Northumberland County Council PPG17 openspace, sport and recreation assessment May 2011 strategic leisure Northumberland County Council PPG 17 Open Space, Sport and Recreation Assessment Table of Contents Executive Summary 1 1 Introduction and Background 5 Introduction 5 A Vision for Open Space, Sport & Recreational Facilities in Northumberland 6 Purpose of the Study 6 Strategic Context Summary 8 Regional Planning Policy 10 Local Planning Policy 10 Growth Point Status 14 Existing Strategic Planning for Open Space & Sports Pitches: Key Review Findings 15 2 Overview of Northumberland 22 Northumberland Profile 22 The Growth Agenda 25 Key Issues – Population 25 The Importance of Open Space, Sport & Recreational Facilities 28 Informing the Local Development Framework 29 3 Methodology 31 Stage 1 Identifying Local Need 31 Stage 2 Site Audit 32 Stage 3 Establish Local Standards of Provision 34 4 Consultation 40 Public Consultation 40 Public Consultation Summary 41 Previous Studies 42 Key Stakeholders 43 Key Issues 43 Priorities 44 Parish / Town Councils 44 Summary 45 Northumberland County Council PPG 17 Open Space, Sport and Recreation Assessment 5 Audit Findings 46 The Open Space Resource in Northumberland 46 Parks and Gardens 52 Natural and Semi-Natural Greenspace 58 Amenity Greenspace 64 Outdoor Sports Facilities 70 Provision for Children and Young People 82 Allotments 90 Cemeteries and Churchyards 96 6 Resourcing Open Space 101 Introduction 101 Revenue Funding 101 Capital Funding 101 Developer Contributions 102 7 Setting Provision Standards 105 Summary of Standards 105 Parks & Gardens 108 Natural and Semi-Natural Greenspace 109 Amenity Greenspace 111 Outdoor Sports Facilities 113 Provision for Children and Young People 115 Allotments 117 Cemeteries & Churchyards 118 Natural England - Nature Nearby ANGst Standard Assessment 119 Comparison with neighbouring local authorities 122 Recommendations 126 Recommendations for Future Planning 127 Disclaimer 129 Northumberland County Council PPG 17 Open Space, Sport and Recreation Assessment Table of Appendices 1 Site List 2 Strategic Context 3 Quality Audit Assessment Criteria 4 GIS Mapping 5 Standards Calculator Executive Summary Northumberland County Council Open Space, Sport & Recreational Facilities – PPG17 Assessment Executive Summary The Northumberland PPG17 Assessment has been prepared to inform the preparation of policies in the Local Development Framework and provide evidence for considering planning applications and proposals for developments affecting open space, sport and recreational facilities. The study will help the Council to plan positively, effectively and creatively to ensure that there is adequate provision of accessible, high quality open space, sport and recreation facilities that meets the needs and aspirations of local communities and people who work in or visit the County. The study findings are drawn from a comprehensive technical assessment that assesses the quality, quantity and accessibility of open space, sport and recreational facilities in the County in accordance with Planning Policy Guidance Note 17 (PPG17) ‘Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreational Facilities’ (2002) and the supporting Companion Guide ‘Assessing Local Needs and Opportunities’ (ODPM, now DCLG). The study focuses on local needs and local provision and the need to make the most effective use of available resources both now and in the future. As such the focus has been the following: To identify local needs To audit and digitally map local provision To set local provision standards based on the findings identified in the PPG17 assessment for quality, quantity and accessibility To apply the provision targets The study recognises the importance of National, Regional and Local policy context and the strategic vision for Northumberland. The vision for Northumberland’s open space has been developed through the consultation process and review of existing Council strategies and Green Space Strategies developed by the former District Councils. The Vision for open space and outdoor recreation is as follows: ‘To have excellent, well used and valued open space, sport and recreation facilities that are safe, accessible and welcoming at the heart of all local communities that meet the needs of current and future generations’ In keeping with PPG17 guidance the study covers all open space, sport and recreational provision across the County. It is important to note that the audit has focussed on accessible greenspace provided in and around urban and rural settlements and as such standards are set only for the typologies listed below. The analysis has been undertaken at a countywide level and also on Northumberland’s three neighbourhood management areas (North, South East and West). The study sets standards of provision for the differing types of open space, sport and recreational facilities within the County. The standards have been set using the baseline data from the quantity and quality auditing and the accessibility evidence of consultation with stakeholders, user groups and local residents. PPG 17 guidance states that local standards should include: A quantitative component (how much provision may be needed) A qualitative component (against which to measure the need for enhancement of existing facilities) An accessibility component (including distance thresholds) www.scottwilson.com www.strategicleisure.co.uk 1 Northumberland County Council Open Space, Sport & Recreational Facilities – PPG17 Assessment Standards have been established on a single countywide basis, although it is acknowledged that the County has a defined rural/urban split with transport and accessibility issues in the rural areas. Deficiencies of accessible open space are more common in rural areas however, it is accepted that local people are less dependent upon open space from a visual perspective in rural areas, but conversely as dependent on access, given that a large part of rural Northumberland is agricultural land or forest. In relation to quantitative standards, it should be noted that the total figures could also mask possible variations at a more local level. A further point is that one would expect sports clubs to have lower than average membership numbers as one would need to have higher levels of provision per capita in rural than urban areas in order to provide equal opportunities to access facilities. Consultation was carried out as part of the assessment process to establish how far users were prepared to travel to different facilities. This information was used to help determine the accessibility standards. Quantity standards have been set using the current level of provision for each typology. As part of the consultation process, the majority of local people confirmed they were happy with the current level of accessible open space in the County. The assessment criteria were developed as part of the assessment process and are based on the Green Flag Award criteria. The standards that have been established as the minimum for the future are outlined below: Typology Quantity Quality Accessibility Standard Standard Standard To ensure provision To achieve a minimum To provide access to does not fall below the standard of 57% and to good quality parks and current level of 2.14 ha deliver all parks and gardens gardens and for all per 1,000 population to a standard of good quality households in the County (61%) to be within 1,000m or 12 Area analysis: minutes travel time Parks and surplus in the North To achieve and maintain Gardens and South East, Green Flag status in 3 parks deficiency in the West across the County (one in each neighbourhood area) All Country Parks to achieve Country Park Accreditation and a quality rating of 76% (Excellent) Standard Standard Standard To ensure provision To achieve a minimum To provide natural & does not fall below the standard of 48% (current semi-natural greenspace Natural and current level of 7.55 ha Countywide open space within 1,200m or 15 Semi-Natural per 1,000 population average) and to deliver all minutes travel time of Greenspace Local Nature Reserves to a where people live Area analysis: minimum quality rating of surplus in the North, 61% (good) deficiency in the South East and West www.scottwilson.com www.strategicleisure.co.uk 2 Northumberland County Council Open Space, Sport & Recreational Facilities – PPG17 Assessment Typology Quantity Quality Accessibility Standard Standard Standard To ensure provision To achieve a minimum To provide amenity does not fall below the standard of 48%. This greenspace within 600m current level of 1.09 ha includes ensuring facilities or 8 minutes travel time Amenity per 1,000 population and infrastructure are ‘fit for of where people live Greenspace purpose’ Area analysis: surplus in the North and South East, deficiency in the West Standard Standard Standard To ensure provision To achieve a minimum To provide outdoor does not fall below the standard of 61% (good sports facilities within current level of 1.69 ha quality). 1,200m or 15 minutes Outdoor Sports per 1,000 population travel time of where Facilities people live Area analysis: Surplus in the North and West, deficiency in the South East Standard Standard Standard To ensure provision To achieve a minimum To provide fixed play does not fall below the standard of 61% and to provision within 800m or current level of 0.50 ha ensure all fixed play design 10 minutes travel time of Provision for per 1,000 children’s considers the play