Open Space Strategies Leaflet

Open space strategies What local authority decision makers need to know

‘Producing a strategy has helped us prioritise our resources and achieve political and community support for our investment ambitions. We are focussing on raising the quality of green space, particularly in deprived neighbourhoods.’ 

Peter Wilkinson, parks service manager, Bristol City Council

© Steve McLaren

What can an open space strategy deliver? An open space strategy sets out how a local authority will invest in and manage the open space in its area.

Blaise Castle, Bristol © Bristol City Council

The quality of public space gives a strong impression of an area. It is part of what gives a town or city its identity and it gives local residents a sense of civic pride – or shame if it is poor quality. Investing in public space is a long-term investment in your town and city’s sustainable future – creating a thriving place where people want to live, visit and work. Research1 has shown that better quality street design and proximity to well-designed and managed parks and green spaces results in higher property values and has a positive influence on business performance and investor confidence.

Tower Hamlets © Scenicireland.com/Christopher Hill Photography/alamy

The strategy should apply to all the open space – not just that owned or managed by the authority – and cover parks, open space, town squares, streets, play space and housing land. It provides the evidence, sets the direction and helps secure funds for investment in open space.

1 CABE (2004) The Value of open space; CABE (2007) Paved with gold – the real value of street design

Why should you produce an open space strategy now? An open space strategy offers local authorities a huge opportunity to demonstrate high performance and leadership in delivering great places and improve quality of life.

These wider benefits of open space should be understood by departments from across your authority and from other organisations such as health authorities and the police.

Improve people’s quality of life We know that cities and towns that invest in and maintain generous, high-quality public open space look better, feel better and work better. Prioritising investment in open spaces is not just about aesthetics. It helps resolve problems such as obesity, poor health and deprivation and the need for sustainable transport, climate change adaptation and community development.

Improve your authority’s performance Comprehensive area assessment (CAA) identifies 10 broad themes against which local performance is assessed. Positioning your open space strategy to deliver your local priorities, and contribute to some of these themes, such as safety and health, will help you to demonstrate the role of open space in delivering good performance for the council. CAA also gives councils the chance to demonstrate best practice. A good quality open space strategy can provide an opportunity for a council to earn an Audit Commission Green Flag for innovative practice and promising performance.

‘Our green space strategy sets out clearly how green space delivers against the council’s corporate objectives. Green space is now a key part of the strategic planning of Walsall’ 

Graham Hood, head of green spaces, Walsall Council

A good strategy will: Work across departments drawing in expertise and delivering benefits to address the wider neighbourhood agenda Respond to objectives set within your community strategy Demonstrate how partnership working improves services.

What are the rewards from an open space strategy?

An open space strategy can deliver on your requirements to meet national planning guidance (particularly PPG17 for open space, sport and recreation). It should align with your local development framework (LDF), which brings the status of a statutory document and is a material consideration in the determination of planning applications  – indeed it can have most impact and legal weight if it is adopted as a supplementary planning document as part of your LDF, as happened in Torbay.

© Natural England/Dorrstep Greens

An open space strategy is a substantial piece of work. Producing a strategy can take two years or more – and it needs dedicated leadership, an adequate budget, investment in skills and careful project management. But this investment in people and time can pay dividends. As a management tool, it will ensure that any investment in open space happens where it will have greatest impact. It can lead directly to new sources of funds for your authority. For example, Blackburn with Darwen Council won European regional development fund money to improve its allotments after writing an open spaces strategy. And Tower Hamlets won Play Pathfinder money to create a new network of natural play environments in the borough.

‘We are pleased that Torbay’s green space strategy has been adopted as a supplementary planning document. The involvement of stakeholders and local residents in the process of creating the strategy means that we have a robust plan with legal weight that can be used to secure the appropriate resources for the long-term future of our parks and green spaces.’ Elizabeth Raikes, chief executive, Torbay Council

Who should be involved?

Beyond your authority you will need to involve a range of external partners who can play important roles in ensuring open space is managed and used for the benefit of all – the police, the local health authority, social housing managers, charitable trusts and voluntary organisations. You also need to capture their needs and aspirations of the community – this needs to be at the heart of an effective open space strategy. Effective engagement at every stage is essential but can pay dividends in terms of setting local priorities and delivering higher levels of resident satisfaction with council performance.

Cllr Stephen MacLoughlin, leader Bournemouth Council

Lower Gardens, Bournemouth © Mark Ellis & Ashley Bingham, ICD Ltd

It is critical to think across a whole authority in marshalling the resources to produce a strategy. An open space strategy works best when it is championed by elected members and supported by heads of service. It will be led by the planning and parks departments but will involve all those with responsibility for open spaces, for example children’s play services, highways or housing. Collaboration builds better cross-departmental relationships and raises the profile of open space in your authority.

‘Planning for climate change requires residents and local public service providers to work together. Our green space strategy has set the framework for this by setting out clearly and simply the contribution that council services can make.’

How do you go about producing and using an open space strategy? CABE Space’s guide, Open space strategies, shows how to prepare a strategy. It groups the key activities into six stages: 1 Prepare a scoping study and brief Secure resources Design work programme Set vision 2 Review the context Understand policy context Define local characteristics Review management and funding 3 Understand the supply of open space Audit quantity, quality and accessibility of existing open space 4 Understand demand and need Survey community needs and aspirations 5 Analyse and identify objectives Setting local standards and objectives Identify priorities for improvement 6 Prepare the strategy and action plan Write the strategy and action plan Consult on draft strategy and amend as required.

The point of a strategy is to get things done. Once you have adopted a strategy it needs to be implemented – a wide range of people and organisations need to be signed up to it, taking responsibility for delivery and being involved in periodic reviews and updates to keep it relevant and effective.

The strategy cycle

Prepare and adopt open space strategy

Implement strategy

Review and update strategy

Review action plan annually

Monitor progress

This leaflet explains to local authority decision makers what an open space strategy is and the tangible benefits of producing one. It introduces CABE Space’s publication, Open space strategies, which reflects the latest thinking on the role of open space in improving the quality of people’s lives, and which features case studies of recent innovation, progress and success from across England. Copies of Open space strategies can be downloaded or ordered in hard copy from www.cabe.org.uk/publications

Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment The government’s 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