Contents Page Executive summary 2 1. Why is open space important? 3 2. What is the purpose of this report? 4 3. What are the Council’s existing open space policies? 5 4. The audit and assessment of existing provision 7 5. Applying the Borough-wide standards 9 6. How do we address deficiencies in open space provision? 18 7. Protection of existing open space 20 8. Action points to progress open space 21 References 23 Appendices Appendix 1 Definition of open space types 24 Appendix 2 Recommended Quantity Provision Standards 25 for Tamworth Borough Appendix 3 Recommended Accessibility Standards for Tamworth Borough 26 Appendix 4 Recommended Quality Vision for Tamworth Borough 27 Appendix 5 Summary of outcomes of audit and assessment 28 by open space type Appendix 6 Map of neighbourhoods 30 Appendix 7 Neighbourhood Summaries 31 1 Executive Summary The Council values open spaces as places that can make a major positive contribution to people’s lives. It is important that provision in the Borough is high quality, attractive, accessible and well managed and maintained. The purpose of this document is to set out a position statement on open space to enable a better understanding of the nature, location and level of local provision of open space throughout Tamworth. This establishes a framework for improving existing open space and providing new open space in the future. The Council’s existing open space policies are contained in the adopted Tamworth Local Plan 2001-2011. These policies aim to protect and enhance the open space network and ensure that new open space is delivered through new residential development. The standard for new provision is set at the old National Playing Fields Association standard, which is out of date and does not reflect local circumstances. An audit and assessment of open space was undertaken in line with Planning Policy Guidance Note 17 ‘Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation’ and this made recommendations for local quantity and access standards for the Borough. The appropriate place for new standards to come forward is through the local development framework. Applying the quantity standards to local neighbourhoods and reviewing the types and quantity of existing open space in each neighbourhood provides an indication of deficiencies and surpluses and therefore what needs to be provided. The majority of neighbourhoods contain a range of types of open space with amenity green space and outdoor sport and recreation facilities being the most widespread. Allotments and parks and gardens are the least common. None of the neighbourhoods meet the full borough standard in all types and most are deficient in three or more types. The most deficient neighbourhoods are generally located on the eastern side of the Borough. The overall deficiency in open space is compounded by a shortage of sites to create additional open space. Consequently, it should be accepted that it is not going to be possible to achieve the borough wide standards in most of the neighbourhoods. It is important to protect existing open space from loss to non-open space and recreation uses as far as possible and concentrate resources on improving existing open spaces through provision of additional facilities, including better access for people with disabilities, landscaping and higher standards of maintenance. This position statement will lead to additional open space work, some of which will be concerned with policy, such as an overall green space strategy and the adoption of local standards. There is also a need to address detailed matters of how open spaces are managed and gathering additional evidence to support the local development framework. 2 1.0 Why is open space important? 1.1 One of the Borough Council’s corporate objectives is that Tamworth should ‘be a cleaner, greener and more floral town’. The current Community Plan also expresses aspirations of ‘creating safer, stronger and more sustainable communities’, ‘promoting healthier communities and narrowing health inequalities’ and ‘transforming the local environment’. 1.2 In achieving these objectives and aspirations, the Council acknowledges that open space can make a major contribution to people’s lives. It is not just about providing places for people to walk the dog or enjoy an informal kickabout, high quality open spaces and outdoor sports facilities can make a major contribution to ensuring that towns and cities are places where people want to live. They can contribute towards regenerating deprived areas, provide wildlife habitats and promote better health and well-being by providing opportunities for exercise and leisure. They can also be used to educate people and they add colour and variety to the environment. 1.3 There are over 300 hectares of open space over 0.25 hectares in the Borough of different types and quality, much of which is in public ownership and is managed for public use. Other areas are privately owned, but are available for public use, such as bowling greens, tennis courts and sports pitches. There are also other privately owned spaces that are used informally by the public or have visual amenity benefits even if they cannot be publicly accessed. 1.4 There are two main aspects of open space from a land use planning perspective, protection of existing open space and provision of new spaces. The aim in Tamworth is to provide networks of accessible, high quality open spaces, sport and recreation facilities throughout the borough that meet the needs of residents. The spaces should be fit for purpose, economically and environmentally sustainable and be well managed and maintained. 1.5 Delivery of a network of high quality sustainable open spaces depends not only on good planning but also on creative urban and landscape design and effective management. The main role of the planning system is to ensure that there are enough open spaces and that they are located where they are needed. Many spaces are owned and managed by the Council, which demands effective joint working across departments and the commitment of appropriate resources. The Council also has a role in promoting sports development and is involved in initiatives to enable community involvement in managing amenity spaces and areas of wildlife interest. 3 2.0 What is the purpose of this report? 2.1 This report is not a green space strategy in the sense of CABE’s1 good practice guidance published in 2004. According to CABE, a green space strategy should set out the Council’s vision for using open space and also the goals, resources, methods and resources to achieve the goals. It should be a comprehensive council-wide document that directly contributes to delivering the council’s corporate aims and objectives set out in the community strategy. 2.2 The purpose of this report is to present a position statement on open space provision in the borough. It takes the Planning Policy Guidance Note2 17 ‘Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation’ (PPG17) audit and assessment of open space one step further by applying the recommended local standards of provision to a neighbourhood level. This will enable a better understanding of the nature and location of open space throughout Tamworth and will establish a framework for improving existing open spaces and future provision of open space. 2.3 The information will inform policy in the Core Strategy through which the standards will be adopted as Council policy. It will also feed into a more comprehensive strategy, which will be prepared jointly with other Council services to direct how open space will be provided, managed and protected in the future. 1 CABE stands for the ‘Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment’, a government agency that promotes and advises on raising standards of design in new buildings and public spaces. 2 Planning policy guidance notes are national guidance produced by the government on various aspects of planning. 4 3.0 What are the Council’s existing open space policies? 3.1 The Council produced an open space background paper in 2000 to inform the local plan review. This stated a need to provide open space throughout the borough, to resist pressures on existing open space and to ensure that additional demands are matched with new provision. The paper recommended that the local plan should contain policies with regard to: • more closely relating open space provision with the needs arising out of new development • guidance on commuted sums • a presumption in favour of retaining open space unless there is a demonstrated surplus • meeting the need for sports pitches and to protect existing pitches • catering for future sporting needs • making best use of major open spaces such as floodplains, Green Belt and urban fringe areas 3.2 In addressing provision standards specifically, the background paper states that using the National Playing Fields Association standard of 2.43 hectares per 1000 population and population projections to 2011, there is sufficient overall open space to meet predicted needs. It considered that the main issue was more about increasing the quality of existing open space, looking at the type of open spaces and whether they meet local needs and making up local deficiencies. It could be argued that because the background paper only takes into consideration 54 public open spaces and is a global provision figure for the whole borough, local deficiencies are not highlighted. 3.3 The paper also stated a commitment to the development of a comprehensive open space strategy prior to the publication of the first deposit local plan. The Council produced an Open Space Strategy in 2002, which predates CABE’s guidance. It contained a commitment to ‘providing a network of well maintained, safe, accessible parks and open spaces that meet the needs and aspirations of residents and visitors alike’.