Open Space Strategies Leaflet

8/14/2019 Open Space Strategies Leaflet

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Open space strategiesWhat local authority decision

makers need to know


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Ste

veMcLaren

Producing a strategy has helped

us prioritise our resources and

achieve political and community

support or our investment

ambitions. We are ocussing

on raising the quality o green

space, particularly in deprived

neighbourhoods.

Peter Wilkinson,parks service manager,

Bristol City Council


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An open space strategy sets

out how a local authority

will invest in and manage

the open space in its area.

The strategy should apply toall the open space not justthat owned or managed by theauthority and cover parks, openspace, town squares, streets,play space and housing land. Itprovides the evidence, sets thedirection and helps secure undsor investment in open space.

The quality o public space givesa strong impression o an area.It is part o what gives a town orcity its identity and it gives localresidents a sense o civic pride or shame i it is poor quality.Investing in public space is along-term investment in your townand citys sustainable uture creating a thriving place where

people want to live, visit andwork. Research1 has shown thatbetter quality street design andproximity to well-designed andmanaged parks and green spacesresults in higher property valuesand has a positive inuenceon business perormance

and investor confdence.

What can an open spacestrategy deliver?

1 CABE (2004) The Value of openspace; CABE (2007) Paved with gold

the real value of street design

Tower

HamletsScenicireland.com/C

hristopherHillPhotography/alamy

BlaiseCastle,BristolBristolCityCouncil


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Why should you produce anopen space strategy now?

An open space strategy oers local

authorities a huge opportunity to

demonstrate high perormance

and leadership in delivering great

places and improve quality o lie.

Improve peoples quality o lie

We know that cities and towns thatinvest in and maintain generous,high-quality public open space lookbetter, eel better and work better.Prioritising investment in openspaces is not just about aesthetics.It helps resolve problems such asobesity, poor health and deprivationand the need or sustainabletransport, climate change adaptationand community development.

These wider benefts o open spaceshould be understood by departmentsrom across your authority androm other organisations such ashealth authorities and the police.

Improve your authoritys

perormance

Comprehensive area assessment(CAA) identifes 10 broad themesagainst which local perormanceis assessed. Positioning your openspace strategy to deliver your localpriorities, and contribute to some othese themes, such as saety andhealth, will help you to demonstratethe role o open space in deliveringgood perormance or the council.

CAA also gives councils the chanceto demonstrate best practice. Agood quality open space strategycan provide an opportunity or acouncil to earn an Audit CommissionGreen Flag or innovative practice

and promising perormance.

A good strategy will:

Work across departmentsdrawing in expertise and deliveringbenefts to address the widerneighbourhood agenda

Respond to objectives set withinyour community strategyDemonstrate how partnershipworking improves services.

Our green space strategy sets

out clearly how green space

delivers against the councils

corporate objectives. Green

space is now a key part o the

strategic planning o Walsall

Graham Hood,head o green spaces,Walsall Council


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What are the rewards roman open space strategy?

An open space strategy is asubstantial piece o work.Producing a strategy can taketwo years or more and it needsdedicated leadership, an adequatebudget, investment in skills andcareul project management.But this investment in peopleand time can pay dividends. Asa management tool, it will ensurethat any investment in open spacehappens where it will have greatestimpact. It can lead directly to newsources o unds or your authority.For example, Blackburn with DarwenCouncil won European regionaldevelopment und money to improveits allotments ater writing anopen spaces strategy. And TowerHamlets won Play Pathfnder moneyto create a new network o naturalplay environments in the borough.

An open space strategy can deliveron your requirements to meet national

planning guidance (particularlyPPG17 or open space, sport andrecreation). It should align withyour local development ramework(LDF), which brings the status o astatutory document and is a materialconsideration in the determination oplanning applications indeed it can

have most impact and legal weighti it is adopted as a supplementaryplanning document as part o yourLDF, as happened in Torbay.

We are pleased that Torbays

green space strategy has been

adopted as a supplementary

planning document. The

involvement o stakeholders

and local residents in the

process o creating the strategy

means that we have a robust

plan with legal weight that

can be used to secure the

appropriate resources or the

long-term uture o our parks

and green spaces.

Elizabeth Raikes,chie executive, Torbay Council

NaturalEngland/DorrstepGreens


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It is critical to think across awhole authority in marshalling theresources to produce a strategy.An open space strategy works bestwhen it is championed by electedmembers and supported by headso service. It will be led by theplanning and parks departmentsbut will involve all those withresponsibility or open spaces, orexample childrens play services,highways or housing. Collaborationbuilds better cross-departmentalrelationships and raises the profleo open space in your authority.

Beyond your authority you willneed to involve a range o externalpartners who can play importantroles in ensuring open spaceis managed and used or thebeneft o all the police, the localhealth authority, social housingmanagers, charitable trustsand voluntary organisations.

You also need to capture theirneeds and aspirations o thecommunity this needs to be at theheart o an eective open spacestrategy. Eective engagement atevery stage is essential but can paydividends in terms o setting local

priorities and delivering higherlevels o resident satisactionwith council perormance.

Who should beinvolved?

Planning or climate change

requires residents and local

public service providers to

work together. Our green space

strategy has set the ramework

or this by setting out clearly

and simply the contribution that

council services can make.

Cllr Stephen MacLoughlin,leader Bournemouth Council

LowerGardens,BournemouthMarkEllis&AshleyBingha

m,ICDLtd


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CABE Spaces guide, Openspace strategies, shows how toprepare a strategy. It groups thekey activities into six stages:

1 Prepare a scoping

study and brie Secure resources Design work programme Set vision

2 Review the context Understand policy context Defne local characteristics Review management and unding3 Understand the supply

o open space Audit quantity, qualityand accessibility oexisting open space

4 Understand demand and need Survey community needsand aspirations

5 Analyse and identiy objectives Setting local standardsand objectives Identiy priorities or improvement

6 Prepare the strategy

and action plan

Write the strategy and action plan Consult on drat strategyand amend as required.

How do you go about producingand using an open space strategy?

The point o a strategy is to getthings done. Once you haveadopted a strategy it needs to beimplemented a wide range opeople and organisations need to besigned up to it, taking responsibilityor delivery and being involved inperiodic reviews and updates tokeep it relevant and eective.

Implement

strategy

Review action

plan annually

Monitor

progressReview and

update strategy

Prepare and adoptopen space strategy

The strategy cycle


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This leaet explains to local

authority decision makers

what an open space

strategy is and the tangible

benefts o producing one.

It introduces CABE Spaces

publication, Open space

strategies, which reects the

latest thinking on the role

o open space in improving

the quality o peoples lives,

and which eatures case

studies o recent innovation,

progress and success rom

across England. Copies

o Open space strategies

can be downloaded or

ordered in hard copy rom

www.cabe.org.uk/publications

Commission or Architectureand the Built Environment

The governments advisor on

architecture, urban design

and public space

Published in 2009.

Graphic design by

Draught Associates.

Printed by Blackmore Ltd

on Revive recycled paper.Blackmore Ltd holds ISO14001

environmental accreditation.

Cover image: Centre Square,

Middlesbrough David

Millington Photography Ltd
http://www.cabe.org.uk/

Documents

Open Space Strategies Leaflet