Policy information sourced from Barking and Dagenham Adopted Core Strategy

POLICY CM3: GREEN BELT AND PUBLIC OPEN SPACES

The Council will ensure that important areas of public open space are identified and protected from development, that public open space is created and improved in areas of deficiency, and support the implementation of the East London Green Grid, the Blue Ribbon Network, and the Barking and Dagenham Landscape Framework Plan.

Barking and Dagenham’s Green Belt will be protected and maintained in accordance with national policy.

Barking Park, Parsloes Park and Mayesbrook Park have been designated as Metropolitan Open Land and will therefore be safeguarded from inappropriate development and afforded the same level of protection as the Green Belt. Within these areas essential facilities for appropriate uses may be considered where this would not have an adverse impact on:

  • The openness of the land.
  • The historic and cultural environment.
  • The quality and character value of the open space.
  • Habitats and species of biodiversity value.

In addition to the Borough’s Green Belt and Metropolitan Open Land, a number of local public open spaces have also been identified for protection. These are indicated on the Proposals Map. The Site Specific Allocations DPD will review these designations and confirm what local public open spaces are to be designated as District Parks, Local Parks and Open Spaces and Small Open Spaces in accordance with the London Plan’s public open space hierarchy.

In very exceptional cases it may be appropriate to allow local public open spaces to be developed provided that a new equivalent or better type or quality of public open space is provided in an area of open space deficiency. Where any such development is proposed, particular consideration should be given to whether the development will improve access to and quality of open space, to enhancing biodiversity, and to whether open space provision in the ‘donor’ area will remain at an acceptable level.

Where appropriate, new development will be expected to provide on site provision of public open space, or developer contributions towards off-site provision of public open space and/or improvement of existing spaces.

Local Public Open Space

  • In addition to the Green Belt and the three Metropolitan Open Spaces, Barking and Dagenham contains a wide range of smaller public open spaces which also provide great benefits including the positive impact on physical and mental health, particularly providing opportunities for physical activity. A strategic review of local public open space has been conducted to take into account of the Council’s Parks and Open Spaces Strategy (2003). This work has informed the Site Specific Allocations DPD. This work will also enable the Council’s maps of open space deficiency to be updated in line with the London Plan public open space hierarchy. The Site Specific Allocations DPD will confirm which of Barking and Dagenham’s local public open spaces fall within the London Plan’s district parks, local parks and open spaces, small open spaces, pocket parks and linear open spaces classifications.
  • Major initiatives are underway to improve many of the Borough’s public open spaces, for example implementation of the Barking Park Masterplan and enhancements to Valence Park to complement the Valance House Museum refurbishment. However, not all of the public open spaces in the Borough are in top condition, and some areas of the Borough have insufficient access to parks and green spaces. New development and regeneration initiatives present a major opportunity to redress these issues.

For more information please see the Barking and Dagenham Adopted Core Strategy