Greenspace Strategy Supplementary Planning Document

Annual Monitoring Review 2006-07

1.0Review of Greenspace Targets

1.1The Salford Greenspace Strategy was adopted by Council on 19th July 2006.

1.2This report aims to show what progress towards meeting the standards set in the Strategy has been made in the period from 1st February 2006 (cut-off date for data used for the SPD) to 31st March 2007, and what work is currently being undertaken, across the Council and with its partners.

1.3Another key purpose of the document is to demonstrate the wealth of activity taking place corporately, which is helping to deliver the principles and targets contained within the Greenspace Strategy. This report encourages all this good work to be monitored and reported as a key area of corporate activity.

Greenspace Strategy: Performance Indicators

1.4The document sets local standards for greenspace provision in Salford. The targets identified in the Strategy are aspirational long-term targets and are based on bringing forward all the sites identified for improvement in the Strategy.

1.5The Greenspace Strategy has provided the framework for part of the Local Area Agreement 2007 (LAA) which begins to set time-related targets for equipped play and parks.

1.6The Parks for People Strategy and the LAA commit the Council to bringing all proposed District Parks up to standard by March 2011.

1.7The table below provides a summary of progress made towards achieving the targets in the Strategy. Appendix 1 sets out the details of the greenspace changes which have fed into the figures below.

Greenspace Strategy Targets and Indicators 2006-2007 performance

Indicator / 2005-2006 Performance / Targets set by SPD / LAA Targets 2006/7* / 2006-2007 Performance
1. / % of Households within 500m walking distance of a Local Semi-Natural Greenspace / 47.3% / 76% / 49.3%
2. / % of Households within 2000m walking distance of a Strategic Semi-Natural Greenspace / 50.8% / 58% / 50.8%
3. / Area of Equipped Children’s Play Space per 1,000 people across the whole of Salford / 0.05ha / 0.25ha / 0.053ha
4. / % of Households within 400m walking distance of a LEAP / 33.1% / 55% / 30% / 33.5%
5. / % of Households within 1000m walking distance of a NEAP / 63.3% / 82% / 39% / 58.4%
6. / % of Households within 1200m walking distance of a NeighbourhoodPark / 69.0% / 87% / 72% / 73.7%
7. / % of Households within 3200m walking distance of a DistrictPark / 21.0% / 93% / 36% / 59.0%
8. / Area of Sports Pitches per 1000 population across the whole of Salford / 0.82ha / 0.80ha / Dependent on playing pitch assessment

* Local Area Agreement proposed Targets for March 07 (24/01/07).

1.8Achievements 2006/7

1.8.1DistrictPark: 93% of households should be within 3,200 metres walking distance of a DistrictPark by 2016.

Progress over the past 12 months has resulted in the percentage of households meeting the standard increasing from 21% to 59%.

ACHIEVEMENTS 2006/07:

Refurbishment / Enhancement

BuileHillPark

  • Prince’s Park
  • ParrFoldPark

Green Flag Status

  • Retained at Victoria Park
  • Bid submitted for 2007/8 for Victoria Park

1.8.2NeighbourhoodPark: 87% of households should be within 1,200 metres walking distance of a NeighbourhoodPark by 2016.

Progress over the past 12 months has resulted in the percentage of households meeting the standard increasing from 69% to 73.7%.

ACHIEVEMENTS 2006/07:

New Site Provision

  • RiversidePark (Littleton Road Playing Fields)

Refurbishment / Enhancement

  • Langworthy Park

1.8.3Equipped Children’s Play Space: A Minimum of 0.25 hectares of Equipped Children’s Play Space should be provided per 1,000 people across the city by 2016.

  • The total area of Equipped Children’s Play Space has increased from 10.81ha in 2005 to approximately 11.54ha in 2007 due to the new and improved play spaces referred to below.
  • This equates to only a minimal improvement to the standard of Equipped Children’s Play Space per 1,000 people, from 0.050ha in 2005 to 0.053ha in 2007.

1.8.4Local Equipped Area for Play: 55% of households should be within 400 metres walking distance of a Local Equipped Area for Play (LEAP) by 2016.

Progress over the past 12 months has resulted in the percentage of households meeting the standard has increased from 33.1% to 33.5%. This demonstrates that almost as fast as the standard is improving in response to new facilities, it is falling back again due to vandalism and maintenance problems.

ACHIEVEMENTS 2006/07:

LEAP New Site Provision

  • Regent Square
  • Gloucester Place
  • CharlestownPark
  • RiversidePark (Littleton Road Playing Fields)

LEAP Refurbishment / Enhancement

MandleyPark – additional play area

  • Langworthy Park
  • George Thomas Playground/Prince’s Park

LEAP Windfall Provision (New)

Wet Earth Green (Agecroft/Pendlebury)

LEAP Provision Fallen Below Standard

Tully Street

Madamswood Playing Fields

Shackleton Street

Clifton Green

RainbowPark

Funding has been secured for the replacement of Tully Street (s106), Madamswood Road (Safer, Stronger Communities Fund (SSCF)), Shackleton Street (s106) and Clifton Green (Newlands/Forestry Commission).

1.8.5Neighbourhood Equipped Area for Play: 82% of households should be within 1,000 metres walking distance of a Neighbourhood Equipped Area for Play (NEAP) by 2016.

Despite progress resulting in the provision of 2 new NEAPs, the loss of the NEAP in Ordsall Park has resulted in the percentage of households meeting the standard has fallen in the last 12 months from 63.3% to 58.4%.

ACHIEVEMENTS 2006/07:

New Site Provision

  • Gloucester Place
  • RiversidePark (Littleton Road Playing Fields)

Refurbishment / Enhancement

  • Langworthy Park
  • George Thomas Playground/Prince’s Park

NEAP Provision Fallen Below Standard

  • OrdsallPark
  • Clifton Green

1.8.6Local Semi-Natural Greenspace: 76% of households should be within 500 metres walking distance of a Local Semi-Natural Greenspace by 2016.

Progress over the past 12 months has resulted in the percentage of households meeting the standard increasing from 47.3% to 49.3%.

ACHIEVEMENTS 2006/07:

Refurbishment / Enhancement

  • An area greater than 1ha of Semi-Natural greenspace has been established and managed in LightoaksPark.
  • Enhancement is near to completion at LangworthyPark which includes tree planting and a new sensory and nature garden.
  • Improvements at Ashton’s Field Colliery Informal Open Space for access to semi-natural greenspace and informal recreation.
  • Improvements to fishing facilities and pathways at Queensmere

1.8.7Strategic Semi-Natural Greenspace: 58% of households should be within 2,000 metres walking distance of a Strategic Semi-Natural Greenspace by 2016.

Since no new Strategic Greenspace sites have been designated over the past 12 months the percentage of households meeting the standard has remained the same at 50.8%.

ACHIEVEMENTS 2006/07:

Refurbishment / Enhancement
  • Continued improvements by the Forestry Commission at SlackBrookCountryPark, including the submission of planning applications for the provision of a play area, upgrading of paths, and an events space.
Green Flag status
  • Retained at BlackleachCountryPark
  • Awarded for the first time to CliftonCountryPark
  • Bids submitted for 2007/8 for BlackleachCountryPark and CliftonCountryPark

1.8.8Sports Pitches: 0.80 hectares of Sports Pitches should be provided per 1,000 population across the city

  • No update is possible prior to the completion of the Playing Pitch Assessment and Action Plan, which is being led by consultants on behalf of the city council. It is anticipated that the final assessment will be submitted in September 2007.

ACHIEVEMENTS 2006/07

Refurbishment/ Enhancement

  • Beechfarm drainage improvements to pitch
  • Brookhouse Playing Fields improvements

1.8.9Adult & Youth Facilities: A full range of adult and youth facilities should be available within each Community Committee Area

  • Some outdoor facilities: tennis and bowls, will now be covered as part of the playing pitch assessment; this is an improvement on last assessment.

1.8.10Green Access Corridors: To develop a network of Green Access Corridors linking the Strategic Semi-Natural Greenspaces to provide the strategic framework for high quality pedestrian and cycling routes between the strategic open spaces and between the open space and their surrounding neighbourhoods.

ACHIEVEMENTS 2006/07:

Refurbishment / Enhancement

Roe Green Loopline (Mount Skip Lane to Chedworth Crescent) – Resurfaced and new access controls have been installed

  • Tyldesley Loopline – new access controls have been installed and ramped access to improve accessibility for pushchairs, cyclists and – where possible, wheelchairs, as well as people with walking difficulties.
  • The Bridgewater Way – has had towpath improvements along the section between PatricroftBridge at Liverpool Road and the railway bridge at Hall Bank.

1.8.11Local Area for Play: The Greenspace Strategy does not set a local standard for Local Areas for Play (LAP). Instead it is considered these can supplement existing LEAP provision and provide an area for young children’s play where LEAP facilities can not be accommodated.

ACHIEVEMENTS 2006/07:

LAP Windfall Provision (New)

Kingsley Avenue

Seaford Road

  • WillowPark

Greenspace Strategy Sites Changes and Improvements (February 2006 to March 2007)

2.0 Summary of Delivery Mechanisms

2.1The implementation of the Greenspace Strategy is expected to be delivered through a variety of different mechanisms. During the previous 12 months this has included the following projects and programmes.

City Council Activity:

2.2There has been substantial City Council activity in improving the city’s green and open space for communities. The Environment Directorate in particular has a programme of activities aimed at improving parks and open spaces in the city. Appendix 2 shows the levels of investment in open spaces from a variety of sources during 2006/7.

2.2.1The Parks for People strategy has resulted in the upgrading of three parks to DistrictPark status. This has involved substantial capital investment from the Council of £516,500, with a substantial proportion being directed into Parr Fold Park and Prince’s Park and a smaller proportion for Buile Hill Park. This investment has also supported the development of Master Plans for 6 of the city’s District Parks.

2.2.2New Equipped Play provision has been provided at 8 sites – 1 of which was replacement facilities.

2.2.3The Ranger Services have benefited from additional financial support of £102,500, and the creation of temporary ranger posts in Irlam/Cadishead, Little Hulton/Walkden, Swinton/Eccles, and Central Salford.

2.2.4In addition to the ranger service, an Environmental Education Officer and an Enforcement Officer to cover the areas of Little Hulton and Winton have been employed during 2006/7, funded by Safer, Stronger Communities Fund (SSCF). These officers form part of the Environmental Crime Unit, and look at issues such as littering, dog fouling and other environmental crimes across the area, and including issues in parks and open spaces. These officers work in a joined up way, using both enforcement and education to achieve reductions in environmental crime and increase awareness of related issues. Links have been made with schools, businesses and community groups, and events organised across the area, including PeelPark.

2.2.5Safety inspections are completed by Environment Directorate on a daily basis. These are used to highlight where maintenance is required and where quality has deteriorated. The Council’s Environment Directorate also complete annual quality monitoring which is reported.

Monitoring Quality

2.2.6The Council’s Environment Directorate prepare and implement a programme for improvements, and priorities for open space improvements/enhancements are set out in each Community Committee Area action plan. The Playing Pitch Assessment and Action Plan will highlight areas for qualitative improvements for sports pitches including tennis courts and bowls within the city.

Planning Decisions:

2.3Planning decisions have ensured the provision of new, or enhancement of existing, open space. This is in the form either of new provision as part of large new development or financial contributions to be directed towards improvements of existing open space sites. In addition to new provision and enhancements, the planning system plays a key role in the protection of existing open space and facilities from development.

New On-Site Open Space Provision

2.3.1Planning permissions during the previous 12 months have, for example:

  • secured the future provision of a new urban park in Lower Broughton (agreed through partnership arrangements, section 2.4 below);
  • secured the future provision of a new village green and Home Zones with LAPs at the KersalHeights development (agreed through partnership arrangements, section 2.4 below);

2.3.2A planning application was submitted for significant new public realm provision in the Greengate area of the city, in September 2006. This included the provision of three new urban spaces:

➢a water based square fronting the River Irwell;

➢an enlarged pedestrian route along Greengate; and

➢a new city square to the north of the railway viaduct including a new pedestrian bridge across the Irwell to Victoria Street, water sculptures, new market cross, exchange monument and single storey pavilion building, tree planting and hard and soft landscaping

2.3.3Due to previous planning requirements, the LEAP within the Agecroft Road housing estate has been installed (Wet Earth Green, off Agecroft Road).

Financial Contributions

2.3.4Reporting on financial contributions relating to open space provision associated with new housing developments is complex. Financial contributions are agreed when planning permission is granted for a proposed development, usually with a requirement for the first payment to be made on commencement of development (although this is not always the case). The total amount of money actually available to spend at a point in time, may differ from that agreed at the time of planning permission. This is because:

1)a number of planning permissions are not implemented (for the 5 year period to March 2007 the amount of money expected to be received from developments started is £4,209,307, discounting that already spent);

2)for larger developments, financial contributions are agreed on a phased payment basis, usually in line with stages of the development. Therefore, the contributions being received may not form the full payment, and the spending of these contributions may be delayed while the outstanding balance is awaited(from the total money expected for the previous 5 year period only £2,207,025.91 has been received so far by the Council; of which only £930,035 is from fully paid schemes).

Financial Contributions Agreed in 2006/07

2.3.5The total amount of financial contributions agreed for open space provision/maintenance as a result of planning permissions granted for new housing development between April 2006 and March 2007 is £3,613,010, from a total of 33 separate planning applications. The highest proportion of this has been generated in East Salford Community Committee Area (38% of the total). Central Salford as a whole secured almost 65% of the total financial contributions, in half of the planning applications (17 out of the 33 separate planning applications) (see Appendix 3 for details of the planning obligations agreed and contributions received during 2006-2007). This money will arrive over a number of years depending when the development is built, number of phases, etc.

Financial Contributions Received in 2006/07

2.3.6The total amount actually received from previously agreed planning obligations for open space improvements during the period April 2006 to March 2007 is £904,675.75. The largest proportion of the financial contributions received has been in Walkden & Little Hulton (22.80%), reflecting where s106 agreements have been secured in the past.

Financial Contributions Spent in 2006/07

2.3.7The amount of money actually spent during the previous 12 months, from previously agreed planning obligations for open space improvements is £278,070. This has been spent on improvements to:

  • Prince’s Park;
  • St. Mary’s Park;
  • Croal Irwell (Vine Street fencing and access improvements);
  • Monton Green;
  • LightoaksPark;
  • Beechfarm;
  • PeelPark, Little Hulton;and
  • Regents Square Park (part funded)

Regeneration Activity & Partnership Working:

2.4A substantial amount of regeneration activity is taking place across the city, Green Spaces are taking a high priority in a number of these initiatives and have begun to result in some physical improvements.

2.4.1The Housing Market Renewal initiative has included the refurbishment of LangworthyPark, which has included a new terrace fronting, new play areas and sensory and nature gardens.

2.4.2The New Deal for Communities team have developed a number of play areas – including a new park at Littleton Road, a new LEAP at Charlestown Park (see para. 3.8.6 below) and 2 LAPs.

2.4.3Partnership between the Council and LPC Living developed the Ordsall Framework; this identified Regents Square for improvements and children’s equipped provision. Following financial contributions from developments along Ordsall Lane, a LEAP has been installed in accordance with the aspirations of the framework. Orsdall has been the least well provided area for play provision. Progress is being made but there are concerns that future provision will be hindered by difficulty in meeting the 30 metre noise buffer requirements. It is important that Ordsall Park is not seen as the solution for all open space needs, which is a role it cannot fulfil. Other means of provision will need to be explored.

2.4.4The Higher Broughton and Lower Broughton partnerships have resulted in planning approvals for large areas of redevelopment which include the provision of new open space facilities. Development in Higher Broughton will include the provision of a new central village green within the development and the replacement and improvement of the Tully Street Play Area (development of the properties on site has started). In Lower Broughton pre-application discussions through the partnership between the Council and Countryside Properties secured the outline approval of a new neighbourhood park, which will include LEAP, NEAP, playing fields, and Local Semi-Natural Greenspace facilities (see para. 3.8.7).

2.4.5Other environmental partnerships have included working with the Forestry Commission, who have taken over responsibility for the management and maintenance of the SlackBrookCountryPark and Robin Hood Sidings as part of the Newlands Lower Irwell Valley Initiative Area (LIVIA) scheme (see para. 1.8.7 above).

2.4.6Groundwork have worked in partnership with Salford Council, Urban Vision, New Deal for Communities and the Forestry Commission on a variety of schemes, including carrying out the consultation associated with improvements to Madamswood Play area, Peel Park, Linear looplines, and Slack Brook Country Park, and creating a new park at Littleton Road, providing new fishing facilities and pathways at Queensmere and the new equipment at Charlestown Park (see para. 2.4.2 above). They have also carried out a pollution survey at Brindle Heath Lagoons.

External Grant Funding:

2.5A total of £1,068,113 has been raised through grant funding (this includes the figure in 2.2.3). This has been made up of grants from:

  • New Opportunities Fund;
  • Neighbourhood Renewal Fund;
  • Safer, Stronger Communities Fund; and
  • Football Foundation.

2.6This grant funding has supported investment to a number of greenspace sites, including Beechfarm, WintonPark, Brookhouse Playing Fields, and PeelPark.