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.

The strategy should apply to

all the open space – not just
that owned or managed by the
Tower Hamlets © Scenicireland.com/Christopher Hill Photography/alamy
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.

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
Blaise Castle, Bristol © Bristol City Council

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.
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.
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.
‘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’
 Respond to objectives set within
Graham Hood,
head of green spaces,
Walsall Council
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 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.
A good strategy will:
Work across departments
drawing in expertise and delivering
benefits to address the wider
neighbourhood agenda
your community strategy
Demonstrate how partnership
working improves services.
What are the rewards from
an open space strategy?

An open space strategy is a

© Natural England/Dorrstep Greens

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
An open space strategy can deliver adopted as a supplementary
on your requirements to meet national planning document. The
planning guidance (particularly involvement of stakeholders
PPG17 for open space, sport and and local residents in the
recreation). It should align with process of creating the strategy
your local development framework means that we have a robust
(LDF), which brings the status of a plan with legal weight that
statutory document and is a material can be used to secure the
consideration in the determination of appropriate resources for the
planning applications  – indeed it can long-term future of our parks
have most impact and legal weight and green spaces.’
if it is adopted as a supplementary
planning document as part of your Elizabeth Raikes,
LDF, as happened in Torbay. chief executive, Torbay Council
Who should be ‘Planning for climate change
requires residents and local
involved? public service providers to
work together. Our green space
strategy has set the framework
It is critical to think across a for this by setting out clearly
whole authority in marshalling the and simply the contribution that
resources to produce a strategy. council services can make.’
An open space strategy works best
when it is championed by elected Cllr Stephen MacLoughlin,
members and supported by heads leader Bournemouth Council
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,
Lower Gardens, Bournemouth © Mark Ellis & Ashley Bingham, ICD Ltd

highways or housing. Collaboration

builds better cross-departmental
relationships and raises the profile
of open space in your authority.

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.
How do you go about producing
and using an open space strategy?

CABE Space’s guide, Open The point of a strategy is to get

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
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.

2 Review the context

Understand policy context The strategy cycle
Define local characteristics
Review management and funding

3 Understand the supply

Prepare and adopt
of open space
open space strategy
Audit quantity, quality
and accessibility of
existing open space

4 Understand demand and need Implement

strategy
Survey community needs
and aspirations

5 Analyse and identify objectives

Review and Monitor
Setting local standards update strategy progress
and objectives
Identify priorities for improvement

6 Prepare the strategy Review action

and action plan plan annually
Write the strategy and action plan
Consult on draft strategy
and amend as required.
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