3.5  Open Space and Recreational Land

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3.5.1       Open space is essential to the character, amenity, health and economy of East Dunbartonshire and provides habitats for a rich variety of wildlife.  It can help mitigate some of the effects of “town cramming” and is widely recognised as an essential component in sustainable cities and towns.  Shortcomings in the open space of the area have been identified as an emerging major issue with this local plan and will require to be addressed by the Council and also through developer contributions.

3.5.2       Thus the Council wishes to maintain a high level of open space which is multifunctional, fit for purpose and accessible to all.  The protection and improvement of good quality open space within, adjoining and serving the urban area is therefore considered to be of vital importance.

3.5.3       The Council as the major land manager within the greenspace network will seek to protect and demonstrate best practice in relation to its own open space.

3.5.4       The Council also believes that the collective value and connectivity of open space is far greater than the benefits that each space can accrue individually. 

3.5.5       Thus the Council will aim not only to ensure there is a sufficient quantity and variety of quality open space within the area, but in addition, as opportunities arise, will protect and augment the green corridors which provide invaluable links between more formal open spaces.

3.5.6       To determine the current level of available open space and particularly greenspace, the Council is undertaking a Greenspace Audit and a review of play area provision. The Audit focuses on the following typology and has identified functions for each of the spaces.

Amenity Greenspace - recreational greenspace (country parks, neighbourhood parks, local parks, play parks, sports pitches), incidental greenspace (which gives the setting for developments) and private greenspace,

Functional Space- productive greenspace (e.g. farmland and forestry), burial grounds and institutional grounds (often with limited public access),

Semi-natural Space- woodland, scrub, grassland, wetland and bogs, and

Linear Greenspace- open spaces which provide the inter-connectivity and relationship between sites, especially along pedestrian and cycle routes.

3.5.7       To be effective, and worthy of protection, open space has to fulfil at least one of the following identifiable roles:

a Formal/Informal Recreation

b General Amenity, Landscape and Structural Setting

c Biodiversity

d Economically active (forestry, market gardens etc)

e Educational

f Social and Cultural

3.5.8       Historically local authorities have adopted National Playing Field Association (NPFA) standards but this has led to a focus primarily on quantity of recreational land, provision being based on a minimum requirement for so much recreational land per head of population. This is not considered to take fully into account the wider roles of open space (other than for recreation) or the quality of that open space. Current good practice and advice in NPPG11 suggests working towards more flexible and locally derived standards of provision.  The Audit process therefore allows the Council to move towards a qualitative approach taking account not just quantity, but also accessibility, quality and fitness for purpose.

3.5.9      Initial analysis of the Audit’s findings focused on assessment of recreational open space in the urban areas and the urban fringe, and has revealed the following:

a. Neighbourhood Parks -Neighbourhood parks, are normally over 1 hectare, accessible on foot to a catchment of about 1.2km radius, serving the need of the whole community. They fulfil a variety of roles as outlined on the previous page including a mixture of biodiversity, landscaping and recreational elements.  The Audit indicates that generally there is a reasonable provision of neighbourhood parks.  These are characterised by mown grass and groups of trees and there is significant scope to enhance their quality and internal diversity.  These parks are accessible to the wider community and will be used by residents in new housing developments.  As these parks meet the needs of the whole community, any new developments within the catchment of a park will potentially increase the level of use.  In these circumstances it is reasonable to expect that developers might make a contribution to the upgrading of neighbourhood parks.

b. Local Parks - Local Parks are normally between 180 ^m2 and  1 hectare in size, accessible on foot to a catchment of about 400m radius, serving the local area. They fulfil a variety of uses and as well as having an important informal recreational role, landscaping and biodiversity should also be important features.  Although parts of some neighbourhood parks operate in lieu of dedicated local parks the audit identified an overall severe shortfall of local parks throughout East Dunbartonshire.  This is a major concern and will require to be addressed whenever opportunities arise.  In particular new residential developments will be required to include measures to provide for the needs of the new residents.  Large developments will be required to include the provision of a local park wherever one is not already available in the immediate vicinity.  In the case of smaller developments, a contribution towards the provision of such a facility by the Council as opportunities arise (including within a nearby neighbourhood park if appropriate) will be required. 

c. Play space (incorporating children’s play equipment) - Play spaces are essential to allow safe and accessible recreational space for children and should be facilitated by all new residential developments as set out in Guidance Note 10. A full review of play area provision is to be undertaken by the Council with the aim of enhancing availability of these facilities for younger members of the community.

d. Green Network - The value of open space is significantly increased where it is linked by a wider green network. Although there is a fairly good linkage between open space at present, significant opportunities exist to fill gaps and enhance linkage particularly through development of the cycle and pedestrian access network.  Where an identified green link or potential linkage passes through or adjoins a development site, the proposals will require to demonstrate that the green network is being adequately protected and augmented.  This will be addressed further in the Council’s Access Strategy.

3.5.10     Publicly accessible formal recreational pitches are also essential to allow people of all ages to take part in competitive sport. Sportscotland has produced a strategy document ‘Sports 21’ which recommends that Councils produce a sports/leisure Strategy. The Council will be producing an Integrated Leisure Strategy which will review the adequacy of outdoor recreational facilities. Planning policy with regards to formal recreational pitches will therefore await the outcome of the findings of this Strategy.

3.5.11     A Technical Note giving further details of the initial analysis of the Audit is available from the Council. Policy OS 3 and Guidance Note 10 give guidance on standards which will be expected in considering proposals where open space is concerned.

OS 1  Maintenance & Improvement of Existing Parks and Open Spaces

The Council will seek to ensure that all open space within its control will be well maintained and be of a high quality, appropriate for its purpose. Some areas which serve as wildlife habitats may be managed to allow a more natural character and appearance, with minimal maintenance. The Council undertakes, where appropriate, to enhance its own open spaces and recreational land.

Existing open spaces and recreational land, where appropriate, will be assessed with a view to improving:

a.    usable recreational value,

b.    where appropriate, their accessibility to the public,

c.    amenity and ecological value, and

d.    linkages through a network of open spaces across the plan area.

The Council is undertaking a phased programme of upgrading equipped children’s play areas.

On sites at Cluny Park, Bearsden and Callieburn Road, Bishopbriggs, which are not in Council ownership, long leases or management and access agreements will be sought by the Council to enable the Council to invest in improvements. 

The Council recognises the value of existing private open space and encourages landowners, in partnership where appropriate, to improve the recreational, ecological and amenity value of their land, and its accessibility for the benefit of the community.

OS2    Existing Parks and Open Spaces

The Council will protect existing open space, which fulfils an identifiable role, and will not permit development which would adversely affect its scale or quality. The major areas of recreational land are identified on the proposals map, but all open spaces which fulfil an identifiable role will be protected under this policy.

Any proposals that would have an impact on the scale or role of open space will be assessed against the following criteria:-

a.    the current or potential use, role, quality and value of the open space,

b.    the proximity and quality of surrounding open space, and

c.    whether equivalent or improved replacement provision is to be made in the same locality.

OS3 Provision of new or enhanced open space and recreational land

The Council will promote, through partnership and the use of planning conditions and agreements, improvements in the provision of open space, recreational land and improved network linkages, particularly in areas where there is an identified shortfall in quality or quantity of provision.

All new housing developments should include adequate provision for, or appropriate access to high quality open space for passive and active recreation:

§ Playspaces (including children’s play equipment)

§ Local Parks

§ Neighbourhood Parks

§ Formal Recreational Pitches

and ensure the identified Green Network is retained and augmented where appropriate.

Where new provision is required, the developer will require to meet the full costs of the provision.

As an alternative to making provision on-site, where a development is in close proximity to existing open space and/or recreational land, a financial contribution will be required in accordance with the Council’s established scale (as set out in this plan or as applicable at the time of permission being granted) (a Section 75 Agreement may be required to secure this arrangement). Guidance on the level of provision expected and proximity to open space is as contained in Guidance Note 10.

The Council will also explore ways of encouraging direct sponsorship by businesses to contribute to local open space maintenance and environmental improvement initiatives.

Developers should consider whether to include Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) within their open space.

All new commercial, business and industrial developments should incorporate landscaping schemes which includes provision for long-term maintenance within their proposals to the satisfaction of the Council. The design and the layout should be of high quality meeting the standards set by the Council.

In addition, where a green link passes through or close to a developers site the proposals will require to demonstrate that the green network is being protected and augmented.