What are Local Green Spaces?
A Neighbourhood Plan can identify green areas of particular importance to local communities. If these areas fulfil the criteria outlined in national planning policy, they may be designated as Local Green Spaces. This provides special protection against inappropriate development, preserving and protecting them for future generations to enjoy.
How do spaces qualify for this special designation?
In order to meet the requirements of national planning policy, Local Green Spaces should be demonstrably special to the local community, for their beauty, history, recreational value, tranquillity or wildlife, for example. They must be local in character, reasonably close to the community they serve; and not an extensive tract of land.
Which areas are special to the local community?
As part of the process of developing a Neighbourhood Plan, the DNP team has been consulting frequently with residents, at village events and drop-ins, on character assessment walks, and through our surveys. (You can find further details on this website.)
In the village-wide survey, you told us that Datchet’s beautiful green spaces are in the top three things you like most about the village. (If you’re wondering, the other two are community spirit and the village atmosphere and character.) You would like Datchet's Neighbourhood Plan to preserve and protect Datchet’s attractive village greens, Recreation Ground and public riverside, which are key to the village’s character and identity, and to protect and enhance its green spaces and their biodiversity, ensuring local people have access to nature. |
Which spaces are being proposed for designation?
The DNP team has assessed the green spaces which are most important to you, to determine whether they meet the criteria laid down in national planning policy. We are also consulting the landowners, Datchet Parish Council and the Datchet Recreational Centre Charitable Trust, who we hope will also wish to preserve, protect and enhance these special places for residents.
Based on your feedback, the DNP team would like to propose that the following are designated as Local Green Spaces.
Based on your feedback, the DNP team would like to propose that the following are designated as Local Green Spaces.
- The Recreation Ground.
- The Sabatini Land (between the ditch across the Recreation Ground and Horton Road).
- The Willowfields at the back of the Recreation Ground.
- The Village Greens and The Cut by Horton Road car park.
- The public Riverside Garden.
Why are some areas not proposed as Local Green Spaces?
There are other areas of local importance or environmental value in the village which have not been proposed for designation. This is because their status within the Green Belt already provides a significant level of protection which would not be added to by designation as a Local Green Space, or because they do not fulfil the criteria required by national planning policy as outlined above.
What protection will Local Green Spaces have?
Local Green Space designation is a formal record of the importance of these areas to the local community. Local Green Spaces have similar protection to Green Belt land. This doesn’t mean that they can’t be used for development but it does mean that any development should be ‘appropriate’. (Full details are given in the National Planning Policy Framework, paragraphs 143-147, see https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-planning-policy-framework/13-protecting-green-belt-land.) Appropriate development on Green Belt land might include, for example, the provision of suitable facilities for outdoor sport and outdoor recreation; the extension or alteration of a building provided that it does not result in disproportionate additions over and above the size of the original building; or the replacement of a building, provided the new building is in the same use and not materially larger than the one it replaces.
Got a question?
If you have any comments or questions about Local Green Space designation, or have helpful details to add to the proposal forms, such as how these areas might be enhanced, we would like to hear from you. Please use the ‘contact us’ section of this website.
What do you think? Survey results
In the 'What's important to you' survey December 2020/January 2021, we asked whether you supported the following areas being protected as Local Green Spaces for present and future residents. This is what you told us.
- 97% of respondents supported the Recreation Ground being designated as a Local Green Space
- 84% supported Willowfields at the back of the Rec
- 80% supported the Sabatini Land between Horton Road and the Rec ditch
- 92% supported the Village Greens and The Cut by Horton Road car park
- 95% supported the public riverside Garden