WIRRAL BOROUGH COUNCIL DRAFT OPEN SPACE ASSESSMENT REPORT (v3) DECEMBER 2019 Knight, Kavanagh & Page Ltd Company No: 9145032 (England) MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS Registered Office: 1 -2 Frecheville Court, off Knowsley Street, Bury BL9 0UF T: 0161 764 7040 E: [email protected] www.kkp.co.uk Quality assurance Name Date Report origination AL / CD August 2019 Quality control CMF August 2019 Client comments WBC August/December 2019 Revised version KKP September/December 2019 Agreed sign off Contents PART 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Report structure ...................................................................................................... 2 1.2 National context ...................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Local context ........................................................................................................... 3 PART 2: METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................... 4 2.1 Settlement areas and population ............................................................................. 4 2.2 Auditing local provision (supply) .............................................................................. 6 2.3 Quality and value .................................................................................................... 7 2.4 Quality and value thresholds ................................................................................... 8 2.5 Understanding local provision ................................................................................. 9 2.6 Accessibility catchments.......................................................................................... 9 PART 3: SUMMARY OF SURVEY AND VISITS ............................................................. 10 3.1 Community Survey ................................................................................................ 10 3.2 Site Visit Overview ................................................................................................ 14 3.3 Summary ............................................................................................................... 16 PART 4: PARKS AND GARDENS .................................................................................. 17 4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 17 4.2 Current provision ................................................................................................... 17 4.3 Accessibility........................................................................................................... 18 4.4 Quality ................................................................................................................... 21 4.5 Value ..................................................................................................................... 24 4.6 Summary ............................................................................................................... 25 PART 5: NATURAL AND SEMI-NATURAL GREENSPACE ........................................... 26 5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 26 5.2 Current provision ................................................................................................... 26 5.3 Accessibility........................................................................................................... 28 5.4 Quality ................................................................................................................... 32 5.5 Value ..................................................................................................................... 34 5.6 Summary ............................................................................................................... 35 PART 6: AMENITY GREENSPACE ................................................................................ 36 6.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 36 6.2 Current provision ................................................................................................... 36 6.3 Accessibility........................................................................................................... 37 6.4 Quality ................................................................................................................... 44 6.5 Value ..................................................................................................................... 46 6.6 Summary ............................................................................................................... 47 PART 7: PROVISION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE .................................... 48 7.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 48 7.2 Current provision ................................................................................................... 48 7.3 Accessibility........................................................................................................... 49 7.4 Quality ................................................................................................................... 54 7.5 Value ..................................................................................................................... 55 7.6 Summary ............................................................................................................... 56 PART 8: ALLOTMENTS ................................................................................................. 57 8.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 57 8.2 Current provision ................................................................................................... 57 8.3 Accessibility........................................................................................................... 57 8.4 Quality ................................................................................................................... 61 8.5 Value ..................................................................................................................... 62 8.6 Summary ............................................................................................................... 62 PART 9: CEMETERIES/CHURCHYARDS...................................................................... 63 9.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 63 9.2 Current provision ................................................................................................... 63 9.3 Accessibility........................................................................................................... 63 9.4 Quality ................................................................................................................... 66 9.5 Value ..................................................................................................................... 67 9.6 Summary ............................................................................................................... 68 PART 10: COASTAL AREAS ......................................................................................... 69 10.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 69 10.2 Current provision ................................................................................................. 69 PART 11: MULTIFUNCTIONAL ROLE OF SITES .......................................................... 72 APPENDIX ONE: SUMMARY OF SITES WITH NO SCORES........................................ 73 Glossary DCLG Department for Communities and Local Government DDA Disability Discrimination Act DPD Development Plan Document FIT Fields in Trust FOG Friends of Group GIS Geographical Information Systems KKP Knight, Kavanagh and Page LDF Local Development Framework LNR Local Nature Reserve MUGA Multi-use Games Area (an enclosed area with a hard surface for variety of informal play) NPPF National Planning Policy Framework NSALG National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners ONS Office of National Statistics PPG Planning Policy Guidance PPS Playing Pitch Strategy SOA Super Output Areas SPD Supplementary Planning Document SSSI Sites of Special Scientific Interest WIRRAL BOROUGH COUNCIL DRAFT OPEN SPACE ASSESSMENT PART 1: INTRODUCTION This is the Open Space Assessment Report prepared by Knight Kavanagh & Page (KKP) for Wirral Borough Council. It provides detail with regard to what open space provision exists in the area, its condition, distribution and overall quality. This document sets out the findings of the research, consultation, site assessments, data analysis and GIS mapping undertaken as part of the study. The table below details the open space typologies included within the study: Table 1.1: Open space typology definitions Typology Primary purpose Parks and gardens Accessible, high quality opportunities for recreation and community events. Natural and semi-natural Wildlife conservation, biodiversity and environmental education greenspaces and awareness. Amenity