Audit of Canterbury open space

Richardg

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• Publié par: Thiok
• Nombre de lectures: 32
• Langue: English

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Aspire, protect, enhance and promote

Appendix 7

Audit of Canterbury district open space

Key attributes of open space

Building upon the strength of the 2004 strategy there are three key attributes

of quality open space: accessibility, quantity, plus quality and value.

Accessibility

or how easy is it for people to get to the open space?

Accessibility relates to how far people will travel to a site. This distance will

differ according to age, the nature of the site, physical barriers to access such

as roads railways etc, unique event or activity and cost, if any.

Research in the UK suggests that people will not travel much than 700m on a

regular basis, for younger children, that reduces to nearer 400m. This is

supported by the local consultation that focused on local provision. An

address point database was used to measure accessibility. Accessibility was

measured by the proportion of address points within a set distance (threshold)

of an open space. Address point contains postal address information for every

property and was used to determine distribution.

Local provision is important and is linked to a number of issues: sense of

place, community safety, limited transport. The consultation has emphasised

a focus on local provision, this is reflected in the typology thresholds that set

the Canterbury quality standards with a local focus.

Quantity

or how much is there? This is the amount of provision of open space

within a defined area. In this study each type of open space has been mapped

and the quantity of each type of open space has been calculated as an

amount per 1,000 populations. This follows the traditional approach for

calculating open space used by Fields in Trust.

A quantity standard is important in assessing the quantity of open space

provision required for a community or indeed indicating to a developer how

much open space is required to make on site as part of a proposed

development (usually as a planning condition) or to fund off site improvements

(usually through a planning obligation known as a Section 106 Agreement)

The proposed housing allocation to the district is 10,200 houses by 2026, this

is both a challenge and an opportunity.

Quality and Value

or how good is the open space? Quality is probably the

most important attribute of an open space. It is a subjective assessment of

whether an open space is fit for purpose or requires enhancement. If a space

is of good quality more people will use it. Of all four attributes quality is the

one that is most easily changed.

Value is again a subjective assessment and considers the importance or

benefits generated for the locality.

Open Space Strategy for the Canterbury District 2009 - 2014

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The study assessed quality and value on standard criteria

(appendix 8)

derived from nationally recognised assessment standards.

This makes it

possible to identify those spaces or facilities which should be protected and

those which require enhancement.

Building upon these quality and value assessments further work has been

undertaken to prioritise outdoor sports pitches, parks and gardens and fixed

play areas. In addition the Landscape Character and Biodiversity Appraisal is

at draft stage and when adopted will help identify biodiversity opportunities.

Audit findings

With regards

accessibility

the audit of open space has been mapped and

considered against the thresholds for each typology.

Table A

summarises the

typologies, the thresholds, the percentage of households within those

thresholds and justification for threshold.

Table A Summary of typologies, thresholds, percentage of population

within the thresholds and justification of thresholds

Typology

Agreed

thresholds

Justification of

threshold

Percentage of

households

within standards

Parks and

Gardens

2,000

metres

CABE guidance and

consultation results

focused on local

provision

100% of urban

households

Green

corridors

300 metres BRANCH study and

consultation focused on

local provision

86% (62,281

households)

Amenity

green space

1,000

metres

ANGST and consultation

results focused on local

provision

87% (63,317

households)

Fixed Play

areas

LAPs

Facilities

targeted at 0

to 5 year olds

400 metres Based on FIT guidance

and consultation results

focused on local

provision

12% (8,618

households)

LEAPS

Facilities

targeted at 0

to 12 year

olds

400 metres

/up to 15

minutes

walk

Based on FIT guidance

and consultation results

focused on local

provision

20% (14,637

households)

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Typology

Agreed

thresholds

Justification of

Percentage of

threshold

households

within standards

NEAPS

Facilities

targeted at 0

to 18 year

olds

1,000

metres/up

to 30

minutes

walk

Based on FIT guidance

and consultation results

focused on local

provision

82% (59,604

households)

Semi natural

and natural

open space

1,000

metres

Based on ANGST

guidance and

consultation results

focused on local

provision

78% (56,610

households)

Outdoor

sports

pitches

1,000

metres

Based on FIT guidance

and consultation results

focused on local

provision

64% (46,689

households)

Note

: ANGST is Access to Natural Green Space standard

Note, named strategic Parks and Gardens (Dane John, Memorial Park,

Reculver Country Park, Westgate Gardens and Whitstable Castle) have an

increased threshold due to the fact they hold events and fairs for the wider

community. This is supported through event user surveys but further work is

required to justify a higher threshold.

In addition named strategic areas of semi natural open space (The Blean

Woodland, Seasalter Flats, River Stour network and Kent Downs ANOB) have

an increased threshold due to the fact they have international, national

designation and attract visitors from a wider community. This is supported

through user surveys but further work is required to justify a higher threshold.

With regards

quantity

the audit of open space in the district from the 2004

strategy has been mapped and updated via public on line consultation in

2008/09. The open space has been related to Canterbury city, Herne Bay,

Whitstable and Rural areas.

Table B

below shows hectares of open space per

1,000 population.

Table B

Area of open space (hectares per 1,000 people)

Canterbury

Herne

Bay

Whitstable Rural

Total in

district

Amenity

1.09

1.74

0.88

1.46

1.29

Beach

0.00

0.32

0.84

0.00

0.27

Green corridors

0.19

0.24

0.38

0.05

0.22

Outdoor sports

pitches

0.21

0.23

0.29

1.03

0.41

Parks & Gardens

0.12

0.13

0.06

0.10

0.31

Fixed Play

0.07

0.04

0.06

0.10

0.07

Semi natural

3.29

4.59

22.03

86.44

25.30

Total

5.36

7.64

24.66

89.47

27.95

Open Space Strategy for the Canterbury District 2009 - 2014

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Mapping of provision and identifying gaps in provision.

The audit of open space has been mapped, with the appropriate applied

thresholds. The purpose of the mapping exercise is to show current provision

and to identify gaps in provision for each typology.

The district wide maps for each typology, ward maps including all typologies,

a district wide draft Landscape Character and Biodiversity Appraisal map and

a district wide of audited open space are available on line

www.canterbury.gov.uk/openspacestrategy.

The work has identified some gaps in provision, these are shown in

table C

below.

Table C

Identified gaps in provision

Type of open space

Gap in provision

Comment

Parks and Gardens

Accessible, high quality

opportunities for informal

recreation and community

events

None

All urban areas have at

least one park

Green corridors

Walking, cycling or horse

riding, whether for leisure

purposes or travel, and

opportunities for wildlife

migration

Walking and cycling

strategy identifies

Chartham to

Canterbury, Herne

Bay to Canterbury,

Faversham to

Canterbury and

Bridge to Canterbury

An extensive network of

local public rights of

way, permissible paths

and cycle ways.

Fixed Play Areas

Areas

designed primarily for play

and social interaction

involving children and

young people, such as

equipped play areas, ball

courts, skateboard areas

and teenage shelters

Chislet (R)

Bossingham (R)

Tankerton (R)

Reculver (R)

Lower Hardres (R)

Need to work with

community and partners

to identify potential

solutions

Amenity green space

Opportunities for informal

activities close to home or

work or enhancement of

the appearance of

residential or other areas

Gaps in Barton ward

and south Wincheap

plus the coastal

wards as a beach

does not fully met

amenity needs

Extensive network of

green space

Semi-natural green

spaces

Wildlife conservation,

biodiversity and

environmental education

and awareness

No significant gaps

identified

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Type of open space

Gap in provision

Comment

Outdoor sports facilities

Participation in outdoor

sports, such as pitch

sports, tennis, bowls,

athletics or countryside and

water sports

Canterbury (C)

Herne Bay (HB)

Whitstable (W)

Optional appraisal

underway

Consider option

appraisal

Consider option

appraisal.

Quality and value assessment and priorities for enhancement

With regards

quality and value

national assessment criteria has been used

to assess open space, see

appendix 8.

The quality and value scoring for

each site assessed is available as background information on request.

The quality and value assessments have resulted in identifying four categories

of open space, these have been linked to the strategy aims:

•

High quality/low value – note none of these identified

•

High quality/high value – protect these sites

•

Low quality/low value – low priority for enhancement

•

Low quality/high value – high priority for enhancement

New sites can be assessed against the agreed criteria and slotted into the

assessment tables. This helps to provide an indication of determining the most

appropriate policy for each existing piece of open space.

Note that no sites were deemed to be of high quality but low value, a

summary of assessed sites is shown in

table D

below.

Table D

Quality and Value assessments

High quality/high

value

Policy: Protect

Low quality/low value

Policy: Lower priority

for enhancement

Low quality/high value

Policy: Enhance and

protect sites

Parks and Gardens

Dane John ( C )

Norman Castle ( C)

Green corridors

Tourtell RD (C)

Parks and Gardens

None

Green corridors

None

Parks and Gardens

Memorial Park (HB)

St Mary de Castro ( c)

Westgate Gardens ( C )

Whitstable castle ( C

)

Green Corridors

Reculver – Seasalter

(HB to W)

Falala Way (C)

Old Thanet Way (HB)

Riverside Walk (Barton

Mill to Toddlers Cove)

(C)

Solleys Orchard (C)

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Amenity green spaces

Columbia Avenue (W)

King George IV Field

(C)

Kingston (R)

St Stephens pathway

(C)

UKC slopes (C)

Savernake Drive (HB)

Hales Place Pond (C)

Fixed play areas

Burton field (HB)

Chestfield Rd (W)

Columbia Avenue (W)

Hales Place ( C )

Hampton (HB)

Military Rd ( C )

Plough Lane (W)

Seafront ( HB)

St Stephens ( C )

Thannington ( C )

Outdoor sports

facilities

Thannigton ( C )

Semi natural

Clowes wood (R)

Duncan Down (W)

Reculver Country Park

(HB)

Tankerton Slopes

Amenity green spaces

Green Gap swalecliffe

(R)

Kingshall Slopes (HB)

Mannock House Grass

Corner (C)

Oxenden Square (HB)

Oxford Road (C)

Fixed play areas

Outdoor Sports

facilities

Chislet ( R)

Tyler Hill ( R )

Semi natural

Bakers wood (R)

Early wood (R)

Wraik Hill (W)

Amenity Green spaces

Chestfield Rd (W)

Cornwallis Circle (W)

Hales Place Pond (C)

Rough Common (R)

Blean (R)

Toddlers Cove (C)

Vauxhall Rd (C)

Stream Walk (W)

Tannery Field (C)

Fixed Play areas

Barham ( R)

Cherry Orchard ( HB )

Cornwallis Circle (W)

Collins Rd 7 Rowlands

Drive ( HB)

Lime Kiln (C)

Lucerne Drive ( C )

Memorial Park ( HB )

Querns Rd ( C )

Sturry Rec Grd ( R )

Toddlers Cove ( C)

Victoria ( C)

Westmeads (W )

Wincheap ( W )

Outdoor sports

facilities

Adisham ( R )

Blean (R )

Bridge (R )

Burton Fields (HB)

Cherry Orchard (HB)

Church treet (W)

Hales Place (C )

Hersden ( R )

Littlebourne ( R )

Plough Lane (W)

Sturry ( R)

Victoria Rec ( C )

Westmeads (W)

Semi natural

Curtis wood (R)

Fordwich Lakes (R)

Long Rock/Plough Lane

(R)

Old Park (C)

Prospect Field (W)

Open Space Strategy for the Canterbury District 2009 - 2014

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Open Space Strategy for the Canterbury District 2009 - 2014

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Coastal

East of Hampton Pier

(HB)

Coast

Hampton (HB)

Building upon the 2004 assessments further assessment work has been

undertaken and priority lists have been developed.

Parks and gardens

appendix 9

Green corridors

appendix 10

Amenity green space

appendix 11

Fixed play areas

appendix 12

Semi natural

appendix 13

Outdoor sports provision

appendix 14

The priority lists form a programme for improvements to open space in the

district that may be delivered by Canterbury City Council or by a Parish

Council or in partnership with a range of stakeholders.

If a new project comes forward it can be assessed against the appropriate

criteria and can be fitted into the programme for improvements.