BLABY GREEN SPACE STRATEGY 2012 1 CONTENTS 1.0 Forward 2.0 Introduction 3.0 Vision for the Future 3.1 Strategic Vision 3.2 Category Specific Vision & Actions 4.0 Purpose & Scope of the Strategy 4.1 Purpose 4.2 Scope 5.0 The Benefits of Green Spaces 6.0 Policy Context 7.0 Assessment of current Green Space provision (Supply) 7.1 Parks & Recreation Grounds 7.2 Outdoor Sports Space 7.3 Equipped Children & Young People’s Space 7.4 Informal Open Space 7.5 Natural Green Space 7.6 Allotments 7.7 Churchyards & Cemeteries 7.8 Green Corridors 7.9 Green Wedges 7.10 Public Rights of Way 7.11 Civic Spaces 7.12 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) 7.13 Key Findings from the Assessment 8.0 Consultation (Demand & Need) 8.1 Existing Demographic Information 8.2 Blaby Residents Survey 8.3 Public Satisfaction with Parks & Open Spaces Report 8.4 Community Survey & Young Persons Survey 8.5 Key Findings from the Consultation 9.0 Standards of Provision 9.1 Strategic Green Space & Hierarchy 9.2 PPG17 Standards 9.3 Consultation 9.4 Partnership Working 9.5 Quality Assessment 9.6 Management & Maintenance 9.7 Signposting, Interpretation and Marketing 9.8 Biodiversity Action Plan 9.9 Value for money, External Funding & Investment 2 9.10 Surplus Facilities 9.11 Anti-Social Behaviour 9.12 Adoption 9.13 Developer Contributions 9.14 Safeguarding Green Space 9.15 Strategy Review 10.0 Action Plan Appendix 1 - Relationship with other strategies Appendix 2 – Policy Review Appendix 3 - Assessment of Current Green Space Provision Appendix 4 – Strategic Criteria Site Assessment Form Appendix 5 – Decision Making Process for Re-Development of Green Spaces Appendix 6 - Site Adoption Process Maps Figure 1 - Parks & Recreation Grounds Figure 2 - Outdoor Sports Space Figure 3 - Equipped Children & Young People’s Space Figure 4 - Young People’s Space Figure 5 - Informal Open Space Figure 6 - Natural Green Space Figure 7 - Allotments Figure 8 - Churchyards & Cemeteries Figure 9 - Green Corridors Figure 10 - Green Wedges Figure 11 - Footpaths Figure 12 - Cycle Routes Figure 13 - Civic Spaces Figure 14 - Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) 3 1.0 Forward We view good quality green space as an essential part of the community for the Blaby District, green space offers so much to such a wide variety of people. If we want to achieve and deliver sustainable communities then green space must be an essential part of this. Green spaces provide a wide variety of parks, riverside walks, nature reserves, play areas, cemeteries, allotments, sports pitches, woodlands and much more. Satisfaction survey results tell us that 84% of our residents are satisfied or very satisfied with the parks & open spaces in our District. We will strive to keep improving our green spaces and to provide stimulating environments for both people and wildlife. The District Council is working with partners to reduce health inequalities and improve health and well-being for its residents. Green spaces are an essential part of achieving this as they not only provide for physical activity and recreation but provide peaceful places for people to unwind, relax and engage with nature, all essential for our psychological well-being. I am delighted to endorse the Blaby Green Space Strategy and feel this is a starting point for the District's green spaces to develop and improve by working in partnership with Parish Council's, local communities and other relevant organisations. Ernie White Leader of Blaby District Council Chair of the Leicestershire Health & Well-Being Board 4 2.0 Introduction Green space in towns and villages is essential to health and well-being. The overall definition of green space within government planning guidance is: “All green 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” We appreciate that in some instances there may be some confusion in terms of what green space means and inconsistency of opinion so in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework and our local environment we have categorised the following types of green spaces; parks & recreation grounds, outdoor sports space, children’s & young people’s space, informal open space, natural green space, allotments, churchyards & cemeteries, green infrastructure, green wedges, public rights of way, civic spaces, sites of special scientific interest (SSSI). Good quality green space make a considerable contribution to the quality of life of residents and visitors and to sustainable communities. In recent years the Department for Communities and Local Government recognised this and encouraged a holistic and strategic approach to the provision and care of open space. The District Council will seek to balance the need to protect and enhance the ecology, landscape and historic value of the area without hindering regeneration and economic growth whilst developing the recreation potential of the area. This will involve improving and enhancing green spaces through initiatives and partnership working and deal with issues such as biodiversity, recreation, access, and climate change. The role of green spaces in off- setting extremes of heat, reducing flood risk, carbon storage and improving air quality cannot be over-estimated. The District’s green infrastructure network will be safeguarded and enhanced by not permitting development that compromises its integrity and ensuring developer contributions are utilised to facilitate improvements and long-term management. The importance of community involvement in the planning, creation and management of green spaces cannot be overstated nor the need to encourage access to and awareness of the benefits of green space for education, health and leisure. The Council will pursue opportunities to make green space, sport and recreation facilities more accessible and improve links and connections between spaces. The network of Rights of Way provide local routes that join communities and provide routes to access shops, schools and workplaces and will provide the link from urban areas to open countryside. The landscape within the district is broadly similar, consisting of gently undulating farmland intersected by transport routes and by the floodplains of the Rivers Sence, Soar and Rothley Brook. There are large settlements around the south and west of Leicester and a scattering of smaller settlements throughout the rest of the district. There are also some large industrial and employment areas, mostly located in close proximity to the motorway. Quarrying activity is evident across the district. Localised 5 changes in landscape character tend to occur around river valleys and towards the edges of the district. Croft Hill forms an important landscape feature within the district rising 60m above the surrounding land. The present economic crisis is now however impacting widely upon services and provision. Funding from a variety of sources is no longer available and there is a pressing need to consider what is affordable and how we can maximise the effective use of resources to continue to protect and enhance green spaces. Blaby District Council has risen to the challenge of preparing a strategy for its green spaces in the light of the current financial situation to make the greatest use of the resources and meet the needs of local people. This strategy will achieve this by: • Developing a clear and shared vision between the community, Council and other stakeholders • Demonstrating the value of green space in achieving corporate, strategic and community objectives • Establishing a cross-cutting framework for provision, design, management, accessibility and maintenance • Ensuring that existing and future green spaces enhance the quality of life of local communities and the environment and promote greater pride of place and social inclusion • Maximising resources to support green space maintenance, development and improvements through external funding opportunities and allocation of revenue budgets • Providing a clear framework for voluntary, community and user groups to contribute to on going monitoring, management and maintenance of green spaces • Producing an Action Plan that sets out to rationalise and deliver an approach to green spaces that can be afforded The Green Space Strategy is one of a number of plans reflecting the Community Plan and will inform the development of the Council’s Local Development Framework. The Strategy will inform planning policy and enable the Council to make a robust defence of those green spaces that it wants to protect. Whilst this document will primarily be used by the District Council, it provides a useful framework for Parish Council’s and local community groups who own or manage local green space. 6 3.0 Vision for the Future 3.1 Strategic Vision: The Strategic vision for Blaby’s green spaces was developed by the Council’s Green Infrastructure Forum with key stakeholders and has the support of Elected Members. The Council recognises that each green space site will vary and that different approaches will be required at different sites. Each site will be considered in the context of its surrounding environment, the need to encourage biodiversity and to respond to the needs of local people. The strategic vision for Blaby’s green space strategy is shown below: Strategic Vision ‘To provide green spaces that make a positive contribution to the quality and diversity of the local environment and to the health and well-being of our residents. Our green spaces will be used, valued, and enjoyed by everyone’ Strategic Actions • Develop a marketing strategy to increase usage and encourage the use of green spaces as part of a healthy lifestyle. • Conduct consultation with vulnerable groups to understand the reasons why they don’t use open spaces and to encourage use. • To deliver events at Green Spaces. • Reduce deficiencies in green space across the district through the planning system and update Planning Policy Guidance (17) data to reflect new green space from recent developments.