KETTERING BOROUGH COUNCIL OPEN NEEDS ASSESSMENT A REPORT BY PMP DECEMBER 2007 CONTENTS Page Section 1 Introduction and background 1 Section 2 Undertaking the study 6 Section 3 Strategic context 14 Section 4 Consultation 44 Section 5 Parks and gardens 61 Section 6 Natural and semi natural open space 75 Section 7 Amenity greenspace 88 Section 8 Provision for children and young people 103 Section 9 Outdoor sports facilities 123 Section 10 Allotments and community gardens 136 Section 11 Green corridors 148 Section 12 Cemeteries and churchyards 155 Section 13 Civic spaces 161 Section 14 Resourcing and open space 166 Section 15 Planning overview 169 Section 16 Example of provision calculations 186 Section 17 Conclusion 197 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Background i. PMP were appointed to undertake an audit and assessment of open space across the Kettering Borough in accordance with the requirements of the latest Planning Policy Guidance Note 17 (Planning for Open Space Sport and Recreation, July 2002) and its Companion Guide (September 2002). ii. The Companion Guide sets out a five step logical process for undertaking a local assessment of open space. Although presented as a linear process below, in reality, many stages were undertaken in parallel. iii. The five step process is as follows: • Step 1 - Identifying Local Needs • Step 2 - Auditing Local Provision • Step 3 - Setting Provision Standards • Step 4 - Applying Provision Standards • Step 5 - Drafting Policies - recommendations and strategic priorities. iv. The study considers ten typologies of open space facilities, namely: • parks and gardens • natural and semi natural open space • amenity greenspace • provision for children • provision for young people • outdoor sports facilities • allotments and community gardens • green corridors • churchyards and cemeteries. v. The analysis has therefore been undertaken by type of open space looking at different areas across the local authority boundary. These are referred to as analysis areas. The use of analysis areas allows examination of data at a more detailed local level, and provides a geographical background to the analysis. Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study - Kettering Borough Council Page i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY vi. The Borough has been split into six areas, specifically the three main urban areas of Desborough and Rothwell, Kettering, Burton Latimer, and two rural areas incorporating the wards of Buccleuch and Queen Eleanor in the east and Welland in the north. These analysis areas are illustrated on Map 1 overleaf. Many of the areas audited are covered by a Town or Parish Council. Where the term “the Council” is used, it often refers to a Parish/Town Council rather than the Borough Council. Map 1 - Analysis areas of Kettering Borough vii. The key outputs of the study include: • a full audit of all applicable open spaces across Kettering Borough categorised according to the primary purpose of the site (in line with the typologies highlighted previously). This audit is stored on a GIS layer and linked Microsoft Access database • an assessment of the open space, sport and recreational needs of people living, working and visiting Kettering Borough derived from a series of consultations • production of local provision standards (quantity, quality and accessibility) for each type of open space where appropriate, in accordance with local needs Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study - Kettering Borough Council Page ii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • application of local standards to the existing open space provision, enabling the identification of surpluses and deficiencies based on quantity, quality and accessibility • recommendations to address the key findings and drive future policy. viii. Full details of the methodology can be found in Section 2 of the report and the standard setting process can be found in appendices I, J and K. The recommended local standards for each typology are summarised below. In light of the overlapping roles that parks, natural areas and amenity spaces have, the application of these standards, key findings and recommendations have been considered together. This ensures a full understanding of the interaction between the typologies and an assessment of true deficiencies. Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study - Kettering Borough Council Page iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Table 2 Open space standards Standards Typology Quantity Quality Accessibility Parks and Gardens URBAN - 0.3 "A welcoming, clean and litter free site providing a one-stop community facility 10 minute walk time ha per 1000 with a wide range of leisure, recreational and enriched play opportunities for all (480 meters) population ages. Parks and gardens should be well maintained, providing varied vegetation, clear pathways, appropriate lighting and ancillary accommodation (including seating and litter bins) and well-signed to and within the site. Sites should have a written management plan and measures should be taken to address identified issues at these sites.” Natural and Semi- 0.9 ha per1000 ‘A clean, well vegetated, litter free site with clear pathways and natural features URBAN - 15 natural population that encourages wildlife conservation, biodiversity and environmental minutes awareness. Management of local sites should involve the walk time (720 community/stakeholder if at all possible and there should be a clear focus on metres) maintaining and increasing the conservation and biodiversity value of these sites and ensuring public access where appropriate. Sites should have a written management plan and measures should be taken to address identified issues at these sites.’ Amenity Greenspace 0.8 ha per 1000 “A clean and well-maintained greenspace site. Sites should have appropriate 10 minutes walk population ancillary accommodation (dog and litter bins etc), pathways and landscaping in time (480 metres) the right places providing a spacious outlook and overall enhancing the appearance of the local environment. Larger sites should be suitable for informal play opportunities and should be enhanced to encourage the site to become a community focus. Smaller sites should adopt a design led approach to discourage inappropriate informal play” Provision for 1,000 population A site provding a mix of well-maintained formal equipment and enriched play URBAN – 10 minute Children environment in a safe a secure convenient location overlooked by housing and walk time 9480 footpaths or located within a larger park facility. The site should have clear metres) boundaries; be clean; be litter, dog, vandalism and graffiti free; and be lit. Sites RURAL - 10 should also comply with appropriate national guidelines for design and safety" minutes walk time Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study - Kettering Borough Council Page iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Standards Typology Quantity Quality Accessibility Provision for Young 0.25 young people “A site providing a robust yet imaginative play environment for older children in a URBAN - 10 minute People facilities per 1,000 safe and secure location, with clear separation from younger children facilities, walk time (480 population that promotes a sense of ownership. The site should include clean, litter and metres) dog free areas for more informal play and areas of shelter (with seating) and RURAL - 10 minute where appropriate sites should be well lit. Sites should also comply with walk time appropriate national guidelines for design and safety” Outdoor Sports 1.8hs per 1,000 “A well-planned, clean and litter and dog fouling free sports facility site, with level 20 minute walk time Facilities population and well-drained good quality surfaces, appropriate good quality ancillary for outdoor sports accommodation including changing accommodation, toilets and car parking . The facilities (960m) site should have appropriate management ensuring community safety and include (exc. bowls and lighting and the use of mobile CCTV where appropriate to address anti-social golf) behaviour.” 20 minute drive for golf courses and bowling greens Allotments 0.40ha per 1,000 “A clean, secure and well-kept site that encourages sustainable development, 15 minutes walk population bio-diversity, healthy living and education objectives with appropriate ancillary time (720 metres) facilities (eg litter bins and water supply) to meet local needs, well kept grass and good quality soils. The site should be spacious providing appropriate access and clear boundaries and conform to current best practice and local policy for allotment management. Green Corridors N/a “A clean, well-maintained, safe and secure corridor with clear pathways, N/a linking major open spaces together and enhancing natural features. Corridors should provide ancillary facilities such as bins, seating and lighting in appropriate places and signage.” Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study - Kettering Borough Council Page v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Standards Typology Quantity Quality Accessibility Cemeteries and N/a “A clean and well-maintained site providing long-term burial capacity, an area of N/a Churchyards quiet contemplation and a sanctuary for wildlife. Sites should have clear pathways and varied vegetation and landscaping and provide appropriate ancillary accommodation (eg. facilities for flowers litter bins and seating.) Access to sites should be enhanced by parking facilities and by public transport routes, particularly in urban areas” Civic Spaces N/a “A clean, well-maintained, safe and secure site, with generally hard landscaping N/a but may accommodate soft areas. Sites should be adequately