Sandwell Greenspace Audit
The Client
Sandwell Council
The Background
CFP were commissioned to undertake a Greenspace Audit for Sandwell Council to allow the authority to understand the quantity, quality and accessibility of greenspaces in the borough to inform the production of the Local Development Framework.
The Objective
To undertake a Greenspace Audit and assessment based upon the guidance set out in PPG17 Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation and the Companion Guide Assessing Needs and Opportunities.
To carry out extensive consultation to gain the views of the boroughs residents to inform the audit and establish information about the use and non-use of greenspace in Sandwell.
Just add CFP
CFP advised the client about the most appropriate framework for data capture using the Council’s preferred GIS mapping system and Sandwell Council undertook this mapping work. All sites were assigned to a green space typology and hierarchy and given a level of accessibility.
CFP undertook quality assessments of a sample of 230 green spaces using the Green Flag Award criteria and this process was also used to check the attribute data assigned and managed using the Council’s GIS mapping system.
Quantity analysis and accessibility mapping was carried out by CFP along with a value assessment of the spaces included in the quality assessment. These analyses were brought together with the findings of a borough wide household survey and the result presented at a borough level and also for each of the six towns of Sandwell.
Our innovative use of consultation data tied into the GIS mapping system, allowed us to provide detailed information about the views of local residents at a Borough town neighbourhood and site specific level.
Towards the end of the commission we brought key stakeholders from a range of organisations together for the first borough wide Greenspace Forum to set out the findings and start a dialogue about how the key issues should be addressed.
The Result
Comprehensive and relevant information was supplied to the client team to inform both the local planning process and the future management and maintenance of greenspace in the borough.
The analysis was provided at a borough wide level with more detailed information for each of the six towns of Sandwell and this has fed into the plans for development for each town.