people 106 Section 7 Outdoor sports facilities 125 Section 8 Amenity green space 146 Section 9 Indoor sports facilities 168 Section 10 Allotments 202 Section 11 Cemeteries and churchyards 214 Section 12 Green corridors 219 Section 13 Summary 227 SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND Introduction and background The Study 1.1 Wolverhampton City Council (the Council) appointed PMP to undertake an audit and assessment of open space, sport and recreation facilities in the City of Wolverhampton (the City) in accordance with the requirements of the latest Planning Policy Guidance Note 17 (Planning for Open Space Sport and Recreation, July 2002) and its Companion Guide (September 2002). The assessment of open space, sport and recreation facilities was undertaken alongside a playing pitch assessment, which considers provision of football, cricket, rugby and hockey pitches in more detail. 1.2 The study includes an audit of all open space provision providing a clear vision, priorities for existing and future open space and a direction for the allocation of future resources. 1.3 The aims of the study were to: • to provide the Council with an audit and assessment of open space, sport and recreation provision in the City that meets the needs and requirements of Planning Policy Guidance Note 17 (PPG 17) • to carry out a comprehensive assessment of current and future needs with a full assessment of existing open space in terms of quantity, quality and accessibility • to develop a City wide audit of the quality, quantity and accessibility of open space and built facilities across Wolverhampton • to develop robust provision standards that will underpin the Council’s open space, sport and recreation forward planning (UDP/LDF policies) and inform future policy decisions for each PPG 17 typology • to identify surpluses and deficiencies of open space provision • to provide a robust evidence base for the justification of developer contributions towards open space provision. 1.4 It is intended that this study will enable the Council to develop cost and design guidelines for existing and future provision and maintenance of different open spaces and facilities. The study will also enable the Council to guide development of planning policies and a revised green spaces strategy. 1.5 The study considers the local need for open space, sport and recreation facilities from residents and visitors to the City. The changing context, both locally in Wolverhampton and sub-regionally across the Black Country is also taken into account. Need for local assessments 1.6 This assessment of open space and local needs will enable the Council to: • plan positively, creatively and effectively in identifying priority areas, now and in the future, for improvement and to target appropriate types of open space • ensure an adequate provision of high quality, accessible open space to meet the needs of the local community Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study – Wolverhampton 7 SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND • ensure any accessible funding is invested in the right places where there is the most need • conduct Section 106 negotiations with developers from a position of knowledge with evidence to support • ensure that local open space meets the needs of the varying sectors of the local community • plan future open space delivered through physical regeneration programmes effectively. 1.7 Where no assessment exists, developers can undertake their own independent assessment to demonstrate that open space is surplus to requirements. It is therefore desirable for the Council to have robust data to protect open space within the City. Why public open space? 1.8 PPG 17 states that well designed and implemented planning policies for open space, sport and recreation are fundamental to delivering broader Government objectives, which include: • supporting an urban renaissance • supporting a rural renewal • promotion of social inclusion and community cohesion • health and well being • promoting more sustainable development. 1.9 Open space and recreation provision in Wolverhampton has an important role to play in supporting the implementation of these objectives as well as wider regional and local objectives. Function and benefits of open space 1.10 Open spaces can provide a number of functions within the urban fabric of towns for example, the provision for play and informal recreation, aesthetic landscape areas and / or a habitat for the promotion of biodiversity. Open spaces can also promote community cohesion, encourage community development and stimulate partnerships between the public and private sector. 1.11 Each type of open space has various benefits, for example allotments for the growing of own produce, play areas for children’s play and playing pitches for formal sports events. Open space can additionally perform a secondary function, for example outdoor sports facilities have an amenity value in addition to facilitating sport and recreation. 1.12 There is a requirement to provide a balance between different types of open space in order to meet local needs. Across different areas of Wolverhampton the demand may vary, for example some areas may show a demand for open space in the form of playing pitches or allotments whilst others will have specific local demand for ‘green corridor’ sites such as nature walks or bridleways. Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study – Wolverhampton 8 SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 1.13 Changing social and economic circumstances, shifts in work and leisure practices, more sophisticated consumer tastes and higher public expectations have placed new demands on open spaces. They have to serve more diverse communities and face competition from various developers including sport and leisure. 1.14 Parks and open spaces are more accessible to a wider range of people than some sport and leisure facilities and are better able to realise the aims of social inclusion and equality of opportunity. These opportunities are particularly important within Wolverhampton in light of the diverse population and very low levels of sports participation across the Black Country. Sport England’s Active People Survey reveals that around one in six (16.1%) adults in Wolverhampton take part in moderate intensity sport and active recreation on three or more occasions a week that lasts for 30 minutes or more. Wolverhampton is ranked 347th out of 354 local authorities nationally and 31st out of 34 regionally in the West Midlands. The protection and provision of open space, sport and recreation facilities is key to a healthy, sustainable and thriving community. 1.15 It is widely recognised that the provision of high quality ‘public realm’ facilities such as parks and open spaces can assist in the promotion of an area as an attractive place to live, and can result in a number of wider benefits. These are highlighted in Appendix A. Types of open space 1.16 The overall definition of open space within the government planning guidance is: “all open space of public value, including not just land, but also areas of water such as rivers, canals, lakes and reservoirs which offer important opportunities for sport and recreation and can also act as a visual amenity”. 1.17 PPG17 identifies a range of typologies. This study includes the assessment of nine types of open space and multi-use-games-areas as a separate typology. These have been listed below: • parks and gardens (broken down into District Parks and Neighbourhood Parks) • natural and semi natural open space • amenity green space • provision for children • provision for young people/teenagers • outdoor sports facilities • allotments and community gardens • green corridors • churchyards and cemeteries. 1.18 This study also considers the provision of built sports facilities, specifically swimming pools, sports halls and local community centres. Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study – Wolverhampton 9 SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 1.19 The study takes into account open spaces, sport and recreation facilities regardless of ownership and management, ensuring an accurate and representative picture of current provision within the City. Full details of these typologies, their definitions and primary purpose are outlined in Appendix B. 1.20 The Wolverhampton City Council PPG17 study should drive the future planning of sport and recreation facilities across the City and should facilitate the delivery of increased participation in sport and physical activity. The relationship with other strategies and the drivers for increased participation are set out below in figure 1.1. Figure 1.1 – Relationship to other strategies Local Strategic Partnership Community Best Value Performance Regional/Local Single Sport Plan Planning Policy System Council Open Space Strategy / Green Space Strategy PPG17: Local Needs Assessment and Sport& Audit Playing Pitch Strategy Physical Activity Facility Strategy Play Strategy Delivery Planning Strategy Outputs Inputs Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study – Wolverhampton 10 SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND Methodology PPG17 – 5 step process 1.21 The PPG17 Companion Guide sets out a five step logical process for undertaking a local assessment of open space. This