Local Green Spaces

What are Local Green Spaces?

The National Planning Framework, February 2019 (NPPF) Paragraphs 99 to 101 introduce a Local Green Space (LGS) designation as a way to provide special protection against development for green areas of particular importance to local communities. The LGS is a designation for use in Local Plans and Neighbourhood Plans and once designated LGS have protection consistent with that in respect of Green Belt. A green space does not need to be publicly accessible or in public ownership in order to be designated. Equally, designation does not in itself confer any rights of public access over what exists at present.   

 

Tests for Identifying Local Green Spaces

 The Local Green Space designation should only be used where the green space is:

(a) in reasonably close proximity to the community it serves;

(b) 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), tranquility or richness of its wildlife; and

(c) local in character and is not an extensive tract of land

 

Next Steps

Winchfield Parish Council commissioned Michelle Bolger Expert Landscape Consultancy to identify and describe sites within Winchfield that meet the test for designation as Local Green Space. This study forms part of the evidence base for the Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) Review.

Your comments on the draft Local Green Spaces, described in the attached report, will be welcomed at the public engagement meeting in the Village Hall on Sunday 28th November between 3 pm and 6pm.