Explanation OS2

The Benefits of Urban Greenspace

10.7

The Council has identified a need to continue to improve the quality of urban greenspaces in Knowsley, to ensure that they contribute in different ways to community needs. Urban greenspaces vary widely in type (see figure 10.1), size and value to the community, and smaller sites may not be identified specifically on the Proposals Map.New development within or affecting greenspaces (irrespective of whether the quantitative standards in policy OS3 and OS4 are met) should aim to protect or enhance their qualities, which can include the following:

Visual amenity

•  The provision of open vistas within the urban area;

•  Increasing tree coverage by providing suitable sites for tree planting;

•  The provision of visual screening for commercial uses;

•  The framing of transport corridors, providing a welcoming and attractive gateway to urban areas; and

•  Contribution to the landscape and identity of the surrounding area.

Urban quality and residential amenity

•  Supporting regeneration and improving quality of life for communities by providing visually attractive green spaces close to where people live;

•  The provision of buffers between residential and commercial areas, and alongside roads, thereby reducing noise and pollution for residents.

Wildlife value and environmental benefits

•  The provision of natural landforms, havens and habitats for flora and fauna and wildlife corridors;

•  Sites of geological and/or geomorphological interest;

•  Opportunities for environmental education; and

•  Accommodation of watercourses, water features and emergency flood storage areas.

Cultural and Community Value

•  Accommodation of historic or archaeological remains;

•  Where a site has cultural or historic significance for the community; and

•  The provision of sites for fairs and other, community events.

Recreational and health benefits

•  Providing opportunities for informal and formal recreation within sites;

•  Encouraging people to walk or cycle along green corridors; and

•  The provision of sites for allotments encourages exercise and healthy eating.

Strategic benefits

•  Defining and separating urban areas;

•  Providing linkages between town and country e.g. green corridors; and

•  Links to and between open spaces.

Guidelines for development affecting greenspaces

10.8

Although it is important to conserve greenspaces that make an important contribution to the community and the environment, the Council will not seek to operate a wholesale presumption against the development of urban greenspace. New development will be allowed where it satisfies any of the criteria under the second part of the policy.

10.9

It may not always be appropriate for replacement facilities to be of exactly the same scale or nature as those that may be lost, but they should always be of the same or greater value to the community and be "fit for purpose". For example, the replacement of a number of playing pitches with an artificial turf pitch may provide more games to be played per year or season, but it may not allow a sunday league to play their games at the same time, or allow players to make challenges due to the abrasive surface.

10.10

Adjacent urban greenspaces can link together to form urban greenspace systems, sometimes known as green corridors, providing a greater overall benefit than the spaces can provide individually. The spaces may be separated by small gaps such as roads, railways or small pieces of land, but are still visually linked. As well as providing the benefits of individual open spaces, they can provide attractive, safe, traffic free access to other open spaces and even the countryside, can perform strategic functions and act as wildlife corridors. Many greenspaces also perform a valuable function providing habitats and existing or potential planted areas as part of the Mersey Forest initiative described in policy DQ4.

10.11

Wherever possible these systems should be expanded, with footpaths and cycle paths linking to and through them. In some cases access may be restricted for reasons of community safety and security, however non-publicly accessible spaces can still perform an important role in providing ecological and visual links, and care should be taken to ensure that such roles continue. The Council may identify existing and/or potential new urban greenspace systems in Supplementary Planning Guidance. An example of an open space system is the series of open spaces along the Alt Valley, particularly along Seth Powell Way.

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