GRAVESHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL OPEN SPACE ASSESSMENT REPORT APRIL 2016 Integrity, Innovation, Inspiration 1-2 Frecheville Court off Knowsley Street Bury BL9 0UF T 0161 764 7040 F 0161 764 7490 E [email protected] www.kkp.co.uk Quality assurance Name Date Report origination/ CMF/AB January 2016 Revised April 2016 Quality control CF January 2016 Client comments GBC Feb/April 2016 Agreed sign off Glossary ........................................................................................................................ 4 PART 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 2 1.1 Report structure ...................................................................................................... 3 1.2 National context ...................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Local context ........................................................................................................... 4 PART 2: METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................... 5 2.1 Analysis areas ......................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Auditing local provision (supply) .............................................................................. 6 2.3 Quality and value .................................................................................................... 7 2.4 Quality and value thresholds ................................................................................... 9 2.5 Identifying local need (demand)............................................................................. 10 2.6 Accessibility standards .......................................................................................... 10 PART 3: GENERAL OPEN SPACE SUMMARY ............................................................. 12 3.1 Usage.................................................................................................................... 12 3.2 Accessibility........................................................................................................... 16 3.3 Availability ............................................................................................................. 17 3.4 Quality ................................................................................................................... 17 3.5 Value ..................................................................................................................... 19 3.6 Summary ............................................................................................................... 21 PART 4: PARKS AND GARDENS .................................................................................. 22 4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 22 4.2 Current provision ................................................................................................... 22 4.3 Accessibility........................................................................................................... 23 4.4 Quality ................................................................................................................... 25 4.5 Value ..................................................................................................................... 27 4.6 Summary ............................................................................................................... 27 PART 5: NATURAL AND SEMI-NATURAL GREENSPACE ........................................... 28 5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 28 5.2 Current provision ................................................................................................... 28 5.3 Accessibility........................................................................................................... 29 5.4 Quality ................................................................................................................... 33 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........................................................................................................... 36 6.4 Quality ................................................................................................................... 41 6.5 Value ..................................................................................................................... 43 6.6 Summary ............................................................................................................... 44 PART 7: PROVISION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE .................................... 45 7.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 45 7.2 Current provision ................................................................................................... 45 7.3 Accessibility........................................................................................................... 46 7.4 Quality ................................................................................................................... 50 7.5 Value ..................................................................................................................... 54 7.6 Summary ............................................................................................................... 55 PART 8: ALLOTMENTS ................................................................................................. 56 8.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 56 8.2 Current provision ................................................................................................... 56 8.3 Accessibility........................................................................................................... 57 8.4 Quality ................................................................................................................... 60 8.5 Value ..................................................................................................................... 61 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 ................................................................................................................... 65 9.5 Value ..................................................................................................................... 66 9.6 Summary ............................................................................................................... 67 PART 10: CIVIC SPACE................................................................................................. 68 10.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 68 10.2 Current provision ................................................................................................. 68 10.3 Accessibility ......................................................................................................... 68 10.4 Quality ................................................................................................................. 70 10.5 Value ................................................................................................................... 71 10.6 Summary ............................................................................................................. 71 APPENDIX 1: EXAMPLE ONLINE SURVEY .................................................................. 72 APPENDIX 2: ONLINE COMMUNITY SURVEY RETURNS ........................................... 77 Glossary DCLG Department for Communities and Local Government DDA Disability Discrimination Act DPD Development Plan Document FIT Fields in Trust FOG Friends of Group GBC Gravesham Borough Council 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