Open Spaces Strategy Review

The Review of the Open Spaces Strategy updates the current adopted Strategy that was adopted in 2020 and supports the following Corporate Objectives of Harborough District Council:

• Community leadership to create a sense of pride in our place
• Promoting health and wellbeing and encouraging healthy life choices
• Creating a sustainable environment to protect future generations
• Supporting businesses and residents to deliver a prosperous local economy

As part of the vision the Corporate Plan 2024/25 seeks that: ‘The district will be shaped through good design, that addresses local needs and promotes healthier life choices’ and ‘Our natural environment will be protected and enhanced, with improved access to green spaces and increased biodiversity’. (CO5 and CO11). The updated Open Spaces Strategy can impact directly on these critical outcomes.

The updated Open Spaces Strategy will ensure that open space meets the priorities and demands of communities and the environment and is managed effectively by the most appropriate organisation improving social interaction and wellbeing, decision-making, enabling maintenance issues to be addressed promptly. directing investment where it adds most value and supporting sustainability and biodiversity.

The Open Spaces Strategy provides the data and justification for an updated approach to securing and managing open space. To implement these changes a clear and concise policy document will be required for reference and monitoring of progress as new planning applications are received.

Cabinet  approved a 15-year commuted sum for maintenance.. The Open Spaces Strategy supports the financial calculations for commuted sums for maintenance and off-site contributions for open space which will be used for delivery of open space as part of a new Open Space Strategy Policy and Guidance. The level of commuted sums needs to be attractive to and meet the expectations of the development industry in terms of site viability matters, for example, in order to ensure the open space adoption hierarchy can be effectively implemented.

The adoption hierarchy will help ensure that open spaces are managed by the most appropriate and locally accountable organisation moving forward. It should be noted that the council cannot formally require new open space to be transferred to and maintained by a parish council or, indeed, the district council. However, having a clear policy steer through adopting the new Open Spaces Strategy, and accompanying guide, provides a clear district council policy intention for this to happen, and toprovide a powerful and significant steer to developers as to the preferred approach and intention of the district council in this regard.