Policy BG/EO: Providing and enhancing open spaces

Open spaces, regardless of ownership, are a key aspect of high-quality urban and rural environments and are often fundamental to the character of an area. Attractive, accessible and well-designed open space can support and enhance the appearance of an area, creating more desirable places to live and underpin good growth. Open spaces and recreation facilities provide people with a place to relax and socialise as well as encouraging healthier lifestyles by providing opportunities for sport, informal play and daily encounters with the natural environment. They can also offer people the opportunity to grow their own food in allotments and community gardens and orchards. 

Multifunctional spaces can help people to socialise and relax as well as encourage healthier lifestyles. These areas can also assist with climate change strategies by reducing local heat islands in urban areas. The policy will support the delivery of large-scale green spaces which may also include water spaces, in order to provide a range of benefits in one location such as providing recreation space, providing habitats for wildlife, reducing heat island effects and reducing flood risk. 

An essential part of the character of Cambridge stems from its many green spaces, trees and other landscape features, including the River Cam. These not only play an important role in promoting both active and passive sport and recreational activities but also provide valuable amenity space and support for biodiversity. 

In both new and rural settlements, open spaces help form the individual character and identity of a village as well as encourage social interaction and recreational activity. These spaces can therefore play an important role in helping communities develop greater social cohesion and avoid feelings of social isolation leading to greater community resilience. 

Open spaces not only help support the health, social and cultural well-being of local communities but also help support strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.  

The varied nature of the area means that tailored solutions will be required. In Cambridge, urban areas may require investment in existing sites, such as improvements to the quality of sports pitches, and innovative approaches to new facilities such as creating safe jogging routes, or using roof space. In the villages open space is often focused around a recreation ground. These are typically owned and managed by Parish Councils, and they will play an important role in understanding the constraints and opportunities for enhancement. New communities and major developments offer the opportunity for a bespoke approach, and will be expected to include a range of accessible open spaces and facilities.  

Some of the key feedback received during the First Conversation consultation included views that development should contribute to open space and green infrastructure in and beyond development sites. We should create public spaces for social interaction, that are accessible and safe for people of all ages and abilities, and well connected by walking and cycling routes. Our plans should promote healthy lifestyles, including access to areas for growing food and caring for the natural environment. We should promote outdoor activities, including by creating all-weather exercise areas. We should also consider access to more natural areas, including separate areas which specifically support wildlife.

No policy – Not considered a reasonable alternative as this would not plan positively for the provision of open space, which is required by national planning policy, and an important part of the vision for the area.

• The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

  Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

  : Topic paper 3:

  The variety of life in all its forms. This includes the plant and animal species that make up our wildlife and the habitats in which they live.

  and Green Spaces  

South Cambridgeshire

Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

2018 

• Policy SC/7: Outdoor Playspace, Informal Open Space and New Developments 

• Policy SC/1: Allocation for Open Space 

Cambridge

Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

2018 

• Policy 68:

  Areas of land not built on and water bodies such as rivers and lakes, regardless of ownership and access. These areas include parks and gardens; natural and semi-natural green spaces; green corridors; outdoor sports facilities; amenity green space; teenagers’ and children’s play areas; allotments and community gardens; cemeteries and churchyards; accessible countryside in urban fringe areas and civic spaces.

  and recreation provision through new development 

Our consultation for this phase is now closed.