Policy information sourced from Barnet LocalPlanCoreStrategyDPDSeptember2012

CS7: Enhancing and protecting Barnet’s Open Spaces

In order to maximise the benefits that open spaces can deliver and create a greener Barnet we will work with our partners to improve Barnet’s Green Infrastructure.

We will create a greener Barnet by:

protecting open spaces, including Green Belt and Metropolitan Open Land;

enhancing open spaces, ensuring positive management of Green Belt and Metropolitan Open Land to provide improvements in overall quality and accessibility;

ensuring that the character of green spaces of historic significance is protected;

meeting increased demand for access to open space and opportunities for physical activity, by tackling deficiencies and under provision through:

  • securing additional on-site open space or other open space improvements in the identified growth areas including 8 ha of new provision at Brent Cross – Cricklewood, 5.5 ha of new provision at Mill Hill East and 5 ha at Colindale
  • improving access to open spaces particularly in North and East Finchley and other areas of public open space deficiency identified by Map 10. We will seek to improve provision in these areas of deficiency with the objective of increasing the area of the borough that has access to district and local parks in accordance with the London Plan criteria
  • securing improvements to open spaces including provision for children’s play, sports facilities and better access arrangements, where opportunities arise, from all developments that create an additional demand for open space. Standards for new provision are set out in DM15 – Green Belt and Open Spaces
  • maintaining and improving the greening of the environment through the protection of incidental greenspace, trees, hedgerows and watercourses enabling green corridors to link Barnet’s rural, urban fringe and urban green spaces
  • protecting existing Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation and working with our partners including the London Wildlife Trust to improve protection and enhancement of biodiversity in Barnet
  • ensuring that development protects existing site ecology and makes the fullest contributions to enhancing biodiversity, both through on-site measures and by contribution to local biodiversity improvements; and
  • enhancing local food production through the protection of allotments and support for community food growing including the Mayor’s Capital Growth Initiative.

In supporting new Green Infrastructure we will:

  • set out an approach to improving the network of green spaces within the Green Infrastructure SPD
  • as part of the All London Green Grid work with neighbouring authorities to establish Area Frameworks as the basis for identification, creation and management of new green spaces as part of:
    • Lea Valley and Finchley Ridge Green Grid Area
    • Brent Valley and Barnet Plateau Green Grid Area
  • reflect the policies and objectives in the Watling Chase Forest Plan when assessing development proposals in the area covered by the Community Forest.

For more information please see Local Plan Core Strategy DPD September 2012