About this page
How this part of the Local Plan Options Document works
These Development Management policy option pages contain the following sections:
Policy background
- Relevant national policy or regulations
- National or regional trends
- Local situation and needs/li>
- How we have dealt with this issue in the past
- The thinking behind the policy
Policy options for the new Local Plan
We may suggest a variety of approaches:
- Keeping existing policy as it is
- Making small changes
- Replacing the policy with something that is substantially different
- Identifying factors or events which may affect this policy in the future
Policy option analysis
- A list of the advantages and disadvantages that we have identified for each of the policy options we are presenting.
View the Topic Paper on Healthy and Vibrant Communities and Appendix 4: Local Green Spaces for in-depth focus about this topic, and the evidence which informs our policy. Visit our library of Local Plan Options supporting documents to learn more.
Explore the policy
Select a section below to read more.
Background
9.323 Local Green Spaces that are of demonstrable importance to local communities can be designated and protected from development. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) Section 8 provides guidance for local green space designation. Relevant paragraphs concerning Local Green Space Designation are as follows:
'105. The designation of land as Local Green Space through local and neighbourhood plans allows communities to identify and protect green areas of particular importance to them. Designating land as Local Green Space should be consistent with the local planning of sustainable development and complement investment in sufficient homes, jobs and other essential services. Local Green Spaces should only be designated when a plan is prepared or updated, and be capable of enduring beyond the end of the plan period.
106.The Local Green Space designation should only be used where the green space is:
- in reasonably close proximity to the community it serves
- demonstrably special to a local community and holds a particular local significance, for example because of its beauty, historic significance, recreational value (including as a playing field), tranquillity or richness of its wildlife
- local in character and is not an extensive tract of lands
107. Policies for managing development within a Local Green Space should be consistent with those for Green Belts.'
9.324 National Policy makes clear that blanket designation of all green space is not appropriate. Proposed designations must be supported by evidence that the green area is special to the local community. There are several specific exceptions, where designating a local green space would not be appropriate:
- Education sites – The NPPF places great weight (para 99 (a)) on the need for Schools and Colleges to expand/alter. Because of this, local green space designations within school ground including playing fields are very unlikely to be suitable for designation.
- Highway Land/Verges - Land adjoining the highway is subject to permitted development rights and may need to be utilised or reconfigured for highway works and is therefore not suitable for designation.
9.325 Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) cites examples of what green areas can be identified as Local Green Space - For example, green areas could include land where sports pavilions, boating lakes or structures such as war memorials are located, allotments, or urban spaces that provide a tranquil oasis.
9.326 Sites with planning permission – A green space within a site with extant planning permission (within the red line) cannot be designated until the development is complete.
9.327 Land cannot be excluded because there is an existing planning designation, although national guidance recommends that the bar is higher for land within the Green Belt/ Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) or with another national designation i.e. the added value of the designation needs to be clearly demonstrated over and above the existing designation. On this basis it is very unlikely that land within the Green Belt/AONB or within a nationally designated Historic Park & Garden would be suitable for designation.
9.328 Bath and North East Somerset Placemaking Plan (PMP) reflects national guidance through policy LCR6A: Local Green Spaces:
- Development that would conflict with the reasons that the local green space has been demonstrated to be special to the local community and holds a particular local significance; and prejudice its role as Local Green Space will not be permitted unless very special circumstances are demonstrated.
- Local Green Spaces are defined on the Policies Map and additional areas may also be designated as Local Green Space in Neighbourhood Plans.
Consultation / methodology
9.329 In preparing the new Local Plan Options document we have sought new sites for nomination as local green spaces. Land which has previously been assessed as part of the Placemaking Plan (PMP) is not proposed to be reassessed as part of the new local plan.
9.330 For example, land that is already designated as local green space will continue to hold such a designation. Land previously nominated and not designated will also not be reassessed. The reason being sites previously put forward were assessed by both the Council and a Planning Inspector as part of the PMP examination, and under a policy framework and guidance which is the same as that used for this current consultation. Therefore, it was requested that only new land not previously put forward be nominated now for designation.
9.331 As the local green space designation is linked to community value, which must be demonstrated, it was decided that community nominations would be sought. This was facilitated by means of a proforma and guidance to communities.
9.332 Each of the sites nominated for designation was then assessed against the three NPPF criteria outlined above, and the other exceptions were considered.
9.333 Where landowners are not a ward councillor/parish council/community organisation nominating the site as a Local Green Space, B&NES Council contacted landowners to notify them that their land has been nominated and to ask for their comments.
9.334 The policy provides safeguarding against the loss of local green spaces which hold community value. The current policy accords with national policy and is fit for purpose. It is therefore proposed to retain the existing policy and to potentially designate additional Local Green Spaces.
9.335 In total 72 sites have been nominated. Of the sites 34 are situated within the city of Bath, the remaining 38 set across the wider district.
9.336 Of these 72 nominations one nomination had been withdrawn, and two are already designated as local green spaces. The remaining 69 sites have been assessed in line with the above policy and methodology.
9.337 In line with the consultation and assessment the 26 sites proposed for new Local Green Space designation are outlined within Appendix 4. The full list of sites nominated sites with completed pro-formas, and assessments can be accessed via the associated Local Green Spaces Topic Paper.
Question 1
Are the proposed new Local Green Spaces identified in Appendix 4 effective and justified?
Question 2
Are there any green spaces not already nominated for Local Green Space designation which should be?