CONTEXT AND JUSTIFICATION

National Planning Policy Guideline 11: Sport, Physical Recreation and Open Space (NPPG 11) provides the context within which local authorities should assess the requirement and distribution of sport, recreation and open space facilities.

Areas designated as greenspace on the Development Policy Principles map represent the core of the City’s Green Network. These spaces, which can serve several functions, ranging from recreation to flood control, are an integral part of the City’s infrastructure making just as important a contribution to the community’s health, well-being and overall quality of life as social and health services, water supply, schools and transport.

Notwithstanding the general presumption in favour of retaining all greenspace, the Council wants to encourage development within the City and recognises that situations could arise where development supports and contributes to the function of the green network (see policy DEV 11: Greenspace).

Most new development will occur within the existing urban fabric. This contains a wealth of greenspaces that reflect the historical development of the City and represent a considerable environmental asset. However, it is a comparatively inflexible resource because historic parks, wildlife sites etc. cannot easily be moved to respond to changes in population or urban structure.

The Council recognises that if the City is to be seen as an attractive place to live, particularly for young families, it must be greener and more pedestrian and child-friendly. The Plan aims to achieve a pattern of land uses and related activities that re-centralise, re-densify, reconnect and reintegrate the economic, social and physical realms of the City in ways that are consistent with sustainable development. To support this, the Plan proposes a target for City-wide provision of recreational greenspace of 5 hectares per 1,000 population to be achieved over the 20 year period to 2020. This comprises 0.7 hectares for children’s play, 1.7 hectares for outdoor sport, 2.5 hectares for parkland and amenity open space, and 0.05 hectares for allotments.

This policy recognises that the development process is incremental and the possibility of achieving a better or more equitable distribution of greenspace across the City in the short term is low. The policy is designed to offer maximum flexibility while being firm in its requirement that all developments should contribute appropriately to meeting their greenspace obligations by making provision for new or enhanced spaces and/or facilities.

In certain circumstance, however, development could be appropriate in areas of greenspace and this policy outlines the circumstances and criteria that will apply.

1. Development on greenspace (as defined by policies DEV 2: Residential and DEV 11: Greenspace) may be acceptable if the applicant can show, to the satisfaction of the Council, that the proposal meets at least one of the three criteria listed below:

(a) as part of the proposal, the applicant must provide an area of equivalent or better quality greenspace, preferably nearby, by the upgrading of existing spaces and/or the creation of new ones; or

(b) proposals involving any greenspace, parts of a greenspace or facilities within a greenspace that can be demonstrated to be functionally redundant (see Definition) will generally be acceptable to the Council, provided they also result in either the provision of alternative, appropriate new facilities or the upgrading of existing facilities; or

(c) the proposed development must be directly related to the current use of the particular area designated as greenspace.

2. Where a proposal conforms 1 above, the applicant must also demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Council, that it meets all of the criteria listed below:

(a) that the proposed development will not prejudice the Council’s Recreational Greenspace Standards nor have a negative impact on the distribution of greenspace within the surrounding area;

(b) the proposed development must not prejudice or conflict with the terms of an Environmental Designation (see Environmental Policy Designations Maps and policies ENV 3 – 11 and HER 1); and

(c) the detailed design must provide for appropriate habitat creation and/or landscape improvement and/or the improved management of the retained or newly created greenspace.

The Council, in making the above assessments, will seek the views of local community councils and consult, where appropriate:

Environmental Policy Designation

Environmental policy designations cover the built and natural heritage of Glasgow. These areas are important because of their environmental quality, biological diversity and/or their historic, architectural or archaeological significance, and contribute positively to the quality of the environment, image and diversity of the City. The different types of environmental policy designations are listed in the key of the Environmental Policy Designations maps.

Recreational GreenSpace

Recreational greenspace is defined as all outdoor greenspaces (public and private) used for both active and passive recreation pursuits as well as for casual or organised activity associated with sport and children’s play.

Functionally Redundant

Defined as an area of designated greenspace, (see policies DEV 2 and DEV 11), the development of which would not compromise, or conflict with, policies ENV 3 - ENV 15 and which no longer performs the function for which it was created. For example:

(i) greenspaces still remaining following the demolition of surrounding buildings (e.g. tenement backcourts);

(ii) as a result of changes in standards approved by sporting or other bodies;

(iii) as a result of changes in consumer requirements or expectations in terms of type or quality of spaces/ facilities on offer, or some other similar consideration; and

(iv) in relation to (ii) and (iii) it is important that any changes be corroborated by independent evidence and be clearly related to the needs of those people who would fall within the normal catchment of the space/facility.

Closure and/or neglect will not constitute proof of functional redundancy.

1. This policy should be read in conjunction with policies DEV 2 and DEV 11.

2. The Council will assist in the provision of statistical information to enable an applicant to attempt to satisfy the requirements of section 2 (a) of the policy.