22 February 2002
The urban affairs sub-committee found that while the government has placed increasing importance on improving open spaces in England and Wales, it must make fundamental changes to Planning policy guidance note 17 and plan for better quality parks – not just for more of them.
The report also found that local authorities were significantly underspending budgets set aside for managing urban green spaces, some of which were in an appalling state.
An in-depth investigation into the issue was commissioned after planning specialists expressed 'widespread dismay' at the draft version of PPG17, which was expected to introduce wide-ranging guidance on the role of sports fields and open spaces.
Committee members found that the draft had made the issue of open spaces subservient to those of sport and recreation facilities and failed to address the recommendations of the urban white paper, published by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in November 2000.
In particular, the committee, chaired by Andrew Bennett, found that the draft had not provided a formal definition of open spaces.
It also found that there was very little guidance on management for local authorities and that many parks and commons were of poor quality as a consequence.
PFfeb2002
