Parks and Open Spaces An open space strategy for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets 2017-2027 PARKS AND OPEN SPACE STRATEGY 2017 - 2027 CONTENTS READING GUIDE ............................................................................................ 6 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 7 CHAPTER 1: THE CASE FOR AN OPEN SPACE STRATEGY ..................... 9 1.1. CHAPTER OVERVIEW ...................................................................... 9 1.2. THE NEED FOR AN OPEN SPACE STRATEGY IN 2017 ................. 9 1.3. SUPPORTING CORPORATE PRIORITIES ..................................... 12 1.4. APPROACH TO DEVELOPING THE OPEN SPACE STRATEGY ... 15 1.5. SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE OPEN SPACE STRATEGY ... 15 CHAPTER 2: ASSESSMENT OF PARKS AND OPEN SPACES SUPPLY . 20 2.1. CHAPTER OVERVIEW .................................................................... 20 2.2. NATIONAL AND REGIONAL GUIDELINES ..................................... 21 2.3. OPEN SPACE DEFINITIONS, CLASSIFICATIONS AND MEASUREMENTS ..................................................................................... 22 2.4. THE ASSESSMENT ......................................................................... 29 PART A: DESKTOP AUDIT OF OPEN SPACE ............................................ 30 2.5. METHODOLOGY ............................................................................. 30 2.6. FINDINGS ......................................................................................... 30 PART B: QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE SUPPLY OF PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE OPEN SPACE ....................................................................... 33 2.7. METHODOLOGY ............................................................................. 33 2.8. FINDINGS ......................................................................................... 33 PART C: CATCHMENT AREAS FOR OPEN SPACES IN TOWER HAMLETS...................................................................................................... 36 2.9. METHODOLOGY ............................................................................. 36 2.10. FINDINGS ..................................................................................... 36 PART D: EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY AND VALUE .............. 39 2.11. METHODOLOGY .......................................................................... 39 2.12. FINDINGS ..................................................................................... 40 PART E: EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT OF PLAYING PITCHES AND OUTDOOR SPORT FACILITIES ................................................................... 44 2.13. METHODOLOGY .......................................................................... 44 2.14. FINDINGS ..................................................................................... 46 CHAPTER 3: STAKEHOLDER AND RESIDENT CONSULTATION ............ 60 3.1 CHAPTER OVERVIEW .................................................................... 60 3.2 FINDINGS ......................................................................................... 60 3.3 RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS (AGED 16+) .......................... 61 Page 2 PARKS AND OPEN SPACE STRATEGY 2017 - 2027 3.4 YOUNG PEOPLE AND PARKS AND OPEN SPACES..................... 66 CHAPTER 4: OPEN SPACE DEMAND IN A CHANGING AND GROWING BOROUGH .................................................................................................... 69 PART A: DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE ............................................................ 69 4.1 METHODOLOGY ............................................................................. 69 4.2 FINDINGS ......................................................................................... 69 PART B: FUTURE DEMAND FOR NEW OPEN SPACE, PITCHES AND OUTDOOR SPORTS FACILITIES ................................................................ 76 4.3 METHODOLOGY ............................................................................. 76 4.4 FINDINGS ......................................................................................... 76 PART C: NEW APPROACHES TO IMPROVING EXISTING OPEN SPACE 99 4.5 THE NEED FOR NEW APPROACHES ............................................ 99 4.6 PRIORITISING RESOURCES .......................................................... 99 4.7 DESIGNING FOR GROWTH .......................................................... 101 CHAPTER 5: ACTION PLAN ...................................................................... 103 APPENDICES .............................................................................................. 119 Page 3 PARKS AND OPEN SPACE STRATEGY 2017 - 2027 TABLES AND CHARTS Figure 1: Percentage of residents satisfied* with Parks and Open Spaces, according to the Annual Residents Survey ...................................................... 7 Figure 2: Principles for Open Space .............................................................. 10 Figure 3: Spending by funding streams for parks and open spaces, 2006/7 – 2014/15 .......................................................................................................... 11 Figure 4: Utilisation of outdoor space for exercise/health reasons ................. 14 Figure 5: Open space evidence and strategy supporting the Local Plan ....... 17 Figure 6: Open Space classification by function, PPG 17 typology................ 26 Figure 7: Open space classification by size and expected walking distances: local hierarchy based on the London Plan ..................................................... 28 Figure 8: Open spaces by function ................................................................ 31 Figure 9: Open spaces by size....................................................................... 32 Figure 10: Publicly accessible open spaces by function ................................ 34 Figure 11: Publicly accessible open space by size ........................................ 35 Figure 12: Green Flag criteria: quality and value assessment ....................... 40 Figure 13: Parks and open spaces which are above quality standard (+) and below standard (-), by function ....................................................................... 41 Figure 14: Parks and open spaces which are above quality standard (+) and below standard (-) by size .............................................................................. 42 Figure 15: Parks and open spaces which are above value standard (+) and below value standard (-) by function .............................................................. 43 Figure 16: Parks and open spaces which are above value standard (+) and below value standard (-) by size .................................................................... 43 Figure 17: Grass football pitches by location and size ................................... 47 Figure 18: Grass football pitch quality by pitch size ....................................... 48 Figure 19: Breakdown of football teams ......................................................... 48 Figure 20: Football Association guidance for match equivalent sessions ...... 48 Figure 21: Current demand for adult 11 v 11 in MES ..................................... 49 Figure 22: Current demand for youth 11 v 11 in MES .................................... 49 Figure 23: Current demand for youth 9 v 9 in MES ........................................ 49 Figure 24: Artificial playing surface suitability................................................. 50 Figure 25: 3G pitch quality by pitch size ........................................................ 51 Figure 26: Cricket pitch provision by type and location .................................. 52 Figure 27: Cricket pitch quality ....................................................................... 52 Figure 28: Current demand for cricket in match sessions .............................. 53 Figure 29: Breakdown of rugby union teams ................................................. 54 Figure 30: Current demand for rugby union in MES ....................................... 55 Figure 31: Hockey pitches by type and location ............................................. 55 Figure 32: Breakdown of hockey teams ......................................................... 56 Figure 33: Current demand for hockey in MES .............................................. 56 Figure 35: Percentage of residents satisfied with Parks and Open Spaces, according to the Annual Residents Survey .................................................... 62 Figure 36: Top three responses to 'Which of the following are your main reasons for visiting a park or open space?’ (CLOSS, 2016) .......................... 63 Figure 37: Top three responses to 'Which of the three following are the most important uses of parks and open spaces for you personally?’ (CLOSS, 2016) ....................................................................................................................... 64 Page 4 PARKS AND OPEN SPACE STRATEGY 2017 - 2027 Figure 38: London boroughs population growth, 2016 to 2026 ...................... 70 Figure 39: Projected population in age in 2016: Tower Hamlets and London 71 Figure 40: Tower Hamlets projected population in age in 2016, 2021 and 2026 ....................................................................................................................... 71 Figure 41: Population projections by single year of age, 2016 and 2026 ....... 72 Figure 42: Proportion of the population