Bristol Parks and Green Space Strategy

Area Green Space Plans

What is an Area Green Space Plan?

An Area Green Space Plan (AGSP) is both a spatial and investment plan for green space in each Neighbourhood Partnership Area in the city.

Each plan will set the foundations for green space provision for the next 20 years and will outline where different types of facilities and space - such as children's playgrounds, sports pitches, young people's facilities, toilets and park keepers - are to be located. It will also identify if any green space is no longer needed and can be used to fund improvements to other spaces.

Developing Area Green Space Plans for Bristol

Bristol City Council is currently working with stakeholders and local communities to develop Area Green Space Plans for all 14 Neighbourhood Partnership Areas across the city.

Each plan will apply the standards and policies set out in the council's Parks and Green Space Strategy and ensure that the significant investment anticipated for green spaces is prioritised with the help of stakeholders and communities.  The standards agreed in the Parks and Green Space Strategy determine a minimum level of quality and quantity of green space provision and the maximum distance people should have to travel to access different types of green space in the city.

Do the Area Green Space plans cover all green space?

The Area Green Space Plans focus on publicly accessible green space but will occasionally consider green space outside of this, for example making a green space accessible to the public in order to ensure the minimum green space standards set out in the Parks and Green Space Strategy are met.  A full description of what spaces are not directly considered is available in the Parks and Green Space Strategy.  Maps of the areas being considered and the land that is included can be downloaded from these pages. Green space that does not fall under the Area Green Space Plans may be considered by the new Bristol Development Framework that sets out guidance for planning and will replace the local plan. Visit www.bristol.gov.uk/bdf for more information.

How will local residents be able to help shape the Area Green Space Plans?

A programme of consultation is taking place that will ensure that local people and stakeholders (interested parties) can be involved in the planning for their area and will be able to comment on future proposals.

Phase 1 – Stakeholder focus groups to inform the plans

The AGSP team has been working with stakeholders (such as park groups, community groups and other Bristol City Council departments), local organisations and communities to draw up draft plans. These groups are looking at how well parks and open spaces in their neighbourhood meet the new standards agreed in the Parks and Green Spaces Strategy. Stakeholders have helped to identify issues and possible solutions. They have also helped to develop ambitious investment ideas.

Phase 2 – Public consultation on the draft plans

It is really important that feedback is gathered for the draft documents. It will show how well the public feel the policies and standards set by the Parks and Green Spaces Strategy have been applied. This information can then be used to define and adapt the plans, identify priority sites and identify works that are needed. No decisions have been made yet, and will not be made until the public's view has been heard. This will be your opportunity to shape the future of Bristol's parks and green spaces.

The Area Green Space Plans will be open to consultation from June 2010. This has been re-scheduled from our intended January start, and there a number of reasons for this:

This timing will ensure the public and key stakeholders can consider the Parks and Green Space proposals in the context of the Council's long term planning policies, currently being proposed as part of the Core Strategy and the Site Allocations Plan. The Site Allocations community involvement is now due to proceed in June and we are keen to take a 'one city' approach and remain aligned.

It is vital that we have a joined up approach so that you remain fully informed on the Council's overall vision for the city's future planning and development - and how our parks and green space continue to play a vital role in the fabric of the city.

The June consultation will also mean that our emerging Neighbourhood Committees will have more opportunities to consider the proposals and determine the local community benefits the strategy could bring.

We are confident that the decision to hold the consultation in June will pay dividends with more local people better informed - and the final strategy documents will be of a high quality, setting out clearly the potential opportunities for the future investment and improvement of our cities parks and green spaces.

Your continued engagement in the process is extremely important to us and we hope you will continue to support us in participating in our June consultation.

If you have any questions - please do not hesitate to contact your Area Green Space Planning Officer, or Katy Mugford on 0117 922 2369.

Contact us

E-mail: bristolparks@bristol.gov.uk
Telephone: 0117 922 3719
Text: 0771 039 6713

You can report flytipping, graffiti, or make any other comments about Bristol's parks and green spaces. Please provide as much information and specific details as possible about the location attaching any supporting photographs. We will only call you back if we require further information.

Opening hours

Monday to Thursday: 8.30am - 5pm
Friday: 8.30am - 4.30pm

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