Policy information sourced from the Maidstone Borough Council Local Plan 2021-2038
LPRINF1: Publicly Accessible Open Space and Recreation.
Quality Standards
1. For new housing or mixed-use development sites, the council will seek to deliver the following quantum of each category of publicly accessible open space provision in accordance with the specified standards below:
| Open Space Type | Standard (ha/1000 population) | Minimum Size of Facility (ha) |
|---|---|---|
| Amenity green space (e.g., informal recreation spaces, recreation grounds, village greens, urban parks, formal gardens and playing fields) | 0.7 | 0.1 |
| Provision for children and young people (e.g., equipped play areas, ball courts, outdoor basketball hoop areas,skateboard parks, teenage shelters and “hangouts”) | 0.25 | 0.25 excluding a buffer zone (*) |
| Publicly accessible outdoor sports (e.g., outdoor sports pitches, tennis, bowls, athletics and other sports) | 1.6 | To meet the technical standards produced by Sport England or the relevant governing bodies of sport. |
| Allotments and community gardens (e.g., land used for the growing of own produce, including urban farms. Does not include private gardens) | 0.2 | 0.66 |
| Natural/semi-natural areas of open space (e.g., woodlands, urban forestry, scrub, grasslands, wetlands, open and running water, banks to rivers, land and ponds, wastelands, closed cemeteries and graveyards) | Make a contribution towards maintaining the borough-wide target of 6.5 Ha of natural/ semi- natural open space per 1,000 head of population. |
* In cases where accessibility to children’s and young people’s provision is poor, for example outside a reasonable walking distance or where the crossing of major roads is necessary, smaller areas of open space may be justified on-site.
Quality Standards
2. All new open spaces should meet the following general standards:
- i. Be designed as part of the green infrastructure network in a locality, contributing to local landscape character, connecting with local routes and green corridors for people and wildlife as well as providing multi-functional benefits such as addressing surface water management priorities;
- ii. Be designed to encourage physical activity to improve mental well-being and health inequalities;
- iii. Provide a location and shape for the space which allows for meaningful and safe recreation and be sufficiently overlooked by active building frontages;
- iv. Be easily found and accessible by road, cycleway, footpaths and public transport including by those with disabilities, with pedestrian crossings on roads where appropriate;
- v. Make the entrances accessible for all users, of appropriate size and inviting with a welcoming sign and directions/map where appropriate;
- vi. Provide clearly defined boundaries with fences or hedges where needed to ensure safety of users;
- vii. Where appropriate provide interest and activities for a wide range of users in particular meeting the needs of elderly and less able users as well as children, young people and families;
- viii.Where appropriate provide seats, cycle furniture, litter bins and appropriate lighting to ensure safety of users without adversely affecting wildlife;
- ix. Provide a range of planting, with appropriate mix of predominantly indigenous species, maintained to a good standard;
- x. Promote biodiversity on-site through design, choice of species and management practices;
- xi. Submit an Open Space Layout and Design statement, to incorporate ecological management measures for approval by the council; and
- xii. Provide a Management Plan with adequate resources identified for on-going management and maintenance.
3. In improving existing open space provision, the council will have regard to these standards.
Accessibility Standards
4. If open space cannot be provided in full on development sites, due to site constraints, housing delivery expectations on allocated sites, or location, then provision should be provided off-site where it is within the distance from the development site identified in the accessibility standard.
| Open Space Type | Accessibility standard (radius from open space) |
|---|---|
| Amenity green space (e.g., informal recreation spaces, recreation grounds, village greens, urban parks, formal gardens and playing fields) | 400m |
| Provision for children and young people (e.g., equipped play areas, ball courts, outdoor basketball hoop areas, skateboard parks, teenage shelters and “hangouts”) | 600m |
| Publicly accessible outdoor sports (e.g., outdoor sports pitches, tennis, bowls, athletics and other sports) | 1,000m |
| Allotments and community gardens (e.g., land used for the growing of own produce, including urban farms. Does not include private gardens) | 1,000m |
| Natural/semi-natural areas of open space (e.g., woodlands, urban forestry, scrub, grasslands, wetlands, open and running water, banks to rivers, land and ponds, wastelands, closed cemeteries and graveyards) | 300m (2ha site); 2km (20ha site); 5km (100ha site); 10km (500ha site) |
For more information, please visit Maidstone’s Local Plan Maidstone Borough Council Local Plan 2021-2038