Blaby Green Space Strategy

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)

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

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.

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.

• Apply the strategic criteria to prioritise green space sites and identify sites of strategic importance.

• Conduct quality audits for sites to prioritise investment & improvements.

• Work in partnership with Parish Councils to ensure a co-ordinated approach to green space issues.

• Monitor this Green Space Strategy and review it at regular intervals.

3.2 Category Specific Vision & Actions:

The above strategic vision is an over-arching principle for the strategy. This has been used to develop a vision and actions for each of the green space categories, shown below:

Parks & Recreation Grounds

This category includes recreation grounds, parks and formal gardens. They can be in many different forms and often include some of the other categories, such as, Outdoor Sports Space and Children’s Play Areas. Vision: ‘To protect, improve and raise the profile of Parks & Recreation Grounds so local residents are proud of them, use them regularly, look after them & enjoy them’

What we will do How we will do it Raise standards at Parks & Recreation Maintain Parks & Recreation Grounds to Grounds to meet the needs and demands of Green Flag standards. the local community. Respond to local needs such as maintenance issues, provision of dog / litter bins etc.

Bid for funding from external sources to improve Parks & Recreation Grounds. Improve access to Parks & Recreation Identify site specific improvements. Grounds for all communities to use, appreciate and enjoy. Increase the number of Parks & Recreation Grounds. Encourage and involve local communities in Encourage, support & develop volunteers for managing and developing Parks & Parks & Recreation Grounds. Recreation Grounds. Encourage dog owners to act responsibly and to clean up after their dogs. Protect & enhance the historic & Review and update site management plans. environmental context of the District’s Parks & Recreation Grounds. Identify sustainable ways of maintaining Parks & Recreation Grounds to promote biodiversity. Key Performance Measures: • Public satisfaction levels with Green Spaces. • Increased number of Parks & Recreation Grounds. • Revised and updated Management Plans for all strategic sites. • Work towards Green Flag awards / standards starting with Fosse Meadows.

Outdoor Sports Space

Fixed sports spaces that are openly accessible to the public. Facilities include sports pitches, including cricket, football and rugby. They also include fixed sports spaces such as tennis courts, and bowling greens. Very often these facilities are located within Parks or Recreation Grounds, and as such, many of the facilities are multifunctional. Vision: ‘To provide residents with access to good quality formal outdoor sports space and changing facilities that contribute to increasing participation levels and the visual amenity of the area’ What we will do How we will do it Raise standards at Outdoor Sports Spaces to Seek to improve facility & pitch quality at meet the needs and demands of the local Outdoor Sports Spaces. community. Identify sustainable ways of maintaining Parks & Recreation Grounds.

Bid for funding from external sources to improve Outdoor Sports Spaces. Improve access to Outdoor Sports Space for Identify site specific improvements. all communities to use, appreciate and enjoy. Increase the number of Outdoor Sports Spaces.

Ensure Outdoor Sports Space on school sites will be developed to allow community access. Encourage and involve local communities in Encourage, support & develop local sports managing and developing Outdoor Sports clubs at Outdoor Sports Space. Space. Key Performance Measures: • User satisfaction levels with Sports Spaces. • Provision of Outdoor Sports Spaces against standards.

Equipped Children & Young People's Space This category considers formal play space for young people. This includes, equipped children’s space (for children up to and around 12 years old) and provision for teenagers (skateboard parks, basketball courts and multi-use games areas). Vision: ‘Children & young people living in the Blaby district have access to play provision and teenage facilities that meet their needs in terms of quality, quantity and accessibility’ What we will do How we will do it Raise standards at Children & Young Manage & maintain sites through regular People’s Space to meet the needs and inspections. demands of the local community. Bid for funding from external sources to improve Children & Young People’s Space. Improve access to Children & Young Identify site specific improvements. People’s Space for all communities to use, appreciate and enjoy. Increase the number of Children & Young People’s Space. Encourage and involve local communities in Encourage & support local involvement in the managing and developing Children & Young design of Children & Young People’s Space People’s Space. and promote natural play space design. Key Performance Measures: • User satisfaction levels with Children & Young People’s Spaces. • Increased number of Children & Young People’s Spaces.

Informal Open Space Spaces open to free and spontaneous use, but neither laid out or managed for a specific function. These spaces will vary in size, usually mown grass, unlikely to have identifiable entrance points, no formal layout or recreational facilities. Vision: ‘To provide opportunities for informal activities close to home or work and to enhance the visual appearance an area’ What we will do How we will do it Improve access to Informal Open Space for Ensure adequate supply of Informal Open all communities to use, appreciate and enjoy. Space is provided within new developments and consider wider connectivity for these sites.

Maintain Informal Open Space to consistent standards. Encourage and involve local communities in Encourage Parish Council’s and local managing and developing Informal Open communities to take ownership of Informal Space. Open Spaces. Key Performance Measures: • User satisfaction levels with Informal Open Spaces. • Informal Open Spaces maintained to consistent standards.

Natural Green Space Natural Green Space covers a variety of spaces including meadows, river floodplain, nature areas, woodland and copse all of which share a trait of having natural characteristics and wildlife value, some of which are also open to public use and enjoyment.

Vision: ‘To protect natural green spaces and provide accessibility for people where appropriate to enjoy for recreation, to experience and learn about nature and to provide important wildlife habitats’

What we will do How we will do it Improve access to Natural Green Space for Indentify improvements in terms of signage, all communities to use, appreciate and enjoy. interpretation & any site specific access issues.

Increase the number of Natural Green Space sites and potential connectivity through the planning system. Protect & enhance the wildlife and To work with partners to have appropriate biodiversity value of Natural Green Space. management plans in place that will improve access, management, understanding & sustainability of these sites. Key Performance Measures: • Public satisfaction levels with Green Spaces. • Develop local biodiversity targets.

Allotments Allotment sites provide areas for residents to grow their own produce and plants. Vision: ‘To have a range of well managed, productive and well used Allotment sites across the District’

What we will do How we will do it Raise standards at Allotment sites to meet Improve facilities available at existing sites. the needs and demands of the local community. Ensure new sites provide the facilities set out in the quality standards for Allotment sites. Improve access to Allotment sites for all Increase the number of Allotment sites communities to use, appreciate and enjoy. through the planning system. Key Performance Measures: • User satisfaction levels with Allotments. • Increased number of Allotments. • Number in active use.

Churchyards & Cemeteries

Although the primary purpose of churchyards and cemeteries is not for recreation, in many areas they can provide a tranquil haven for residents and wildlife. Vision: ‘To ensure they are protected and managed as places for burial and spiritual reflection, as places to promote health and well being, for their importance for heritage, nature conservation and biodiversity’

What we will do How we will do it To protect & maintain the District’s Carry out regular inspections, condition Churchyards & Cemeteries from dereliction & surveys & ecological surveys to make safeguard those areas with important nature appropriate plans to manage Churchyards & conservation, heritage or archaeological Cemeteries. features as far as possible to retain unique To repair & replace memorials where characteristics. possible to maintain the character of the site. Improve access and raise awareness of the To maintain a database of memorials in all important benefits these areas of open space closed churchyards and provide internet have to our quality of life and well-being and access to this. encourage all communities to use, appreciate and enjoy. Encourage and involve partners & local We will liaise with relevant partners to communities in managing and developing determine likely uses & ensure our Churchyards & Cemeteries. maintenance arrangements are such that a good impression is created for visitors. Key Performance Measures: • Public satisfaction levels with Churchyards & Cemeteries. • No. of closed churchyards with up to date memorial databases accessible on line. • No. of memorials inspected, no. of memorials restored/repaired. • No. of closed churchyards with current condition surveys.

Green Corridors Green Corridors are networks of multi-functional green spaces. They can be a combination of public and privately owned land and can include towpaths along riverbanks, cycle routes, rights of way and disused railway lines. Vision: ‘To provide opportunities for walking, cycling and horse riding whether for leisure purposes or travel and opportunities for wildlife migration’

What we will do How we will do it Protect & extend the Green Corridor network Identify opportunities for further development where appropriate and possible to do so. of Green Corridors through the planning system linking urban areas into the wider countryside.

Improve access to Green Corridors for all Identify improvements in terms of signage, communities to use, appreciate and enjoy. interpretation & any site specific access issues. Protect & enhance the wildlife & biodiversity To work with partners to have appropriate value of Green Corridors. management plans in place that will protect and enhance biodiversity, improve access and understanding of nature on these sites. Key Performance Measures: • User satisfaction levels with Green Corridors. • Number of planning applications that have contributed to increasing /enhancing Green Corridors.

Green Wedges Green Wedges are important strategic gaps between settlements. They are designated to prevent the merging of settlements, guide development form, improve air quality and can provide a recreational resource. Vision: ‘To balance the need for Green Wedges against the need to provide new development and to seek opportunities to create new Green Wedges through new development’

What we will do How we will do it Protect existing & provide new Green Identify new requirements for Green Wedges Wedges where appropriate and possible to and wider connectivity through the planning do so. system.

Improve access to Green Wedges for all Identify improvements in terms of signage, communities to use, appreciate and enjoy. interpretation & any site specific access issues. Protect & enhance the wildlife & biodiversity To work with partners to have appropriate value of Green Wedges. management plans in place that will improve access, biodiversity, understanding & sustainability of these sites. Key Performance Measures: • Public satisfaction levels with Green Spaces. • Number of management plans in place.

12 Civic Spaces Civic spaces include civic and market squares and other hard surfaced community areas designed for pedestrians with the primary purpose of providing a setting for civic buildings, public activities and community events. Vision: ‘To provide civic spaces for residents, visitors and traders to interact. This could include open air markets, a local meeting point and public events. Our Civic Spaces will be a hub and enhance the surrounding area’ What we will do How we will do it Improve access to Civic Spaces for all Ensure adequate supply of Civic Space is communities to use, appreciate and enjoy. provided through the planning system.

Indentify improvements in terms of signage, interpretation & any site specific access issues.

Ensure Civic Spaces are clean, well maintained and safe. Encourage and involve local communities in Encourage Parish Council’s and Town managing and developing Civic Spaces. Centre Partnerships to deliver local events and activities on Civic Spaces. Key Performance Measures: • Public satisfaction levels with Civic Spaces.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) are the country's very best wildlife and geological sites. There are over 4,000 SSSIs in England, with six of these within the Blaby District. They include some of our most spectacular and beautiful habitats. Vision: ‘To safeguard and enhance all SSSI sites throughout the District’

What we will do How we will do it Protect and enhance all SSSI sites within the Any development proposals which will have District or which decisions may influence. an adverse impact will be resisted through the planning system.

Work with partners (such as Natural England & the Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust) to ensure that land owners manage SSSI sites properly. Key Performance Measures: • Public satisfaction levels with Green Spaces. • Condition of SSSI’s (Natural England data).

4.0 Purpose & Scope of the Strategy

4.1 Purpose

This strategy for green spaces will set out the vision and goals to be achieved along with the resources, methods and time needed to deliver them. This strategy will:

Provide a shared vision for the future and ensure the linkages are evident The strategy helps everyone understand the value of parks and green spaces in achieving corporate, strategic and community objectives. The strategic links that are made between this strategy and other Blaby District Council strategies are found in Appendix 1. Green space is an important element of other Council strategies. The Green Space Strategy is therefore important in establishing a cross-cutting policy framework for provision, design, management, accessibility and maintenance and for establishing political and inter-departmental officer support and responsibility.

Provide a framework for community groups The District of Blaby already has a history of developing Friends of Parks groups, which helps ensure that those green spaces meet the needs of local people, and provides a clear framework for voluntary and community groups to contribute to on going management and maintenance of green spaces. This strategy process is a catalyst to enhance community engagement and the District Council is committed to working with the local community to ensure the needs of existing and future communities are being met.

Help to identify improvements required and to set priorities This strategy will ensure that existing and future green spaces enhance the quality of life of local communities and the environment and promote greater civic pride and social inclusion. It will identify what needs protecting, enhancing or creating and will help identify open space that requires improvement.

Help make the case for funding opportunities and planning obligations The District of Blaby has had some success in accessing funds for developing green spaces. The Council will continue to make applications where appropriate and will aim to maximise resources to support green space improvements through external funding opportunities as well as allocation of revenue budgets. This Strategy sets out the policies and aspirations for the District’s green space, which will aid future applications for funding and give developers a clear view on what might be required within future development agreements.

Be responsive to the changing financial, planning and policy environment The Coalition Government has made clear the need to reduce very significantly public expenditure and has begun to remove many of the regional and national structures which channelled funding. It is clear that we need to reassess what we provide, how it is provided and funded and who is commissioned to deliver the agreed provision. This Strategy responds to national, regional and local policies and guidance.

Understand & manage public expectations in relation to green space issues Consultations on the Sustainable Community Strategy, Green Space liaison meetings and feedback from Residents Surveys showed that green space issues are often at the forefront of communities’ aspirations and are a major factor in satisfaction with the area as a place to live. The current financial situation will mean many and widespread reductions in the levels of services currently being provided. Given this, it is more essential than ever before to ensure efficient use of available resources and effective engagement with the residents of the District to explain and involve them in the decisions that will have to be made over the next few years.

Improve Access & Usage In order to ensure that everyone has access to green space, the accessibility of sites should be maximised. Opportunities to improve connectivity between sites and other green spaces in the vicinity will be considered, taking advantage of planning gain from larger developments. In planning for improved access consideration should be given to enhanced public transport links, the position of existing entrances, disability access provision, good quality footpaths and ramps, multi-functionality, maximising connectivity between open spaces, the wider strategic footpath network, installation of bicycle racks where necessary, clear entrance signs. The County Council’s Rights of Way Improvement Plan lays out detailed policies in this area.

4.2 Scope

The scope of this strategy will include the following classifications of green space:

• Parks & recreation grounds • Outdoor sports space • Children’s & young people’s space • Informal open space • Natural green space • Allotments • Churchyards & Cemeteries • Green Corridors • Green Wedges • Public Rights of Way • Civic spaces • Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

Although farmland has not been mapped as it is generally not accessible to the public, it is recognised that this type of land does contribute to the ecology of an area, contributes to local air quality and to a general feeling of space.

5.0 The Benefits of Green Spaces

Green space is an essential ingredient of successful neighbourhoods and it provides a wide range of social, economic and environmental benefits to local communities. There is huge national demand for better quality green spaces. Surveys repeatedly show how much the public values them, while research reveals how closely the quality of green spaces links to levels of health, crime and the quality of life in every neighbourhood.

In Blaby green space includes parks & recreation grounds, outdoor sports space, children’s & young people’s space, informal open space, natural green space, allotments, churchyards & cemeteries, green corridors, green wedges, public rights of way, civic spaces and sites of special scientific interest (SSSI). Well designed green space provides space for recreational activities improving physical health and fitness and mental health and well being. Green spaces are also productive, yielding the fresh fruit and vegetables that are essential to a healthy diet.

Green space affords opportunities for social interaction between people of different communities, fostering social inclusion and community development. It can often become a focus for community activity, involvement and capacity building, thereby helping to develop citizenship and local pride and reducing anti-social behaviour and crime.

Green space provides opportunities for people to get involved in creative and cultural activities by supplying a venue for cultural events and festivals or public art installations. In themselves, green spaces contribute to heritage and culture by providing reservoirs of collective memory. For example, churchyards can operate as the biography of our communities containing important historical and cultural features that help identify our heritage.

Good quality green space contributes significantly to regeneration and neighbourhood renewal projects by improving the image of places and attracting investment. It improves investor and resident perception of the place by raising confidence in the area. Quality green space is known to have a significant positive impact on house prices, supporting the creation of stable housing markets.

Green space corridors provide visual interest along main roads and can improve drivers’ perceptions of the District, encouraging tourism and stimulating the local economy. Green space helps create an attractive environment in which to live, work, visit and invest, thereby assisting economic growth in the District.

Green space provides a wealth of opportunities for outdoor play, which is known to have developmental and therapeutic benefits for children and young people. It is important for building social, emotional and life skills and can provide a means for children to learn about risk and develop confidence and independence. Green space helps children and young people to stay healthy and tackle problems of obesity by providing opportunities for exercising and fresh air. It can also provide essential diversionary activities for young people, helping to reduce anti social behaviour. Spaces that are designed

16 with young people’s involvement also offer a safe place for young people to meet, play and socialise.

Green space can function as an ‘outdoor classroom’ offering formal and informal learning opportunities for schools and communities thereby contributing to lifelong learning and helping to improve educational attainment.

Well designed Green space contributes towards biodiversity and supports environmental sustainability. Within urban green space, varied habitats help to relieve the monotony of the urban landscape with different colours and sounds and help to bring the delights of the countryside into our towns. As well as providing important visual amenity benefits in built up areas urban green space gives people the chance to experience and learn about nature and wildlife close to where they live.

Green space delivers a variety of ecosystem services, these are free natural services essential for our everyday lives, for example, food, wood, water, pollination, nutrient cycling, soil formation and flood defence. These particular ecosystem services will play an increasingly important role as our climate continues to change.

Golf courses in particular can provide wildlife havens within a suburban area and can offer the stepping stones to link more natural open spaces and farmland to suburban gardens with obvious ecological benefits.

This strategy provides a working document for users and managers to direct the protection, maintenance and development of green spaces and ensure that they continue to provide as many benefits as possible to residents and visitors to Blaby District.

6.0 Policy Context

The Green Space Strategy is set within the context of national, regional and local policies. Strategies and evidence base documents have been reviewed and are presented in Appendix 2. Key documents include:

National / Regional:

National Planning Policy for green space, sport and recreation emphasises the role that green spaces should play in urban regeneration. It is recognised that green spaces have a role to play in maximising quality of life, improving health, education and biodiversity conservation in addition to their recreational value. Strategic planning and management of green spaces can help to ensure adequate provision, appropriate usage and can maximise the value of capital investment. National policy advocates that local authorities produce green space strategies in order to obtain the greatest possible benefits. Key documents which are particularly relevant to setting the national and regional context are shown below:

• National Planning Policy Framework (2012)

• Planning Policy Guidance – PPG17: Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation (2002)

• Urban Green Spaces Task Force report – Green Spaces Better Places (2002)

• Living Spaces, Cleaner, Safer, Greener (2002)

• European Landscape Convention

• The Natural Environment & Rural Communities (NERC) Act

• Green Space Strategies – A Good Practice Guide (2004)

• 6C’s Green Infrastructure Strategy (2010)

• East Midlands Green Infrastructure Scoping Study (2009) & Stepping Stones Project

• Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Landscape and Woodland Strategy

Local:

It is important for the green space strategy to reflect the local needs of the district. To ensure this strategy can be embedded as a local working document the following district related policies have been considered:

• Building a Big Society for our area – A Community Plan for Blaby District (2011)

18 • Blaby District Council Local Development Framework (LDF) Core Strategy Submission Version (January 2012)

• Blaby District Council PPG 17 Open Space, Sports & Recreation Facilities Assessment (2009)

• Blaby District Council Children’s Play Strategy (2007-2012)

• Local Health Data (various sources)

• Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland Biodiversity Action Plan

• Areas of Separation Policy (included in Core Strategy)

• Countryside Policy (included in Core Strategy)

• Leicestershire Rights of Way Improvement Plan

• Leicester City Rights of Way Improvement Plan

7.0 Assessment of current Green Space provision

The following information provides an overview of the existing provision of green space in Blaby (as identified in the Council’s PPG17 Study). This includes a description of each category, key findings from the assessment and a table showing provision based on accessibility (more detailed information is included in appendix 3, this includes descriptions, quality, quantity and accessibility information).

7.1 Parks & Recreation Grounds

For the purpose of this study all sites including recreation grounds, parks, and formal gardens have been placed under a single classification called Parks, and Recreation Grounds. They take on many forms, and may embrace a wide range of functions, such as: • Informal recreation and outdoor sport. • Play space of many kinds (including for sport and children’s play). • Providing attractive walks to work. • Offering landscape and amenity features. • Areas of formal planting. • Providing areas for ‘events’. • Providing habitats for wildlife.

7.2 Outdoor Sports Space

Fixed sports spaces that are openly accessible to the public. Facilities include sports pitches, including cricket, football and rugby. They also include fixed sports spaces such as tennis courts, and bowling greens. Very often these facilities are located within Parks or Recreation Grounds, and as such, many of the facilities, especially sports pitches are multifunctional. That is they can be used for sport one day, and for the rest of the week function as a space to walk and play. Outdoor sports space with limited public access (e.g. private sports grounds), have also been recorded and mapped where known.

Golf Courses are not generally open to the public but do provide a sporting outlet and visually benefit the wider community and offer sanctuary to many wildlife species.

Of national importance within the District is the National Dive Centre at Stoney Cove. They were still extracting granite until 1958 but the hole this quarrying left filled rapidly with spring water and was recognised as a National Dive Centre in 1963.

7.3 Equipped Children & Young People’s Space

20 potential playground: where an adult sees a low wall, a railing, kerb or street bench, a child might see a mini adventure playground or a challenging skateboard obstacle. Play should not be restricted to designated ‘reservations’ and planning and urban design principles should reflect these considerations. This strategy has focused on the following:

• Equipped children’s space • Provision for teenagers

The former comprises equipped areas of play that cater for the needs of children up to and around 12 years. The latter comprises informal recreation opportunities for, broadly, the 13 to 16/17 age group, and which might include facilities like skateboard parks, basketball courts and ‘free access’ Multi Use Games Areas (MUGAs). In practice, there will always be some blurring around the edges in terms of younger children using equipment aimed for older persons and vice versa.

7.4 Informal Open Space

This category considers those spaces open to free and spontaneous use by the public, but neither laid out nor managed for a specific function such as a park, public playing field or recreation ground; nor managed as a natural or semi-natural habitat, one larger example of this would be Croft Hill. These areas of open space will be of varied size, but are likely to share the following characteristics: • Unlikely to be physically demarcated by walls or fences. • Unlikely to have identifiable entrance points (unlike parks). • Would not have planted flower beds or other formal planted layouts, although they may have shrub and tree planting. • Generally no other recreational facilities and fixtures (such as play equipment or ball courts), although there may be items such as litter bins and benches.

Examples might also include both small and larger informal grassed areas in housing estates and general recreation spaces. They can serve a variety of functions dependent on their size, shape, location and topography. Some may be used for informal recreation activities, whilst others by themselves, or else collectively, contribute to the overall visual amenity of an area.

7.5 Natural Green Space

For the purpose of this study Accessible Natural Green Space covers a variety of spaces including meadows, river floodplain, woodland and copse all of which share a trait of having natural characteristics and wildlife value, but which are also open to public use and enjoyment. Research shows these areas have a value attached to them for recreation and emotional well-being. A sense of ‘closeness to nature’ with its attendant benefits for people is something that is all too easily lost in urban areas. Accessible Natural Green Spaces should be viewed as important a component of community infrastructure in planning for new development as other forms of open space or ‘built’ recreation facilities. Accessible Natural Green Spaces can make important contributions towards local biodiversity. Some sites will have statutory rights or permissive codes allowing the public to wander in these sites. Others may have defined Rights of Way or permissive routes running

21 through them. For the remainder of sites there may be some access on a managed basis. Although many natural spaces may not be ‘accessible’ in the sense that they cannot be entered and used by the general community, they can be appreciated from a distance, and contribute to visual amenity. Natural Green Space with limited public access (e.g. RSPB reserves) has been mapped where known.

7.6 Allotments

Allotments provide areas for people to grow their own produce and plants. It is important to be clear about what is meant by the term ‘Allotment’. The Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 obliged local authorities to provide sufficient allotments and to let them to persons living in their areas where they considered there was a demand for allotments. The Allotment Act of 1922 defines the term ‘allotment garden’ as “an allotment not exceeding 40 poles (40 Poles equals 1,210 square yards or 1,012 square metres. A Pole can also be known as a Rod or Perch) in extent which is wholly or mainly cultivated by the occupier for the production of vegetable or fruit crops for consumption by himself/herself or his/her family”. The Allotments Act of 1925 gives protection to land acquired specifically for use as allotments, Statutory Allotment Sites, by the requirement for the need for the approval of Secretary of State in event of sale or disposal. Some allotment sites may not specifically have been acquired for this purpose. Such allotment sites are known as “temporary” (even if they have been in use for decades) and are not protected by the 1925 legislation.

7.7 Churchyards & Cemeteries

Although the primary purpose of churchyards and cemeteries is not for recreation in many areas they can provide a tranquil haven for people and wildlife. Blaby District Council is not a burial authority, however under Section 215 of the Local Government Act 1972 Blaby District Council has got liability for the maintenance of 8 Closed Churchyards and 1 Closed Cemetery within the District’s boundaries (Closed meaning no further burials). Liability extends to boundary walls, fences, trees, and footpaths but excludes the Church building or lych gates. The District Council does risk assess/test memorials and make safe where the families cannot be contacted.

7.8 Green Corridors

Blaby District Council and its partners will seek to maintain and enhance existing, and provide new, ‘networks of multi-functional green spaces’. This network may comprise public and privately owned land. Green Corridors can include formal open spaces for sport and recreation, green areas that can be used for informal recreation, areas that are valuable for their bio-diversity (flora and fauna and network links), areas that are of cultural importance (heritage assets and their settings), areas that maintain natural and ecological processes (such as floodplains) and other areas that contributes to the health and quality of life of communities. The growth proposed as part of a Sustainable Urban Extension west of Leicester provides an opportunity to plan for a green infrastructure network, serving the needs of new communities and providing green links (for people and wildlife) from the urban area to the wider countryside and other settlements. Opportunities will be explored with partners to improve access to:

• The River Soar and River Sence corridors and Grand Union Canal. • The Rothley Brook corridor. • The network of Green Wedges that adjoin the urban areas (see 7.9).

Opportunities to incorporate key landscape features such as woodlands, ponds, rivers and streams and the local topography should be used to create high quality design incorporating a wide range of functional and useful open spaces and links. Croft Hill, Fosse Meadows, Aston Firs / Burbage Common (adjacent to Hinckley and Bosworth administrative area), Fosse Way and disused railway lines (particularly around Countesthorpe) will be retained as important recreation resources.

7.9 Green Wedges

The Green Wedge designation is a strategic planning policy tool and Green Wedges commonly cross Local Authority boundaries. Green Wedges are important strategic areas. They will be designated in order to:

• Prevent the merging of settlements (maintain a sense of community) • Guide development form • Provide wildlife corridors • Provide a green lung into the urban areas • Provide a recreation resource

The detailed extent of Green Wedges will be determined through the Allocations and Designations Development Plan Document but will be in the following general locations:

• Between Blaby and Glen Parva (Sence Valley); • Between Whetstone, Blaby and Countesthorpe; • Between Whetstone, Enderby, Glen Parva, Braunstone, Blaby, Littlethorpe, Narborough and Cosby (Soar Valley South); • Between Glenfield, Kirby Muxloe, Kirby Fields and towards Ratby, Groby and Leicester; • Between Glenfield towards Beaumont Leys, Anstey and Groby; and • From Elmesthorpe towards Barwell and Earl Shilton.

The need to retain Green Wedges will be balanced against the need to provide new development (including housing) in the most sustainable locations. Opportunities to create new Green Wedges will be explored particularly in areas around the proposed Sustainable Urban Extension to the west of Leicester. Along with its partners the Council will encourage the active management of land that promotes environmental improvements, recreational facilities (other than built development) and improved access within Green Wedges.

Uses that are appropriately located in Green Wedges include: agriculture (including allotments and horticulture – not garden centres); horse riding and associated small livery stables; outdoor recreation (where associated buildings are small in scale); and, forestry. In circumstances where the development would not be harmful to the functions of Green Wedges, the following uses will be allowed: wind turbines (and other renewable energy

23 facilities that are not within buildings); park and ride schemes; transport infrastructure (including new roads) and, mineral extraction.

Improvements will be delivered to Green Wedges by working in partnership with the County Council’s Stepping Stones project who are developing management plans for Green Wedges throughout the Leicestershire area.

There are three Areas of Separation in the District. Their detailed boundaries will be reviewed through the Allocations, Designations and Development Management Development Plan Document, but will be in the following general locations:

• between Narborough and Huncote • between Stoney Stanton and Sapcote • between Whetstone and Cosby

7.10 Public Rights of Way

The public rights of way network in the District is often the only way for local people and visitors to the area to explore and enjoy the countryside. Although linear, the paths act as gateways to the wider environment. The network also provides local paths that link communities and gives access to a wide range of facilities and green spaces. The paths are public highways, managed by the County Council and subject to a wide range of legislation, such as the Natural Environment & Rural Communities (NERC) Act. There are three categories of paths within the District. Footpaths can be used by walkers and are signed with yellow arrows; bridleways can be used by walkers, horse riders and cyclists and are signed by blue arrows. Byways are open to all traffic and marked with red arrows.

A network of 6 ‘Jubilee’ walks has been created by the parish councils of Leicester Forest East, Braunstone Town and Enderby and also covering Lubbesthorpe parish. Glenfield Parish Council has promoted ‘5 Circular Walks Around Glenfield’

National Route 6 of the National Cycle Network connects London to Keswick in Cumbria. This route passes through the district and can be joined in Countesthorpe, Blaby and Glen Parva.

7.11 Civic Spaces

The district has one main market square which is St. John’s Court located in Blaby Town Centre and owned by Leicestershire County Council. This market square is surrounded by shops and is a busy shopping area. It is within easy walking distance of Bouskell Park, one of the districts main green spaces.

7.12 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

24 sites listed below will need to demonstrate that there would be no adverse impacts resulting from development. These areas will be safeguarded and enhanced where they could be directly or indirectly affected by development:

• Biological SSSIs include :

Aston Firs – The site comprises one of the best remaining examples of ash- oak-maple woodland in Leicestershire and is representative of semi-natural woodland developed on the clays of eastern England.

Croft Hill – Croft Hill supports a nationally rare vegetation type of short, tussocky grasses in open sward. The site is the largest known area of this grassland type in Leicestershire.

Croft Pasture – The site includes unusual Leicestershire examples of acidic mixed grassland.

Narborough Bog - The site contains one of the largest natural reedbeds in Leicestershire together with areas of wet woodland and meadow.

• Geological SSSIs and RIGS (Regionally Important Geological Sites) are :

Croft and Huncote Quarries - The quarries at Croft and Huncote are important in exposing tonalitic igneous rocks of Ordovician age together with attendant zeolite mineralisation, and much younger manganese mineralisation of Triassic age.

Enderby Warren Quarry - This is the only British locality where it can be demonstrated that the palygorskite, found here at, below and above the unconformity of the Croft microtonalite and the superjacent Triassic sediments, originated through the action of the post-Triassic groundwaters on the underlying beds.

Under Section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006, all public bodies must have regard to biodiversity conservation when carrying out their functions. This is commonly referred to as the ‘biodiversity duty’. Section 41 of the Act lists habitats and species which are of principal importance for the conservation of biodiversity in England. The Section 41 list will be used by the Council to guide its decisions and help in the implementation of the ‘biodiversity duty’.

Opportunities to improve Biodiversity will be explored as part of the SUE west of Leicester. Potential to improve the bio-diversity of Green corridors (particularly those adjacent to the Lubbesthorpe Brook to the south of the site) and linkages to the open countryside to the west should be explored. The existing hedgerows and fox coverts on the site will provide further opportunities to provide green linkages. Several ponds and water features exist that need to be retained. The Council will work closely with national and local wildlife organisations, user groups, local communities and landowners in order to identify, protect, restore, enhance and add to existing designated sites and new priority habitats. The Council will encourage the creation of new wildlife sites in association with major development. Bio-diversity, Wildlife and Habitats will continue to be designated and afforded protection where evidence supports this approach. Local Wildlife Sites will be

25 designated in partnership with the Local Wildlife Trust and Leicestershire County Council where they are considered of sufficient merit.

7.13 Key Findings from the Assessment

The information below summarises some of the key findings from the above assessment. The bullet points below provide an overview, followed by a table showing the green space classifications at a parish level. The table highlights the supply and deficiencies in green space within each parish (district maps of each classification are shown in the Maps section at the end of this document):

• Protect existing:

Significant overlap occurs in a number of Parishes throughout Blaby, with natural green space and outdoor sports space frequently appearing to exceed minimum requirements. The majority of natural green spaces, although numerous in many Parishes, are key to the Districts character and should not be deemed ‘surplus’ to requirements. Outdoor sport is prominent throughout the District and the analysis justifies the need to ensure these pitches are protected to meet the established demand.

• Increase Play Areas:

There is a significant under supply in terms of quantity for the provision of equipped children’s and young people’s play across the district, deficiencies occur in all five sub areas. The loss of any existing provision should be avoided, unless alternative new provision can be provided.

• Increase Facilities for Young People:

There is a clear lack of youth facilities across the whole district, priority should be given to ensuring the protection of existing facilities.

• Improve Rural Provision:

For small rural settlements which do not have any provision of publicly accessible green space and where new provision through development is unlikely, opportunities to improve links to neighbouring facilities should be explored and the potential to utilise private space where possible.

• Develop Existing Sites:

There are a number of outdoor sports sites throughout the district that could serve as parks with minimal investment. Where parks & recreation grounds are deficient, accessible outdoor sports space should be considered for improvements to provide the multi functionality that park and recreation grounds offer.

• Produce an Action Plan:

Produce an action plan for BDC sites & encourage other green space sites to prioritise investment and make improvements.

26 • Develop Natural Play Sites:

Enhancement of green spaces to include natural play, environments that are safe, litter free and have an element of risk that children can’t experience in equipped play areas. Natural play areas can be as simple as mounding, cut down trees for climbing or a range of scrubs and robust planting providing different textures and senses. Play provision priority should be geared to new innovative natural play spaces in conjunction with the upkeep of the equipped play areas.

• Provide Play Areas For All Ages:

Youth facilities should be improved and each Parish should focus on providing multi-functional space that caters for all ages of informal and formal recreation and play.

• Provide Multi-functional Spaces:

New provision to ‘fill the gaps’ should be sought through new development when the opportunity arises. Where new development is unlikely to occur, new open space provision should be aimed at multi functional spaces.

• Promote & Improve Access to Green Space:

Parish and District boundaries are one of a number of considerations when planning for new green space. Consultation indicated a willingness of users to travel in and around their respective parishes to access green space. Residents should be encouraged to access green spaces across the District. The Council will work to improve access, signage and promotion of its green spaces.

• Provide Quality Green Space From New Development:

New provision of green space may be required as part of a new development in order to meet any deficiencies in provision in both quantity and access in the local area. Where on site provision is required, it should be provided in line with the proposed open space standards (section 9.2). Where on site provision is deemed impractical, off site contributions will be required to provide provision within the locality.

• Increase Allotment Provision:

Consideration needs to be given to the supply of allotments. In areas with a surplus provision of open space of a different kind, conversion to allotments should be explored.

• Utilise Existing Natural Green Space:

Numerous natural green spaces are in remote locations within the rural parishes and are too far from the settlements to provide easy local use. Statistically some parishes meet the availability standards set, but in reality access is fairly limited. Where this occurs, opportunities to obtain spaces in closer proximity to settlements should be considered. Every

27 opportunity should also be considered to improve the rights of way giving access to the more distant locations.

• Maximise Potential of Existing Stock:

The potential to gain revenue from remote sites in areas that currently have sufficient accessible green spaces should be explored, with any receipts reinvested into accessible open spaces or into encouraging the provision of access to privately owned areas with recreational potential. Short and medium term letting should be considered to retain long term ownership against changing future requirements.

28 Good Access Partial Access No Access

Allotments Children Young People Informal Open Natural Green Outdoor Park & (1000m) (450m) (800m) Space Space Sporty Recreation (480m) (960m) (480m) Ground Parish (800m)

Aston No sites No sites No sites within No sites No access No sites No sites Flamville within parish within parish parish within parish within parish within parish (87 Est Pop) The whole Blaby Good access Good Good Good access Good access parish has Gap occurring (6,160 Est Pop) in the North- coverage coverage with slight gap to access to in the central West of the across parish, across whole residential West of sport space, area parish slight gaps parish settlements parish but the appearing but Central area not significant has a gap in publicly accessible sports space

Braunstone A gap in Significant Good Good access Significant Gaps Good (15,610 Est Pop) access to the gaps in the coverage on throughout gaps in the occurring in coverage North West of North and the East side Parish South and the East and North, East the Ward, but south of the of the Parish, East areas of South of the and West of complete parish gaps the Parish parish in both the parish, access occurring in limited and although a outside it the South and publicly gap occurs in North of the accessible the South parish sports space

29 Allotments Children Young People Informal Open Natural Green Outdoor Park & (1000m) (450m) (800m) Space Space Sporty Recreation (480m) (960m) (480m) Ground Parish (800m)

Cosby No sites with Good overall No sites within Good access No access Good access Good access (3,650 Est Pop) parish coverage, parish within throughout the throughout slight gaps residential parish settlement area occurring settlements The public Countesthorpe No sites within Significant gap No sites within Good access No accessible sports field No sites within (6,390 Est Pop) the parish in the central parish across parish sites with provides the parish area of the parish limited access although the parish and the private sports fields in grounds the area could provide a be deemed as better parks accessibility across the parish No publicly Croft Complete Good access No sites with Good access Good access available site Good access (1,690 Est Pop) coverage for main parish for main for main within the throughout across the settlement area residential residential settlement but settlement area parish settlements settlements the private ground does offer decent coverage Good access Good access The only site is Elmesthorpe No sites within for main No sites within for main too remote to No sites within Good access (520 Est Pop) parish settlement area parish residential provide access the parish throughout the settlements to the settlement area

30 Allotments Children Young People Informal Open Natural Green Outdoor Park & (1000m) (450m) (800m) Space Space Sporty Recreation (480m) (960m) (480m) Ground Parish (800m) although gaps residential appear in areas South East areas Majority of Slight gap in Significant gap Good coverage Good access Enderby housing areas Significant No sites within the North East to the west of across the for the main (5,990 Est Pop) have coverage. gaps parish area of the the parish, whole parish of settlement The industrial throughout the parish but although semi both accessible areas, the areas in the parish overall good accessible and limited industrial areas South of the coverage green space sports space have no access Parish have no does exist but there are access no residential dwellings. A gap does occur in the East of the Parish Slight gap in Good access Good access Glen Parva No sites within Significant No sites within coverage within Good access across parish from the park (6,090 Est Pop) parish but gaps parish the centre of throughout the when within the some coverage throughout the parish but parish considering parish and the from parish, with a overall good both private neighbouring neighbouring facility required coverage and public parish parks. A parishes in the East of facilities gap exists in the parish the South East The parish Slight gap in Good access Good access Glenfield Majority of lacks at least No facilities the North East across parish, Significant gap for the majority (9,800 Est Pop) parish has two facilities, within parish area but overall apart from a in the East side of the parish, a coverage; gaps one in the good coverage small area in of the parish gap does occur

31 Allotments Children Young People Informal Open Natural Green Outdoor Park & (1000m) (450m) (800m) Space Space Sporty Recreation (480m) (960m) (480m) Ground Parish (800m) exist across the North and one the South East in the North of South East in the East of the parish, the parish although the sports space and natural areas could be deemed as parks Good coverage Good access Good coverage Good access Huncote Good access Good access Good access of main for main across the throughout the (1,770 Est Pop) for main throughout throughout settlement area settlement area whole of the settlement area settlement area parish parish settlement area Good coverage Kilby No sites in Good access No sites within of main No sites within No sites within No sites within (280 Est Pop) parish to settlement parish settlement area parish parish parish areas Significant Access gaps in Significant gap Good coverage Good access Kirby Muxloe No sites within gaps in access No sites within North East in the south of when across parish (4,550 Est Pop) parish throughout the parish ahead of parish the settlement considering parish both public and private provision Good coverage No sites within Two main Leicester No sites in with No sites within Good access parish although public sports Good access Forest East parish insignificant parish throughout the East has grounds across the (6,480 Est Pop) gaps appearing parish coverage from provide good parish in the North neighbouring coverage, with and East of the parish an insignificant

32 Allotments Children Young People Informal Open Natural Green Outdoor Park & (1000m) (450m) (800m) Space Space Sporty Recreation (480m) (960m) (480m) Ground Parish (800m) parish gap occurring in the North of the Parish

Leicester No sites in No sites in No sites in No sites in No sites in No facilities No facilities Forest West parish parish parish parish parish within the within the (30 Est Pop) parish parish

Lubbesthorpe No sites in No sites in No sites in No sites in No sites in No facilities No facilities (70 Est Pop) parish parish parish parish parish within the within the parish parish No sites within No specific Good access Narborough parish Good access youth facilities Good access Significant gap to both public Good access (8,380 Est Pop) boundary but throughout within the through the to the North and private throughout the the majority of most of the parish although whole parish and East of the sports space. whole of the the south have parish with teen parish Slight gaps parish coverage from significant gaps shelters/seating occurring but the in South of the areas are in insignificant as neighbouring parish Narborough the level of parish park sports space is high

Potters Marston No sites in No sites in No sites in No sites in No sites in No facilities No facilities (30 Est Pop) parish parish parish parish parish within the within the parish parish Good access No sites within The public Sapcote No sites within Good coverage Good coverage for main parish although facility provides Good access (2,400 Est Pop) parish across across settlements settlement is good coverage throughout the

33 Allotments Children Young People Informal Open Natural Green Outdoor Park & (1000m) (450m) (800m) Space Space Sporty Recreation (480m) (960m) (480m) Ground Parish (800m) settlement area settlement area although not mainly covered for the parish parish total coverage by with a slight neighbouring insignificant parish gap occurring in the East Good access No public Sharnford No sites within Good coverage Good coverage throughout Good coverage facility Good access (1,040 Est Pop) the parish across across main for main available but throughout the settlement area settlement area settlement area settlement area the private settlement area (limited access) facility provides good coverage Gap occurring Good access Good coverage No sites within Stoney No sites within in the south of No sites within throughout for the main Good access the parish Stanton parish the parish but parish main settlement area to public although the (3,400 Est Pop) decent overall settlement area facilities within natural and coverage the main sports sites settlement provide ‘park’ areas environments with limited improvements No access for Thurlaston No sites within Good coverage Good coverage No access residential area Good access Good coverage (750 Est Pop) parish across across within main although the to public within main settlement area settlement area settlement area parish does facilities within settlement have a natural the main areas site within it settlement

34 Allotments Children Young People Informal Open Natural Green Outdoor Park & (1000m) (450m) (800m) Space Space Sporty Recreation (480m) (960m) (480m) Ground Parish (800m) areas Slight gap in Gaps occurring Good access No sites within No public Whetstone the South of in the central No sites within across the the parish facilities in the Good coverage (6,080 Est Pop) the parish but areas of the parish whole of the although parish but the within main overall good parish. Good residential surrounding limited access settlement coverage coverage in the settlement parishes sites provide areas North and areas provide some adequate South areas access coverage

Wigston Parva No sites in No sites in No sites in Good coverage No sites in No sites within No sites within (30 Est Pop) parish parish parish within main parish the parish the parish settlement areas

35 8.0 Consultation (Demand & Need)

8.1 Existing Demographic Information

The District of Blaby is located to the south and west of the City of Leicester. It covers an area of about 129 square kilometres (50 sq miles) and contains a wide mix of urban areas in the north and rural areas to the south of the district. There are 18 District Wards and 24 Parishes. National Statistics data estimates the population at 93,600, growth of 4% since 2001. Some key facts about the District:

• Around 39,000 households. • 49.7% of the population is male and 50.3% is female. • Overall life expectancy in the District is 80 years for men and 83.2 years for women. • 13,298 of the population define themselves as having a Limiting Long- Term Illness. • 92% of the population is white, 5.5% is Indian or other Asian, 2% Black or Black British and 1% Chinese or other ethnic group. • 81% of residents think that Blaby District is a good place to live, and 86% believe people from different backgrounds get along (2008 Place Survey). • The district is the 28th least deprived local authority area out of the 354 in the Country (2007 indices of deprivation).

8.2 Blaby Residents Survey

The Blaby Residents Survey is used to measure how residents experience life, what they think about their local area and their satisfaction with a range of local public services. The Residents Survey for Blaby was conducted in June 2011 and consulted with 600 residents. Key findings in relation to green spaces shown below:

• 84% of respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with parks & open spaces. • 6% of respondents were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied. • 10% of respondents stated ‘didn’t know’ if they we satisfied or dissatisfied with parks & open spaces. • Satisfaction levels were consistent across the three Community Forum areas of Blaby North, Blaby Central and Blaby South. • 90% of respondents did not want volunteer to improve a local area. • 78% of respondents are satisfied with provision for children, however, only 28% are satisfied with provision for teenagers.

8.3 Public Satisfaction with Parks & Open Spaces Report

In 2010 public consultation was conducted to review satisfaction levels with parks & open spaces as a result of reduced public satisfaction levels reported in the Place Survey in 2008. Key findings shown below:

• 89% of respondents were very satisfied or fairly satisfied with parks & open spaces.

36 • Dog walking, walking, and visiting a children’s play area were the top three reasons for using a park or open space. • Less dog fouling, more benches/seats and lighting were the top three suggestions for improving parks & open spaces. • Things people liked about the parks & open spaces were a peaceful environment, large area for walking and nature. • Things people disliked about parks & open spaces were dog fouling, youths hanging around, not enough seats/bins/lighting and no play areas for children. • 11% of respondents were interested in joining a community group/forum to discuss issues relating to parks & open spaces.

8.4 Community Survey & Young Persons Survey

In preparation for the Council’s PPG 17 study on Open Space, a Community Survey and Young Persons Survey were undertaken to identify local need for various types of open space and related issues. Key findings are shown below:

• Respondents felt there was a lack of facilities for teenagers. • Residents do not want to have less open space. • Barriers to greater use of open spaces included ‘stranger-danger’, bullying and traffic. • Respondents were prepared to travel up to 20 minutes by car to a local countryside or wildlife area. • Respondents felt litter bins, dog bins and seats are important facilities. • Residential gardens are children & young people’s most commonly used open space. • Respondents felt it was important for children to have access to some kind of open space within a ten minute walk. • Teenagers want to have access to open space close to home but are prepared to walk further to an open space with is challenging, interesting and suitable for their age group.

8.5 Key Findings from the Consultation

From the above consultations that have been undertaken common themes can be drawn, these are shown below:

• Increasing the amount of provision for teenagers is a priority. • Increasing the amount of park furniture (benches, bins, lighting). • Reducing the amount of dog fouling. • Satisfaction levels with open spaces remains high. • Only a small proportion of local residents want to volunteer at a local open space.

37 9.0 Standards of Provision

9.1 Strategic Green Space & Hierarchy

Blaby District Council’s existing green spaces and new green spaces submitted through the planning process will be assessed against a strategic criteria to determine their strategic value. This strategic value will be used to determine green spaces when considering the following:

• Their relationship to the Green Space Hierarchy

• Adoption, ownership and management of green spaces (appendix 6)

• Disposal or leasing out of existing green spaces

The Council’s criteria for assessing green space is shown below (scoring sheet shown in appendix 4):

• Usage • Facilities • Size • Biodiversity & wildlife • Linkages to strategic green infrastructure / wedges or corridors • Other considerations (historical and cultural)

When sites have been assessed against the strategic criteria they will be categorised into one of the following areas within the Blaby Green Space Hierarchy of sites:

Strategic Green Space (10 points or above)

Local Green Space (9 points or below)

38 The sites listed below are the District Council’s strategic sites, these sites have the highest score (10 points or above) using the assessment described above and shown in appendix 4:

• Fosse Meadows (Sharnford) • Bouskell Park (Blaby) • Glen Hills Nature Reserve (Glen Parva) • Crow Mills Way (South Wigston) • Osiers Nature Reserve (Braunstone) • Jubilee Park (Enderby) • Whetstone Way (Whetstone) • Whistle Way (Narborough / Enderby)

9.2 PPG17 Standards

Typology Quantity Standard Access Standard Parks and Recreation 0.8 ha/1000 800 metres (15 minutes Grounds straight line walk time) Outdoor Sports Space 1.0 ha/1000 480 metres (10 minutes straight line walk time) Children & Young 0.30 ha/1000 Junior Provision – 450m people’s Space (just under 10 minutes straightline walk time)

Youth Provision – 800 m (15 minutes straightline walk time) Informal Open Space 0.5 ha/1000 480 metres (10 minutes straight line walk time) Natural Greenspace 1.0 ha/1000 960 metres (20 minutes straight line walk time) Allotments 0.3 ha/1000 480m (10 minutes straight line walk time)

9.3 Consultation

We will consult when appropriate with local residents, users and Friends’ groups, on proposals for new and existing open space and recreation facilities. The Council is committed to maintaining a dialogue with residents and users of all of its green spaces and will continue to consult on all proposals for new and improved facilities through a variety of means. Friends Groups for Parks will continue to be supported and the establishment of new ones encouraged to represent the views of local people and help guide the future development of facilities. The views of the wider public towards green space will continue to be monitored through regular satisfaction surveys and the results used to inform the direction of the strategy.

9.4 Partnership Working

We will work in partnership with the public, private and voluntary sectors to manage and enhance our green spaces. The Council needs to develop strong relationships with external organisations and its residents and work closely with these bodies and individuals to provide, develop and enhance services. It will continue to work with its partners to improve the District’s green spaces, from listening to what local users want to adopting new ideas on their use, layout and management. The Council will support, where possible, Parish Council’s who wish to develop green space projects by bringing partners together to progress projects and solve problems.

9.5 Quality Assessment

All Council-owned green spaces and recreation facilities will be subject to audit to measure quality. Quality is an essential element of green space and the Council aims to improve standards for the benefit of users and visual amenity. Quality audits will help to inform plans and proposals for individual sites, planning and disposal policy. It will be updated on a regular basis in line with the action plan.

9.6 Management & Maintenance

Green Spaces within the district are managed and owned by a variety of different organisations such as the County Council, District Council, Parish Council’s, developers, churches and private landowners. BDC will review its own green space management and maintenance specifications and approach. The Council is currently reviewing the management and maintenance of all of its public spaces and assets. The review will inform changes to current specifications, principally with a view to using resources more efficiently in a “systems thinking” approach focussed around “purpose”, customers needs and the strategic criteria set out in section 9.1. In appendix 6 the Council has set out its approach to selecting the appropriate management / ownership for a new green space site through the planning process. This approach considers the views of the District and Parish Councils and also considers the option for a Management Company to manage new sites. Management Company agreements will be subject to minimum standards to ensure these green spaces are appropriately managed and maintained. The opportunity will also be taken to consider whether the treatment is the most appropriate for the site and meets local requirements. In some cases present management regimes may be changed or reduced to leave a more natural outcome to promote the growth of wildlife in the district (this approach is supported by the Core Strategy January 2012– Policy 19).

9.7 Signposting, Interpretation & Marketing

We will ensure that appropriate marketing materials, signs and interpretation boards are in place for the green spaces that need them. The District’s green spaces are a major asset for both local people and visitors to enjoy. Some of the smaller, very local facilities are largely used only by residents in the immediate area and generally need no interpretation or publicity. However, others could serve a much larger catchment and should be marketed appropriately, with the relevant signposts in place to ensure they can be found. Access paths should also do more than just say footpath, but should

40 indicate where they lead to and how far away that is. Some sites do need a degree of interpretation to explain what’s there/available. This is especially the case with historic, nature conservation, geological and archaeological sites to ensure the public gets maximum benefit from visits.

9.8 Biodiversity Action Plan

We will incorporate biodiversity targets into our management and maintenance regimes. These targets will inform the management and maintenance of all Council-owned areas of green space to improve the biodiversity of the District for the benefit of wildlife and people.

9.9 Value for Money, External Funding & Investment

We will maximise external funding opportunities to invest in our green spaces and recreation facilities. The Council will seek to identify appropriate sources to raise the resources required to improve our green spaces and recreation facilities. We will continue to seek contributions, where appropriate, from developers to improve and add to our green spaces. Section 106 agreements will continue to be sought with developers to make a contribution towards the recreational needs of the prospective residents in accordance with the Council’s required standards (see Section 9.2). In addition, the Council will investigate the use of the Community Infrastructure Levy to deliver off-site recreational needs. These sums may be used for the provision and maintenance of a new area or the expansion/upgrade of an existing green space in the nearby area (see Section 9.13). The Council will establish baseline information about investment in green spaces, forward maintenance costs and monitor expenditure. Comparisons will be made with benchmark authorities to ensure services provide value for money and deliver best practice.

9.10 Surplus Facilities

Using the green space strategic criteria and audits some Council sites maybe considered above the minimum requirement in a given area as the population density and location is today. The Council will consider these sites using the process outlined in appendix 5. These will be considered for an alternative use as green space or recreation facility before being made available for leasing out or other alternate use. Receipts and maintenance resources released from any such arrangements will be re-invested in new or existing green spaces.

9.11 Anti-Social Behaviour

We will not tolerate anti-social behaviour on our green spaces. Anti-social behaviour can take many forms, such as, vandalism, unauthorised intrusion, unauthorised vehicles and fly tipping. We will look at suitable action where appropriate to achieve control of sites and we will work with the police to tackle these issues. Despite considerable improvement over recent years dog fouling is still a problem on some playing fields and recreation grounds. Fencing all existing facilities is neither feasible nor desirable and therefore the emphasis is on prevention through signage and enforcement by the Council’s Dog Wardens.

9.12 Adoption

The Council has set out a clear approach and rationale for the adoption of new sites and for requests made from Parish Councils or local community groups wishing to take ownership of a local green space (the process for this is set in appendix 6). This will ensure an appropriate and consistent process to site adoption across the district.

9.13 Developer Contributions

The Council’s Planning Obligations and Developer Contributions SPD (Supplementary Planning Document) outlines the Council’s strategy for securing relevant developer contributions in relation to new development. Contributions are typically secured against residential development but can also be required for non residential development if it would have an impact on the area.

The provision of infrastructure, facilities and services which are required by a planning obligation should, where possible, be provided on site. However, there will be circumstances where this may not be practical or appropriate. In these circumstances, the Council will seek financial contributions towards the provision and/or maintenance of infrastructure, facilities and services at an alternative off-site location.

Contributions to provide rights of way linkage back to the site and into the wider network will also be sought.

On-Site Contributions :

The amount of green space, level and type of onsite facilities or in lieu financial contributions will be assessed individually against the following criteria:

• Type and scale of the proposed development. • Location of proposed development. • Any specific local circumstances. • Any environmental considerations. • PPG17 Study and audit data. • Green Space Strategy • Leicestershire & Leicester Rights of Way Improvement Plans • Other relevant strategies and policies.

Developments of less than 25 dwellings, unless there are special local circumstances, green space will not normally be required within the development site and the developer will be required to make a financial contribution towards offsite facilities. For developments of 500 dwellings or more the required new green space and on-site facilities should all be provided within the development site.

Off-Site Contributions :

Due to the variation between sites and locations of new residential housing developments, it is considered to be impractical (given the time scale allowed

42 to determine planning applications) to individually cost up each application where an off-site contribution is required. Therefore the Council has developed a standard formula for calculating the cost of providing the required facilities offsite. This model considers the diverse range of recreational, play and sporting needs of the community along with providing areas natural green space that will benefit wildlife and ecology.

9.14 Safeguarding Green Space

Once built upon, green space is likely to be lost to the community forever. Safeguarding green space is therefore vital in ensuring that there is sufficient quantity to meet the needs of local people. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) provides against building on green spaces and the sites of sports and recreational buildings for non-recreational uses. The NPPF indicates that local communities can identify for special protection green areas of particular importance by designating land as Local Green Space. The Council may consider designating land as Local Green Space, including land currently designated as Green Wedge or Areas of Separation, through local and neighbourhood plans where it can be demonstrated that the necessary criteria are met. There are circumstances where the development on green space would generate benefits for the local community. It may be appropriate that green space is developed on where it is proposed to directly replace green space within the local area. Any such replacement should be equivalent to or better than the green space that is lost. The District Council will consult and work in partnership with organisations such as the Fields in Trust and Sport England to protect green space.

9.15 Strategy Review

To ensure the green space strategy and its action plan are kept up to date the documents will be monitored quarterly and reviewed annually.

43 10.0 Action Plan

The Action Plan relates to work that will be undertaken by the District Council to contribute to the Aims set out in Section 3: Strategic Actions ‘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’ Action By When By Who Performance Indicator Develop a marketing strategy to increase usage and encourage January 2013 Health & Recreation Marketing Strategy produced the use of green spaces as part of a healthy lifestyle. Manager, Communications Manager & Blaby’s Staying Healthy Forum Identify & conduct consultation with vulnerable groups to December 2012 & then Countryside Officer Consultation conducted understand the reasons why they don’t use open spaces and to annually encourage use. Produce an activities and events programme for our green March 2013 Health & Recreation Activities & Events programme spaces. Team displayed on the Council website Reduce deficiencies and consider future needs in Green Space March 2013 Planning Department / Number of new Green Spaces across the District through the planning system. Green Infrastructure Forum Update PPG17 data to reflect new Green Space from recent To be timetabled Planning Policy Manager PPG17 data updated developments. Apply the strategic criteria to prioritise Green Space sites and December 2012 Green Infrastructure Strategic sites agreed identify sites of strategic importance. Forum Conduct quality audits for sites to prioritise investment & March 2013 Asset Manager / Improvement priorities identified improvements. Countryside Officer for each site Work with Parish Council’s to ensure a co-ordinated approach On-going Green Infrastructure Feedback from Parish Council’s to Green Space issues. Forum / S106 Working Group Monitor & review the Green Space Strategy. Monitored quarterly / review Green Infrastructure Performance indicators achieved / annually Forum / Management strategy reviewed Board Review how Green Space services are managed. December 2012 Management Board Review conducted

44 Parks & Recreation Grounds ‘To protect, improve and raise the profile of Parks & Recreation Grounds so local residents are proud of them, use them regularly, look after them & enjoy them’

Action By When By Who Performance Indicator Maintain Parks & Recreation Grounds to Green Flag standards. On-going Neighbourhood Services Public satisfaction levels with Group Manager / Green Spaces. Countryside Officer / Asset Manager Green Flag Award for Fosse Meadows. Bid for funding from external sources to improve Parks & On-going Health & Recreation External funding secured Recreation Grounds. Team Identify site specific improvements. March 2013 Countryside Officer / Revised and updated Asset Manager Management Plans for all strategic sites.

Increase the number of Parks & Recreation Grounds. March 2013 Planning Department / Increased number of Parks & Green Infrastructure Recreation Grounds. Forum Encourage, support & develop volunteers for Parks & March 2013 Countryside Officer Number of volunteer hours Recreation Grounds.

Encourage dog owners to act responsibly and to clean up after On-going Dog Warden Public satisfaction levels with their dogs. Green Spaces.

Review and update site management plans. March 2013 Countryside Officer / Revised and updated Asset Manager Management Plans for all strategic sites.

Identify sustainable ways of maintaining Parks & Recreation March 2013 Neighbourhood Services Maintenance schedules produced Grounds. Group Manager for all sites.

45 Outdoor Sports Space ‘To provide residents with access to good quality formal outdoor sports space and changing facilities that contribute to increasing participation levels and the visual amenity of the area’

Action By When By Who Performance Indicator Seek to improve facility & pitch quality at Outdoor Sports On-going Neighbourhood Services Public satisfaction levels with Spaces. Group Manager / Asset Green Spaces. Manager / Health & Recreation Manager Identify sustainable ways of maintaining Parks & Recreation March 2013 Neighbourhood Services Maintenance schedules produced Grounds. Group Manager for all sites.

Bid for funding from external sources to improve Outdoor On-going Health & Recreation External funding secured Sports Spaces. Team Identify site specific improvements. March 2013 Countryside Officer / Revised and updated Asset Manager Management Plans for all strategic sites.

Increase the number of Outdoor Sports Spaces. March 2013 Planning Department / Increased number of Outdoor Green Infrastructure Sports Spaces. Forum Ensure Outdoor Sports Space on school sites will be developed On-going Planning Department / Increased number of Outdoor to allow community access. Green Infrastructure Sports Spaces. Forum Encourage, support & develop local sports clubs at Outdoor On-going Sports & Recreation Active People Survey results Sports Space. Development Officer

Equipped Children & Young People’s Space ‘Children & young people living in the Blaby district have access to play provision and teenage facilities that meet their needs in terms of quality, quantity and accessibility’

Action By When By Who Performance Indicator Manage & maintain sites through regular inspections. On-going Asset Manager / Public satisfaction levels with Countryside Officer / Green Spaces. Corporate Health & Safety Manager Bid for funding from external sources to improve Children & On-going Health & Recreation External funding secured. Young People’s Space. Team Identify site specific improvements. March 2013 Asset Manager / Revised and updated Countryside Officer Management Plans for all strategic sites.

Increase the number of Children & Young People’s Space. March 2013 Planning Department / Increased number of Children & Green Infrastructure Young People’s Spaces. Forum Encourage & support local involvement in the design of On-going Planning Department / Public satisfaction levels with Children & Young People’s Space and promote natural play Green Infrastructure Green Spaces. space design. Forum Increased number of Children & Young People’s Spaces.

Informal Open Space ‘To provide opportunities for informal activities close to home or work and to enhance the visual appearance an area’

Action By When By Who Performance Indicator Ensure adequate supply of Informal Open Space is provided On-going Planning Department / Public satisfaction levels with within new developments. Green Infrastructure Green Spaces. Forum Maintain Informal Open Space to consistent standards (number On-going Neighbourhood Services Public satisfaction levels with of cuts) with consideration given to multi-functionality and Group Manager Green Spaces. encouraging wildlife. Encourage Parish Council’s and local communities to take On-going Planning Department Informal Open Space sites ownership of Informal Open Spaces. adopted by Parish Council’s Natural Green Space ‘To protect natural green spaces and provide accessibility for people to enjoy for recreation, to experience and learn about nature and to provide important wildlife habitats’

Action By When By Who Performance Indicator Identify improvements in terms of signage, interpretation & any March 2013 Green Infrastructure Public satisfaction levels with site specific access issues. Forum / County Council Green Spaces.

Increase the number of Natural Green Space sites through the March 2013 Planning Department / Number of new Natural Green planning system. Green Infrastructure Space sites. Forum To work with partners to have appropriate management plans March 2013 Green Infrastructure Biodiversity Targets in place that will improve access, multi-functionality , Forum / County Council biodiversity, understanding & sustainability of these sites.

Allotments ‘To have a range of well managed, productive and well used Allotment sites across the District’

Action By When By Who Performance Indicator Improve facilities available at existing sites. On-going District Council / Parish Public satisfaction levels with Councils / Community Green Spaces. Groups Ensure new sites provide the facilities set out in the quality On-going Planning Department Public satisfaction levels with standards for Allotment sites. Green Spaces. Increase the number of Allotment sites. On-going Planning Department Increased number of Allotments. Churchyards & Cemeteries ‘To ensure they are protected and managed as places for burial and spiritual reflection, as places to promote health and well being, for their importance for heritage, nature conservation and biodiversity’

Action By When By Who Performance Indicator Carry out regular inspections, condition surveys & ecological Tree Survey’s every 3-4 years Asset Manager No. of memorials inspected, no. of surveys to make appropriate plans to manage Churchyards & Memorial testing every 2 years memorials restored/repaired. Cemeteries. No. of closed churchyards with current condition surveys. To maintain a database of memorials in all closed churchyards December 2012 Asset Manager No. of closed churchyards with up and provide internet access to this. to date memorial databases accessible on line.

We will liaise with partners to determine likely uses & ensure March 2013 Asset Manager / Public satisfaction levels with our maintenance arrangements are such that a good Neighbourhood Services Green Spaces. impression is created for visitors. Group Manager

Green Corridors ‘To provide opportunities for walking, cycling and horse riding whether for leisure purposes or travel and opportunities for wildlife migration’ Action By When By Who Performance Indicator Identify opportunities for further development of Green On-going Development Control Opportunities for enhancing and Corridors through the planning system linking urban areas into developing Green Corridors the wider countryside. identified through the planning process. Identify improvements in terms of signage, interpretation & any On-going Countryside Officer / Public satisfaction levels with site specific access issues. County Council Green Spaces. To work with partners to have appropriate management plans March 2013 Countryside Officer / Number of management plans in in place that will improve; access, biodiversity, understanding & County Council place. sustainability of these sites. Green Wedges ‘To balance the need for Green Wedges against the need to provide new development and to seek opportunities to create new Green Wedges through new development’

Action By When By Who Performance Indicator Identify new opportunities for Green Wedges through the On-going Planning Policy Manager Opportunities for future Green planning system. Wedges identified

Identify improvements in terms of signage, interpretation & any On-going Countryside Officer / Public satisfaction levels with site specific access issues. County Council Green Spaces.

To work with partners to have appropriate management plans March 2013 Countryside Officer / Number of management plans in in place that will improve access, understanding & sustainability County Council place. of these sites.

Civic Spaces ‘To provide civic spaces for residents, visitors and traders to interact. This could include open air markets, a local meeting point and public events. Our Civic Spaces will be a hub and enhance the surrounding area’ Action By When By Who Performance Indicator Ensure adequate supply of Civic Space is provided through the On-going Planning Department Opportunities for future Civic planning system. Spaces identified.

Indentify improvements in terms of signage, interpretation & December 2012 Town Centre Manager Public satisfaction levels. any site specific access issues.

Ensure Civic Spaces are clean, well maintained and safe. On-going Neighbourhood Services Public satisfaction levels. Group Manager / Community Services Manager / Environmental Health Encourage Parish Council’s and Town Centre Partnerships to On-going Town Centre Manager Public satisfaction levels. deliver local events and activities on Civic Spaces. Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) ‘To safeguard and enhance all SSSI sites throughout the District’

Action By When By Who Performance Indicator Any development proposals which will have an adverse impact On-going Planning Department Number of adverse impacts. will be resisted through the planning system.

Work with partners (Natural England) to ensure that land On-going Planning Department Number of reported issues with owners manage SSSI sites properly. SSSI sites.

51 Appendix 1 – Relationship with other Strategies

Community Local Plan Plan for Blaby

Cross -Cutting Strategies / areas of work: • Planning Green Space • Health • Regeneration Strategy • Sport & Physical Activity • Education • Culture • Transport • Biodiversity • Climate Change • Equalities Service Plans

52 Appendix 2 – Policy Review

National Planning Policy Guidance:

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) will provide over-arching principles for planning open space. Previously, the Council’s PPG17 Study was revised in 2002 and emphasises that open spaces can underpin people’s quality of life and are important in supporting the urban renaissance, promoting social inclusion and community cohesion, contributing to health and well being and promoting sustainable development. PPG17 required Local Authorities to undertake audits of provision and assessments of need and opportunities for open spaces. This information was then used to set standards for local provision of open spaces, sports and recreational facilities within their areas. The standards set included quantitative, qualitative and accessibility components to ensure the identification of open spaces that need to be protected and identifying where there is a need for additional, or improvements to, open spaces.

The draft (NPPF) is expected to be published in its final form later in 2012 and when this happens it will supersede all current Planning Policy Statements and Guidance notes, including PPG17. The draft NPPF reinforces the importance of open space, sports and recreational facilities by stating ‘Access to good quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and recreation can make an important contribution to the health and well-being of communities’. It also maintains the need to identify quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses of open space, sports and recreational facilities in the local area and that this information should be used to set locally derived standards for the provision of such facilities.

Urban Green Spaces Task Force report – Green Spaces Better Places (2002)

Urban Green Spaces Task Force was established to develop proposals to improve urban parks, play areas and green spaces. The Task Force’s Final Report, “Green Spaces, Better Places,” was published in May 2002 and sets out a series of recommendations to Government. The report emphasises the diverse value of urban green spaces. The authors argue that parks and green spaces have the potential to make a major contribution to urban regeneration by enhancing the environment, facilitating social inclusion, contributing to healthy living and providing educational opportunities.

Living Spaces, Cleaner, Safer, Greener (2002)

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published this report in October 2002. It deals not only with parks and public green spaces but with the whole of the “public realm” including streets and indeed “everywhere between the places we live and work.” Four challenges are posed for those various bodies responsible for these public spaces. They are first to adopt a holistic approach: holistic in that the various responsible organisations work together and holistic in that the public realm is seen as a network and a whole. Secondly, the report calls for an end to “creeping deterioration” the process by which incremental decisions or lack of action lead to a decline in the quality of open spaces. Thirdly, the authors reiterate the importance of quality green spaces for disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Fourthly, the report points

53 to the need to respond to changing patterns of demography and development.

European Landscape Convention:

Open Space Strategies should also be considered in the light of the European Landscape Convention, ratified by government in March 2007. This encourages public authorities to adopt policies and measures at local, regional, national and international level for protecting, managing and planning all landscapes throughout Europe.

The Natural Environment & Rural Communities (NERC) Act:

This Act covers a broad range of duties in relation to conservation, wildlife, sites of special scientific interest, national parks, rights of way and waterways. Section 40 of the Act requires all public bodies to have regard to biodiversity conservation when carrying out their functions. This is commonly referred to as the ‘biodiversity duty’. This duty extends to all public bodies the biodiversity duty of section 74 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW), which placed a duty on Government and Ministers. The aim of the biodiversity duty is to raise the profile of biodiversity in England and Wales, so that the conservation of biodiversity becomes properly embedded in all relevant policies and decisions made by public authorities

Green Space Strategies – A Good Practice Guide (2004)

The good practice guide sets out the CABE space methodology for developing a green space strategy. The guidance recognises that approaching the planning and management of green spaces strategically will maximise the value of capital investment and revenue expenditure. It also advises that the strategy must be kept up to date and continue to meet its aims, as well as fulfilling the Council’s corporate objectives and local planning policies. This requirement means the strategy should be monitored and reviewed regularly, including updating the action plan annually.

6C’s Green Infrastructure Strategy:

This document acknowledges the large scale of growth planned in the coming years and the need to develop a strategic approach to the provision of Green Infrastructure (GI) as an environmental life support system for healthy communities and ecosystems. The strategy aims to do this by giving the strategic spatial framework needed to safeguard, manage and extend networks of GI in local planning documents. Showing how the benefits of GI to economies, climate change, health, biodiversity and landscape can be realised.

East Midlands Green Infrastructure Scoping Study (2009) & the Stepping Stones Project:

This study is intended for all those involved in planning and delivering Green Infrastructure in the East Midlands. It summarises the policy drivers for delivering green infrastructure, the work already undertaken to support green infrastructure, the support available within the region and brief guidance on the suggested contents of local green infrastructure strategies.

54 The Stepping Stones project works in partnership with District Council’s and a range of other organisations to bring together and co-ordinate resources to improve green infrastructure across Leicestershire. The project has developed a delivery plan and action plan to achieve this.

Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Landscape and Woodland Strategy

Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland together form one of the least wooded areas of England, with only 3.3% woodland cover (Forestry Commission, 1983). Current Government policy is to achieve a steady expansion of the national woodland area and the Strategy looks at ways of expanding the woodland cover. The Strategy assesses the nature of the existing landscape and woodland of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and describes eighteen distinctive landscape character areas within Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. The Strategy has three main objectives :

• To conserve and enhance the character, diversity and local distinctiveness of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland’s landscapes

• To identify appropriate opportunities for new woodland planting to increase the woodland cover of the Strategy area

• To encourage the sustainable management of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland’s existing woodland resources to produce timber and provide environmental and social benefits.

Guidelines and mechanisms are set out for achieving each of these objectives. The Strategy also sets out objectives and guidelines for individual landscape character areas, with the emphasis on conserving and enhancing existing landscape features and increasing woodland cover in ways appropriate to the character of each area.

Building a Big Society for our area – A Community Plan for Blaby District (2011):

The Community Plan sets out the long term vision for the District of Blaby and explains how this will be achieved. It replaces the Sustainable Community Strategy 2008-2011 and covers the period 2011-2014. The Community Plan has three priorities: • Vibrant Places – Sustaining & Improving the Environment • Access to Quality Provision for Children & Young People • Health & Well being for All

Blaby District Council Local Development Framework (LDF) Core Strategy, Submission Version (January 2012):

The Local Development Framework (LDF) will set out the blue print for how the District of Blaby will grow and change up to 2029. The LDF is made up of a series of documents setting out the Council’s planning policies and land allocations which will provide the planning framework for the consideration of planning applications by the Council.

55 The Core Strategy Submission Version (January 2012) sets out the vision and strategic objectives for how the District will be shaped over the period 2006-2009 and the spatial policies that will achieve this.

Blaby District Council PPG 17 Open Space, Sports & Recreation Facilities Assessment (2009):

The PPG 17 study provides an audit of quality, quantity and accessibility of open space, sport and recreation facilities. The study divides the district into sub areas and shows the current supply of open space and identifies deficiencies.

Blaby District Council Children’s Play Strategy (2007-2012):

This strategy sets out a five-year programme of development resulting from analysis and consultation in order to ensure that the District offers its children and young people the best that can be provided. It discusses investment, management, commitment, staff time, partnership development and joint working.

Local Health Data (various sources):

Blaby district resident health information is contained within a number of sources, shown below:

• Blaby Joint Strategic Needs Assessment • Blaby District Health Profile • Sport England Market Segmentation • NHS Locality Teenage Pregnancy Plan • National Child Measurement Programme Annual Data • Leicestershire County & Rutland Health Inequalities Strategy

From the above data the following priorities have been identified for Blaby: • Improving outcomes for Older People with complex needs • Reducing teenage pregnancy and termination rates • Reducing smoking prevalence including prevalence among young offenders • Reducing cardio vascular mortality • Reducing obesity • Improving adult mental health & wellbeing • Reduce drug & alcohol dependency

Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) :

The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland BAP, contains action plans for seventeen priority habitats and also fourteen species. The emphasis is on protecting habitats which support lots of threatened plants and animals. It is possible to contribute to the BAP in several ways including:

• Surveys of priority species and habitats • Practical management projects.

Areas of Separation Policy (included in Core Strategy)

The planning system aims to maintain the character and identity of individual settlements. One way to do this is to maintain green space between settlements. In areas to which green wedge policies do not apply and which can’t be properly designated as countryside, provision will not normally be made for development which would result in a reduction in the separation between the built up areas of settlements.

Countryside Policy (included in Core Strategy)

The Countryside is expected to fulfil many different roles and is placed under pressure from many different uses. This policy sets out that in the countryside (land beyond the existing and planned development limits and outside land identified as a green wedge or area of separation) built development, or other development having a significant adverse effect on the appearance or character of the landscape, will not normally be allowed.

Leicestershire Rights of Way Improvement Plan

The Improvement Plan is a statutory requirement set out in Sections 60 & 61 of the Countryside and Rights Of Way Act 2000 - From the 21st of November 2002, Highway Authorities in England were required to prepare and publish a Rights Of Way Improvement Plan. This has now been amended by the requirement to fit the plan into the Local Transport Plan (LTP). The Plan is required to consider at least, the following:

• The extent to which local rights of way meet the present and likely future needs of the public

• The opportunities provided by local rights of way for exercise and other forms of open-air recreation and the enjoyment of the authority's area;

• The accessibility of local rights of way to blind or partially sighted persons and others with mobility problems

For this purpose, rights of way are deemed to be either footpaths which are for people on foot - Bridleways open to walkers, horse riders and cyclists - Restricted Byways which can be used by all except mechanically propelled vehicles and Byways Open to all traffic.

57 Appendix 3 – Assessment of Current Green Space Provision

Parks & Recreation Grounds

Quantity:

• The average level of provision for Parks & Recreation Grounds across the District is 0.41 hectares per 1000 people (this is below the required standard, see section 9.2 for required standards).

Quality:

The PPG17 study identified a need to improve the general quality of this type of provision. Overall maintenance has been identified as the key area of improvement, fencing, bins, seats and paths in many of the parks were not acceptable and scored poorly on the assessment. It was clear from the on site assessments that where parish groups are directly involved with maintaining and enhancing their provision, the quality was significantly better.

Accessibility:

• The required standard for Parks & Recreation Grounds is 0.8ha per 1000 people. The average level of provision within the District is 0.41 hectares per 1000 people, 0.39 ha below the required standard. • Public consultations have identified that around 75% of respondents are prepared to travel between 5 and 10 minutes to reach a Park or Recreation ground. • Enderby and Narborough have the highest deficiencies in relation to Parks & Recreation grounds.

Outdoor Sports Space

Fixed sports spaces that are openly accessible to the public. Facilities include sports pitches, including cricket, football and rugby. They also include fixed sports spaces such as tennis courts, and bowling greens. Very often these facilities are located within Parks or Recreation Grounds, and as such, many of the facilities, especially sports pitches are multifunctional. That is they can be used for sport one day, and for the rest of the week function as a space to walk and play. Outdoor sports space with limited public access (e.g. private sports grounds), have also been recorded and mapped where known.

58 Golf Courses are not generally open to the public but do provide a sporting outlet and visually benefit the wider community and offer sanctuary to many wildlife species.

Quantity:

• The district has around 183 Outdoor Sports spaces. • The average level of provision for the district is 1.52 ha per 1000 people (1.92 ha per 1000 people including sites with limited access). This is above the required standard of 1.0ha per 1000 people (see section 9.2 for standards).

Quality:

• The PPG 17 study found a considerable variation in the quality of outdoor sports space across the district, with some sites having good quality and well maintained facilities, whilst others are in need of improvement. • Limited access sites are of a higher quality compared to open access sites. • The quality of the sites is significantly better than the views expressed in the consultation.

Accessibility: • The required standard is 1.0ha per 1000 people, the average level of provision for the district is 1.52 ha per 1000 (above the standard). • It is worth noting that often people who play in formal sports teams usually use cars to access these types of facilities as where they play is determined by other factors such as league structures. For larger facilities or sites with several outdoor sports the standard of a 20 minute drive time is used (Sport England guidance). • The district has a sufficient supply of outdoor sports space.

Equipped Children & Young People’s Space

It is important at the outset to establish the scope of the audit in terms of this kind of space. Children and young people will play/’hang out’ in almost all publicly accessible “space” ranging from the street, town centres and squares, parks, playing fields, “amenity” grassed areas etc as well as the more recognisable play and youth facility areas such as equipped playgrounds, youth shelters, BMX, skateboard parks, Multi-use Games Areas etc. Clearly many of the other types of open space covered by this study will therefore provide informal play opportunities. To a child, the whole world is a potential playground: where an adult sees a low wall, a railing, kerb or street bench, a child might see a mini adventure playground or a challenging skateboard obstacle. Play should not be restricted to designated ‘reservations’ and planning and urban design principles should reflect these considerations. This strategy has focused on the following:

59 • Equipped children’s space • Provision for teenagers

Quantity:

• The district has around 35 Children & Young People’s Spaces. • The average level of provision in the district is 0.05ha per 1000 people, this is below the required standard of 0.30ha per 1000 people.

Quality:

• The study identified a vast range in quality of equipped children’s & Young People’s Spaces. The majority of these play areas are dated and offer a limited range of activities. Where facilities for teenagers had been installed these were of good quality. There is a clear need for additional facilities for this age group.

Accessibility:

• The required standard is 0.30ha per 1000 people, the average level of provision for the district is 0.05 ha per 1000 (below the required standard). • The standard for children’s provision is a walking time of 10 minutes, for young people’s provision (teenagers) the standard is increased to 15 minutes. • All areas of the district have a deficiency in equipped children’s & young people’s space.

Informal Open Space

Examples might also include both small and larger informal grassed areas in housing estates and general recreation spaces. They can serve a variety of

60 functions dependent on their size, shape, location and topography. Some may be used for informal recreation activities, whilst others by themselves, or else collectively, contribute to the overall visual amenity of an area.

Quantity:

• The district has around 269 Informal Open Spaces. • The average level of provision in the district is 1.31 ha per 1000 people, this is above the required standard of 0.5 ha per 1000 people.

Quality:

• Informal open space throughout the district offers more visual benefit rather than significant recreational use. • The majority of theses spaces provide links to larger sites or are laid out as road buffers. • The PPG 17 study found most of these sites to be of average quality.

Accessibility:

• The required standard is 0.5 ha per 1000 people, the average level of provision for the district is 1.31 ha per 1000 (above the required standard). • A distance of 480 metres or about a 10 minute walking time is proposed for informal open space as this space should be within easy reach of home for informal play & recreation opportunities. • The district has a sufficient supply of informal open space.

Natural Green Space

Quantity:

• The district has around 36 Natural Green Spaces.

61 • The average level of provision in the district is 2.24 ha per 1000 people, this is above the required standard of 1.0 ha per 1000 people. • This is one of the largest types of provision within the district.

Quality:

• Natural green space across the district generally appears in good condition. • Generic improvements are required across these sites in terms of signage, improvements to access and encouraging biodiversity.

Accessibility

• The required standard for natural green space is 1.0 ha per 1000 people, the average level of provision for the district is 2.24 ha per 1000 (above the required standard). • A distance of 960 metres or about a 20 minute walking time is proposed for natural green space. • It is not possible to achieve a uniformly good level of provision throughout the district as it is not feasible to remove large areas of natural green space in areas of over provision and similarly it is not possible to create large areas of natural space in urban areas. The standard is therefore more useful when considering a new housing development. • Blaby, Cosby, Countesthorpe, Glen Parva, Kilby & Whetstone were identified as having an under supply of natural green space.

Allotments

Quantity:

• The average level of provision in the district is 0.16 ha per 1000 people, this is below the required standard of 0.30 ha per 1000 people.

62 Quality:

The quality audit only allows for assessment against key criteria such as the level of cultivation and general maintenance which is less comprehensive than assessments of the other green spaces. Therefore, a number of principles are recommended that should be applied for the districts allotment provision, these are shown below:

• Well-drained soil which is capable of cultivation to a reasonable standard. • A sunny, open aspect preferably on a southern facing slope. • Limited overhang from trees and buildings either bounding or within the site. • Adequate lockable storage facilities and a good water supply within the easy walking distance of individual plots. • Provision for composting facilities. • Secure boundary fencing. • Good access within the site both for pedestrians and vehicles. • Good vehicular access into the site and adequate parking and manoeuvring space. • Disabled access. • Toilets. • Notice boards.

Accessibility:

• The required standard is 0.30 ha per 1000 people (this allows for future housing growth), the average level of provision for the district is 0.16 ha per 1000 (below the required standard). • A distance of 480 metres or about a 10 minute walking time is proposed for allotments, however, given the need to transport equipment to and from sites it is accepted that users may often need to drive to the site. • Supply varies from each Parish but overall the district has a deficiency of allotments.

Churchyards & Cemeteries

Quantity:

• The district has 26 churchyards & cemeteries. • The District Council manages 8 closed churchyards and 1 closed cemetery.

63 • The average level of provision in the district is 0.19ha per 1000 people.

Quality:

• No standard for provision has been set, however, churchyards & cemeteries can provide important open space and should provide seating, be dog free, have toilets, litter bins and be well maintained with flowers and trees.

Accessibility:

• Sub Area 2 (Huncote, Leicester Forest West & Thurlaston) had the lowest level of churchyard and cemetery provision. The highest level of provision is in Sub Area 4 (Blaby, Cosby, Countesthorpe, Glen Parva, Kilby & Whetstone).

Green Corridors

• The River Soar and River Sence corridors and Grand Union Canal. • The Rothley Brook corridor. • The network of Green Wedges that adjoin the urban areas (see 6.9).

Green Wedges

• Prevent the merging of settlements (maintain a sense of community)

64 • Guide development form • Provide wildlife corridors • Provide a green lung into the urban areas • Provide a recreation resource

The detailed extent of Green Wedges will be determined through the Allocations and Designations Development Plan Document but will be in the following general locations:

• between Narborough and Huncote • between Stoney Stanton and Sapcote • between Whetstone and Cosby

Public Rights of Way

Quantity:

• 161 kilometres of footpaths • 46 kilometres of bridleways • 2 kilometres of byways • 209 kilometres in total

Quality:

• The County Council has set a target to ensure that at least 80% of the network is easy to use and well signed. This is monitored on a yearly basis and the management of the network is subject to a Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) with an Action Plan that was renewed recently. The network is also subject to programmes to ensure that it is in good repair.

Accessibility:

• The network is subject to a raft of statutory law to ensure that the public can use it. The ROWIP includes actions to improve access on the Rights of Way network to make it more accessible. The active waymarking programme has made routes far easier to find and follow. In addition the ‘Gap gate, stile’ policy has seen the removal of many stiles and barriers with gaps or gates. This has proved very popular and opened up access to more people. • The routes are recorded on the Definitive Map of Rights of Way and statement. These statutory documents show where all the paths are and is available on line ( www.leics.gov.uk/paths ). This information is also fed to the Ordnance Survey for distribution on mapping. • Popular walks are promoted through a range of publications and leaflets from a number of sources. This includes the local Parish Walks & Rides series and the Leicestershire Round, a long distance path that passes through the District. Further details are available at http://www.leics.gov.uk/walking .

National Route 6 of the National Cycle Network connects London to Keswick in Cumbria. This route passes through the district and can be joined in Countesthorpe, Blaby and Glen Parva.

Civic Spaces

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

The District of Blaby includes several SSSIs and Local Nature Reserves. Where these are affected directly or indirectly, they will be safeguarded and enhanced. Developments that would have an adverse impact on ‘Protected and notable species’ (under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as amended) will be resisted. Any proposal which would have an effect on the sites listed below will need to demonstrate that there would be no adverse impacts resulting from development. These areas will be safeguarded and enhanced where they could be directly or indirectly affected by development:

• Biological SSSIs include :

Croft Hill – Croft Hill supports a nationally rare vegetation type of short, tussocky grasses in open sward. The site is the largest known area of this grassland type in Leicestershire.

Croft Pasture – The site includes unusual Leicestershire examples of acidic mixed grassland.

Narborough Bog - The site contains one of the largest natural reedbeds in Leicestershire together with areas of wet woodland and meadow.

• Geological SSSIs and RIGS (Regionally Important Geological Sites) are :

67 Under Section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006, all public bodies must have regard to biodiversity conservation when carrying out their functions. This is commonly referred to as the ‘biodiversity duty’. Section 41 of the Act lists habitats and species which are of principal importance for the conservation of biodiversity in England. The Section 41 list will be used by the Council to guide its decisions and help in the implementation of the ‘biodiversity duty’.

68 Appendix 4 – Strategic Criteria Site Assessment Form

Purpose : to be used to assess new and existing sites into the Strategic or Local category set out in section 9.1. Sites scoring 10 points and above will be considered for strategic designation.

1) Usage Site Description Score The site will be well used by residents 3 throughout the parish and also residents throughout the district The site will be used by local residents to the 2 site and residents from the parish The site will be used by local residents only 1

2) Facilities Site Description Score The site has a range of facilities (car park, 3 play equipment, seating, paths, interpretation boards, signage etc) The site is accessible with basic facilities 2 The site is accessible with no facilities 1

3) Size Site Description Score 10+ ha 3 1 – 10 ha 2 0 – 0.9ha 1

4) Biodiversity & Wildlife Site Description Score A large range of habitats for plants & animals 3 A range of habitats for plants & animals 2 (rivers, wild flower meadows etc) Very few habitats for plants & animals 1

5) Linkages to strategic Green Infrastructure / wedges or corridors Site Description Score Part of a recognised green network / wedge 3 or corridor Potential to link in the future to a green 2 network / wedge or corridor No linkages to a green network / wedge or 1 corridor

6) Other considerations Site Description Score The site is of significant geological / biological 3 (SSSI site), cultural or historical importance The site has an element of the above factors 2 which should be considered The site has no additional considerations 0

69 Appendix 5 – Decision Making Process for Re-Development of Green Spaces Purpose : to assess current provision and for requests made to BDC by Parish Council’s / Community Organisations wishing to take ownership of a BDC site

1) Is there Fail, unless sufficient compensatory No quantity provision made elsewhere?

Take account of minimum quantity Yes standards

2) Is there Fail, unless sufficient compensatory No access to provision made other opportunities? Take account of minimum access standards

Yes

3) Is there Fail, unless sufficient compensatory No quality provision made elsewhere? Take account of minimum quality standards

Yes

Consider any other relevant factors (environmental, value of the land, current use will be improved)

NOTE:

Existing green spaces should not be built on unless they are surplus to requirements and losses are replaced with equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality (NPPF, paragraph 74).

70 Appendix 6 – Section 106 Site Adoption Planning Process

Pre-application advice Initial link to Parish/Town Council to determine requirements from Section 106 contributions regardless of stance on Planning Applications

Planning application received Health & Recreation Team • Identify any deficit in recreation provision in the area Formal planning processes • Collate consultation information implemented including statutory already held by the Authority consultation with Parish Council & • Have regard for the emerging Green other Parties Space Strategy • Consult within the Green Infrastructure Forum Members

Feedback to Development Control Team within consultation timescale Management Strategy (Apply Criteria in appendix 4).

Stage 1 – BDC to adopt? DC Committee/Decision

Yes

Application approved Consult Grounds No Maintenance

Formal planning and legal Yes Stage 2 - Parish to adopt? processes imple mented

Yes No

Section 106 database updated &

information on new green spaces Stage 3 - Management Company to take passed to Health & Recreation Team ownership (Minimum standards set through Section 106 Working Group)

Finance & Assets Team • Future finance streams, funding • Green space practicality & layout/design etc

Feedback to Development Control Team within consultation timescale

Health & Recreation and Finance & Assets teams to engage with Parish Council and develop and implement community consultation plan ie Off site contribution

A community inspired project is ready for implementation once funding is released 71 Maps

Figure 1 - Parks & Recreation Grounds Figure 2 - Outdoor Sports Space Figure 3 - Equipped Play Areas 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)

Allotment

72 Figure 1

Parks and Recreation Grounds

Glenfield

Kirby Leicester Muxloe Forest East

Leicester Braunstone Forest Town West

Lubbesthorpe

Enderby Thurlaston Glen Parva

Huncote Narborough

Blaby

Potters Marston Croft

Elmesthorpe Countesthorpe Kilby Cosby Stoney Whetstone Stanton

Sapcote

Aston Flamville

Sharnford

Wigston Parva

Key Good Access Partial Access No Access Blaby District Council Licence No. 100018176 - 2011

73 Figure 2

Outdoor Sports Space

Glenfield

Kirby Leicester Muxloe Forest East

Leicester Braunstone Forest Town West

Lubbesthorpe

Enderby Thurlaston Glen Parva

Huncote Narborough

Blaby

Potters Marston Croft

Elmesthorpe Countesthorpe Kilby Cosby Stoney Whetstone Stanton

Sapcote

Aston Flamville

Sharnford

Wigston Parva

Key Good Access Partial Access No Access Blaby District Council Licence No. 100018176 - 2011

74 Figure 3

Equipped Play Areas

Glenfield

Kirby Leicester Muxloe Forest East

Leicester Braunstone Forest Town West

Lubbesthorpe

Enderby Thurlaston Glen Parva

Huncote Narborough

Blaby

Potters Marston Croft

Elmesthorpe Kilby Countesthorpe Cosby Stoney Whetstone Stanton

Sapcote

Aston Flamville

Sharnford

Wigston Parva

Key Good Access Partial Access No Access Blaby District Council Licence No. 100018176 - 2011 Green Spaces

75 Figure 4

Young People's Space

Glenfield

Kirby Leicester Muxloe Forest East

Leicester Braunstone Forest Town West

Lubbesthorpe

Enderby Thurlaston Glen Parva

Huncote Narborough

Blaby

Potters Marston Croft

Elmesthorpe Countesthorpe Kilby Cosby Stoney Whetstone Stanton

Sapcote

Aston Flamville

Sharnford

Wigston Parva

Key Good Access Partial Access No Access Blaby District Council Licence No. 100018176 - 2011

76 Figure 5

Informal Open Space

Glenfield

Kirby Leicester Muxloe Forest East

Leicester Braunstone Forest Town West

Lubbesthorpe

Enderby Thurlaston Glen Parva

Huncote Narborough

Blaby

Potters Marston Croft

Elmesthorpe Countesthorpe Kilby Cosby Stoney Whetstone Stanton

Sapcote

Aston Flamville

Sharnford

Wigston Parva

Key Good Access Partial Access No Access Blaby District Council Licence No. 100018176 - 2011

77 Figure 6

Natural Green Space

Glenfield

Kirby Leicester Muxloe Forest East

Leicester Braunstone Forest Town West

Lubbesthorpe

Enderby Thurlaston Glen Parva

Huncote Narborough

Blaby

Potters Marston Croft

Elmesthorpe Countesthorpe Kilby Cosby Stoney Whetstone Stanton

Sapcote

Aston Flamville

Sharnford

Wigston Parva

Key Good Access Partial Access No Access Blaby District Council Licence No. 100018176 - 2011

78 Figure 7

Allotments

Glenfield

Kirby Leicester Muxloe Forest East

Leicester Braunstone Forest Town West

Lubbesthorpe

Enderby Thurlaston Glen Parva

Huncote Narborough

Blaby

Potters Marston Croft

Elmesthorpe Countesthorpe Kilby Cosby Stoney Whetstone Stanton

Sapcote

Aston Flamville

Sharnford

Wigston Parva

Key Good Access Partial Access No Access Blaby District Council Licence No. 100018176 - 2011

79 Figure 8

Churchyards & Cemeteries

Glenfield

Kirby Leicester Muxloe Forest East

Leicester Braunstone Forest Town West

Lubbesthorpe

Enderby Thurlaston Glen Parva

Huncote Narborough

Blaby

Potters Marston Croft

Elmesthorpe Countesthorpe Kilby Cosby Stoney Whetstone Stanton

Sapcote

Aston Flamville

Sharnford

Wigston Parva

Blaby District Council Licence No. 100018176 - 2011

Figure 9 & 10

Green Corridors and

Glenfield Green Wedges Rothley Brook

Kirby Leicester Muxloe Forest East

Leicester Braunstone Forest Town West

Lubbesthorpe

Enderby Grand Union Canal Thurlaston Glen Parva

Huncote Narborough

Blaby

Potters Marston Croft

Elmesthorpe Countesthorpe Kilby Cosby Stoney Whetstone Stanton

River Soar

River Sence Sapcote

Aston Flamville

Sharnford

Wigston Parva

Key Green Wedges Blaby District Council Licence No. 100018176 - 2011

81 Figure 11

Footpaths

Glenfield

Kirby Leicester Muxloe Forest East

Leicester Braunstone Forest Town West

Lubbesthorpe

Enderby Thurlaston Glen Parva

Huncote Narborough

Blaby

Potters Marston Croft

Elmesthorpe Countesthorpe Kilby Cosby Stoney Whetstone Stanton

Sapcote

Aston Flamville

Sharnford

Wigston Parva

Key Rights of Way - Footpaths 2011 Blaby District Council Licence No. 100018176 - 2011

82 Figure 12

Cycle Routes

Glenfield

Kirby Leicester Muxloe Forest East

Leicester Braunstone Forest Town West

Lubbesthorpe

Enderby Thurlaston Glen Parva

Huncote Narborough

Blaby

Potters Marston Croft

Elmesthorpe Countesthorpe Kilby Cosby Stoney Whetstone Stanton

Sapcote

Aston Flamville

Sharnford

Wigston Parva

Key Cycleways 2011 Blaby District Council Licence No. 100018176 - 2011

6 1 1 2

2 1

L Library Y The

4 l

R oo 5 3 1 Sch 5 4 O Old 6 V Bank E 66.4m Hall Farm Club T STREE

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3 3

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Blaby Hall Mews

1 9

4 1 4

69.8m El 1 15 Sub 14

13 Sta

1 1 6 lk 9 Wa 4 Church

b John's Court Posts

1 8

Blaby Hall

Car Park 1

1 4

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3 5

Park House 1

7 a 5

71.0m 1 7

9 5

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Court 1

1 6

FB 9

1 3 Shelter a

1 7

2 7

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1 4

W E L F O

R 5

3 D 4

7 Allotment Gardens

1 2 R War Memorial O Pond

2 7 3 67.1m

5 4

3 4

Bouskell Park

1 9

8 3

d Works 5

Gas Governor

7 19 4

4 7 1a 7 Factory FREER C L

4 O

0 S 1 E

71.0m 5 h 4 t

2 2

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3 5

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8 5

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5 1 4 6 6 a 32

Bouskell Park Surgery

4 2 2 Figure 13

Civic Spaces Blaby District Council Licence Number 100018176 - 2011

Figure 14

Sites of Special Glenfield Scientific Interest (SSSI)

Kirby Leicester Muxloe Forest East

Leicester Braunstone Forest Town West

Lubbesthorpe

Enderby Thurlaston Glen Parva

Huncote Narborough 4

Blaby

2 Potters Marston Croft

3 Elmesthorpe Countesthorpe Kilby Cosby Stoney Whetstone Stanton

Sapcote

Aston Flamville

Sharnford

Wigston Parva

Site 1 Site 2 Aston Firs Croft Hill

Site 3 Site 4

Croft Pasture Narborough Bog

Blaby District Council Licence Number 100018176 - 2011