PARKS AND OPEN SPACES STRATEGYLondon Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Section 2 - Technical Appendices and Evidence Base
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base2
PROJECT TITLE: A1763 London Borough Of Barking and Dagenham Parks and Opens Spaces Strategy
Client: The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Version Date Version Details Prepared by Checked by Approved by Principal
V1.0 Jon Sheaff, Peter Neal, Tim Gill, Sarah Williams, Aniela ZabaMargarida Oliveira, Julia Halasz, Visakha Sroy, Tom Jackson, Erin Gianferrara, Duncan Royle, Ian Dickie
Jon SheaffPeter Neal
Jon Sheaff
V2.0 22.06.2017 Additional information provided within Section 1.3 Benchmarking and standards; Section 6.0 - Events in Barking and Dagenham and Section 7.0 - Play provision in Barking and Dagenham
Jon Sheaff, Tim Gill Jon Sheaff Jon Sheaff
This document has been prepared for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham by:
Jon Sheaff and AssociatesUnit 5.1, Bayford Street Business CentreLondon E8 3SEwww.jonsheaff.co.uk
Study team: JSAJon SheaffMargarida OliveiraJulia HalaszVisakha SroyTom JacksonPeter NealTim GillSarah WilliamsAniela ZabaErin GianferraraDuncan RoyleIan Dickie
Acknowledgements
The project team would like to thank LB Barking and Dagenham for contributing to the analysis, providing the necessary data and guidance in a timely matter.
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 33
CONTENTS - SECTION 2
TECHNICAL APPENDICES AND EVIDENCE BASE
1.0 The Strategic Policy Context 5 1.1 Planning context 1.2 Barking and Dagenham corporate strategies 1.3 Benchmarks and standards
2.0 Baseline characteristics 11 2.1 Strategic context 2.2 Topography, geology and habitats 2.3 Settlementpatterns 2.4 Demographics and ethnicity 2.5 Health 2.6 Education 2.7 Green Infrastructure 2.8 Crimeandanti-socialbehaviour 2.9 Housing supply and growth
3.0 Value of parks and green spaces 18 3.1 Theeconomicvalueofgreenspace 3.2 Thesocialvalueofgreenspace 3.3 Theenvironmentalvalueofgreenspace
4.0 Barking and Dagenham’s greenspace 20 4.1 Greenspaceprovision 4.2 Barking and Dagenham indicators
5.0 Quality Assessment 26 5.1 Assessing quality 5.2 Quality assessment criteria 5.3 Recent changes and trends in quality
6.0 Events in Barking and Dagenham 32 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Context 6.3 Proposals and reasoning 6.4 Key parks sites 6.5 Communityevents 6.6 Strengtheningtheeventsprocess 6.7 Licensingofparksandeventsinfrastructure 6.8 Deliveryelements 6.9 Structureandworkingpractices 6.10 Conclusion
7.0 Play provision in Barking and Dagenham 38 7.1 Evidencebaseonoutdoorplayanditsbenefits 7.2 Benefitsofoutdoorlearninginnaturalspaces 7.3 Existingpatternofoutdoorplayprovision 7.4 Bestpracticeconsiderations 7.5 Programmingandevents 7.6 Recommendations
8.0 Food growing in Barking and Dagenham 44 8.1 Why grow food in parks? 8.2 Green space, gardening & health 8.3 Health impact of food growing 8.4 Community and social impact of food growing 8.5 Educationalimpactoffoodgrow 8.6 Food growing and climate change 8.7 The business case for food growing 8.8 Food growing in Barking & Dagenham
9.0 Outdoor playing pitch provision in Barking and Dagenham 52
9.1 Playing pitch strategy 9.2 Implementationoftheoutdoorplayingpitchstrategy(OPPS)
10.0 Corporate Natural Capital Accounting in Barking and Dagenham 54
10.1 Executivesummary 10.2 Introduction 10.3 Background to CNCA 10.4 Natural capital asset register 10.5 Physicalflowaccount 10.6 Monetaryflowaccount 10.7 Natural capital maintenance cost account 10.8 Conclusions
11.0 Public Consultation and Engagement 64
11.1 On-linequestionnaire 11.2 Publicconsultationevents 11.3 Masterplanconsultations 11.4 MeetingwiththeBarkingandDagenham’sAccessandPlanning Forum 11.5 MeetingwiththeBADYouthForum 11.6 A workshop with Northbury Primary School 11.7 Meetingswithcouncilofficers 11.8 ActionPlanworkshop 11.9 Discussionswithneighbouringauthorities 11.10 Social media comments 11.11 Summaryoffindings
12.0 Capital Investment Strategy 69 12.1 RegenerationArearenewal 12.2 External funding 12.3 Otherexternalfundingoptions 12.4 BarkingandDagenhamCouncilcapitalinvestment 12.5 Conclusion
13.0 Future funding and governance options for Parks and Open Spaces 72
13.1 Future funding streams 13.2 Alternativegovernancemodels
A.0 APPENDICES 76 A1 Quality assessment of parks and open
spaces - supporting evidence maps A2 Play assessment A3 Online questionnaire A4 Public consultations and workshops A5 Masterplans consultations A6 Social media feedback and comments A7 Background to CNCA A8 CNCA’s methodology A9 Feasibility estimate
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base4
List of Abbreviations
AAP Area Action Plan
ANGSt Accessible Natural Greenspace Standard
CO2e Carbon equivalent
CNCA Corporate Natural Capital Account
EA Environmental Agency
GIS Geographic information systems
JSNA Joint Strategic Needs Assessment
LBBD London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
MENE Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment
NICE National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
ONS OfficeforNationalStatistics
ORVal Outdoor Recreation Valuation Tool
OSA Open Space Assessment
SEG Socio-Economic Group
SuDS Sustainable Drainage System
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 5
THE STRATEGIC POLICY CONTEXT 1
1.1 THE PLANNING CONTEXT
National Planning Policy Framework (2012)TheNPPF(2012)supersedesanumberofplanningpolicystatementsand guidance, including PPG17 and its companion guide. It sets out the government’splanningpoliciesforEnglandinsupportofthegovernment’sobjectivetoachievesustainabledevelopment.TheNPPFalsoprovidesa‘framework within which local people and their accountable councils can produce their own distinctive local and neighbourhood plans, which reflect the needs and priorities of their communities.’
Considerable emphasis is placed within the NPPF upon the design of the built environment,stressingtheimportanceof‘high quality and inclusive design for all development, including individual buildings, public and private spaces and wider area development schemes’.
Furtheremphasisisplaceduponthedeliveryofhealthoutcomes,withdevelopmentsrequiredtobe‘safe and accessible, containing clear and legible pedestrian routes, and high quality public space, which encourage the active and continual use of public areas’.
Localplanningauthoritiesshould:
‘set out a strategic approach in their Local Plans, planning positively for the creation, protection, enhancement and management of networks of biodiversity and green infrastructure’.
Greeninfrastructurebeingdefinedas‘a network of multi-functional green space, urban and rural, which is capable of delivering a wide range of environmental and quality of life benefits for local communities’.Openspaceisdefinedas:‘all open space of public value, including not just land, but also areas of water (such as rivers, canals, lakes and reservoirs) which offer important opportunities for sport and recreation and can act as a visual amenity’.
Theframeworkcontinues:
‘Access to high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and recreation can make an important contribution to the health and well-being of communities. Planning policies should be based on robust and up to date assessments of the needs for open spaces, sports and recreation facilities and opportunities for new provision. The assessments should identify specific needs and quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses of open spaces, sports and recreational facilities in the local area. Information gained from the assessments should be used to determine what open spaces, sports and recreational provision is required’.
‘Planning policies should protect and enhance public rights of way and access. Local authorities should seek opportunities to provide better facilities for users, for example by adding links to existing rights of way networks including National Trails’.
‘Local Plans should take account of climate change over the longer term, including factors such as flood risk, coastal change, water supply and changes to biodiversity and landscape. When new development is brought forward
in areas which are vulnerable, care should be taken to ensure that risks can be managed through suitable adaptation measures, including through the planning of green infrastructure’.
SpecificallyinrespectofGreenBelt,theNPPFproposesthat‘The fundamental aim of Green Belt policy is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open; the essential characteristics of Green Belts are their openness and their permanence.’
ThisOpenSpacesStrategywilldiscussallofthestrategicplanningobjectivesset out in the NPPF.
The London Plan (2016)TheLondonPlan(2016)istheMayor’sspatialdevelopmentstrategyforLondon.ThedevelopmentstrategyforBarkingandDagenhamwillincludethe managed release of some surplus industrial land for housing and other complementaryuses,consolidatingtheofferoftheremainingindustrialland.‘Any new development and infrastructure brought forward in this area must avoid adverse effects on any European site of nature conservation importance (to include SACs, SPAs, Ramsar, proposed and candidate sites) either alone or in combination with other plans and projects’.
Policy7.18oftheLondonPlanaddressestheneedfor‘protecting local open spaces and addressing local deficiency’.ThepolicysetsouttherequirementforLDFsto:‘ensure that future open space needs are planned for in areas with the potential for substantial change such as opportunity areas, regeneration areas, intensification areas and other local areas’ and to ‘ensure that open space needs are planned in accordance with green infrastructure strategies to deliver multiple benefits’.
Policy 2.18 focuses on green infrastructure and the need to protect, promote, expandandmanagetheextentandqualityofandaccesstoLondon’snetworkofgreeninfrastructure.Greeninfrastructureisconsideredasamultifunctionalnetworkthatwill‘secure benefits including, but not limited to: biodiversity; natural and historic landscapes; culture; building a sense of place; the economy; sport; recreation; local food production; mitigating and adapting to climate change; water management; and the social benefits that promote individual and community health and well-being’.
TheLondonPlanrequiresLondonboroughstodevelopopenspacesstrategiestoguidetheprotection,promotion,enhancementandeffectivemanagementofLondon’snetworkofopenspaces.TheMayorhaspublished(jointlywithCABE)bestpracticeguidanceonthepreparationofopenspacesstrategies:‘OpenSpacesStrategies:BestPracticeGuidance’(2009).TheLondonPlanalso establishes a hierarchy for public open spaces which includes a distance thresholdtobeusedtoassessareasofthecapitalthathavedeficiencyinrespectopenspaceprovision1.
Greeninfrastructureandopenenvironments:theAllLondonGreenGrid
TheAllLondonGreenGridSupplementaryPlanningGuidance(2012)identifiesdeficienciesandopportunitiesinrespectofLondon’snetworkofgreen,naturalandculturalspacesandprovidesguidanceonfuturefundingandmanagement.TheSPGfocuseson11GreenGridsub-regionswithinwhichthe policies and range of projects set out in the guidance can be executed.
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base6
AreasofBarkingandDagenhamarecoveredbytheEppingForestandRodingValley and Thames Chase, Beam and Ingrebourne Green Grid area.
TheSPGidentifies6specificgreeninfrastructureopportunitiesforthisareaofLondon:
1.Improveaccess,diversifyuseandimprovethequalityoftheexistingopen space networks of Barking Town Centre.
2. Promote Abbey Green as the catalyst to create links south through the GascoigneEstatetoBarkingRiversideandBecktonDistrictParktolinknorth to Green Street, Plashet Park and Wanstead Flats.
3.IntegrategreeninfrastructureaspartoftheregenerationofBarkingRiversidewithparticularemphasisonincorporatingfloodmanagement/SUDs,conservingandenhancingbiodiversityandcreatinganetworkofaccessible green spaces.
4.PreserveandenhancenaturalhabitatsaroundBarkingCreektoestablish wetland habitats such as grazing marsh, reed beds, ponds and wetwoodland,increasingaccessibilitywithpotentialforproductiveuseswithinNewham,whilstmaintainingthenavigabilityofthelowerRoding for commercial and leisure use.
5. Create and promote exemplar community led food growing sites across theareamakinguseofunderutilisedlandsuchasthederelictgaragesof Barking and Dagenham, Central Park nursery, or the walled garden of Ray Park.
6.OpenuptheculvertedsectionsoftheGoresbrookrestoringnaturalisedriverbanksandfloodplains,providingaccessalongtheGoresbrookLinkfromParsloesParkthroughGoresbrookParkandtheBarkingRiversidedevelopmentsitetotheThames2.
The Local Plan, Barking and Dagenham’s Core Strategy (2011)
TheLocalPlanincludesasuiteofDevelopmentPlanDocuments(DPD’s)andSupplementaryPlanningDocuments(SPD’s)TheBarkingandDagenhamLocalPlan is a document which sets out what Barking and Dagenham will look likein2033andthepolicieswhichwilldeliverthisambition,andisfocusedondeliveringthecouncil’svision‘Oneborough;Onecommunity;London’sgrowthopportunity’.
The Local Plan includes targets for the number of homes and jobs to be deliveredfrom2018to2033.Itsetsouttherequirementsfornewtransportconnectionsandfacilitiessuchasschoolsandhealthcentrestomeettheneedsofnewandexistingresidents.TheLocalPlanwillalsoincludethosefeatures which people cherish and need to be protected such as parks and historic buildings.
Partofthevisionfor2025isthat‘the borough’s verdant parks will be connected by a network of tree-lined streets, wildlife corridors, and cycle paths. Barking and Dagenham’s natural heritage and biodiversity will be flourishing. The banks of the River Thames and Roding will be rich in biodiversity and offer quality opportunities for recreation and leisure and spectacular views will be enjoyed from inspiring high rise waterfront apartments’.
AconsultationprocessontheissuestobeaddressedintheLocalPlantookplacebetweenOctober2015andJanuary2016.TheresponsestothisconsultationwereevaluatedandarebeingusedtoinformtheDraftLocalPlan.
TheDraftLocalPlanisbeingpreparedforasix-weekformalconsultationduringQuarter2of2018(Regulation19).Atthisstageintheplan-makingprocess, the Local Plan will only be changed if there are legal reasons. Amendment need to address whether the Local Plan has been made in accordancewithlegislativerequirementsandiftheLocalPlanisconsistentwithnationalandLondonPlanpolicy.
OncetheconsultationontheDraftLocalPlanhasbeencompleted,thecouncilwillconsiderallcommentsreceivedandusethesetoinformthesubmissionversionoftheLocalPlan.TheLocalPlanwillthenbesubmittedtotheSecretaryofStateforanindependentExaminationinPublic(EiP)beforethePlanning Inspectorate.
The Inspector then will prepare a report for the council and may require changestobemadetothePlan.ThefinalBarkingandDagenhamPlanwillthen be adopted by the council during 2019. This is a decision taken by all Councillors at the Council Assembly.
TheCoreStrategyemphasisestheimportanceofprotectingtheborough’sparksandopenspacesthroughPolicyCM3:GreenBeltandOpenPublicSpaces.ThispromotestheideaofagreenerBarkingandDagenhamthrough:
• Protectingpublicopenspace.• Creatingpublicopenspaceandimprovingprovisioninareasofdeficiency.• SupportingtheimplementationoftheEastLondonGreenGrid,theBlue
Ribbon Network, and the Barking and Dagenham Landscape Framework Plan.
• Protectingandmaintaininginaccordancewithnationalpolicy,BarkingandDagenham’sGreenBelt.
• Safeguarding Barking Park, Parsloes Park and Mayesbrook Park, which havebeendesignatedasMetropolitanOpenLand,frominappropriatedevelopmentandaffordingthesesitesthesamelevelofprotectionastheGreen Belt.
• Identifyinganumberoflocalpublicopenspacesforprotection.TheSiteSpecificAllocationsDPDwillreviewthesedesignationsandconfirmwhatlocal public open spaces are to be designated as District Parks, Local Parks andOpenSpacesandSmallOpenSpacesinaccordancewiththeLondonPlan’spublicopenspacehierarchy.
• Theprovisionofpublicopenspace,whereappropriate,withnewdevelopments,ordevelopercontributionstowardsoff-siteprovisionofpublicopenspaceand/orimprovementofexistingspaces.
Astrategicreviewoflocalpublicopenspacehasbeenconductedtotakeintoaccountofthecouncil’sParksandOpenSpacesStrategy(2003).ThisworkhasinformedtheSiteSpecificAllocations(DPD).Thisworkwillalsoenablethecouncil’smapsofopenspacedeficiencytobeupdatedinlinewiththeLondonPlanpublicopenspacehierarchy.TheSiteSpecificAllocations(DPD)willconfirmwhichofBarkingandDagenham’slocalpublicopenspacesfallwithintheLondonPlan’sdistrictparks,localparksandopenspaces,smallopenspaces,pocketparksandlinearopenspacesclassifications.
InrespectofGreenBeltthePolicystatesthattheprotectionaffordedtotheGreenBeltandMetropolitanOpenLandisconsistent(respectively)withPlanningPolicyGuidance2(PPG2)andtheLondonPlan.
PolicyCR2:Preservingandenhancingthenaturalenvironment,seeksto’preserveandenhancetheborough’snaturalenvironment,includingallsitesofecologicalorgeologicalvalue(whetherornottheyhavestatutoryprotection)and all protected or priority species.
Thecouncilwillencouragedevelopmentthatenhancesexistingsitesandhabitatsofnatureconservationvalue(includingstrategicwildlifeandrivercorridors),orwhichprovidenewones,inparticularwherethiswillhelpmeettheobjectivesoftheLocalBiodiversityActionPlanforBarkingandDagenham.Improvingpublicaccesstoexistingnatureconservationsiteswillalsobeencouraged.
DevelopmentswhichwouldcausesignificantdamagetoaSiteofMetropolitanorBoroughImportanceforNatureConservation,orthepopulation(orconservationstatusof)aprotectedorpriorityspecieswillnotnormallybegranted.Exceptionsmaybeconsideredwheretheeconomicorsocialbenefitsoftheproposeddevelopmentwouldoutweighthenatureconservationvalue.’3
Protectingandimprovingtheborough’snaturalenvironmentcontributestothecommunitypriorityof‘MakingBarkingandDagenhamcleaner,greenerandsafer’.
TheLocalPlanDevelopmentManagementPolicies(DMP)setsouttheborough-wideplanningpoliciesthatimplementtheCoreStrategyandthepolicybasisfordeliveringthelong-termspatialvisionandstrategicplacemakingobjectivesinBarkingandDagenhamwhicharesetoutintheCore Strategy.
TheDMPincludesasectiononplayspacethatsuggeststhat‘there is an existing deficit of play provision for children and young people in a number of wards and that with projected population increases it is paramount that these shortages are addressed as new development comes on board’.TheDPDprovidesindicativestandardsofprovisionestablishedbytheBarkingandDagenhamPlayingPitchandOutdoorSportsFacilitiesStrategy.Theseare:
a) PlayingPitches:0.75haofplayingpitchesper1,000peopleb)Multi-UseGamesAreas:oneMUGAper1,500under16’sc)TennisCourts:onetenniscourtper2,50010to45yearoldsd)BowlingGreens:onebowlinggreenper9,500over40’s4
The Barking Town Centre Area Action PlanTheBarkingTownCentreAreaActionPlanformspartoftheLDFandsetsoutguidelinesthatdevelopersmustfollowiftheywanttodeveloplandinBarking Town Centre, designated a major centre in the London Plan. It is also at the heart of East London, a major transport centre minutes from the City andpivotaltothewiderregenerationoftheThamesGatewayandthepolicyaspirationsoftheLondonThamesGatewayDevelopmentCorporation.
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 7
ReferringtoParksandOpenSpaces,theAAPhighlightsthefollowing:
• Although there are many grassed amenity areas within housing estates in the town centre, the plan area contains few parks and public open spaces. Consequently,therearesignificantareaswithdeficientaccesstolocalparks.
• Aswellasaneedtoprovideadditionalparksandopenspacestoremedythisdeficiency,therearequalitativeissuesintermsoffacilitiesandenvironmentalqualityabouttheconditionofmanyoftheexistingparksand open spaces in the AAP area.
• Abbey Green is the most central open space in the town centre, it contains keyheritagesitesandbuildingsandisoccasionallyusedformajorevents.However,itisanunder-exploitedresourcewithalmostnoprovisionofamenitiessuchasseatingareas,sportsspacesorplayareasforchildren.
• Although not open space in the usual sense of the word, the publicly accessiblebanksoftheRiverRodingofferverysignificantopportunitiesforinformalleisuretothelocalpopulation.SiteswithfrontagestotheRiverRodingarelikelytobebroughtforwardfordevelopmentduringtheplan period and it will be important that the AAP secures enhancements tothecontinuityandthequalityofriversideareasratherthanallowingdevelopmentstodisruptpublicaccessandthusreduceaccesstoinformalleisure
OneoftheeightkeyobjectivesoftheAAPisto:
• Protectandimprovetheaccessibility,connectivityandqualityofparks,play areas and open spaces within and outside the town centre such as Abbey Green at the heart of the town centre and Barking Park which is ontheedge.ToalsoopenupthefrontagesoftheRiverRodinganditscorridorandseekopportunitiestoenhancebiodiversityasidentifiedintheBarkingandDagenhamBiodiversityActionPlan.5
1.2 BARKING AND DAGENHAM’S CORPORATE STRATEGIES
Ourvisionandprioritiesrepresentasharedunderstandingofwhatwe’reseekingtoachievefortheborough.Theysetoutourroleinplaceshapingandenablingcommunityleadershipwithinthecontextofasignificantlyreducingbudget.Theyhavebeendevelopedtoreflectthechangingrelationshipbetweenthecouncil,partnersandthecommunity.Ourvisionfortheborough:Oneborough;onecommunity;London’sgrowthopportunity
Encouraging civic pride• Build pride, respect and cohesion across our borough.• Promote a welcoming, safe, and resilient community.• Buildcivicresponsibilityandhelpresidentsshapetheirqualityoflife.• Promote and protect our green and public open spaces.• Narrowthegapinattainmentandrealisehighaspirationsforeverychild.
Enabling social responsibility• Supportresidentstotakeresponsibilityforthemselves,theirhomesand
their community.• Protectthemostvulnerable,keepingadultsandchildrenhealthyandsafe.• Ensureeveryonecanaccessgoodqualityhealthcarewhentheyneedit.• Ensurechildrenandyoungpeoplearewell-educatedandrealisetheir
potential.• Fullyintegrateservicesforvulnerablechildren,youngpeopleandfamilies.
Growing the borough• Build high quality homes and a sustainable community.• Developalocal,skilledworkforceandimproveemploymentopportunities.• Supportinvestmentinhousing,leisure,thecreativeindustriesandpublic
spacestoenhanceourenvironment.• WorkwithLondonpartnerstodeliverhomesandjobsacrossourgrowth
hubs.• Enhancetheborough’simagetoattractinvestmentandbusinessgrowth.
Well run organisation
• Adigitalcouncil,withappropriateservicesdeliveredonline.• Promoteequalitiesintheworkforceandcommunity.• Implement a smarter working programme, making best use of
accommodationandIT.• AllowingMembersandstafftoworkflexiblytosupportthecommunity.• Continuetomanagefinancesefficiently,lookingforwaystomakesavings,
generate income.• Beinnovativeinservicedelivery6.
Sport and Physical Activity StrategyWithreferencetoPolicyBC5:SportsStandards,thecouncilwillresistdevelopmentproposalswhichinvolvethelossofexistingpitchandoutdoorsportsfacilitiesintheborough,unlessreplacementfacilitiesareprovidedtothecouncil’ssatisfactionwithinthedevelopmentorintheimmediatevicinity.
Thecouncilwillalsoensurethatnewpitchandoutdoorsportsfacilitiesareprovidedtoaccommodatepopulationgrowthby:
• Requiringallproposalsforstrategicresidentialdevelopmenttobeaccompaniedbyanassessmentoftheneedforadditionalsportsprovision.
• Requiringanyidentifiedneedtobemetthroughtheprovisionoffinancialcontributionsand/oradditionalsportsprovisionaspartofthedevelopmentscheme.
Whereitisnotpossibletoprovideadditionalprovisionaspartofthedevelopmentschemeorincloseproximity,asuitablealternativeinanaccessiblelocationmaybeacceptable.
Inassessingneed,thefollowingshouldbetakenintoaccount:IndicativestandardsofprovisionestablishedbytheBarkingandDagenhamPlayingPitchandOutdoorSportsFacilitiesStrategy:
a)PlayingPitches:0.75haofplayingpitchesper1,000peopleb)Multi-UseGamesAreas:oneMUGAper1,500under16’sc)TennisCourts:onetenniscourtper2,50010to45yearoldsd)BowlingGreens:onebowlinggreenper9,500over40’s
• Existingprovisionorshortageofsportsfacilitieswithinthevicinityoftheproposeddevelopment.
• Existingprovisionorshortageofparksandopenspace(forinformalrecreationopportunities)withinthevicinityoftheproposeddevelopment.
• Projectedpopulationprofileoftheproposeddevelopment.
Thispolicyfitsinwithnational,regionalandlocallegislation.ByadoptingtherecommendationsoftheLondonBoroughofBarkingandDagenhamPlayingPitchandOutdoorSportsFacilitiesStrategy(2005),thepolicywillhelpensurethatprovisionofsportsfacilitiesisconsideredinrelationtonewandexistingcommunities.
TheCommunityBenefitsSPDwilllookathowsportsprovisionfromdevelopmentcanbemaximised.SportEnglandguidanceonhowtodeveloplocallyrelevantcriteriaforsportsprovisionisavailableandwillinformtheSPD.7
AsportandphysicalactivitystrategyforBarking&Dagenham2012–2015hasbeendevelopedwithanumberofkeypartnerstoprovideaframeworkthatwillenableandencouragemorepeopletobemoreactive,moreoften.Thisstrategyaimstoincreasethelevelofparticipationinsportandphysicalactivityintheboroughthroughthedevelopmentofawiderangeofopportunities,whicharefarbroaderthantraditionalsportingactivities.
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base8
Toachievethisaim,willneedaradicalchangeinbehaviourandtodothiseveryoneinvolvedindeliveringsportandphysicalactivityinitiativesneedstofocuseffortonwhereitwillhavethebiggestimpact.Thekeyoutcomesfromthedeliveryofthisstrategyin2015willbe:
• 5,600moreadultswillbeparticipatingregularlyinsportandphysicalactivity,anincreaseof3%..
• Leisurecentrevisitswillhaveincreasedby40%to1.25millionperyear.• Thepercentageof5to16yearoldsparticipatinginthreehoursormore
PEandsporteachweekwillhaverisenby5%to58%-performancemeasure to be changed in line with new Sport England strategy targets.
• The%ofadultresidentswhoareregularsportsvolunteerswillhaveincreasedby1%to3.2%.
• Satisfactionwithsportandleisurefacilitiesintheboroughwillhaveincreasedby15%to69%.
• Satisfactionwithparksandopenspaceswillhaveincreasedby5%to71%.• No.ofcoachesintheborough(UKcoachingcertificatelevel2andabove
orequivalent)benchmarkandtargetstobeconfirmed.• Betterqualityandmoreaccessibleclubs:13moreClubMarkaccredited
and24achievingtheboroughstandard.• Increaseinparticipationinphysicalactivitybytargetgroups–leisure
passmembers:Over60;Unemployed(claimingJobSeeker’sAllowance);NEETS;LookedAfterChildren;Students(over16andinfulltimeeducation);Claimingincomesupportorhousingbenefit;registeredcarer(benchmarkandtargettobeconfirmed).
• 20%ofresidentsaged60–85willhaveActiveLeisurememberships(anincreaseof100%).
• Increaseinopportunitiesfordisabledpeopletoparticipateinsport:15localsportsclubsofferinginclusiveactivityprogrammes.OpenanewsportscentreinBarkingtowncentre(byspring2014).
• 14.8%ofadultsinBarkingandDagenhamtakepartinsportandactiverecreationcomparedtothenationalaverageof22%.
However,58.2%ofadultsdonosportoractiverecreation,and59.7%ofadultresidents in Barking and Dagenham want to start playing sport or do a bit more.
• 2.2%ofadultresidentsareregularsportsvolunteerscomparedtothenationalaverageof4.5%.
• 15.6%aremembersofsportsclubs,comparedto23.9%nationally.• 62.5%aresatisfiedwithsportingprovisionintheboroughcomparedto
69%nationally.
Ourmostpopularsportsforadultsareswimming,goingtothegym,football,athleticsandaerobics8
TheBarkingandDagenhamPlayStrategy2014identifiesprioritywardswithadeficitofplayprovision.Theseare:Priority1-Becontree,Eastbury,Priority2–ParsloesandWhalebone,Priority3–Eastbrookqualityoutdoornaturalplayspaceswithinprioritisedwards,parksandhousingestates.
Therewerefearsrelatedtopersonalsafetywhichinfluencedparents,childrenandyoungpeople’sdecisionsaboutplayingoutsidetheirhomesandneighbourhoods.Issuesofbullying,strangers,loosedogs,trafficandlightinginparkswerementionedrepeatedly.Thestrategyrecommendsthecreationoflocallysupervisedweretocreatelocalsupervisedactivities,moreparkkeepersandpolice,saferroads,morefacilitiesandactivitiesthatareinteresting,challenging and changing.
Children,youngpeopleandtheirparentsconsistentlyvoicedtheirdesireforsupervisedfreeplayinparksandintheplaceswherechildrenlive.
Meetingtheseneedsrequiresaccesstonaturalenvironments,wildlifeandthe less formal areas of green spaces and parks. To respond to the lack of play spacesincertainlocalitiesitmaybethatpiecesofundevelopedland,acornerofarecreationalground,park,woodorstreamcouldbesetasideforinformalwoodlandplayopportunitieswherenaturalmaterialssuchasrocks,fallentrees,branches,bushesandleavesetcareavailable.9
Joint Health and Wellbeing StrategyThis2015refreshofBarkingandDagenham’sJointHealthandWellbeingStrategyoutlinestheborough’stopprioritiesforimprovingthehealthandwellbeingofallthepeoplewholiveandworkinBarkingandDagenham.TheStrategysetsoutavisionforimprovingthehealthandwellbeingofresidentsandreducinginequalitiesateverystageofpeople’slivesby2018.Thiswillbeachievedby‘startingwell’,‘livingwell’and‘ageingwell’.
Therehavebeensignificantchangestothedemographicsofthepopulationinthelastdecade,mostnoticeablyanincreaseinthenumbersofpeoplelivingintheborough,averyhighbirthrateandincreaseinproportionofthepopulationfromblackandminorityethnic(BAME)communities.Theborough’spopulationisgrowingatafasterpacethanthatofLondonandofEnglandasawhole.Overtwothirdsofadultsintheboroughareoverweightwithonly15%ofadultsparticipatinginregularexercise.45%exerciseforatleast30minutesonceperweekand15%exerciseatleast5timesperweek.Therearealsolowutilisationratesoftheborough’sgreenspaces.
TheoutcomestargetedwithintheStrategyare:
• ToincreasethelifeexpectancyofpeoplelivinginBarkingandDagenham.• To close the gap between the life expectancy in Barking and Dagenham
withtheLondonaverage.• Toimprovehealthandsocialcareoutcomesthroughintegratedservices.10
Waste StrategyIn2014/15,theLondonBoroughofBarkingandDagenham(LBBD)producedjustunder90,000tonnesofwaste.Thismeans,onaverage,eachoftheborough’shouseholdsthrewawayapproximatelyonetonne(953kg)ofresidualwaste.Asaresult,BarkingandDagenhamhasthehighestlevelofwasteproductionperhouseholdinLondon.Thisis50kgmoreperhouseholdthan our closest performing borough.
InadditiontoproducingthehighestvolumeofresidualwasteofalltheLondonboroughsperhousehold,LBBDwasrankedinthebottomquartileoftheLondonboroughsforrecyclingperformancein2014/15at23%.Thisislessthanhalftherecyclingrateofthetop-performingboroughofBexleyat54%.
BarkingandDagenhamWasteStrategyVisionfor2020states:‘We want to reduce waste, increase re-use, increase recycling and provide effective, efficient and customer-focused waste services that demonstrate value for money.’Toachievethevisionasignificantbehaviouralchangetowardswastemanagementisessential.Thiswillbesupportedandfacilitatedbythenew‘InsightandIntelligence’function,toidentifythebestapproachforthecouncilto educate, encourage and enforce our Reduce, Reuse and Recycle message.11
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 9
1.3 BENCHMARKS AND STANDARDSTheOpenSpacesStrategywillbeinformedbynational,regionalandlocalstandardsinrespectoftheprovisionofparksandopenspaces.
London Open Space HierarchyTheLondonPlan(2015)establishesahierarchyforopenspaceprovisionacrossthe borough, establishing a typology for open space and standards in respect of accessibility(Fig.1.1).
GLA Supplementary Planning GuidanceTheGLASupplementaryPlanningGuidance(GreaterLondonAuthority2012)istheprincipalpointofreferenceforplayandinformalrecreationinLondon.
This SPG puts forward a hierarchical typology of play spaces. The key features aresetoutinTable1(Fig.1.2)
Play England Quality Assessment ToolThePlayableSpaceQualityAssessmentTool(PlayEngland2009),developedaspartofthe2008NationalPlayStrategy,includesbroadcriteriaaroundlocation,playvalueandcareandmaintenance.IthasbeenusedinLBBDtoassessplayprovision,mostrecentlyin2015.
Best Practice GuidanceThedevelopmentoftheOpenSpacesStrategyhasbeeninformedbyanumberofbestpracticeguidancedocumentsdevelopedoverthepast15years.
Green Spaces, Better Places – the report of the Urban Greenspaces Taskforce (2002)The‘GreenSpacesBetterPlaces’reportwastheworkoftheUrbanGreenspacesTaskforce,commissionedbyHMGovernmenttoconsidertheroleofparksandopenspacesindefiningthequalityofurbanlife.Thereportconsideredthefunctionsperformedbyparksincreatingliveablecitiesandsustainablecommunitiesandthechallengesfacingthesectorintermsof
quality and management. The report proposed the central role that good quality parks and open spaces play in the urban renaissance.
CABE Space publicationsCABESpacewascreatedin2003asadirectconsequenceofthe‘GreenSpacesBetterPlaces’reportandfunctionedasaresearchandbestpracticedevelopmentorganisationthroughits‘enabling’and‘designreview’programmes.CABESpaceproducedseveralkeypublicationsthatarepertinenttothedevelopmentofthisStrategy:
• ‘OpenSpaceStrategies–BestPracticeandGuidance’(2008-producedjointlywiththeMayorofLondon).Thisdocumentsetsoutastandardforthepreparationofopenspacestrategiesbylocalauthorities.
• ‘DoesMoneyGrowonTrees’(2005).Thisguidancesetsoutnewapproachestoassessingtheeconomicvaluecontributedbyparksandopen spaces.
• ‘Makingtheinvisiblevisible–thetruevalueofparksassets’(2009)focusedonproviding‘animprovedunderstandingofthecurrentvalueofparkandgreenspaceassetsasanimportantfirststepinbetterstrategicmanagementandinassistinglocalauthoritiesinusingtheirassetstomakeapositivedifferencetocommunities’.
Doorstep Playable Space Local Playable Space Neighbourhood Playable Space Youth SpaceDescription A landscaped space
including engaging play features for young children, and places for carers to sit and talk.
Parental/guardiansupervision
A landscaped space with landscaping and equipment so that children aged from birth to 11 can play and be physicallyactiveandtheyandtheir carers can sit and talk.
Flexible use
Noformalsupervision
Avariednaturalspacewithsecludedand open areas, landscaping and equipment so that children aged from birth to 11 can play and be physically activeandtheyandtheircarerscansitandtalk,withsomeyouthfacilities.
Flexible use
May include youth space
Maybesupervised
Social space for young people aged 12andovertomeet,hangoutandtake part in informal sport or physical recreationalactivities.
Noformalsupervision
Minimum Size
100 sq m 300 sq m 500 sq m 200 sq m
Accessibility threshold
100m 400m 800m 800m
Age Group 0-5 5-11 All ages 12+Location •Residentialareas
including housing estates
• Pocket Parks
• Public Squares
•Residentialareasincludinghousing estates
• Local Parks
•Largerresidentialareasandhousingestates
• Local Parks
• District Parks
• School playgrounds
•Largerresidentialareasandhousingestates
•Adjacenttocommunityfacilities
• Local Parks
• District Parks
• Town centres
Table 1: GLA SPG playable space typology
Fig.1.2-Table1:GLASPGplayablespacetypology
Fig.1.1-LondonPublicOpenSpaceCategorisation(Source:LondonPlan2016)
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base10
Green FlagSince1996the‘GreenFlag’awardhasbeenthenationalstandardforgreenspaceexcellenceacrosstheUK.‘GreenFlag-raisingthestandard’(2004)isthemanualthatprovidesguidancetolocalauthoritiesandotherlandmanagers on the award criteria and judging process. Barking and Dagenham has 6 Green Flag Award open spaces.
‘Re-thinking Parks - exploring new business models for parks in the 21st century’ThisstudybyPeterNealwascommissionedbyNESTA,theHeritageLotteryFundandBigLotterytoconsidernewfundingandgovernancemodelsforparksinthelightofthefinancialconstraintsunderwhichlocalauthoritiesareoperatingintheausterityeconomy.ThereportconsiderednewapproachestomanagementandfinancebasedonexamplesfromacrosstheUKandoverseas.
A ‘Re-thinking Parks’ pilot projectsAspartoftheRe-thinkingParksproject,NESTAhascommissioned11pilotprojects looking at new approaches to the management and funding of parks andopenspaces:
• ‘BloomsburySquared’;aprojectintheLondonBoroughofCamdentoworkwithlocalresidentsandbusinessestofundBloomsbury’ssquares.
• ‘Endowingparksforthe21stcentury’;aprojectledbytheNationalTrustthat is considering how to build endowments for public parks based aroundhealthandecosystembenefits,publicgivingand21stcenturyphilanthropy.
• ‘ParkHack’–Hackney;aprojecttolookatincomegenerationinparksthrough engagement with the digital economy.
• ‘CoastalParksandGardensFoundation’;aprojectinBournemouthtousepublicgivingtosupportfuturemanagementofparksinthecity.
• ‘EvertonPark,Liverpool’;ajointventurebetweentheLandTrustandLiverpoolCitycounciltotransfertheparktoLandTrustmanagement.
• ‘Gotothepark’,Burnley;ajointventurebetweenBurnleyCouncilandalocalsocialenterpriselookingatnewwaysofgeneratingrevenuedirectlyfrom parks.
• ‘MyPark’,Scotland;thisprojectislookingattheuseofdigitaltechnologiestofacilitateprivategivingtolocalparks.
• ‘EastbrookendRekindled’;aprojecttopilotthere-locationofpublicserviceofferstoparksasameansofgeneratingrevenueanddiversifyinguse.
• ‘DarlingtonRe-thinkingparks’;GroundworkareworkingwithDarlingtonCouncilandotherstoassessthepotentialofcorporategiving,tosustainlocal parks.
• ‘Parkwork’Bristol;aprojecttoconsiderthecapacityofparkstoprovidetrainingintoworkopportunitiesforlocalpeoplelivingindifficultcircumstanceswhileimprovingoverallmanagementandmaintenance.
• ‘HeeleyParkSubscriptionSociety’,Sheffield;aprojecttoattractprivategivingbyofferingadditionalleisureopportunitiesatHeeleyParkoverandabovethefreefacilities.
Theseprojectsranoveran18monthperiodfromthesummerof2014..
Third Report of the Natural Capital CommitteeTheNaturalCapitalCommitteewasappointedbygovernmentin2011withabroadobjectivethatthisgenerationshould‘be the first generation to leave the natural environment in a better state than it inherited.’12
WorkoftheCommitteehasbeenfocusedontheproductionofthreereports.Thefirsttworeportssetoutthemethodological,measurementandreportingframeworks,theaccountingprinciplesandtheirapplicationtonationalandcorporateaccounts,theincorporationofnaturalcapitalintoproject appraisals, and the research agenda. Included within these reports is a proposedmethodologyforassessingthevalueofnaturalassetsandreleasingthisvaluetosustaintheseassetsovertime.
Thethirdreportproposeswhatgovernmentwillneedtodoifitistofulfilitsambitiousobjectiveofimprovingtheenvironment.Aprincipalelementofthereport is a call for the establishment of a clear plan to enhance natural capital, focussingonthoseareaswiththehighesteconomicbenefits.
Design for PlayThisguidepreparedbyPlayEnglandin2008isintendedtoinformthecreationofoutdoorplayspaceto‘support children’s capacity for adventure and imagination, their fundamental need for exercise and social interaction and their innate sense of fun’13. It is also aimed at those responsible for the wider publicrealm,demonstratingthatwell-usedandwell-lovedplacestoplaywilloftenbeintegratedwithinthecohesivedesignofwidercommunityspace.
Other studiesAnumberofotherbest-practicedocumentshavealsoinformedtheStrategy:
‘TheStateofUKParks’(HLF:2014and2016)examinestheoverallconditionsofparksintheUKwithaparticularfocusonparksandopenspacesinwhichtheHLFhasinvestedoverthepast25years.
• ‘GreenSociety–policiestoimprovetheUK’surbangreenspaces’(PolicyExchange;2014)considerscurrentandfutureapproachestothefundingof parks and open spaces.
• ‘CitiesAlive-re-thinkinggreeninfrastructure’(Arup;2014)considerstheimportanceofecosystemsandproposesgreeninfrastructure-leddesignforcities.
• ‘Placestobe-greenspacesforactivecitizenship’(FabianSociety;2015)considershowgovernmentandcommunitiescaninfluencetheevolutionof thinking on the future management of parks and green spaces.
NOTES1 TheLondonPlan(March2016)
http://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/the_london_plan_malp_final_for_web_0606_0.pdf
2 GLAGreeninfrastructureandopenenvironments:theAllLondonGreenGridSPD–2012https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/algg_spg_mar2012.pdf
3 LocalDevelopmentFramework/CoreStrategy(AdoptedJuly2010)Planning for the future of Barking and Dagenhamhttps://www.lbbd.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Adopted-Core-Strategy.pdf
4 BoroughWideDevelopmentPolicies/DevelopmentPlanDocument(AdoptedMarch2011)PlanningforthefutureofBarkingandDagenhamhttps://www.lbbd.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Borough-Wide-Development-Policies-DPD.pdf
5 BarkingTownCentreAreaActionPlan(DPD)(2011)https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Barking-Town-Centre-Area-Action-Plan-DPD.pdf
6 Corporate Plan 2016https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/CorporatePlan2016_D5.pdf
7 BoroughWideDevelopmentPolicies/DevelopmentPlanDocument(AdoptedMarch2011)PlanningforthefutureofBarkingandDagenhamhttps://www.lbbd.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Borough-Wide-Development-Policies-DPD.pdf
8 AsportandphysicalactivitystrategyforBarking&Dagenhamhttp://moderngov.lbbd.gov.uk/documents/s55581/Sport%20Strategy%20App.%201.pdf
9 LondonBoroughofBarkingandDagenhamIntegratedFamilyServicesdivisionPlayStrategyhttps://www.lbbd.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/PlayStrategy-1.pdf
10 BarkingandDagenhamJointHealthandWellbeingStrategy2015-2018https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/JHWS_A4_30-9-15_RF.pdf
11 WasteStrategyReport-App.1(DraftStrategy)http://moderngov.barking-dagenham.gov.uk/documents/s105590/ Waste%20Strategy%20Report%20-%20App.%201%20Draft%2Strategy.pdf
12 NCCFinalAdvicetogovernment:September2015
13 PlayEngland:MakingSpaceforPlay(2008):page8
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 11
BASELINE CHARACTERISTICS 2
2.1 STRATEGIC CONTEXT The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham is situated on the North bank oftheRiverThamestotheEastofLondon,justninemilesfromthecentreofLondon and close to the border with Essex and the countryside beyond . The boroughhasapopulationof206,056andatotallandareaof3,419hectares.The borough lies between three other London boroughs. To the north is the LondonBoroughRedbridge,totheeastistheLondonBoroughofHaveringandtothewestistheLondonBoroughofNewham.Theborough’ssouthernboundaryistheRiverThames.
BarkingandDagenham’seasternedgehasachainofnaturalandsemi-naturalgreenspaceseffect,enhancedfurtherbythepresenceofthegreenbelt.TheseareformedofBeamValleyCountryPark,ChaseLocalNatureReserveand Eastbrookend Country Park.
Whilst not an edge borough, Barking and Dagenham is an outer borough on theeasternsideofLondon,andassuch,manyofitstransportconnectionsare‘spokes’whichconnectcentralLondonwiththetownsandvillagesinEssex,beyondtheborough.Theroadandrailinfrastructureforthese‘spokes’hasasignificantimpactonconnectionsandintegrationwithintheborough.TheraillinesoftheC2CLondontoSouthendline,theDistrictLineandtheShenfieldlinerunningthroughChadwellHeathallcreatebarrierstonorth-southmovementbycars,bicyclesandpeople.Similarly,theA12andA13strategicroadsservecarswell,butpreventintegrationbetweenneighbourhoodsthatsittothenorthandsouthoftheseroutesandhindermovementbybicycleandonfoot.TheseimpactscanbeseenparticularlyatMarks’Gateinthenorthoftheborough,wheretheA12seversthecommunityfromChadwellHeath,andatBarkingRiversideandDagenhamRiversideinthesouthoftheborough, where the A13 creates an island.
Barking and Dagenham has a number of urban parks and gardens distributed acrosstheborough.Theseserveasimportantamenityspacesforresidentsandofferarangeofactivitiesandservices.Mostsitbetweenneighbourhoodsandplayanimportantroleinbringingdifferentcommunitiestogetherandprovidingareasofsocialinteraction.WhenassessedagainsttheGLA’sOpenSpacestandards,theborough’samenityspacesarewellplacedandwithinsuitablewalkingdistancesforthemajorityofthepopulation,howeverthereare pockets in the north and in the south where there is a shortage of amenity spaces within suitable walking distances.14
Parks and open spaces assessment areasInassessingthelevelofprovision,qualityandvalueofparksandopenspacesinBarkingandDagenhamandinpreparingActionPlans,thisstrategydependsuponanalysisatthreedifferentgeographicallevels:
• Borough-wideassessment;thestrategyassessestheborough’scurrentportfolioandtheresourcingofcurrentserviceprovisiononaborough-wide basis, allowing for comparison with other London boroughs
• Regionalassessment;BarkingandDagenhamissub-dividedintothreesub-regionswhichreflecthealthinequalitieswithintheborough.Thisstrategyconsiderslevelsofprovisionandassessmentsofqualityandaccessibilityatthislevel,allowingforcomparisonbetweenregionswithinthe borough.
• Wardassessment:TheWardistheconstituencyunitforlocalgovernmentandthisstrategyconsiderslevelsofprovisionandassessmentsofquality,valueallowingforcomparisonbetweenWards.
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base12
2.2 TOPOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, HABITATSTopographyBarking and Dagenham lies on the eastern edge of the Thames Basin and thetopographyoftheareaischaracterisedbygentleundulationsshelvingsteadilytothesouthandthevalleyoftheThames.ThevalleysoftheRiverRoddingalongthewesternedgeoftheborough,andBeamRiverwhichrunsalmostthelengthoftheeasternedgeoftheborough,bothconvergeontheRiverThames.Asmallplateautothenorthoftheborough,withinMarksGate,marksthehighestpointat32-36mAOD.
GeologyInformationpublishedbytheBritishGeologicalSocietyinSheet257–“Romford”(1:50,000series)showsthatmostoftheboroughisdirectlyunderlainbythevariousriverterracesoftheThamesandRoding,includingtheFloodPlainGravel,TaplowGravelandBoynHillGravel.Brickearthisshownoverlyingthesedepositsinsomeareas.Riverterracedepositsareshowntobescantyanddiscontinuoustowardsthenorthoftheborough(aroundLittleHeath,ChadwellHeathandMarks’sGate)andmuchofthisareaisdirectlyunderlainbythesolidgeologyoftheEocene:LondonClay.Younger(Holocene)alluviumdirectlyunderliestheboroughonlowerground,nexttomajorrivers,inparticulartheRiverRodingandRiverBeam.Amoreextensivecoverofalluviumoccurstothesouthoftheborough,alongtheRiverThames.
Inmostcasesthegeologyoftheboroughconsistsofthefollowing:
• Made ground• Alluvium(clayandsilt,withsomepeat)• Thamesgravels• LondonClay–whichvariesinthicknessacrosstheborough• Typesofrocksthatcomposethesolidgeologyoftheborough:• Woolwich and Reading Beds• Thanet sands • Chalk.
Extensivegravelextractionhas,andcontinuestooccur,intheborough.Wheregravelwinningshavebeenundertakenmanyofthegravelpitshavebeeninfilledwithwaste.Thesemakeupmostoftheboroughslandfillsites.However,insomecasesthegravelpitshavenotbeeninfilledandnowmakeattractivewaterfeatures,suchasthosefoundatEastbrookendCountryPark.Soiltypeisanimportantinfluenceonlanduse,vegetationcoverand,intermsofgeomorphology,thesedimentdeliverywithintheborough.Thesoiltypes of the borough are such that they are dominated by clay based soils. These include well drained and slowly permeable calcareous clayey soils and associated brown earth. The clayey geology can create waterlogged soils but there is a small risk of water erosion due to the dominance of clay soil.15
Fig.2.1 - Geology map of Barking and Dagenham
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 13
HabitatsThe London Borough of Barking and Dagenham features a wide range of habitatsthathavebeeninfluencedbytheunderlyinglandscapeandbyhumanactivities.Industryandhousinginthe20thcenturyshapedlargepartsoftheborough.TheRippleNatureReserveisagoodexampleofhowbiodiversitycanrecoverandthriveonabrownfieldsite.Intheeastoftheborough,EastbrookendCountryParkhasbeencreatedonalandfillandquarrysite.Themosaicofwater,scrub,woodlandandgrasslandprovidesidealconditionsforwildlife.
TheLondonRegionalLandscapeFramework(May2009)hasbeendevelopedby Natural England and sets out the main landscape character types for London. There are four landscape character types within Barking and Dagenham:EssexPlateau–Mosaicsofancientwoodland,woodpastureandacidgrassland,withintheformerroyalhunting„forests”atEppingForestandHavering.NorthThamesTerraces–Flat,opengrassland,steppingupfromtheThames, with narrow sinuous strips of woodland marking the alignment of tributary creeks. Examples include Mayesbrook Park, Romford Line railsides andTheChase.LowerThamesFloodplain–avast,flatriversidezoneofgrazedsaltmarshesgradingtoreedswamp,mudflatsandthewidetidalThames,themoststrikingandimmediatelyvisiblenaturalelementinLondon.ExamplesincludetheGoresbrook,theRippleNatureReserveandBarkingCreek.RodingRiverValley–thenarrow,sinuouscourseoftheupperRodingwheretheriverbanksarelinedwithwillows
Three of the four borough boundaries are watercourses. To the East is the RiverRoding,totheWestistheRiverBeamandtotheSouthistheRiverThames.Theseareclassifiedasmainrivers.InadditiontothistheboroughhassomefurthermainriverssuchastheRiversMayesbrook,GoresbrookandWantz.InformationsuppliedbytheEAshowsthattheGeneralWaterQualityfortheRiverRodingis“D”,asistheRiverBeam,withtheRiverThamesaClass“B”.Itismostlikelythatriverqualitywillbeimpactedbythecatchmentupstreamoftheborough–adifficultareatoassessintermsofpollutersetc.TheEnvironmentAgency’sdatabroadlydividesriversinto“reaches”whichdonot correspond to borough boundaries. The borough has no major aquifers withinitsboundaryandisdesignatedas“minoraquifer”or“non-aquifer”.16
2.3 SETTLEMENT PATTERNSUntilthe19thCentury,theboroughwaspredominantlyrural,dominatedbyagricultural uses, constrained in the north by Hainault Forest and in the south bytheRiverThames,inthewestbytheRiverRodingandtotheeastbytheRiverBeam.
In1875,Dagenhamwasasmallvillagesurroundedbyfarmsteadsandheathland with a church, a school, almshouses and a number of wells. The mainroadsconnectedDagenhamvillagewithParsloesManor,tothewest.Themanor,datingbacktothe1500s,hadbeenrenovatedin1819.TheLondon,TilburyandSouthendRailwaytothesouthofthevillageopenedin1854.
Inthe1920’sworkbeganontheBecontreeHousingEstateintheborough.Almost3000acresofland(1212hectares)wereusedtodevelopavarietyofterracedandsemi-detachedtwostoreydwellingsonanewgeometric
roadpattern,stretchingfromGoodmayestoChadwellHeathandDagenhamVillage.
ThedevelopmentoftheEstatecreatednewdemandsforemploymentintheboroughandledtotheestablishmentofheavyindustryatDagenhamMarshesalongtheRiverThamescorridor,andtheeventualdevelopmentofthe Ford Motor Plant in the south east of the borough. The Ford plant came to dominate the industrial landscape of the borough in the same way that the Becontree Estate had dominated the housing landscape.
By1933,anewbranchoftheLondon,TilburyandSouthendlinehadastationatDagenhamandresidentialstreetswereunderconstructiononthevillageoutskirts. Parsloes Manor had fallen into disrepair and been demolished, and ParsloesParkandTrottingGroundhadopened.Ahospitalhadbeendevelopedto the south of Dagenham.
By 1946 the Becontree Estate was complete and extended south of the rail line,coalescingwithDagenhamvillage.Anewstationhadbeenaddedtotherailline,westofDagenham,toservetheestate,andnewschoolshadbeenconstructed.FurtherresidentialdevelopmenttotheeastofDagenhamwasalso underway.
In 1959, Parsloes Park was formalised, and a lake added to the south westerncorner.Bythispoint,originalvillagebuildingsfromDagenhamhaddisappeared,beingreplacedbyresidentialandcommercialdevelopment.Carusage was increasing, and Ripple Road, to the south has been connected to an EastHamandBarkingbypass-inchingtowardswhatwouldbecometheA13.
ThepostwarperiodsawthedemolitionofhousesandfactoriesontheformerAbbey Green at Barking, and the building of the Abbey Retail Park opposite.
Thelate1960’sandearly1970’ssawtheconstructionofhighriseandotherhigh-densityestatesatvariouslocationsacrosstheborough.
Therehavebeenconsiderablechangesintenurepatternssince1981,largelyduetothe“righttobuy”legislation.Justoverhalfoftheboroughshouseholdswereowner-occupiersby1991.However,despitetheincreaseinowneroccupationBarkingandDagenhamhasthehighestproportionofhouseholdsrentingfromthelocalauthorityinouterLondon(43%comparedtoanaverage23%).Thehousingstockischaracterisedbyahighproportionofterracedhousing(63%)andhasoneofthelowestproportionsofflatsinLondon(27%).
Inconclusion,BarkingandDagenham’slandscape,andinparticularitsbuiltenvironment,hasevolvedcomparativelyrecently,andwhilstimportantareasofnaturalandsemi-naturallandscapesexist(notablyinthenorthandeastoftheborough),themajorityoftheboroughhasbeensubstantiallyshapedbyresidentialandindustrialdevelopment.17
2.4 DEMOGRAPHICS AND ETHNICITYBarkingandDagenhamisacomparativelyyoungborough,withamedianageeightyearsyoungerthantheUKasawhole,afarhigherproportionofchildrenandyoungpeoplethanUK-wide,andamuchsmallerproportionofpeopleovertheageof65.UK-wide,18%ofthepopulationis65orover(ONS,2015),whileinBarkingandDagenhamin2011,only10%ofthepopulationisinthisagegroup.OneinfourpeopleinBarkingandDagenhamisundertheageof14,whileLondon-widelessthatoneinfive(19%)peopleis15orunder.Overathirdofchildren(37%)intheboroughliveinpoverty.
Thepopulationisprojectedtocontinuegrowingbetweennowand2020.Thenumberofyoungpeoplebetween10-14yearsofageisexpectedtogrowbyover4,000andthisisthelargestgrowthofallthefiveyearagebands.Theproportionofmiddleagedpeoplebetween25yearsand40yearsofageisprojectedtogrowasaproportionofthewholepopulation.
Fig.2.2showsthepredictedchanges,byage-bandsfortheboroughbasedonthe2014TrendBasedShortTermprojectionsproducedbyTheGreaterLondonAuthority.Therehavebeenhighratesofgrowthinthewardsinthesouthwest of the borough.
Overthelast25years,BarkingandDagenhamhasseenadecreaseintheproportionofthosewhoidentifyaswhite.In1991,93%ofresidentsinBarkingandDagenhamidentifiedaswhiteandby2011,thatproportionhadfallento58%asthepopulationoftheboroughgrew.ThelargestBlackAsianandMinorityEthnic(BAME)groupinBarkingandDagenhamin2011werepeoplewhoidentifyasblack(Black/African/Caribbean/BlackBritish)at20%ofthetotalpopulation.77%ofresidentsinBarkingandDagenhamwhoidentifyasblack,identifyasBlackAfrican(15%ofthetotalpopulationoftheborough).
By2015,theannualpopulationsurveyestimatesthattheproportionofthosewhoidentifyas‘white’hasfallento47%.10%ofpeoplewhoidentifyaswhiteareforeign-born.Incontrast,themajority(53%)ofBMEresidentsinBarkingandDagenhamin2015werebornintheUK(Fig.2.3).
Fig.2.1-Populationbyageband(Source:B&D2011Census)
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base14
Self-reportedethnicityatthe2011Censusshowsthatwhilsttheboroughhasbecomefarmorediverseingeneral,particularareasarefavouredbydifferentethnicities.TheBecontreeEstate,RushGreenandRylandsEstateareasremainmorestronglyWhiteBritish.Barking,theLeftleyEstate,LongbridgeRoadareaandthewesternedgeoftheboroughhavestrongAsiancommunities.Withinthis,particularneighbourhoodsarepreferredbydifferentAsiangroups.Barkingtowncentre,particularlytheGascoigneEstate,andthesouthernresidentialareasoftheborough(northofthetraditionalindustrialareas)havestrongBlackAfricanandAfro-Caribbeancommunities.18
2.5 HEALTHBritain’scitiesareprincipallyVictoriancreationsandtheprovisionofcityparkswassignificantlyinfluencedbyaperceivedneedtoofferacounter-balancetothenegativeimpactofcitylifeonpersonalhealth.Today,manyofoururbancommunitiesarefacingsimilarsignificanthealthissues,largelyasaconsequenceofanageingpopulationandtheadoptionofamoresedentarylifestyle.
DEFRAhascalculatedthattheNHScouldsave£2.1billionperannumifparksandopenspaceinfrastructureencouragedpeopleintomoreactivelifestyles.19 Goodqualityparksandopenspacescanhaveasignificantimpactonsomeofthemostprevalentdiseasegroups–coronaryheartdisease,stroke,Type2diabetes and mental health.
Thesefindingsaresupportedbyempiricalresearch.PublichealthstudiesinHollandhavesuggestedthatthegreeningoftheenvironmentcanreduceannualhealthcarecostsacrosstheNetherlandsbyover€100million.Thisisachievedinpartthrougha15%reductioninobesity(contributing€8million)a10%reductionintheuseofanti-depressants(contributing€2millionanda10%reductionintheuseofdrugstocontrolADHDinchildren.20
Theoverallcapacityofparkstosupporthealthoutcomeswillreinforceoutcomesthataredeliveredthroughconventionalclinicalapproaches.ThisOpenSpacesStrategywilldemonstratehowparkscandevelopasplaceswherephysicalactivitycanbepromotedthroughtheprinciplesof‘activedesign’andbythecreationoflocalpartnershipstodeliverspecifichealthoutcomes.ThisapproachwillsupportthedeliveryofhealthoutcomesdevelopedintheSportsandPhysicalActivityandHealthandWellbeingstrategies .
16%ofallresidentsinBarkingandDagenhamhadalongtermhealthproblemordisabilityin2011,andhalfofthesewerelimited‘alot’intheirday-to-dayactivities.ThisislowerthaninHavering,(thisislikelytobeareflectionoftheolderpopulationinthatborough),buthigherthantheLondonaverageof14%.Notably,BarkingandDagenham’sresidentsseemtodeveloplong-termillnessdisabilitiesatayoungeragethansurroundingareas.16%of50-64year olds, had a disability or illness in 2011 that limited many of their daily activities,markedlyhigherthantheLondonandEnglandratesof11%.Datasuggeststhatitisfromaround50yearsthatresidents’healthdeclinesatafaster rate than is the case for other Londoners.
Spatially,the2011Censusidentifieshighernumbersofpeoplewithlongterm illness or disability in Barking and Dagenham. In 2015, the borough had significantlyhigherlevelsofchildandadultobesitythanbothregionaland
Fig.2.2-Populationchangessincelastcensus2001,2011and2013(Source:B&D2011Census)
Fig.2.3-Ethnicgroupprojections(Source:2013GLAEthnicGroupProjections)
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 15
TheproportionofresidentsinBarkingandDagenhamwithanNVQLevel4qualificationorabovehassurgedoverthepasttwodecades(thechangingageprofileaccentuatesthistrendasyoungergenerationsaremorelikelytohavehigherqualificationsthanolderpeople),butremainsbelowthelevelsforLondonasawhole.Peoplewithlowerlevelsofqualificationsaremorelikelytobeunemployedorlowpaidthanpeoplewithhigherqualifications.
ThismeansthatfacilitatingariseineducationalattainmentforchildrenandyoungadultsinBarkingandDagenham’syoungergenerationisoneofthekeysto a prosperous future for the borough. A well educated workforce will help attractthetargetknowledgeeconomyindustriesthathavebeenidentifiedasdesirable by the borough.26
TheTownscapeandSocio-EconomicCharacterisationStudyadvocatesthedevelopmentofmixed-incomecommunities,andschoolscanplayanimportantroleinfosteringthedevelopmentofthesecommunities.Mixed-incomeschoolshavebeenshowntohelpclosetheattainmentgapforlow-incomestudents,andcontributetosocialintegration.27
2.7 GREEN INFRASTRUCTUREParksformpartofagreeninfrastructurethatunderpinsthefunctioningofurbanenvironmentandformsanimportantpartofcity-wideinfrastructureplanning. The green infrastructure approach proposes that each piece of land managementcanprovideavarietyofecosystemservicesandthatoperateatavarietyofscalesincludingneighbourhoods,districts,citiesandregions.Thisdynamicapproachcontrastswithamoretraditionalmono-functionalapproachtolandandthisimprovestheabilityofplacestoaddressissuesofclimatechangeresilience,pollution,floodriskandecologicaldegradation.
Climatechangeislikelytoaffectalloftheworld’scitiesoverthenext50yearsandbeyondandthiswillbeparticularlythecasewhereemissionlevelsproducelocalisedgreenhouseeffects.ParkscanmakesignificantcontributionmitigatingagainsttheimpactofclimatechangeonBarkingandDagenham.
Climatechangeisexpectedtoincreasefloodriskwithincreasedrainfallandmoreextremeweatherpatterns.Urbanenvironmentsareoftenpoorlyequipped to cope with the intense periods of rainfall that can result in economicallyandsociallycostlyfloodevents.Parksandgreenspacescanabsorbupto25%ofprecipitationdirectlyintothesoilandgroundwater,alleviatingpressureonbuiltdrainagesystems.28 Parks and green spaces can alsomakeapositivecontributiontothisproblembyabsorbingandretaininglargevolumesofprecipitationandreleasingthismoreslowlyintodrainagesystems and networks .
FloodriskissignificantinareasoftheboroughclosetotheThameswhichfall within Flood Zone 3, along with areas around Beam Park and Mayesbrook Park.NewdevelopmentsinthesezonesmustincorporateSUDSi.e.attenuationponds,swalesandreedbeds.Thesewillprovidenaturalwaystoreducefloodrisk,providetemporarystorageandimprovewaterquality,whilecreatingwetlandhabitatsforwildlifeinanattractiveaquaticsettingwithadditionalpotentialforaccessibleleisurefacilities.
Urban warming is a direct consequence of both climate change and localised greenhouseeffects.Thesetemperaturerisescanhaveadirecteffectonpublichealth.Openspaces(andparticularlytrees)haveasignificantmoderating
nationalaveragesaccordingtoPublicHealthEngland.Theboroughalsohadcorrespondinglylowlevelsofphysicallyactiveadultsincomparisontonationalandregionalaverages.TheseissueswereclearlythemostpressinghealthconcernsforBarkingandDagenhaminthePublicHealthEnglandreview,andsohavebeenanalysedspatiallyfortheTownscapeandSocio-EconomicCharacterisationStudy(2017).IdentifiedareaswithpressinghealthconcernsareBarkingtowncentre,areasofThamesViewandBarkingRiverside,thevicinityofDagenhamEaststationandBeacontreeHeath.
PlacespecificdataforobesityinadultsorthegeneralpopulationisnotavailablebutPublicHealthEnglandhasreviewedchildobesitylevelsatreceptionage(4-5years)andYear6(10-11years)(Fig.2.4andFig.2.5).TheseindicateproportionallyhigherlevelsintheboroughinBarking,particularlytothe south of the town centre, including the Gascoigne Estate.
Thesestatisticsmightreflectthelessimmediateaccesstooutdoorandgreenspaceswhilelivinginapartmentsintallerbuildings.Theymightalsoreflectconsultationfindingsthattheplayareasontheestatedidnotengagechildren,witheachonebeingidentical.However,itisalsoworthnotingthatthepopulationdensityhereishigherthanotherpartsoftheborough,sothenumberwillautomaticallybehigher.21
2.6 EDUCATIONUKchildrenarespendinglessandlesstimeoutdoors.Thelikelihoodofchildrenvisitinganygreenspaceatallhashalvedinageneration,mostofthesevisitsnowonlyhappenunderadultsupervision.Similarly,useoftheopenspacesaroundtheirhomeswhichtheyknowhasfallenby90%in20years.22
Parksandopenspacesareprovinglessattractiveforchildrenandyoungpeoplewhencomparedwithotheragegroups.Youngpeopleagedbetween16and24reportlowerqualityacrossallindicatorsanalysedforthestudy:15%thoughttheirlocalparksandopenspacesweretheaspectoftheirareasthatneededmostimprovement,comparedwith8percentof55-74yearolds.23
Bycontrast,thebenefitsaccruingtochildrenfromregularuseofopenspacesandinteractionwithnaturearewell-established.Children’scognitiveandsocial-emotionalskilldevelopmentbenefitfromregularandvariedaccesstonature. Safe and familiar open spaces close to home contribute to personal development,allowchildrentoexploreandtotestmotorskillsandsupportthedevelopmentofinterpretivesensoryskills.Thereisconsiderableevidencethatchildrenlivinginsocio-economicallydeprivedareahavebetterlevelsofconcentrationwhentheyregularlyenjoytheuseofgreenspaceandtheseenhancedconcentrationlevelstranslateintohigherlevelsofeducationalattainmentandsupportthedevelopmentofself-esteem.24
ChildrensufferingfromAttentionDeficitDisorder(ADD)benefitfromactivityin public spaces, especially green spaces. When parents of children with ADD wereaskedtonominatetheactivitiesthattheyhadfoundmadetheirchildrenmoremanageable,85%ofgreen-spaceactivities(suchasfishingandsoccer)weresaidtoimprovethechildren‘sbehaviour,whileonly43%ofnon-greenactivities(suchasvideogamesandwatchingtelevision)wereregardedasbeneficial.Indeed,57%ofnon-greenactivitiesweresaidtoresultinworsebehaviour.25 Fig.2.5-Numberofobesechildrenage10-11(Source:Numbersofchildrenclassifiedasobese,
2015;PublicHealthEngland)
Fig.2.4-Numberofobesechildrenage4-5(Source:Numbersofchildrenclassifiedasobese,2015;PublicHealthEngland)
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base16
effectontemperatures.Researchsuggeststhata10%increaseintreevolumecanreduceambienttemperaturerisesby30-50%onhotsummerdays.Wheregreenspaceoccupiesmorethan50%oflandsurfacearea,temperaturesareapproximately7degreescentigradelowerthanelsewhereina neighbourhood.29Thiscoolingeffectcanbeexperiencedupto100mfromthe park edge.30Theurbanheatmapclearlyrevealsthatthoseareaslackingingreenopenspaces,suchastheresidentialareasbetweenParsloesParkandEastbookendCountryPark,experiencesignificantlyhighertemperatures.Futureimprovementstostreetscapesintheseareasshouldincludeplantingofnew and appropriate tree species to help absorb and reduce air temperatures.
LevelsofNO2intheborougharerelativelylowwhencomparedtocentralLondonbutsimilarinlevelstootherouterborough’s.Thepollutantisconcentrated in Barking Town Centre and its surrounds, and along the A13 andA12corridors.Levelsdissipateslightlyasyoumoveeastacrosstheborough.
Greeninfrastructureisasystemthatcanimpactatmanydifferentlevelstoaffectenvironmentalmanagement.Figure2.5illustrateshowthesemightimpactatlocallevelinBarkingandDagenham.
2.8 CRIME AND ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOURThe Community Safety Plan outlines the aims of the Community Safety Partnershipatastrategiclevel.ItidentifieshowtheprioritiessetbytheStrategic Assessment will be worked towards.
TheCommunitySafetyPlanhasthreepriorities:
1. IntegratedOffenderManagement–toworkacrossagenciestoensureoffendersarebeingmanaged.Thiswillreducethelikelihoodofre-offending,andwillmoveoffenders’livesawayfromcrimeanddisorder.Offendersemploymentprospectswillbesupportedbytheirparticipationincommunityreparationprojects.Theseprojectswillgiveoffendersthechance to contribute to their local neighbourhood and encouraging them tobuildanewlifewheretheyarelesslikelytore-offend.
2. IntegratedVictimManagement–toworkbetweenorganisationstoensurethatthevictimsofcrimearesupported,andtoreducethenumberofpeoplewhobecomevictimsofcrime.Thiswillalsohelpvictimstofeelmoreconfidentinreportingcrimes.
3. BuildingConfidence–itisimportantfortheCommunitySafetyPartnershiptoworktomakeresidentsfeelconfidentthattheirissueswillbe dealt with. This will reduce the fear of crime in the borough. Increased confidenceintheCommunitySafetyPartnershipwillalsomakepeoplefeelmoreconfidenttotelltherightpeoplewhentheybecomeavictimofcrime, witness a crime or are aware of crime and disorder.31
Between2012/2013and2014/2015,crimeratesintheboroughhavedeclinedfromarateof90.5offencesper1,000peoplein2012/2013toarateof81.8in2014/2015.Despitethis,thefearofcrimeintheboroughishigh:theJSNAreportincludesestimatesfromthelastquarterof2014/2015bytheMetropolitanPoliceServicehighlightingthatalthoughtherehadbeenanimprovementintheproportionofpeoplethinkingthatthepoliceweredoingagoodjobintheborough(55%in2013/2014and57%in2014/2015),the
Fig.2.5-LocalGreenInfrastructureoptionsandimpacts(Source:LandscapeInstitute(2001):LocalGreenInfrastructure)
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 17
NOTES14 https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/planning/london-plan/current-
london-plan/london-plan-chapter-seven-londons-living-spac-20
15 Barking and Dagenham Contaminated Land Strategy https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Contaminated- Land-Stategy-%E2%80%94-Chapter-2-Characteristics-of-the-Borough.pdf16 Barking and Dagenham Contaminated Land Strategy https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Contaminated- Land-Stategy-%E2%80%94-Chapter-2-Characteristics-of-the-Borough.pdf17 LBBDCharacterStudyFinalDraft_Pages1–4018 LBBDCharacterStudyFinalDraft_Pages85–12619 DEFRA(2010)20 BADEetal(2010)21 LBBDCharacterStudyFinalDraft_Pages85-12622 NaturalEngland.(2010).ChildhoodandNature:ASurveyonChanging RelationshipswithNatureAcrossGenerations.23 CABESpace.(2010).UrbanGreenNation24 HealthCounciloftheNetherlands(2004)25 NationalRecreation26 LBBDCharacterStudyFinalDraft_Pages127-16627 Education,OECD.Power,Anne(2007)NeighbourhoodRenewal,Mixed CommunitiesandSocialIntegrationviaLSEResearchOnline.28 DepartmentforTransport,LocalGovernmentandtheRegions.(2002). GreenSpaces,BetterPlaces:FinalreportofTheUrbanGreenSpaceTask Force29 Whitford,V.,Ennos,A.R.andHandley,J.F.(2001).Cityformandnatural process–indicatorsfortheecologicalperformanceofurbanareasand theirapplicationtoMerseyside,UK.LandscapeandUrbanPlanning,Vol. 57(2),pp.91-10330 Shashua-Bar,L.andHoffman,M.E.(2000).‘Vegetationasaclimatic componentinthedesignofanurbanstreet:anempiricalmodelfor predictingthecoolingeffectofurbangreenareaswithtrees’.Energyand BuildingsVol.31,pp.221-23531 CommunitySafetyPlan2014-2017 https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Community- safety-plan-2014-17.pdf32 Final-report-of-the-Barking-and-Dagenham-Independent-Growth- Commission-PART-233 Final-report-of-the-Barking-and-Dagenham-Independent-Growth- Commission-PART-2
proportionofpeopleworryingaboutcrime(36%)iswellabovetheLondonaverage(25%).
ViolentcrimeisasignificantissueinBarkingandDagenham:accordingtotheJSNAin2014/2015,violentcrimeaccountedfor37%ofallnotifiableoffenceswithin the borough, which is higher than the rate for the Metropolitan Police Serviceareasof33%.In2014/2015,BarkingandDagenhamalsohadthehighestrateacrossLondonfordomesticabuseoffences.32
CrimeinBarkingandDagenhamparksisrelativelylow,BarkingPark,MayesbrookPark,StChadsParkrecordedthehighestcrimefiguresofallparkswithatotalnumberofoffencesof70,80and53respectively.
2.9 HOUSING SUPPLY AND GROWTHOwneroccupationgrewinBarkingandDagenhaminthe1980sand1990sattheexpenseofthesocialrentedsector–andfellbackinthe2000sastheprivaterentedsectoradvanced.In1981,socialhousingwasthepredominanttenure(65%)intheboroughandlessthanathird(31%)ofpeoplewereowneroccupiers.Oneinfortyhouseholds(3%)livedintheprivaterentedsectorintheborough-averylowfigurebytodaysstandards,butalsorelativetootherareasatthattime.However,by1991,overhalf(52%)ofhouseholdswereowneroccupiers,asright-to-buyledtocounciltenantsbuyingtheirhomes,thusmovingoutofsocialrentsandintoowneroccupation.By2011,theprivaterentalsectorhadgrowntoalmostoneinfivehouseholds(18%ofallhouseholds),whileowneroccupationhadfallento46%.Ofthethreeneighbouringboroughs,Haveringhasthemostowneroccupation,andNewhamhasthemosthouseholdsintheprivaterentalsector(Fig.2.6).
Thereisexpectedtobesignificantgrowthinhousingintheborough,with35,000 new homes planned by 2030. In 2014 there were 72,670 homes in theBorough(2.1%ofLondon’stotalhousingstock),ofwhich1,382werevacant.TheBoroughisnotableforhavingamuchhigherproportionoflocalauthorityownedhousingthanLondonasawhole,with25.4%ofBarkingand
Dagenham’shousingbeinglocalauthorityownedcomparedto11.9%acrossLondon as a whole.
Thispartiallyreflectsalowerproportionofhousingcontrolledbyprivateregisteredproviders,whichaccountforjust5.7%ofprovidersintheborough,comparedwith11.4%acrossLondonasawhole.However,thisalsoreflectsalowerproportionofprivate(rentalandowneroccupied)housingintheBorough.68.9%ofhousingintheBoroughisintheprivatesector,comparedto76.4%acrossLondon.
BarkingandDagenham’snewhousingtargetsetoutbytheLondonPlanisfor1,236 homes a year to be built between 2015 and 2025. Barking Town Centre wasdesignatedaHousingZoneinFebruary2015,bringingwithit£42.3millionofinvestment.Some2,295homesand4,000newjobswillbecreated,alongsidetheregenerationofthetowncentreandtheprovisionofnewpublicspaces, cultural and community spaces.
TheLocalPlanhasestimatedthattheboroughwouldhavethepotentialtobuild 35,000 new homes by 2030 if some of its protected industrial land is realisedforhousing.Thetopsixareasofvacantindustriallandwouldprovidethefollowingcapacity:
1. BarkingRiverside-10,124 2. CastleGreen–12,900 3. Creekmouth-3,4414. ChadwellHeath–3,753 5. ThamesRoad-20003,0006. FordStampingPlant–2,90033
Fig.2.6-DwellingsbyTenure(Source:Census2011)
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base18
THE VALUE OF PARKS AND GREEN SPACES
3ThereportoftheUrbanTaskforce(TowardsandUrbanRenaissance–1999)onthefutureoftheUK’scitiesandthesubsequentreportoftheGreenspacesTaskForce(GreenSpaces,BetterPlaces,2002)helpedtoshapecurrenturbanpolicyandledtothecreationofCABESpacein2003.Parksandgreenspacesand the wider public realm are now at the centre of discussions around urbanplacemaking,developmentandregeneration.ConsiderablecapitalinvestmentbytheHeritageLotteryFundandotherpublicsectorfundershasdemonstrated their importance.
Thequalityoftheenvironmentisconsideredakeyelementindeterminingthecompetitivenessofonecityagainstanother,withworldcitiessuchasLondoncompetingforresourcesofskilledandtalentedworkers,capitalinvestmentandintheeconomyofinternationaltourism.Londonregularlyassertsitscredentialsasa‘greencity’andparksfiguresignificantlyinthisassertion.DifferentboroughswithinLondonpromotethequalitiesoftheirenvironmentandtheextentoftheirgreenspacesascontributingfactorstotheireconomicsuccessandtheirattractivenessasaplacetolive,workandvisit.Theparkisnolongerseenasanisolatedgreenspacebutpartofanintegratedandmixed-useeconomic,social,andenvironmentalstructurethatbindsacitytogether,makingindividualplacesdistinctiveandcontributingtothesuccessofcities,suburbs,urbanenvironmentsandthequalityoflifeforcommunities.
ResearchintheUKandelsewherehasdemonstratedconclusivelythatanumberofeconomic,socialandenvironmentalbenefitsaccruefromgoodqualityurbanparks.Thissectionofthestrategyconsidersanapproachtovalue,basedonthevalueofoutcomesdeliveredbygoodqualityparksandopen spaces
3.1 THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF GREENSPACE Parksandgreenspacesareoftenhighlyvaluedbylocalcommunitiesintermsoftheirformalassetvalue,howeverasaresultofplanningdesignationsrulingoutthepossibilityoftheuseofparklandfordevelopment,publicparkshavebeenlargelyassessedashavingnegligiblevalue.Thisresultsintheprovisionofparksservicesasbeingcharacterisedasanegativebudgetactivitywithnoidentifiablecostbenefits,ignoringthevaluethatparkscontributetourbaneconomies,thecitycommunitiesandtocityenvironments.
Property ValuesResearch has shown that proximity to a good quality public park will add up to 20%tothevalueofproperty,dependingonproximityandaccessibility 34. This upliftwillapplytopropertieslocated100-1000metresfromaparkandupliftismaximisedwheretheparksareperceivedtobeofhighquality.
Commercialpropertyvaluesaresimilarlypositivelyimpacteduponbygoodqualityparksandgreenspace.Rentalvaluesaresustainedathighervalueswheregoodqualitygreenspaceiseitherimmediatelyavailableorintegraltotheworkingenvironment35.Goodqualityenvironmentssupportcompaniesinthecompetitiverecruitmentandretentionofskilledandproductiveworkers.Thecontributionthatparksmaketolocalandcitywideeconomiesinturnsupportsthetaxyieldaccruingtoauthoritieswiththisyieldsupportingthedeliveryoflocalservices.
The Tourist EconomyThetouristeconomyisavitalpartofLondon’seconomy,contributing£15.9billion annually36. Signature public open spaces are key elements in the tourist economyofmostworldcities.NewYork’sHighlineisnowoneofthetopfivetouristattractionsinthecity,withover5millionvisitorssinceitopenedin2009,withthenumberofconstructionprojectsintheareadoublingwithsomethirtylargeprojectsprogressingwithavalueofover$2billion37. WhileLondon’sRoyalParksarethecentrepieceofthecapital’sgreenspaceoffer,bothinnerandouterLondonboroughsaredevelopingdistinctiveparks.ThamesBarrierParkandQueenElizabethIIOlympicParkareseenassignificantcontributorstothevisitorandtouristeconomy.
Property ValuesThese signature parks and the neighbourhoods around them are economic entitiesintheirownright,supportingarangeofcommercialactivitiesincludingparkcafes,events,galleriesandactivelifestylebusinesses.Parksandthe businesses around them contribute directly to the number of local jobs andemploymentlevels.Over10,000peoplearedirectlyemployedinparksacrosstheUKandtensofthousandsmoreinancillarybusinessesattachedtoorinthevicinityofparks38. This direct employment is complemented by the activityofalargenumberofvolunteersinparks,whocontributeanestimated£17-35millionofvaluetoopenspaceacrosstheUKeveryyear39.
3.2 THE SOCIAL VALUE OF GREENSPACEHealth Thepositiveimpactsofaccesstogoodqualityparksandopenspacesonphysicalandmentalhealthandwellbeingarewelldocumentedandprovidearobustevidencebasetosupportinvestmentasameansofattractingpeopletousegreenspaceonaregularbasis.ObesityandrelateddiseasescosttheNHSanestimated£4.2billionayear40.Wherepeoplehavegoodperceivedoractualaccesstogreenspace,theyare24%morelikelytobephysicallyactive41.Abriskdailywalkintheparkcanreducetheriskofheartattackby50%,ofstrokeby50%,ofdiabetesby50%andofAlzheimer’sby25%42
Anti-depressantdrugscosttheNHS£750millionayear.Butaccesstoagreenenvironmentimprovesbothmoodandself-esteem.Peoplesufferingfromdepressionandmentaldysfunctionexperiencethegreatestimprovementinself-esteem43.Over90%ofgreenexerciseparticipantsreportthatthisactivityenhanced their mental health 44.
Education Parksandopenspaceshavelongbeenusedbyschoolstoextendtheirplayandeducationaloffer.Parksofferopportunitiesforchildrentoexploretheirperceptionsofriskinadynamic,freeoutdoorclassroom.Parksalsooffertheopportunitytounderstandthenaturalworldandtheinter-dependenceofthebuiltandnon-builtenvironment.Morerecentresearchhashighlightedthepositiveinfluencethataccesstonaturecanhaveoncognitiveability,educationalperformanceandattainment,andonbehaviour.90%ofheadteatchers state that learning outside the classroom is part of the ethos of their school 45.Children’sself-disciplinecanbeimprovedby20%byhavingviewsof
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 19
treesandvegetationoutsidetheirhome46 .ForchildrenwithAttentionDeficitDisorder(ADD),85%ofgreenspaceactivitieswerefoundtoimprovechildren’sbehaviour47.Childrenwhoarebulliedorwhosufferfromdysfunctionalfamilyarrangementsbenefitfrominteractionwiththenaturalworldbothintermsoftheirstresslevelandintermsofglobalself-worth48.
Place and NeighbourhoodNumerousstudieshaveidentifiedthecapacityofparkstoreinforceasenseofplaceandresidents’affinitywithaneighbourhood.Peoplewillidentifystrongly with their local park as part of the fabric of their neighbourhood. Where a park is of high quality, this will foster a sense of pride in the places wherepeopleliveandwork.Thesefeelingsareparticularlystronglyexpressedwhenparkshavedirectheritagevalueorcontainculturalassetsoractivitiesofsignificance,providingopportunitiesforlearningandculturalenrichment.Conversely,apoorqualityorneglectedparkcanhaveanegativeimpactonperceptionsofneighbourhoodquality49.Parksarebytheirverynaturediverse,encouraging people of all ages, cultural, ethnic and social backgrounds to meetandinteract.Thisisparticularlythecasewherecommunitiesparticipatein the planning and management of public spaces or where they contribute to culturalandsportingactivities.
Thiscomplexinteractionofeconomic,environmentalandsocialinfluencesrepresentsthesignificantcontributiongoodqualityparksandopenspacescanmaketothedevelopmentofsustainablecommunitiesandtocommunitycohesion.Inturnalargenumberofsocialandeconomicbenefitscanflowfrom these.
Food GrowingTherehasbeenaconsiderablegrowthinurbanfoodgrowingoverthepast decade. The Resource Centre on Urban Agriculture and Food Security identifiesthreeurbanagriculturalsystems,definedbythelevelofeconomicactivitythatiscarriedout50:
• Non-commercialurbanagriculture–allotments,microfarmingandinstitutionalgardens.
• Market-orientatedurbanagriculture–smallscalecommercialarable,horticulturalandlivestockfarminginanurbancontext.
• Specialisedurbanagriculturemulti-functionalurbanagriculture–foodgrowingpluseducation,tourism,agri-tourism.Urbanparkscansupportavarietyofurbanagriculturalactivities.
3.3 THE ENVIRONMENTAL VALUE OF GREENSPACE
Parksandgreenspaceshavethecapacitytoimprovethequalityoftheurbanenvironmentandcanhelptomitigatetheimpactsofclimatechange.TreesandplantsnaturallyabsorbCO2fromtheatmosphere,thussequesteringcarbonandmoderatingtheonsetofglobalwarming.Thecapacityoftreestooffsetcarbonemissionsisdeterminedbyitssize,canopycover,healthandage, but large trees can help to lower carbon emissions in the atmosphere by 2-3%.
Considerable research has been undertaken into the impacts on human health ofair-bornpollutants.Gasessuchascarbonmonoxide,nitrogendioxideandsulphurdioxideareallassociatedwithvehicleemissionsandareinjurioustohealth.Treesabsorbthesegasesthroughtheirleavesandrespiratorysystemsandithasbeenestimatedthatwoodlandcanreducetheconcentrationofnitrogendioxideandsulphurdioxideby4-5%(ref:BroadmeadowandFreerSmith1996:Urbanwoodlandandbenefitsforlocalairquality).
Urbanwarmingispartiallyaby-productofraisedgaseouspollution.Greenspacehasbeendemonstratedtohaveacoolingeffectonurbantemperatures.Daytimetemperaturesinparkshavebeenfoundtobe2-3degreeslowerthanthoseofsurroundingstreets(ref:DTLG2000:GreenSpaces,BetterPlaces)andthiseffectcanbeexperiencedupto100mfromtheparkedge(ref:Shashua-BarandHoffman2000:Vegetationasclimaticcomponentinthedesignofanurbanstreet).
Globalwarmingishavinganeffectonclimateconditionsandoccurrencesofextremeweathereventsaremodelledasasignificantoutcome.Episodesofextremeprecipitationbringanincreasedriskoffloodingandthecapacityof engineered drainage systems to cope with surcharging are limited. Soil systemsandvegetationarebothhighlypermeableandcapableofabsorbingsignificantquantitiesofprecipitation.Therunoffrateforsurfacesconsistingoftreesandgrassisestimatedtobe10-20%.Thiscompareswitharateof60-70%forhardlandscapeurbanareas(ref:DETR2002:GreenSpaces,BetterPlaces).Treesalsoimprovewaterquality,providingnaturalfiltrationandpreventingsoilerosion.
Rivervalleysandparksthroughwhichtheyruncandirectlyaddresstheriskoffloodingbyprovidingattenuationandwaterstoragecapacity.Bypreservingfloodplainsasnaturalsystemsandby‘naturalising’watercourses,pressureorengineered urban drainage systems, is reduced.
BiodiversityUrbanparksareoftenmorediversethansurroundingareasofcountrysideandhavethepotentialtosupportsignificantnumbersofspecies.Furtheropportunitiestodevelopthehabitatandbio-diversitypotentialofparkscan be supported within green blue corridors along which animal and plant communitiescanmigrateandwheregeneticexchangecantakeplace.Furtheropportunitiesexistalongtheurbanruralfringe,whichareoftenthemostdiversehabitatsintermsofspecies.
Re-defining the City /Countryside RelationshipAs an outer London borough, Barking and Dagenham has the opportunity tore-definetheartificialseparationofcityandcountryside.Theborough’sgeographyandecology(includingareasofGreenBeltandpatternsofrivervalleys)provideanimportant,distinctiveandenvironmentallyrichedgetoGreaterLondon.Therecreationaluseofparksandgreenspacescanbefurtherencouragedbyprovidingbetterconnectionsbetweenurbanparksandopenspaces and more natural landscapes on the edge of the city.
NOTES34 NeillDunse.(2007).Urbanparks,openspaceandresidentialproperty
values,RICS
35 GenslerInstituteandUrbanLandInstitute(2011)36 LondonandPartners(2013):LondonTourismReport2012/1337 ParkfortheFuture:ABestPracticeGuideforthe21stCentury:201238 Greenspace(2011)UnderstandingtheContributionParksandGreen SpacescanmaketoImprovingPeople’sLives.39 GreenSpace.(2003).CommunityNetworkingProject:FinalReport40 CABE2009–FutureHealth:sustainableplacesforhealthandwell-being41 NaturalEngland2009:TechnicalInformationnoteTIN05542 Bird2002:GreenSpaceandourHealth43 Petty,HineandPeacock2006:GreenExercise:thebenefitsofactivitiesin
greenspaces)44 Mind2007:Ecotherapy45 Department for Children, Schools and Families own research46 Taylor,KuoandSullivan2002:Viewsofnatureandself-discipline47 Taylor,KuoandSullivan2002:Viewsofnatureandself-discipline48 Bird2007:NaturalThinking–investigatingthelinkbetweenthenatural
environment,biodiversityandmentalhealth49 GreenSpace.(2010).GreenSTATvisitorsurveysystem50 RUAF(2011);CitiesandAgriculture–developingresilienturbanfood systems
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base20
BARKING AND DAGENHAM’S GREENSPACE
44.1 GREENSPACE PROVISIONThisParksandOpenSpacesStrategywillconsiderthelevelofcurrentprovisionofparksandopenspacesinBarkingandDagenhamagainstcurrentand likely future demand.
BarkingandDagenhamhasaportfolioof28parksandopenspacesproviding464hectaresofpublicopenspaceandthesearedistributedfairlyevenlyacrosstheborough,butwithaconcentrationofprovisioninacentralbelt running from Barking town centre in the West to Central Park and EastbrookendCountryParkintheEast.InthecontextoftheGLA’s2011PublicOpenSpacecategorisation,theboroughportfolioconsistsofeight‘DistrictParks’,11‘LocalParks’andnine‘SmallOpenSpaces.’
Throughitsplannedregenerationprogrammes,afurther85.46hectaresofpublicspacewillbeaddedoverthenexttwentyyearsatBarkingRiverside,Creekmouth,ThamesRoad,CastleGreenandChadwellHeath,givingatotalprovisionof549hectares.
Giventheborough’spopulationof206,056,greenspaceprovisionof549hectaresequatesto2.66hectaresper1,000headofpopulation.By2027,theborough’spopulationwillhavegrownto229,047,resultinginarateofgreenspaceprovisionof2.40hectaresper1,000headofpopulation.
Openspaceprovisionacrossalltypesofgreenspace,(parks,playgrounds,sportssites,naturalandsemi-naturalgreenspaces)is888.76Hectares(approximately25%oftheareaoftheborough).Thisequatesto4.3hectaresper1,000headofpopulation.Theadditionofafurther85.46hectaresofgreenspacewillincreaseoverallprovisionto974hectares,equivalentto4.73hectaresper1,000headofpopulation.By2027,theincreaseintheborough’spopulationwillhavereducedtheoveralllevelofprovisionto4.25hectaresper1,000headofpopulation.
Theprovisionofparksandopenspacesisevenlydistributedacrosstheboroughwithasignificantconcentrationofdistrictandlocalparksacrossthecentral belt of the borough. The council is planning further public open space initiativeswithintheCreekmouth,CastleGreen,ThamesRoadandChadwellregenerationareasbutastheseprojectsareatanearlystageofdevelopment,theirimpactonoverallprovisionandaccessibilitycannotcurrentlybequantifiedindetail.
Thereiscurrentlyadeficiencyofdistrictandlocalparksinboththenorthernandsouthernareasoftheboroughbutinthelatterarea,thisislikelytobeaddressedbynewparkprovisionatBarkingRiverside.ThiswillleaveadeficiencyinlocalanddistrictparkprovisioninthenorthoftheboroughwhichwillinpartbeaddressedbythenewparkprovisionatChadwellHeath.
Theboroughdoesnotcurrentlyhaveanymetropolitanparks(parksover50hectares),althoughParsloesParkat49.5hectaresisveryclosetothisstandard.Metropolitanparksinneighbouringboroughs(WansteadFlats,FairlopWatersandBrittonPlayingFields)allhavecatchmentscoveringareasof Barking and Dagenham.
4.2 BARKING AND DAGENHAM INDICATORS4.2.1 Standards of Provision for Parks and Open SpacesAnanalysisofthequantityofparksandopenspacesperheadofpopulationwillensurethattheboroughcontinuestostrategicallyplanandprovideanadequateamountofopenspaceinthefuture.NationalPlanningGuidance(2012)encourageslocalauthoritiestoundertakeassessmentsoftheneedsofopenspaceandtheLondonPlan(2015)seekstoensuresatisfactorylevelsoflocalprovisionthataddressareasofdeficiency.
Whilstneitherrecommendsspecificstandardsthatshouldbeadopted,FieldsinTrust,SportEnglandandNaturalEnglandprovideguidanceonrecommendedbenchmarksofprovision.Thistraditionallyiscalculatedashectares(Ha)per1,000headofpopulation(HOP).Forthisstrategyitisassessedatthecurrenttimein2017andoverthedurationofthestrategyfor the next ten years to 2026. This analysis can then be used to inform open spacestandardsforplanningwhichmaybeincludedinthenextversionoftheLocal Plan documents.
BarkingandDagenham’scurrentLocalPlan51issupportedbyaSiteSpecificAllocationsDPD52 that was adopted in 2010. This records a total of 485 Haofopenspace,representing‘2.80Haofpublicopenspaceper1,000population’.Currentplanningpolicyseekstomaintainthisstandardalthoughthiswillbecomeharderastheborough’spopulationcontinuestogrowandthe ability to create new open spaces is limited. A Social Infrastructure Needs Assessment 53 for the borough, published in 2006, acknowledged there will be increasingdemandsplacedonexistingopenspacesinthefutureandcurrentstandardsandbenchmarksforprovisionwillbehardertomaintain.
Current standards of provisionAnassessmentofthecurrentprovisionforparksandopenspacesacrosstheboroughtakesintoaccountthe28sites(listedintable4.1)totalling463Ha of open space. It should be noted that this does not include cemeteries, allotmentsorotheraccessibleamenitygreenspacesinpublicorprivateownershipthathavenotbeenincludedwithinthisstudy.Populationestimatesfor the borough54 in 2017 is calculated to be 206,056 which represents 2.64 Ha/1,000HOP.
Future standards of provisionChangesinthequantityofprovisionoverthelifetimeofthisstrategyarebasedonprojectionsfortheborough’sfuturegrowthinpopulationto229,047by2026.Thisanalysisalsotakesaccountoftheanticipatedincreaseinthequantityofopenspacethattotalsanadditional85.46Halistedinthefollowingtable.Thisrepresentsasmallincreaseinthestandardofprovisionoverthetenyearsto2.40Ha/1,000HOP(Table4.2).
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 21
Provision across localities and sub areasInevitablythequantityofparksandopenspacesvariesconsiderablyacrosstheborough.Somewards,suchasBeacontreeandWhalebone,havenoparkswithintheirboundarieswhilstothers,suchasEastbrookandVillage,benefitfromconsiderableareasofopenspace.Amoredetailedanalysisofprovisionhasbeenundertakenforthreelocalities(North/East/West)establishedby the Healthy Lifestyle Hubs Project to support the health and wellbeing objectivesforthisstrategy.Thisindicatesthatcurrentandfuturestandardsofprovisiontothenorthoftheborougharecomparabletoborough-widefigures.Standardsfortheeastaresignificantlyhigherwhilststandardsforthewestaresignificantlylowerthantheboroughaverage.Thesearesummarisedin the following table 4.3.
Thishighlightsthatthegreatestneedforadditionalopenspaceisinthewestoftheborough,whisttheeastalreadyhasarelativelyhighstandardofprovision.AcceleratingaccesstoandtheprovisionofnewopenspaceinBarkingRiversideandadjacentdevelopmentsiteswouldhaveclearbenefitalongsideimprovinglinkstootherexistingopenspaces.IncreasingtheprovisionofopenspacealongtheRiverRodingcorridor,astrategicprojectforthe All London Green Grid, could also be considered.
Comparison with other benchmarksThe most widely adopted benchmark used in planning has been the NPFA (NationalPlayingFieldsAssociation)SixAcreStandard,whichequatesto2.4Haper1,000HOP.Thisrecommended1.6Haforalloutdoorsportand0.8Haforchildren’splay.RecentrevisionbyFieldsinTrust56(formallytheNPFA)providesamoredetailedsetofrecommendationsandmoreextensivequantitybenchmarkofover5.0Haforavarietyofopenspacesincludingoutdoorsports;designatedplayareas;parksandgardens;amenitygreenspace;and,natural/semi-naturalspace.However,thelongestablished2.4
No Site DevelopmentArea(Ha)
20%OpenSpace Area (Ha)
01 ChadwellHeathDevelopment 32.30 6.50 02 ChadwellHeathAnti-AircraftSite
(estimate)1.34
03 CreekmouthDevelopment 20.50 4.10 04 ThamesRoadDevelopment 22.60 4.50 05 CastleGreenDevelopment 67.50 13.50 06A BarkingRiverside55–PylonPark 29.00 06B BarkingRiverside–Goresbrook 5.22 06C BarkingRiverside–ForeshorePark 7.23 06D BarkingRiverside–DistrictCentre 4.44 06E BarkingRiverside–WharfPark 2.67 06F BarkingRiverside–SportsPark 6.96
Total 85.46
Table 4.2 - Changes in the quantity of provision
PopulationProjection2017
CurrentAreaofOpenSpace
CurrentStandardHa/1,000
PopulationProjection2026
FutureAreaofOpenSpace
FutureStandardHa/1,000
Borough Wide 209,149 463.2 Ha 2.21 236,329 548.7 Ha 2.32
Locality1/North 76,250 190.2 Ha 2.49 85,568 198.0 Ha 2.31
Locality2/East 55,800 206.5Ha 3.70 66,226 206.5 Ha 3.12
Locality3/West 73,350 66.5 Ha 0.91 86,553 144.1 Ha 1.67
Table 4.3 - Provision across localities and sub areas
Name NeighbourhoodArea(referto9.1) Typology Area(ha) Designations01 AbbeyGreen-AbbeyRuins Group 3 Local 6.27 NC,REGEN.AREA,CONS.AREA02 Barking Park Group 3 District 29.80 SINC,MOL03 Beam Parklands Group 2 District 38.75 SINC, GREEN BELT, LNR04 Beam Valley Country Park Group 2 District 26.99 SINC, GREEN BELT, LNR05 Castle Green Park Group 3 Local 10.41 Undesignated06 Central Park Group 2 District 50.17 GREEN BELT07 ChaseNatureReserve Group 2 District 42.22 SINC, GREEN BELT, LNR08 Eastbrookend Country Park Group 2 District 55.45 SINC, GREEN BELT, LNR09 Essex Road Gardens Group 3 SmallOS 0.74 Undesignated10 Goresbrook Park Group 2 Local 14.71 SINC11 GreatfieldsPark SGroup 3 Local 5.80 Undesignated12 HeathParkOpenSpace Group 1 SmallOS 1.23 Undesignated13 Mayesbrook Park Group 2 District 48.95 SINC,MOL14 Newlands Park Group 1 SmallOS 0.79 Undesignated15 OldDagenhamPark Group 1 Local 13.38 GREEN BELT16 PadnallOpenSpace Group 3 SmallOS 1.44 Undesignated17 Parsloes Park Group 2 District 59.57 MOL18 PondfieldPark Group 1 Local 5.68 SINC19 RippleNatureReserve Group 1 Local 7.23 SINC, REGEN. AREA, LNR20 ScrattonsFarmEcopark Group 2 Local 3.77 SINC, LNR21 St Chads Park Group 3 Local 14.44 SINC22 StPeter&StPaul’sChurchyard Group 3 SmallOS 0.87 SINC, LNR23 Tantony Green Group 3 SmallOS 1.64 Undesignated24 The Leys Group 1 Local 7.54 GREEN BELT25 Valence Park Group 2 Local 12.20 SINC26 Quaker Burial Ground Group 1 SmallOS 1.69 Undesignated27 Kingston Hill Rec. Ground Group 2 SmallOS 0.56 GREEN BELT28 KingGeorge’sFields Group 1 SmallOS 0.9 Undesignated
463.19
Table 4.1 - The distribution of parks and open spaces
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base22
Hastandardfor1,000HOPprovidesausefulbenchmarktoaccesscurrentandfutureprovisioninBarkingandDagenhamandthisissetoutintable4.4.
Thisindicatesthatthecurrentplanningpolicytargetof2.8HaofOpenSpaceper1,000HOPisdifficulttoachievenowandoverthenexttenyears.Acrosstheboroughthiswouldcurrentlyrequireanadditional122Haofopenspace,theequivalentoftwoParsloesParks.Intenyears’time,factoringintheincreaseinpopulationandnewspacescreatedthroughdevelopment,113Haofadditionalopenspacewillberequired.
Takingthelowertargetof2.4HaofOpenSpaceper1,000HOPtheboroughwouldcurrentlyneedtoprovide39Haofadditionalopenspace,theequivalentofBeamParklands.Intenyears,againfactoringintheriseinpopulationandnewopenspacescreatedthroughdevelopment,theboroughwouldneedtoprovideanadditional18.5Ha,theequivalentofhalftheareaofBeam Parklands.
Whencomparedwithadjacentlocalauthorities,theLondonBoroughofHaveringcurrentlyprovides3.32Ha/1,000HOPnotedinitsCoreStrategy57 whichis50%higherthantheprovisionforBarkingandDagenham.However,theLondonBoroughofNewhamprovidesonaverage1.99Ha/1,000HOPwhich its Core Strategy58 acknowledges falls short of the 2.4 Ha FiT standard.
4.2.2 DeprivationThemostdeprivedneighbourhoodshavedifficultyinaccessinglifechancesrelativetolessdeprivedareas.Theresearchdetailedabovesuggeststhatparksandopenspacescanofferopportunitiestoimprovephysicalandmentalhealthandtoenhanceeducationaloutcomesandoffermoreextensivefacilitiesforactiveandpassiverecreationandsocialinteraction.
Giventhis,aparticularfocusshouldfallonthoseareasoftheboroughthatfallwithinthe30%mostdeprivednationally.IntheID2007,theboroughhad13LSOAsrankedwithinthe10%mostdeprivedinEngland.Thishasnowreducedto11.InGascoigneWardthenumberofhighlydeprivedLSOAshasdecreasedfrom4to2.TheLSOAthatcoversthetowncentreinAbbeywardisnolongerinthemostdeprived10%ofLSOAs.However,theLSOAwhichcoversthewesternedgeofHartsLaneEstatehasfallenintothe10%mostdeprived59.
Figure4.1and4.2showthelevelofdeprivationperLSOAintheborough,withtheworstdeprivedareasshowninred.TheseLSOAsarerankedwithinthehighest10thdeprivedLSOAsinthecountry.ThesearefoundinChadwellHeath,Heath,Village,Thames,GascoigneandAbbey.Theentireboroughlieswithintheworst50%ofallLSOAsofthecountry.
Fig.4.2-IndicesofDeprivation,BarkingandDagenham(Source:ResearchandIntelligenceTeam,LBBD,2011)
Fig.4.1-LowerSuperOutputAreasrankingin10%mostdeprivedinEnglandfigure(Source:ResearchandIntelligenceTeam,LBBD,2011)
Borough Wide Locality1/North Locality2/East Locality3/West
Population Projection 2017 209,149 76,250 55,800 73.350
CurrentHaofOpenSpace 463.2 190.2 206.5 66.5
Arearequiredfor2.80Ha/1,000HOP 585.6 213.5 156.2 205.4
AdditionalHarequiredtomeet2.80Hastandard 122.4 23.3 -50.3 138.9
Arearequiredfor2.40Ha/1,000HOP 502.0 183.0 133.9 176.0
AdditionalHarequiredtomeet2.40Hastandard 38.8 -7.2 -72.6 109.5
Population Projection 2026 236,329 85,568 66,226 86,553
FutureHaofOpenSpace 548.7 198.0 206.5 144.1
Arearequiredfor2.80Ha/1,000HOP 661.7 239.6 185.4 242.3
AdditionalHarequiredtomeet2.80Hastandard 113.1 41.6 -21.1 98.2
Arearequiredfor2.40Ha/1,000HOP 567.2 205.4 158.9 207.7
AdditionalHarequiredtomeet2.40Hastandard 18.5 7.3 -47.5 63.6
Table 4.4 - Provision across localities and sub areas
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 23
4.2.3 Flood RiskAsdiscussed,parksandgreenspaceshavethecapacitytoabsorbsurfacewaterandalleviatefloodriskaspartofsustainableurbandrainagesystems.‘SignificantareasoftheboroughclosetotheThamesfallwithinFloodZone3,alongwithareasaroundBeamParkandMayesbrookPark.Severalparksandopenspacesarelocatedwithintheserivervalleysandcanmakeasignificantcontributiontomanagingfloodrisk.Thisbenefitwillbecomeincreasinglyimportant in the future as the impacts of climate change become more apparent’.60
4.2.4 Air QualityPoorairqualityinBarkingandDagenhamisconcentratedontheborough’smainarterialroads,wheretherearetherearehighconcentrationsofNitrousDioxide(NO2)whichareabovetherecommendedlimitsforhumanhealth.
Figure 4.5 illustrates that the poorer air quality is to be found in the south andwestoftheboroughandthatthisimprovesasyoumoveeastwards.Thisislikelytoreflectinpartthelowerdensityofmajorroadsandthehighproportionofparksandgreenspacesinthecentralandeasternpartsoftheborough.
Fig.4.3-FluvialFloodRisk(Source:LBBDStrategicFloodRiskAssessment(SFRA)2008) Fig.4.4-Level2andFloodZones2and3(Source:B&DCharacterStudy,2017) Fig.4.5-AirQualityinB&DMap(Source:EnvironmentalResearchGroup,KingsCollegeLondon2015)
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base24
4.2.5 Urban HeatingUrbanheating,particularlyduringsummermonths,canhaveasignificanteffectuponhumanhealthandespeciallyyoungchildrenandolderpeople.Thiseffectcanbereducedbythecoolingeffectofparksandgreenspaces.Figure 4.6 illustrates that Barking and Dagenham town centres and areas immediatelynorthoftheserecordhigheraveragetemperaturesinmid-summer.Significantlythesearealsoareasthathavealowerdensityofparksand green spaces.
VolunteeringTheparkssectoracrosstheUKhasastrongtraditionofvolunteering.Thereareapproximately4,000communitygroupswithanaveragemembershipof134involvedwithurbangreenspace.Totalmembershipthusapproaches 500,000 across the UK 61.Theannualeconomicvalueofthework of community groups in parks and green spaces across the UK ranges somewherebetween£17millionand£35million.62
Itisnowcommonlyacceptedthatvolunteerscanplayanincreasingroleinthemanagementofparksandopenspacesandthatdirectbenefitswillaccruefromthisinvolvement.Volunteeringempowerslocalpeopletotakemorecontroloftheirenvironmentandgivesthemanopportunitytobecomemoreactiveintheircommunities.
Overafifth(24%)ofresidentshavegivensomeformofunpaidhelptoanygroup(s),club(s)ororganisation(s)orhaveformallyvolunteeredinthelast12months.However,aroundthreequarters(76%)haven’t.Theproportionofresidentswhohaveformallyvolunteeredinthelast12monthsissignificantlylowerinBarking&Dagenhamwhencomparedtothenationalaverage(by18percentagepoints).Residentswhoareintheblackethnicgroupandarelivingina4+personhouseholdaresignificantlymorelikelytohaveformallyvolunteeredinthelast12months.Conversely,residentswhoareintheAsianethnicgroupandareatheist/havenoreligion,aresignificantlylesslikelytohaveformallyvolunteered.63 Refer to Figure 4.7 and 4.8.
• Through the establishment of Friends Groups and through Place Checks, parksandgreenspacesprovideopportunitiesforindividualandgroupinvolvement.Thiscanrangefromacquiringvocationalskillsand experiencesthroughvolunteerworktoparticipationintheplanninganddevelopmentofparksandgreenspace.64
.
Fig.4.6-UrbanHeatinginB&DMap(Source:EnvironmentalResearchGroup,KingsCollegeLondon2015)
Fig.4.7-Volunteerdata-ethnicity,adults,religion(Source:LBBDResidents’PerceptionSurvey,Autumn2015)
Fig.4.8-Volunteerdata-full-age,workingstatus,religion(Source:LBBDResidents’PerceptionSurvey,Autumn2015)
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 25
NOTES51 Planning for the future of Barking and Dagenham, Core Strategy, Adopted
July2010,paragraph2.952 PlanningforthefutureofBarkingandDagenham,SiteSpecificAllocations
DevelopmentPlanDocumentAdoptedDecember2010,Para3.853 LB Barking & Dagenham Social Infrastructure Needs Assessment, Final
Report,November200654 LondonDatastoreInterim2015-basedcentraltrendpopulationprojection,
see:https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/interim-2015-based-population-projections
55 FiguresforBarkingRiversideOpenSpaceProvisiontakenfrom:OpenSpaceandRecreationStrategyDRAFTOpenSpaceandRecreationStudy,S106BarkingRiverside-April2017
56 GuidanceforOutdoorSportandPlay,BeyondtheSixAcreStandard,England, Fields in Trust 2015
57 HaveringCoreStrategyandDevelopmentControlPoliciesDPD,adopted2008, para 5.28, p39
58 Newham202,Newham’sLocalPlan-TheCoreStrategy,adoptedJanuary2012, para 6.260
59 Research and Intelligence Team, LBBD, 201160 LBBDCharacterStudyFinalDraft_Pages167-24061 GreenSpace.(2003).CommunityNetworkingProject:FinalReport62 GreenSpace.(2003).CommunityNetworkingProject:FinalReport63 residents-survey-full-report https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/residents-survey- full-report.pdf64 BarkingandDagenhamParksAndGreenSpacesStrategy–2003 https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Parks-and-Green- Spaces-Strategy-2003.pdf
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base26
QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF PARKS AND OPEN SPACES
55.1 ASSESSING QUALITY Theassessmentofqualityinformsseveralkeyconclusionsdevelopedinthestrategy:
• An assessment of current quality will allow for a comparison of this with previousassessments,givingapictureofthe‘qualitytrend’.
• Anassessmentofqualitywillprovidethebasisfordecisionsonthe enhancementofexistingfacilitiesthroughinvestment.
5.2 QUALITY ASSESSMENT CRITERIATheassessmentofqualityisbasedonseveralfactors,includingfitnessforpurpose, good quality design and robust management and maintenance.
These factors are captured in the 2004 Green Flag standard, which is accepted as the benchmark for judging the quality of open space. In the context of the GreenFlagStandard,thecriteriabywhichthequalityofanindividualopenspaceisassessedaregroupedundereightmainheadings:
• Welcoming-howtocreateasensethatpeoplearepositivelywelcomed into a space.
• Healthy,SafeandSecure–howbesttoensurethatthesiteisasafeandhealthyenvironment.
• WellMaintainedandClean–whatpeoplecanexpecttofindinthewayofstandardsofcleanliness,facilitiesandmaintenance.
• Sustainability–howagreenspacecanbemanagedinenvironmentallysensitiveways.
• DonservationandHeritage–thevalueofconservationandcareof historic heritage.
• CommunityInvolvement–waysofencouragingcommunityinvolvement.• Marketing–methodsofpromotingormarketingasite.• Management–howtoreflectalltheaboveinacoherentandaccessible
management plan, statement or strategy.
TheassessmentofqualityfortheOpenSpacesStrategyshouldstronglyreference Green Flag criteria in order to benchmark quality against accepted nationalstandards.ButtheGreenFlagapproachtoqualityassessmentistargetedattheassessmentofindividualsitesandnotattheassessmentofaportfolioofsitesforanentirelocalauthorityarea.
Bristol’sParksandGreenSpacesStrategyisacknowledgedasbestpracticewithinthe2009CABEandMayorofLondonbestpracticeguidanceforOpenSpace Strategies. This guidance acknowledges that quality standards should relatetoinformationcollectedthroughon-siteauditsurvey,benchmarkedtoanappropriatestandardsuchasGreenFlag(Fig.5.1).
AnevaluationofBarkingandDagenham’stwenty-fivepublicparkswascarriedoutduringJanuaryandFebruary2002andformedpartoftheborough’s2003ParksandGreenSpacesStrategy.Eachparkwasevaluatedusingastandardevaluationformcomprisingoffiftyfourquestionsdividedintothefollowingelevensubjectareas:
• ContextandGeneralDescription
• Entrances • GeneralFacilities• Landscape Character and Quality • Security and Vandalism • Childrenand‘TheYoung’• Disabled People • Elderly People • Repairs Maintenance and Cleanliness • Ecology,EducationandHealth• Management
Toprovidetheboroughwithanassessmentofthequalitytrendbetween2003and 2016, the same approach was adopted to the assessment of park quality. Thequestionsetwasassessedandadaptedtoreflectanychangesinbestpracticesince2003.Eachparkwasevaluatedusingastandardevaluationformcomprisingoffiftyfourquestions.Eachparkwasawardedascorebasedontheremaining48questions,inresponsetoagreedcriteriaandsupportedbynotesin bullet point format. The scores awarded indicate the degree to which the parkmetthesecriteria,asfollows:
• 0 points Absent • 1 point Bad • 2 points Poor • 3pointsAverage• 4 points Good • 5 points Very Good.
Thefollowingsitetypologieswerenotassessedaspartofthisstudy:
• Privatelyownedopenspaces,outdoorsportsandrecreationalfacilities• Allotments • Incidentalareasofgreenspace(verges,SLOAP)• Agricultural land • Privatesiteswithpublicaccess• Civicgreyspaces• Cemeteries • Regenerationgreenspaces• Green/bluecorridors• Housing land • Green belt
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 27
Fig.5.1-Waystomeasurethevalueofparksandgreenspaces(Source:CABE(2009):MakingtheInvisiblevisible–therealvalueofparkassets)
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base28
5.3 RECENT CHANGES AND TRENDS IN QUALITYAsdefinedinthe2003assessment,thescoresforeachcomponentoftheassessmentweretranslatedintoscoresof‘verygood’,‘good’,‘average’,‘poor’and‘bad’.Siteswhichachievedover80%ofthemaximumpointsavailablewereawarded‘verygood’,sitesinthe60%-80%bracketawarded‘good’,40%-60%wereawarded‘average’,20%-40%wereawarded‘poor’andthosesitesscoringbelow20%ofthemaximumpointsavailablescored‘bad’.
Asin2003,thequalityofparksacrosstheboroughvariesconsiderably.
Similarlyto2003noparkshaveachieveda‘verygood’ranking.Incontrastwiththe2003assessment,thenumberofparksachievingscoresof‘goodand‘average’hasdeclined.Moreparksacrosstheborougharenowclassifiedas‘poor’.Thenumberofparksclassifiedas‘bad’hasn’tchanged.
Acrosstheentireportfolio,parkstendtoscoreworstintermsofmanagementandhealthandcateringforpeoplewithdisabilitiesandbestinentranceinformationandlandscapecharacter.Since2003therehasbeenaconsiderable decline in terms of how well parks are managed and how secure they are. In common with the 2003 study, the quality of Barking and Dagenham’sparksandopenspacesvariesconsiderablyacrosstheborough.Themajorityofparksareeitherof‘average’or‘poor’quality.
Onlytwoparksarecurrentlyscoredas‘good’,incomparisontofourparksin2003.Between2003and2017,thenumberofparksscoredas‘good’fellfromninetoseven.Thenumberofparksscoredas‘poor’increasedfromeighttoseventeen.Theoverallaveragequalityscorehasfallenfrom42%to36%since2003.
Bothparksratedas‘good’areinthewesternpartoftheborough.Parksclassifiedas“good”declinetowardstheeasternedgeoftheborough.
Thereisanevenmoreconsiderabledeclineinqualitywithinnaturalgreenspacessince2003.OverallqualityscorefortheChaseNatureReservehasfallenbyalmost50%andinthecaseofEastbrookendCountryParkby38%.
QUALITY SCORES/TREND - KEY FINDINGS
• Theoverallaveragequalityscoreofparkshasfallenfrom42%to36%since 2003.
• Similarlyto2003noparkshaveachieved‘verygood’ranking.• Thenumberofparksachievingscoresof‘good’and‘average’hasdeclined
from thirteen to nine since 2003.• Thenumberofparksclassifiedas‘poorquality’increasedfromeightto
seventeen.
Worst average scores in:
• Management(23%)• Providingfordisabledpeople(28%)
Best average scores:
• Entranceinformation(56%)• Landscapecharacter(50%)
Biggest decline since 2003:
• Management(42%to23%)• Securityandvandalism(53%to36%)
Biggest improvement since 2003:
• Ecology,educationandhealth(29%to39%)
Fig.5.-TrendinginLBDDpark’squalityscorebetween2003and2017
Some of the findings include:• Onlytwoparks(MayesbrookParkandBarkingPark)arecurrentlyscored
as‘good’,incomparisontofourparksin2003• Betterqualityparkstothewestoftheborough,qualityscoresdeclineto
the east• Qualityofnaturalgreenspacesdecreasedmostconsiderably(Chase
NatureReserve’squalityscorehasfallenby50%)• MayesbrookPark’sscorehasimprovedthemost(from36%to70%),
achievingbestqualityscoreintheborough
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 29
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base30
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 31
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base32
EVENTS IN BARKING AND DAGENHAM
66.1 INTRODUCTIONAspartofthelargerParksandOpenSpacesStrategyanEventsinParksandOpenSpacesstrategyhasbeendevelopedinordertosetoutavisionforahealthy,dynamicculturalofferwhichbringstolifetheuniquequalitiesoftheboroughsparksandencouragesresidentsandvisitorstoenjoythemanybenefitsthatanexcitingeventsprogrammecanofferwhilstmaximizingtheopportunity for the local authority to generate income where possible through events.
6.2 CONTEXTBarkingandDagenhamcurrentlyhasaseriesofpopulareventsdeliveredlargelybytheeventsteamatthelocalauthority,funfairsandbyCreativeBarkingandDagenham.Thereare25eventsplannedinparksandopenspacesfor 2017.
Mostofthecouncilprogrammeisthelegacyfromthe50yearcelebrationprogrammeofeventsin2015,withthemostsuccessfulhavingremainedaspartoftheprogrammeandarecontinuallybeingdeveloped.TheseincludeBarkingFolkFestival,CivilWarre-enactment,OneBoroughFestival,EastendbrookCountryFair,RoundhouseMusicFestivalandtheSteamandCiderfestival.
ThecouncilteamalsooverseeeventsorworkwiththirdpartyproviderstoorganiseeventssuchasArmedForcesDayandGlowFestival.
CreativeBarkingandDagenham(aBarkingandDagenham-basedArtsCouncilfundedorganisationoverseenbymultiplelocalculturalpartners)runthreemajoreventswhichareDagfest,ThamesfestandGlowFestival.
MultiplefunfairsrunannuallyinCentral,Parsloes,OldDagenham,BarkingandMayesbrook Parks.
Inadditiontheonlyothermajoreventisacommercialeventcalled‘NowThat’saFestival’whichtakesplaceinCentralParkintheAugustBankHoliday.TheeventworksinpartnershipwiththecouncilallowingthiseventtotakeplaceononeortwodaysandtheinfrastructuretobeleftinplaceforthecounciltoholdtheRoundhouseMusicFestivalonthefollowingday.Inexchangethecommercial promoters use the council licence and do not pay hire fees to use the park.
Thisstrategyaimstodeveloponthesuccessofthe50thanniversaryprogrammebyidentifyingfourkeydeliveryelementstoensureasuccessful,diverseandincomegeneratingannualeventsprogrammedeliveredbythelocalauthority,thecommunityandcommercialthirdparties.
Thefourkeyelementsofthestrategyare:
• Identifyingkeyparkssuitableforeventsandcelebratingtheuniquequalitiesoftheseopenspaces.
• Encouragingthecommunitytoleadandowneventsintheborough.• Strengthening processes and making the borough friendly and open to
thirdpartypartnershipsandcommercialeventorganisers.• LicensingofParksandinvestmentininfrastructure.
BarkingandDagenhamhaveanincometargetof£32,500in2017/2018andinfutureyearsfromeventsandthisstrategyaimstoimplementeffectivemethodsto reach this target.
BarkingandDagenhamsuffersfromchallenginghealthandwellbeingstatisticsincludingthelowestleveloflifesatisfactionofanyLondonBoroughandthesecondlowesthappiness,anxietyand‘worthwhile’measureacrossLondon.ThepopulationhasamuchlowerengagementwiththeartsthanmanyLondonboroughsandsuffersfromtheworstlevelofchildobesityinLondonforreceptionandYear6children.
Indevelopinganeventsstrategyforparksandopenspaces,weaimtoengagethecommunityasorganisers,participantsandaudiencesandutiliseeventstoencouragemorelocalvisitorstoparksandopenspacesthusleadingthemtoseetherangeofhealthyactivitiesavailablesuchassportingfacilities,growingprojectsandexcitingplayopportunities.Inadditionbyprovidingahighqualityprogrammeofeventstoweaimtoencourageengagementintheartsandincreasevaluableculturalofferingstoimprovewellbeing.
6.3 PROPOSALS AND REASONINGAneffectiveeventsprogrammeaimstohelpaddresschallengingsocialandhealthstatisticsintheboroughbycreatingpositiveexperiencesforthecommunityasaudiences,participantsandorganiserswhilstgeneratingincomeforthelocaleconomyandlocalauthoritybudgetsandraisingtheprofileofBarkingandDagenhamasaculturaldestination.
TheestimatedattendanceateventsinBarkingandDagenhamannuallyis100,000andalthoughthereisnofirmdata,thebeliefisthatmostofthisnumber is made up of local residents. There is an opportunity through an effectivestrategytoincreasethenumberofpeopleattendingeventsintheboroughandinparticulartoencourageaudiencesfromoutsidetheboroughwhilstmaintainingadynamiceventsprogrammeforlocalpeople.
Post2012OlympicshasshownthattherehasbeenanincreaseinthedemandforeventsandtheUKeventsindustrygeneratesover530,000fulltimejobsandisworthover£36.1billionrisingto£42.2billionby2015and£48.4billionby 2020. There is an opportunity for Barking and Dagenham to embrace theeventssectorinitsparksandopenspacestocreatejobs,opportunitiesandincreaseincome,howeverasanouterLondonboroughthereneedstobearealisticexpectationinrespectofthenumberofcommercialorganiserstheboroughcanattract.Incomecanhoweverbegeneratedfromlargescalecommunityeventsaswellasthroughcommercialorganisers.
Equally,FilmandTVisanimportantindustryfortheUK,worth£4.2billiontotheannualGDP,andresponsiblefor120,000fulltimejobs.Thisstrategyaimstoaddresshowtomaketheboroughmorefilmfriendlyandutilisethisopportunity to bring income into the borough.
The four core elements to the strategy will be explored further in the next sections.
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 33
6.4 KEY PARKS SITESThiseventsstrategyistobeimplementedwithinaselectednumberofparksintheborough.Thefollowingparkshavebeenselectedbasedontheirsuitabilityandprovisiontohosteventsandcurrentsuccessfuleventprogrammes:
• Central Park• Barking Park• Parsloes Park• OldDagenhamPark
Otherparkshavebeenidentifiedasbeingcurrentlyunderusedspaceswhichcouldpotentiallyholdbiggerevents.Theseare:
• Eastbrookend Country Park• Mayesbrook Park
Thefollowingparkshavebeenidentifiedasbeinggoodpotentialspacestoholdsmallerevents:
• StChad’s• Abbey Green• Valence Park
Oncethesekeysiteshavebeenagreed,investmentintoinfrastructureandlicensing,creatingsharedriskassessmenttemplatesandensuringvehicleaccesswouldencouragegreatereventsuse.
Theboroughwillfocusoneventsintheseparks,butwillhaveflexibilityinthestrategytoallowsmallscalelocaleventslinkedtolocalgreenspacestotakeplace on a case by case basis.
TyinginwiththelargerParksandOpenSpacesstrategyandrecommendationsforthefuturedevelopmentofthesespaces,thefollowingkeyfeatureshavebeendrawnoutforeachparktohelpguideeventswhichcanshowcasetheuniquequalitiesofeachspace.
6.4.1 Central ParkThisparkhasalarge,flatdesignatedeventspacewithgoodaccessmakingitappealingforavarietyofevents.
TheproposedplansforCentralParkincludemultipleimprovementstosportingfacilitiesandanextendedareaforGrowingCommunities.Eventsthatfocusaround sports, wellbeing and food are recommended for this site, especially thosethatareledbyorruninpartnershipwiththegroupsandprovidersbasedon the site.
Theproposedplansalsoincludethedevelopmentofanamphitheatricalmoundingsurroundingadesignatedeventsspace.Thisgivesaveryexcitingopportunitytocreateeventsgivingaudiencesexcellentsightlinesmeaninglargescaleoutdoortheatricalevents,filmscreenings,concertsandsportingdisplayswouldworkverywell.
TheimprovedlinkstoEastbrookendCountryParkcanpotentiallyprovideeventorganiserswithaverylargesite.
6.4.2 Barking ParkTheparkhasalarge,flatdesignatedeventsspacewithgoodaccessmakingitappealingforavarietyofevents.
The proposed plans include enhanced growing spaces, an ecological zone andedibleandorchardplantingmakingeventsthatfocusongrowing,theenvironment,healthylifestylesandfoodcomplimentarytothespace.
Theparkhassportingfacilitiesincludingaskatepark,splashparkandbasketballcourt and the proposed plans include new cricket and football pitches and thereforesportingeventswouldworkwellinthispark.Thefacilitiesinthisparkdoandwillencourageafamilyaudiencewhichcouldbeharnessedbyeventorganisers.
Theparkhasexcellentaccesstothetowncentrethereforeprovidinggoodtransport links.
6.4.3 Parsloes ParkTheparkhasalarge,flatdesignatedeventsspacewithgoodaccessmakingitappealingforavarietyofevents.
TheOneBoroughFestivalisthebiggesteventintheeventscalendarandattractsc10,000people.ThiscommunityfocusedfestivaloccursinJuly,andeventsincludeentertainment,dance,streettheatre,workshopsandfamilyfun.
TheElvisFest,onSunday23July2017,willbea“one-off”tributeconcerttomarkthe40thanniversaryofthedeathofElvisPresleyTheline-upincludesworldclassElvistributeactsaswellasrockandrollbandsandactivitiesincludefood,drink,stalls,ridesandattractions.
6.4.4 Old Dagenham ParkOldDagenhamParkisagoodmediumsizedeventspacewithadedicatedeventsareaandgoodaccessmakingitappealingforavarietyofevents.
TheBarkingSteamandCiderFairtakesplaceinOldDagenhamParkandisanother major part of the local authority summer funded programme which remainsalegacyafterthe50thanniversarycelebrations.Theeventcelebratestheboroughsruralandindustrialheritageandpridesitselfonitstraditionalentertainment which includes steam machines, classic cars, real ale and cider, rides, animal displays and local and tribute bands.
6.4.5 Eastbrookend Country ParkThisisanaturallybeautifulpark,andanyeventsprogrammehereshouldwork closely with the inherent natural features of the park including its lakes, meadows,woodlandsandwetlands.Itisagoodspaceforboutique,artisticandcreativeeventscoveringarangeofareassuchasmusic,wellbeing,food,the arts etc.
Campingcouldbedevelopedinthisparkanditsremotesituationrelativetopopulationcentresmakessmallscaleweekendfestivalstyleeventsanoption.
TheproposedimprovedconnectionswithCentralParkcouldpotentiallyprovideeventorganiserswithaverylargesiteformajorevents.
6.4.6 Mayesbrook ParkAlthough this is a large park, much of the space is either mounded, formed intoswales,formedofsubstantialwaterbodiesorheavilyplantedwithtrees,makingitlesssuitableforevents.However,mediumsizedeventsthatworkalongside features of the park could be successful.
Eventswhichfocusaroundthelakefeaturingactivitiessuchasswimming,kayakingandsailingwouldworkverywellinthisspace.Inaddition,thenaturalfeaturesofthelakecombinedwiththeproposededibleplantingspacesandnew and extended natural features of the park including the natural play area createapositiveatmosphereforeventswhichcelebratetheenvironmentandthe natural world.
Theexistingsportingfacilitiesinadditiontotheproposedboulderingandmultisportareameanthatsportingeventswouldcomplementtheparkwell.
6.4.7 St Chad’s ParkThisparkisagoodmediumsizedmulti-functionspace.Itscombinationofsportingfacilities,orchard,tealawnandnaturalfeaturesmakeitagoodspaceforadiverserangeofsmalltomediumevents.
6.4.8 Abbey GreenThisisabeautifulparkwiththeaddedfeaturesoftheAbbeyRuinsandStMargaret’sChurchformingpartofthesite,givingeventorganisersauniquebackdrop.Thesiteisfilledwithhistorydatingbackto666ADaswellashavingsomeoftheoldesttreesintheboroughandthereforeeventsofanyvarietywhichexplorethisheritageand/orworkwiththenaturalbeautyofthissettingshould be encouraged.
Thesitehasexcellentaccesstothetowncentrethereforeprovidinggoodtransport links.
BarkingFolkFestivaltakesplaceinmultiplelocationsaroundthetownbeforethefinaletakesplaceInAbbeyGreenRuins.Itisalegacyeventfromthe50thanniversarycelebrationsandalocalauthorityfundedmajorsummerevent.Itisdistinctfromothereventsintheboroughinthattheprogrammingisoforiginalactsthatdonotfallintothe‘vintage/covers’category.Thetypesofacts programmed such as Newton Faulkner, Badly Drawn Boy, Seth Lakeman andBeansonToastwouldbeappreciatedatmanywellrespectedfestivalsthroughout the country, both folk and otherwise. In 2016 a respectable 8,000 attendeddespitebadweather.
6.4.9 Valence ParkThe park is linked to Valence House, which is currently the home of the borough’smuseum,heritagestudycentreandlocallibrary.Eventswhichcelebrateandexplorethehistoryoftheboroughandthesiteshouldbeactivelypromoted on this site.
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base34
Theparkisagoodspaceforsmalltomediumsizedeventswithadesignatedeventsspace.Theproposedrestorationoftheoriginalbandstandwouldprovideagreatfocusforeventsinthisspace.
Theproposednewplayfacilitiesaswellasextendedcaféfacilitiesmakeitanappealingspaceforsmallscalecommunityfamilyevents.
Overall Use of these parksEachparklistedaboveshouldbeusedasthepriorityspacesforeventsintheborough,howevertheeventsteamhavetheflexibilitytoofferoutotherspaces on a case by case basis.
Eachparkshouldnotcontainmorethan3xmajor(5,000+audience)eventsper year.
EachparkshouldbelistedintheEventGuidancepackwithanaccompanying map.
6.5 COMMUNITY EVENTSCurrentlymostoftheprogrammeofeventsintheboroughismanagedbythelocalauthoritywithasmallnumberofcommunityeventsbeingsupportedinavarietyofwaysfromhandsonsupporttotheoverseeingofrequiredpaperwork.
Allowingthecommunitytoimagine,createanddelivereventscanbeaninspiringwaytoencouragestrongercommunitiesdeliveringthetypeofeventstheywanttosee,encouragecivicparticipation,assistinwellbeing,helpformrobustnetworksandwitheffectivesystemscreateadiverseculturalofferwithouttheboroughhavingtodoallthedeliverythemselves.
CreativeBarkingandDagenham(CB&D)arebuildinganextremelysuccessfulmodel through their Cultural Connectors programme which supports 150 localresidentstobethedecisionmakersandadvocatesfortheorganisation.Throughtheirannualprogrammesince2013,36,000opportunitiestoparticipateorengagewiththeartshavebeentakenup,850creativeeventsandworkshopshavebeendelivered,80communitygroupshaveengagedand45differentprojectshavereceived£470,000fundingbetweenthem.Astheymoveintophasetwooftheirprogrammebetween2017–2020thereisanopportunitytodevelopastrongerpartnershipbetweentheboroughandCB&DtoencouragemoreofthecommunitytodelivereventsandtoallowtheboroughtofocusonincomegeneratingeventsbyallowingCB&Dtotakeovermoremanagementofcommunityeventapplications.Thereisanexistingstrong,clearandeffectiverelationshipbetweenCB&Dandtheeventsteamwhichisastrongfoundationonwhichtobuild.
Externalfundingcouldbesoughtorsomeincomefromcommercialeventscouldbering-fencedtosupportbursariesforcommunityactivitywhichresidentscouldbidfortodeliverevents.Thiswillallowthecouncileventsteamtofocustheirtimeonencouragingcommercialeventorganiserstousetheborough,managethoseprojectsandcontinuetodeveloplarge-scalecouncil-ledcommunityeventsincludingincreasingincomegeneratedfromtheseeventswhilstensuringcommunityorganisersstillhaveaccesstoprofessionalsupport.
CurrentlymajoreventsproceedthroughtheSAG(SafetyAdvisoryGroup)boardwhichgrantspermissiontodeliverevents.MostparticipantsintheSAGprocessfinditverybeneficialinrespectofcompletingformalitiesandunderstandingresponsibilities.Smallereventsthatdonothavetoundertakethisprocessarelessclearoftheirroles,responsibilitiesandlegalobligations.
Theimplementationofa‘MiniSAG’processwillensurethelocalauthorityisconfidentthatsmalleventorganisersandcommunitygroupsaredeliveringsafe,competenteventswhilstalsoprovidingsomestructureanddeadlinesforthesesmallergroupstohelpensurethesmoothrunningoftheireventandtomakesuretheyhavethoughtaboutallelements.ThesesessionswillbeaddedtoontotheendofthemonthlySAGmeetingsonthe1stWednesdayofthemonthwiththeEventsTeamandCreativeBarkingandDagenhamalsoattendingthenecessaryattendees.TheSAGmeetingsareunlikelytoinvolveemergencyservices,TransportforLondonorSecurityServices,butmayonoccasionifnecessaryincludeofficersfromdepartmentssuchaslicensing.
6.6 STRENGTHENING THE EVENTS PROCESSES The current methodology of working with commercial third party users is on a case by case basis and this strategy aims to implement a coherent system and pathwaysfordevelopingthirdpartyrelationshipsandincreasingcommercialbookings.
TheimplementationoftheEventGuidancePackwillbekeytostreamliningprocessesinvolvedforcommunityandcommercialpartnershipsandallowsallpotentialeventorganiserstobefinanciallyawareoftheimplicationsofdeliveringaneventintheboroughfromtheoutset.
KeyelementsoftheEventGuidancePackwillinclude:
• TheintroductionofanapplicationwindowbetweenNovemberandFebruarytoprioritiseeventdeliveryinthebusiersummermonthsandtheplanningandorganisationofabalancedprogrammeinthewintermonths.
• Theintroductionofasetfeesystembasedonsizeofeventandthenatureoftheeventorganizer(commercial,charityetc).
• Clarificationofallassociatedfees–applicationfees,bookingfees,parkhirefee,buildandde-rigdayfees,environmentalimpactfeesandgroundsrefundable deposits.
• Clearproceduresintermsofresponsibilities,licensing,Health&Safety,environmentalregulations,insuranceandSafetyAdvisoryGroupprocedures(includingtheintroductionofa‘MiniSAG’forsmallerevents).
• Aclearcontactslisttoensureorganiserscanclarifyanyquestionsandreachthecorrectdepartmentsquicklyandefficiently.
• Alleventapplicationsmustcontainanagreementtoundertakeaposteventevaluation.
Itshouldbenotedforallthepointsabovethattheeventsteamshouldholdtheflexibilityandrighttoalteranyapplicationwindow,fees,timingsetc..toproducethehighestquality,incomegeneratingandbalancedrangeofeventsacross the year.
TheEventGuidancePackmustbeanattractive,visualdocumentthatencourages commercial users to the borough whilst ensuring all that organisers areawareofthesignificantresponsibilitiesthatcomewithorganizinganevent.
Oncecompletean‘openforbusiness’marketingdriveshouldbeconductedtoencouragecommercialeventorganiserstoconsiderBarkingandDagenhamasadestinationfortheirmajorevents.
Inanydriveforcommercialorganiserstheoptionofareductionoffees,useofexistinglicensingandinfrastructure(power,wateretc..)anddonationofcouncilservicessuchasstaffing,wasteremovalandinstantresponseteamsshouldbeconsideredandpromotedinexchangeforthecommercialorganiserinvestingininfrastructurethatcanbedonatedtoacouncilrunevent(e.g.staging,PAandLightingEquipment,fencingetc..)onafollowingday.
Ideally,theapplicationsystemshouldmovetoanon-lineapplicationassoonas possible to further streamline and manage the process. The local authority alreadyuses‘Filmapp’toprocessfilmapplicationsintheboroughandifpossibleshouldmovetowardsusing‘Eventapp’bythesamecompanytoprocesseventapplications.
Asgeneratingincomefromeventsbecomesapriority,therelationshipbetweenincome and local needs should be addressed. We must be able to demonstrate toresidentsadirectbenefitbackintothecommunityandopenspacesfromincomebeingraisedthroughanincreaseincommercialevents.Beyondtheenvironmentalimpactfee(whichwouldgodirectlytotheparkorgreenspacewheretheeventisheld),onethirdofthefeewillbeallocateddirectlytotheparkoropenspacewheretheeventtookplaceandintothecommunitybursaryandmanagementfundandtwothirdswillreverttotheadministrationandtosupporttheachievementoftheoverallincometargetfortheeventsservice.Thisfeesplitwouldonlyapplytopurelycommercialeventsandnottocouncil-runcommunityeventswheretheincomewouldbe100%allocatedtoachievingincome targets.
Increasingincomeatcouncil-runcommunityeventsshouldbeexplored.Areastoconsidermayinclude;ticketingsomeevents;paidcarparkingatallevents;increasingsponsorship;increasingthenumberofeventswithbarsandexploringnewconcessionopportunities.
Threedifferentartisticareasforcommercialeventshavebeenidentifiedforevents,theseare;MusicandFestivals,Theatre,DanceandCircusandFilm/TVIndustry.
Music and Festivals:• Asevidencedintheexistingeventspattern,thereisscopefortheparks
andopenspaceswithintheboroughtomusicandfestivals.Thesetypesofeventareamongstthelargestscalethattheboroughcoulddevelopandmustbecarefullymanagedtoavoidanyreputationalissues.
• Central,Barking,ParsloesandEastbrookendallholdgreatpotentialtohostmusicandfestivaleventswiththeexistinginfrastructure,accessandgeographicallocationmakingthemattractivepropositions.
• Largescalecommercialeventsofthiskindmayintegratebetterintothecommunityifconnectionsaresoughtbetweentheprogrammingandtheinterests/needsoftheborough.Forexample,ifthereisagrowingdesire
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 35
forfamilyevents,afamilyfriendlyfestivalwithplentyofparticipatoryactivitycouldwork.
• PartnershipswithLondon-widemusicfestivalssuchastheLondonJazzFestivalarealsoencouragedsothataudiencesbegintogetusedtovisitingthe borough
Theatre, Dance and Circus:• Thelarger,moreflatareasinCentral,BarkingandMayesbrookwouldbe
wellsuitedtohostinglargetentsorarenasfortheatre,dance,circusandarena shows.
• The proposed ampitheatre mounding at Central Park would be a great audience space for outdoor work of this nature.
• Withtheatreanddance,aneventismorelikelytobesuccessfulifthereisafestivalorseasonofshowsthatutilisetheonespaceandcanbuildupareputationoveraperiod.Manyboroughshost‘popup’seasonsofworkfromhighprofilecompaniessuchastheRoyalShakespeareCompany,theNationalTheatre,RambertBalletandtheEnglishNationalBalletandthereispotentialtorunsimilareventsinBarkingandDagenham.
• ThechallengewiththistypeofeventisLBBD’sproximitytoLondon,manyoftheeventsarehostedonayear-roundbasis.However,amixedseasonofworkwhereviewerscanseedifferentcompaniesanddifferenttypesofwork may encourage more people in the capital to come to the borough foraspecialevent.
• PartnershipswithLondon-wideartsfestivalssuchastheThamesFestival,LIFTandtheLondonInternationalMimeFestivalarealsoencouragedsothataudiencesbegintogetusedtovisitingtheborough.
Film/TV Industry:• ThefilmandTVindustryisalucrativeonebutonethatisincreasingly
running out of space in London. Some of the parks and open spaces in LBBDprovideaperfectcountrybackdropwithoutfilmcrewshavingtotraveltoofar.
• Thereispotentialfortheparksandopenspacestobehiredaslocationsforfilm,televisionandphotographyshoots.
• The Film Barking and Dagenham website should be updated to include all relevantparks.
Inadditiontocommercialopportunitieswithintheartsthereareanumberofparksandopenspacesthatlendthemselvesnaturallytocommercialeventsthattieinwithexistingprovisionsandcanhelpaddressthechallenginghealthstatisticsintheborough.Thesehavebeenbrokendownthematicallyintothreeareas;SportingandPhysicalActivityEvents,FoodandGrowingEventsandHealthandWellbeingEvents.
Sporting and Physical Activity Events: • WiththeexistingandproposedsportingfacilitiesinCentral,Barking,
MayesbrookandStChad’sparksthesewouldbeidealspacestohosteithercommercialorcommunityfocusedsportingeventssupportingexerciseaspartofanactivelifestyle.
• OldDagenhamParkhasthepotentialtoprovideamuch-neededeventsplatformcateringforyoungpeopleintheborough.Thiscouldworkon
acommercialorcommunitylevel,usingurbansportssuchasBMXandskatingtoencourageyoungpeopletoengagewithphysicalactivity.
Food and Growing Events:• ThehorticulturalandgrowingzonesinBarkingandCentralParkswillopen
uppotentialforfoodandgrowingevents.Havingthisasalocalassetforexternaleventstoreflect,withanexistingaudiencebasewouldbeanattractiveofferandcouldactasaspringboardforthegrowthoffood-basedactivities.Commercialfoodfairsandmarketscouldcomfortablysit within both parks and there could also be the possibility of exploring andcelebratingtheborough’srichdiversityofculturethroughfoodbasedevents.LinkingEastbrookendCountryFairtoafoodandgrowingeventinCentralParkcouldopenanopportunityforaverylargescalefood,growingandcountryfestival.
• Withtheinclusionofnewcafesandfoodgrowingprovisionswithinmanyoftheparksandopenspacesmasterplans,thepotentialexistsforthecreationofhubsforthedevelopmentofcommunityeventsfocusedonfood.Cafescanalsoprovidescopetouncoverlocalspecialtygrowersandproducers and put the borough on the map as a leading producer.
Health and Wellbeing Events:• Wellnessisoneofthelargest,fastestgrowingandresilientmarketshaving
grownby10.6%overthetwopreviousyears.• ThusitisoneofthefastestgrowingareasintheeventssectorandLBBD’s
naturallybeautifulandnaturalisticparksandopenspaceswouldmakeideallocationsforhealthandwellbeing-basedevents.
• ThelargerareasinCentral,BarkingandValancehavethepotentialtohostlargebelltents,canvasstretchtentsanddomesthatcouldholdarangeofhealthandwellbeingactivityincludingyoga,pilates,meditation,relaxation,massageandalternativetherapy.Thereishugepotentialforahighendcommercialhireforaneventofthistimeandthenaturallandscapingoftheparksandopenspacescreatetheperfectsetting.
• Onasmallerscale,thereisalsopotentialtohostcommunityhealthandwellbeingevents,utilisinganyexistinggroupswithinthecommunityandbringing them together in any of the parks and opens spaces in LBBD.
Inadditiontotheopportunitiesoutlinedintheartsandphysicalactivitiesheritageeventscouldalsobeexploredasdetailedbelow.
Heritage stories of site/events:• Valence House and Park has excellent recorded heritage and is the home
oftheborough’smuseum.Thereareagoodrangeofexistingeventsbutthesetakeplacemainlyinthehouseandcouldpotentiallymakemoreuseof the park. There are a number of heritage stories associated with this parkandthebandstand,inparticular,whichcouldbeapositivefocusforevents.
• Usingeventstouncoveraparticularhistoryorheritageofaspecificparkoropenspacecanbeapositivewayofreinforcinglocalidentity
• EastburyManorHouse,althoughnotlistedasapriorityparkforevents,isalsosituatedwithintheboroughandtherecouldalsobealinktoeventsconnectedtothisbuilding.EastburyManorisaNationalTrustsiteand
thereisacurrentpushtoincreasevisitorstothesesiteswithinLondon,asmoretraditionally,theNationalTrustaudiencetendstobedrawntofromnon-urbancommunities.ThereisscopeforthedevelopmentofaseriesofeventsthatworkinpartnershipwiththeNationalTrustdrawingpeopletowards Eastbury Manor and nearby parks and open spaces.
Faith Events:• TheCouncilwantstoencourageandinitiateeventswhichinvolve
communityparticipationanddelivery.
• AsoneofLondon’smostdiverseboroughswewantourparkstohostavibranteventsandactivitiesprogrammethatreflectsthevariedlifestyles,beliefsandinterestsofthepeoplewholivehere.ThiswillhelptoachievetheCouncil’svisiontocreateaplacewherepeopleunderstand,respectandcelebrateeachother’sdifferences
• OurdiversityasaBoroughissomethinginwhichweshouldbeproud,something we should celebrate and not tolerate. We intend to build on thesuccessofthecultural,sportingandreligiouseventsheldinrecentyearsbyfaithorganisations,liketheGurdwaraandBarkingMosquein Barking Park and the Bethel Church in Parsloes Park, by welcoming applicationsfromfaithgroupstoholdeventsintheBorough’sparks.
EVENTS WHICH WOULD AUTOMATICALLY NOT BE GRANTED APPROVAL IN BARKING AND DAGENHAM’s PARKS AND OPEN SPACES:
• Applicationstohireparksandopenspaceswillnotbeacceptedfromorganisationsorindividualsthatpromoteanypoliticalcampaigns,promotecontroversialissueswhichmaybedamagingtocommunityrelationships,areillegaloroffensivetothepublicorbreachtheCouncil’sequalityanddiversitystrategy.
Furtherreasonsforrefusalmayinclude:
• Anyeventwhichislikelytohaveanunacceptableimpactontheinfrastructureandbiodiversityoftheselectedsite.
• Anyeventwhichdoesnotprovideadequatedocumentationorcertificationandcannotdemonstratethroughthisprocessthatitshouldprogresstothenextstageoftheapplicationprocess.
• AnyeventwhichisnotabletodemonstratetotheBoroughSafetyAdvisoryGroupthatitcanbedeliveredinasafeandefficientmanner.
• AnyeventwhichisrefusedsupportbyoneoftheEmergencyServices.
• Anyeventwhichdiscriminatesagainstanyindividualorgrouponthegroundsofrace,religion,gender,sexualorientationordisability.Thisaspectwillspecificallyincludeanycharity,communityorcommercialticketedeventwhereanyoftheabovegroupsorindividualsareexcludedor refused entrance.
• Any circus that includes performing animals.
• TheCouncilreservestherighttorefuseanyapplicationwithoutstatingtheirreasonfordoingsoandreservestherighttoimposeconditionsregarding a booking.
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base36
6.7 LICENSING OF PARKS AND INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTUREIt is recommended that Premises Licences are procured for Mayesbrook, Eastbrookend,AbbeyGreen,StChad’sandValenceparks.Barking,Parsloes,OldDagenhamandCentralParksalreadyhavePremisesLicenses.Thiswillenablegreaterandsafereventmanagement,whilstalsoprovidingapremiseslicencetolocalcommunitygroupsandcharityorganisationswhomustnormallyapplytocouncilforindividuallicencestocovertheirevents.
Itisanticipatedthatbyhavingalicencethatcoversalloutdooreventsinthesespaceswecanofferaconsistentframeworktorespondtotherequirementsofeventsorganisers.ThiswillalsoensurethattheprogrammeisplannedandconfirmedfurtherinadvancetogivethelocalresidentsandtheSAGgroupmoretimetoconsiderspecificeventproposalsintheknowledgethatcertainrequirementswillalreadyhavebeenmade.
Thefinancialcostsforthepremiseslicenceswillberecoupedfromourcommercialeventclientsshouldtheywishtouseoureventspremiseslicences(whichwillhavesetconditions).
Itisrecommendedthateachpremiseslicencestipulatesthatnomorethan3majorevents(5,000attendeesormore)takeplaceineachlicensedparkeveryyear.
It is recommended that permanent water and electricity points are installed in theseparkstoencourageusebyeventorganisers.
6.8 DELIVERY ELEMENTS6.8.1 Noise Restrictions LevelsNoiselevelswillbesetaspartofthePremiseLicenseforeachPark.NoisemanagementmustbeincludedinanyeventorganisersEventManagementPlan which should include a detailed account of the nopise generated by each area of the site and what monitoring procedures will be in place to ensure noiseiskepttoanacceptablelevel.
6.8.2 Local Resident Impact
Aspartoftheevent applicationprocessasoutlinedintheEventGuidancePackalleventorganiserswillneedtoengageinconsultationprocesseswithstakeholderssuchaslocalclubsandorganisationsbasedintheparks,‘Friendsof’groupsandlocalresidents.
Thesemayincludeattendingformalmeetingswithstakeholdersorwritingtolocalresidentstoinformthemoftheactivitiesplanned.
Eventswhichactivelyworkalongsidethelocalcommunitiesbothlocatedinthe parks and residents surrounding the parks will be encouraged.
6.8.3 Environmental ImpactThepreservationoftheparksandopenspacesisoftheutmostimportancewhenconsideringanyeventsandensuringminimalnegativeenvironmentalimpactandwherepossibleapositiveenvironmentalimpactisapriority.
PetrolGeneratorswillnottobepermittedatanyeventandproofwillberequiredthatdieselgeneratorshavebeenorganized.
Agroundsdepositofaminimumof£500forsmallevents,risingto£10,000forlargeeventswillbeimplemented.Thegroundsdepositcanberetainedinpartorfullbasedonthedecisionoftheeventsteam,environmentalservicesandtheparksteamsifthesiteisnotreturnedintheconditionprevailingatthe beginning of the hire agreement.
Eventorganiserswillberesponsibleforallwasteincluding,butnotlimitedto,cardboard,paper,packaging,cans,plastic,foodwastefromvisitorsandconcessionaires, water waste and human waste.
GlasswillnotbepermittedforanyeventinanyoftheboroughsParksandOpenSpaces.
Eventorganisersthatshowintheirplanningacommitmenttorecyclingsitewaste as well as the use of biodegradable and sustainable products will be viewedpositively.EventorganiserswillhavetodemonstrateintheirEventPlanthattheyhavethoughtthroughthenumberofwastebinsrequiredandhowoftentheseareemptiedthroughtheeventinadditiontohowmanylitterpickersareemployedtocoverthesiteforthedurationoftheevent.
Theboroughisabletoprovidelitterpickingservicesandwasteremovalservicesanditwillconsiderprovidingtheseservicesfreeofchargeinexchangeforcommercialeventorganiserssharinginfrastructurewithcouncil-managedeventsoverthecourseofthesameweekend.
AnywatersupplyinstallationsmustadheretotheWaterSupply(WaterFittings)Regulations.IftheeventorganisersareusingasupplywhichalreadyexistsinthePark,topreventanycontamination,theymustreceiveauthorizationfromthelocalauthoritytoaccessanywaterpoint,sewagetankorsewagedischargepoints,agreetotheproceduresinvolvedintheiruseandsupply an agreed deposit to gain access to the required keys.
Anadequatenumberofportabletoiletswillhavetobeprovided,forthecomfortofattendeesandtopreventhumanwastebeingleftanywhereonthesite.
FulldetailsofenvironmentalrequirementswillbedetailedintheEventGuidance Pack.
Theenvironmentalimpactfeefromanybookingwillbeinvesteddirectlyintotheparkoropenspacethattheeventoccurredin.InadditionanycommercialbookingwillinvestonthirdoftheprofitmadebyLBBDtotheparkoropenspaceinwhichtheeventoccurredaswellasfundingtheCommunitybursary and management fund.
6.9 STRUCTURE AND WORKING PRACTICES6.9.1 Determining the size of an event and setting FeesTable6.1onthefollowingpage,showstheclassificationsofthesizeofanevent.
Tostreamlinetheprocessofdealingwitheventsitisimperativeasystemisestablishedtodeterminethesizeofanevent.Thisprocesswillallowtheboroughtoimplementthenewfeesystemaswellasdifferentiatebetweenthose which must go through the full SAG process, those who will require the‘miniSAG’processandhowmuchofficertimeisrequiredtoensurethesuccessfuldeliveryoftheevent.
Thesefiguresareforguidanceonlyandtheboroughreservestherighttoalterandamendthefeeswithoutnoticeandtorespondtoeacheventonacasebycase basis.
A25%discountwillbeavailabletocharitiesandcommunityorganisationsbased in Barking and Dagenham.
Cancellationfeeswillapplytoallbookings.
TheeventapplicationprocessesisdescribedindetailintheEventGuidancePack.
Keytimingstonoteare:• EventApplicationwindowisNovembertoFebruary.• EventApplicationsshouldbesubmitted3to9monthsbeforetheevent
dependingonthesizeoftheevent.• Acknowledgementofallapplicationsshouldbemadewithin10working
days.• Applicationsshouldthenbereviewed,referencessoughtandaninitial
meetingsetupwiththeeventsteamwithin4weeks.• Anagreementinprinciplewhichwouldthenmovetheproposalforward
toSAG(mediumtolargeeventsonly)orarefusalwillthenfollowwithin10daysofthemeetingdatewiththeeventteam.
• PresentationtoSAG(mediumtolargeeventsonly)ontheclosestpossible1st Wednesday of the month.
• SAGhave5daystorespondandthenagreementssignedsubjecttoT&C’s.
• Licenseapplication(3monthsforPremisesor10daysforTEN).• 2monthsbeforeeventattendSAGtosubmitEventManagementPlanand
submitallnecessaryformsandinformation.SmallereventstoattendminiSAG. All fees to be paid.
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 37
6.9.2 Event Planning - Licensing Process, insurance and Risk ManagementForeventsthatarenottakingplaceinaparkalreadycoveredwithaPremisesLicence,theeventorganiserwillberesponsibleforapplyingforthecorrectlicenceiftheeventincludesanyofthefollowinglicensableactivities.
• The sale of alcohol.• Musical performance.• Film screenings.• Dance, plays or theatrical performances.• Indoor sports.• Servingofhotfoodbetween11pmand5am.
Eventswithover499attendeesincludingstaff,volunteersandperformerswillneedtoapplyforaPremisesLicence.Eventswithunder499attendeescanapplyforaTemporaryEventNotice(TEN).
Eventorganisersmustholdcoverof£5millionPublicLiabilityinsuranceforsmalltomediumeventsand£10millionforlargeevents,funfair’s,circusorfireworkdisplays.
Iftheeventorganiseremploysanystaffwhoreportdirectlytothem,thenEmployer’sLiabilityof£5millionmustbeheld.Thisshouldalsoberequestedfromanysub-contractorswhohasmorethanfivemembersofstaff.
Itistheresponsibilityoftheeventorganisertoensurethatallparticipantsintheevent–stallholders,sub-contractors,performersetc.holdappropriatePublicLiabilityinsuranceandthisshouldbeincludedinthefinalEventManagement Plan.
Theeventorganiserwillhaveprimeresponsibilityforprotectingthehealth,safetyandwelfareofeveryoneworkingat,orattending,theeventundertheHealthandSafetyatWorkActandotherrelatedActsandregulations.TheeventorganisermustdevelopaformaleventHealthandSafetyManagementPlan(alsoknownastheEventsManagementPlan[EMP])andkeepafileofsupportinginformation.Afullriskassessmentmustbecarriedoutforallevents.Thisisalegalrequirementandiskeytomanagingrisk.TheriskassessmentshouldbeincludedintheeventorganisersEMP.EmergencyandcontingencyplansmustalsobesubmittedaspartoftheEMP.
Fullguidanceonresponsibilities,HealthandSafetyandRiskAssessmentsareincludedintheEventGuidancePack.
6.10 CONCLUSIONThestrategyaimstobuildonthecurrentsuccessfuleventprogrammeinBarkingandDagenhambydeliveringabalancedprogrammeofeventswhichaimtomaketheboroughaculturaldestinationbyincreasingcommunityownershipofevents,showcasingtheuniquenatureofindividualparksandspaces,increasinganincomestreamfromeventsandbuildingpartnershipswiththirdpartyprovidersandexistingserviceswithinparkstobenefitresidents,thelocalauthorityandtheculturalsector.Asuccessfuleventsprogrammeshouldaddresslocalneedswhilstencouragingvisitorsfromoutside the borough to experience the many assets that the parks and open spacesofBarkingandDagenhamhavetooffer.
Commercial EventsSize NoofAttendees ApplicationFee Site Hire Fee ExtraEventDays Build/DeRig
daysEnvironmentalFee
Grounds Deposit (refundable)
Small Up to 500 £100 £750 £225 £37.50 £100 £500Small(2) Up to 1000 £100 £1,500 £450 £75 £150 £500Medium Up to 5000 £100 £7,500 £2,250 £375 £750 £1,000Large Up to 15,000 £100 £22,500 £6,750 £1,125 £2000 £4,000Large(2) Up to 40,000 £100 £60,000 £18,000 £3,000 £5000 £10,000
Notes:• Applicationfee-Thisisanadministeredfeetoprocesstheapplicationform.Nonrefundable.• SiteHireFee-Chargedat£1.50perheadonthemaximumnumberofattendeesforthefirstoperationaldayoftheevent.Whenpaidwillconfirmtheuseof
thespaceonthedate(s)required• ExtraEventDaysfee–Chargedat30%ofSiteHireFee• Build/de-rigdays-Chargedat5%oftheSiteHireFeeandleviedperday.• GroundsdamagedepositChargedatflatrate.Refundablesubjecttoterms.• EnvironmentimpactfeeChargedataflatrate.NonRefundable.• Premium Venues are subject to hire fees.
Charity / Community EventsSize NoofAttendees ApplicationFee Site Hire Fee per day EnvironmentalFee Grounds Deposit
(refundable)Small Up to 500 £25 £250 £50 £500Small(2) Up to 1000 £25 £500 £100 £500Medium Up to 5000 £25 £2,500 £250 £750Large Up to 15,000 £25 £5,500 £500 £1,000Large(2) Up to 40,000 £25 £10,000 £1,000 £2,000
Notes• Applicationfee-Thisisanadministeredfeetoprocesstheapplicationform.Nonrefundable.SiteHirefee-Dailyhirerate(includingbuild/derigdays)
Chargedat£0.50perheadonthemaximumnumberofattendeestohiretheparkoropenspace.• Groundsdamagedeposit-Chargedataflatfee.Refundablesubjecttoterms.• Environmentimpactfee-Chargedataflatfee.NonRefundable.• Premiumvenuesaresubjecttohigherrates.
Table 6.1 - Size of an event and setting fees
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base38
PLAY PROVISION IN BARKING AND DAGENHAM
77.1 EVIDENCE BASE ON OUTDOOR PLAY AND ITS BENEFITSOutdoorplayisanessentialingredientofahappy,healthychildhoodanditsimportanceisenshrinedininternationalconventionsonchildren’srights.TherighttoplayissetoutinArticle31ofthe1989UnitedNationsConventionontheRightsoftheChild,whichtheUKgovernmentratifiedin1989.In2013,theUNstatedthatthisrightshouldbesecured“incollaborationwithchildrenthemselves,aswellasNGOsandcommunity-basedorganisations.”Italsocalledonlocalgovernmentto“assessprovisionofplayandrecreationfacilitiestoguaranteeequalityofaccess”(UnitedNationsCommitteeontheRightsoftheChild2013).
Thebenefitsofoutdoorplaytochildren’shealth,well-beingandemotionalandsocialdevelopmentarewell-researched.Bycreatingwelcoming,stimulating,enjoyableplacesforplay,goodparksandplayspacesmakearealdifferencetochildren’slives.Theyalsohelptosupportfamiliesandbuildmorecohesivecommunities(seeGill2014aforasummary).
7.1.1 Physical activityThereisstrongevidencethataccesstogoodplayopportunitieshelpstoimprovelevelsofphysicalactivityandhencetacklechildobesity(NationalInstituteforHealthandCareExcellence2015;CavillandRutter2013).Studiesconsistentlyshowthatchildrenwhoplayoutdoorsaremorephysicallyactive,andthatplayfacilitieshelptoraiseactivitylevels.SomestudiessuggestagreaterimpactthansportorPEinitiatives(MackettandPaskins2008).
7.1.2 Learning and social and emotional developmentThereisalsogoodevidenceoflinksbetweenoutdoorplayexperiencesandarangeofimprovementsinacademicskills,attitudesandbehaviour,andtoimprovedsocialskills,socialrelationsbetweendifferentethnicgroups,andbetteradjustmenttoschoollife.TheCentresforDiseaseControlandPrevention(theleadingUSFederalhealthagency)reviewedstudiesofthelinksbetweenschoolrecess(breaktimes)andacademicperformance.Thisfound“positiveassociationsbetweenrecessandindicatorsofcognitiveskills,attitudes,andacademicbehaviour”(CentresforDiseaseControlandPrevention2010).Anotherreviewfoundthatplaytimes“bothmaximisestudents’attentiontosubsequentclassworkandfacilitatechildren’speerrelationshipsastheymakethetransitionintoprimaryschool”(Pellegrini2009).Athirdstatedthat“gamesandplaygroundactivitiesareparticularlyimportantforthedevelopmentofawiderangeofskillsassociatedwithinteractionswithpeopleofsimilarstatus,includingsocial-cognitiveskills...Thisissimplybecausethereappeartobefewopportunitiesfortheseskillsandrelationshipstobedevelopedelsewhereinsideoroutsideofschoolwithoutthepresenceofapotentiallyover-dominatingadult”(BainesandBlatchford2010).Alongitudinalstudybysomeofthesameresearchersfoundthat“playgroundactivitiescanhaveapositiveroleinsocialrelationsbetweendifferentethnicgroups”(Blatchfordetal2003).
Evidencealsoshowsthatspendingtimeinnaturalenvironmentsislinkedwithhealthydevelopment,wellbeingandpositiveenvironmentalattitudesandvalues.Onesystematicreviewconcludedthatexperiencesofnatureshouldbeseenaspartofa“balanceddiet”ofchildhoodexperiences(Gill2011;Gill2014b).
[3 case studies on play provision and physical activity]
A study of children in Bristol used GPS and accelerometers to measure activity within green environments for children aged 11 to 12, including tracking activities in two parks with play facilities. The results showed that the parks “were used for as much as 30 per cent of outdoors moderate-vigorous activity at weekends and use was consistent across seasons” (Lachowycz et al 2012).
A Danish study also used accelerometers, to measure physical activity in children aged from five to 12 years from schools with different permanent play facilities (such as adventure play equipment, swings, trees, playground marking, courts and sandpits). The study found that “the number of permanent play facilities in schools … was positively associated with all measures of activity” and concluded that “increasing the number of permanent play facilities at schools may offer a cost-effective and sustainable option for increasing physical activity in young children” (Nielsen et al 2010).
A Canadian study using GIS data found that “children with a park playground within 1 km were almost five times more likely to be classified as being of a healthy weight rather than at risk or overweight compared to those children without playgrounds in nearby parks.” It concluded that “availability of certain park facilities may play a more important role in promoting physical activity and healthy weight status among children than availability of park space in general” (Potwarka et al 2008).
[Case study on the benefits of contact with nature]
American researchers found significant improvements in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) after a 20-minute guided walk in a green outdoor space, compared to the same amount of time spent in other settings (Faber Taylor and Kuo 2009). Studies have also found benefits in the motor development of pre-school children with access to natural space, compared to those who use a more conventional playground (Fjortoft 2004; Scholz and Krombholz 2007). A British study of a forest school programme found significant improvements in mood after forest school, in terms of reductions in levels of anger. The improvement was greatest for children with behaviour problems (Roe 2009). Another British study found strong associations between childhood patterns of visits to green places and willingness to visit such places as an adult. People who often visited green places as children are more likely to associate natural areas with feeling energetic, and more likely to visit alone in their adult life (Ward Thompson et al 2008).
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 39
7.1.3 Mental healthTherearestrongargumentsforthementalhealthbenefitsofoutdoorplay.TheMentalHealthFoundationstatesonitswebsitethat“havingtimeandthefreedom to play, indoors and outdoors” helps to promote good mental health (MentalHealthFoundationundated).Playasasignificantroleinfosteringresiliencethroughgivingchildrenmanagedopportunitiestotakerisks.Inher2012AnnualReportChiefMedicalOfficerDameSallyDaviesstated:
“We need to develop strategies to enable young people to be able to mount successful responses against life’s challenges, and to do this we need to inoculate them and thus develop resilience. By exposing young people to low doses of challenges, in safe and supported environments, we strengthen their ability to act effectively later in life”(ChiefMedicalOfficer2013:seealsoPlayWales2015andLesterandRussell2007).
7.1.4 Community and family benefitsAswellasbenefitstochildren,thereisalsoevidencethatplayprovisionbringsbenefitstocommunitiesandfamilies.Inmixedanddiversecommunities,childrenandservicesforthemprovideakeyfocusforbuildingcohesive,sociallyinclusiveneighbourhoods.AreportfromtheJosephRowntreeFoundationstates:
“Studies of mixed income communities show that most mixing across social groups takes place between children. It is these contacts – in nurseries, playgroups, schools and in public spaces – that provide opportunities for adults to meet and form relationships. Children provide a common ground and shared interest between people in different tenures. People with children have a high stake in the success of a neighbourhood and the quality of its services”(JosephRowntreeFoundation2006).
Onepracticalcommunityoutcomefromplayfacilitiesisareductioninanti-socialbehaviourandvandalism.AnevaluationofCommunitySpaces,a£57.5millionBigLotteryFundprogrammerunbyGroundworkUK(inwhichplaygroundsandyouthrecreationspaceswereamajorcomponent)concluded
that“all‘majorissue’indicatorshaveimprovedsincethecompletionoftheprojects,withthemostsignificantreductionbeingantisocialbehaviourandvandalism”(HallAitken2013).ApracticeguideproducedbyThamesValleyPolicereportedsignificantreductionsinvandalismandpettycrimefollowingtheinstallationofplayfacilitiesandyouthshelters.
ResearchfromtheUSAshowsalinkbetweenplayprovisionandfamilywell-being.TheAmericannon-profitagencyKaBOOM!studiedparentalattitudesaboutplaygrounds,andfoundlinkstoself-reportedmeasuresoffamilywell-being.Thesurveyshowed“three-quartersofparentsagreethatthemoretimetheyspendtogetherataplayground,thebettertheirsenseoffamilywell-being.Furthermore,parentswholivenearaplaygroundandvisitoftenwiththeirchildreporthigherlevelsoffamilywell-beingthanparentswhodonotlivenearaplaygroundordonotvisitplaygroundsoften”(KaBOOM!undated).
7.1.5 Location and designLocation,accessibilityandconnectivity(onfootandbybike/scooter/pushchairandbypublictransport)arecrucialinattractinguserstoplayfacilitiesandsustaininguse.A2016Canadianstudyof9-to13-year-oldchildrenusedGPStechnologytotrackchildren’spedestrian-basedneighbourhoodactivity.Participantsmostoftheirout-of-schooltime(75%)intheirneighbourhoods,with94.5%ofspentwithinashortdistanceofhome(LoebachandGilliland2016).TwoEnglishstudiesofplayonhousingestates-onefrom2016andtheotherfrom1997–echothesefindings.The2016study(whichlookedatarangeofoutdooractivitybypeopleofallages)foundwidevariationsinthelevelofactivityacross10estates,withchildrenbeingactiveandvisibleinsome.Italsofoundthat“thelayoutofadevelopmentmayhaveasignificantimpactonhowwellspacesareused”(Bornat2016).Theearlierstudyconcludedthat“estateswhichstimulatethewidestrangeofplayactivityandsatisfactionamongstchildrenandparentsarethosewithfootpathnetworks,culs-de-saclayout,publicopenspacesandplayareas”(WhewayandMillward1997).
Thedesignandlayoutofplayprovisionisalsoimportanttousersofallages.In-depthqualitativeresearchwithparentsandchildrenhasshownthatspaceswitharangeofplayfacilitiesandoffersthatcaterforchildrenofdifferentages,andthatallowforfamiliestovisittogether,arehighlyvalued(Wallaceetal2009).
7.2 BENEFITS OF OUTDOOR LEARNING IN NATURAL SPACESThereisgrowinginterestintheroleofgreenspaceinsupportingchildren’slearning,andastrongevidencebase.A2016evaluationbyPlymouthUniversityofamajorNaturalEnglandinitiativeshowedthatlearningoutdoorsinnaturalenvironmentshasmultiplebenefitsforschoolchildren(NaturalEngland2016).Childrenwerehappier,healthierandmoremotivatedtolearnasaresultoflearningoutside,includinginlocalparksandgreenspaces.The4-year‘NaturalConnections’initiativeranin125schoolsacrosstheSouthWestofEngland,focusedmainlyonareasofdeprivationinPlymouth,Torbay,Bristol,Cornwalland Somerset and reaching 40,000 primary and secondary school pupils. It helpedschoolchildrenexperiencethebenefitsofthenaturalenvironmentbyempoweringteacherstousetheoutdoorstosupporteverydaylearning.Theevaluationfoundthat:
• 95percentofchildrensurveyedsaidoutdoorlearningmakeslessonsmore enjoyable.
• 90 per cent said they felt happier and healthier.• 72percentofchildrensaidtheygotonbetterwithothers.• 93percentofschoolssaidoutdoorlearningimprovespupils’socialskills.
• 92percentofschoolssaiditimprovespupils’healthandwellbeingandengages them with learning.
• 85percentofschoolssawapositiveimpactonbehaviour.• 90percentofstaffsurveyedfoundoutdoorlearningtobeusefulfor
curriculumdelivery.
ThefindingsoftheNaturalConnectionsprojectareechoedbyotherevidenceofeducational,learninganddevelopmentalbenefits.Asystematicliteraturereview(Gill2014b)found:
• Experienceofgreenenvironmentsisassociatedwithgreaterenvironmentalknowledge.
• Forestschoolprojectsareassociatedwithimprovedsocialskillsandimprovedself-control,self-confidenceandlanguageandcommunication.
• Conservationactivitiesinopenspacesareassociatedwithimprovedpsychosocial health.
7.3 EXISTING PATTERN OF OUTDOOR PLAY PROVISIONThedistributionofplayprovisionacrosstheboroughwasanalysedusinggeographicalinformationsystems(GIS),basedontheagerangesandaccessibilitythresholdssetoutintheGLASPG(seeTable1,Fig1.2atp.09aboveandcombinedmapatp.40below).Takingchildpopulationdensitiesintoaccount,thisanalysisshowsthatthereisasignificantdeficitofaccessibleplayprovisioninalmostallofBecontreeward,mostofWhalebonewardandpartsof Alibon, Eastbury, Heath, Longbridge, Parsloes, Valence and Village wards. TherearealsodeficienciesinpartsofChadwellHeath,Eastbrook,andRiverwards,thoughherethepopulationdensitiesarelower.Forchildrenaged5–11,thepatternissimilar,althoughthedeficientareasextendtolargerareaswithin these wards, and also parts of the remaining wards. For children aged 0-5almostallofLBBDisdeficient.TheexceptionsarepartsofGascoigneward(whichhasahighnumberofplayareasinhousingestates–andalsosomeofthehighestconcentrationsofchildrenunder5)andareasthatarewithin100mofparkplayfacilities.TheGISanalysisshowssomeoverlapincatchmentsforfacilitiesforchildrenaged5-11and12+,aswouldbeexpected.TheonlysignificantareawheretheremaybeoverprovisionispartsofGascoigne,inrespectofthefacilitiesforchildrenunder5alreadymentioned,althoughafulleranalysisofbothchildpopulationandprovisionwouldbeneededtoconfirmthis.(NotethatduetotheemergingplansforBarkingRiverside,Thameshasbeenexcludedfromthisanalysis.)
LBBDPlayareashavealsobeenassessedforqualityusingthePlayEnglandassessmentschedule(PlayEngland2009).(Thistoolprovidesahelpfulstartingpointforbenchmarkingplayfacilities.However,itdoeshavesomeweaknesses.Itisdesignedfortheassessmentofindividualplayareas,notparksasawhole.Thisapproachnaturallyleadstoafocusonindividualsetsofplayfacilities,andworksagainsttakingawhole-parkviewoftheplayoffer.Italsomakesnoattempttoassesstheoveralldesignqualityandappearanceoffacilitiesandithasnocriteriathatfocusonteenagersasausergroup.)
BarkingParkisunarguablythemostsuccessful,well-designed,highest-qualityplayspace.Itoffersabenchmarkforhubplayfacilitiesinotherparks.Acrosstheboroughasawhole,thepicture(confirmedbythequalityassessment)isof
[Case study: Police report shows cost savings from park youth provision]
In Banbury, the cost of repairs to young children’s play equipment dropped by 25 per cent (£10,000) in the first year after installing youth facilities. In Burnley, a youth shelter was built in response to complaints about anti-social behaviour, after which reports of nuisance behaviour dropped by 29 per cent (across the whole town) and 50 per cent (near the park). The costs due to vandalism to play equipment dropped 87 per cent from £580 to £70 (Hampshire and Wilkinson 2002).
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 41
amixofmostlyold,conventionalplayfacilitieswithfencingandlargelyprimary-colouredsteelequipment(someinapoorstateofrepair);morenaturalisticfacilitiesusingmounds,boulders,logsandtimberequipment;andballcourtsandskateparks.Conventionalplayfeatures/facilitiesarelargelyuninspiringandunlikelytohavelastingappeal,especiallyforchildrenaboveinfants’schoolage.Somenaturalisticfeatures,whilenotshowingsignsofvandalismorthe
consequencesofanti-socialbehaviour,aresufferingfromwearandtear/erosion(possiblyasignofpopularity).Youthsportfacilitiesaremostlyofaveragestandard(someinurgentneedofrepair)andpoor/mediocredesign,withlimitedopportunitiesforsocializing.
7.4 BEST PRACTICE CONSIDERATIONSGuidancefromtheNationalInstituteforHealthandClinicalExcellencestatesthat“opportunitiesformoderatetovigorousphysicalactivityincludeeverythingfromcompetitivesportandformalexercisetoactiveplayandotherphysicallydemandingactivities”.Itcallsonagenciestoprovidedailyopportunitiesforunstructured,spontaneousplay(NationalInstituteforHealthandCareExcellence2009).
The Greater London Authority Supplementary Planning Guidance on play space statesthatfacilitiesshouldbe“well-connectedtowellusedpedestrian,cycling
orbusroutes.Theyshouldbeaccessibletoallsectionsofthecommunity(includingdisabledpeopleandtheirparentsorcarers)andbelocatedwithineasyreachbywalking,cyclingandpublictransport”(GreaterLondonAuthority2012).
TheGLASPGincludesguidanceondesigntakenfromthepublicationDesignforPlay(PlayEngland2008).Thissetsoutalandscape-ledapproachtoplayspacedesign,withtheaimofcreatingrobust,flexible,inclusivespacesandfeaturesthatareattractivetochildrenandfamiliesofallages.Thisguidanceoutlinesasix-stagedesigncycle.Thesestagesare:prepare,design,construct,use,maintain,review.Theguidealsosetsout10principlesfordesigningsuccessfulplayspaces.Successfulplayspacesshouldbe:
• ‘Bespoke.’• Well located.• Make use of natural elements.• Provideawiderangeofplayexperiences.• Accessibletobothdisabledandnon-disabled.• Meet community needs.• Allowchildrenofdifferentagestoplaytogether.• Buildinopportunitiestoexperienceriskandchallenge.• Sustainable and appropriately maintained.• Allowforchangeandevolution.
Engagementandparticipationplayakeyroleinensuringthatplayfacilitiesmeetcommunityneeds.Thisisbestdonethrough‘co-creation’:theactiveinvolvementofinformedprofessionalswithexperienceofsuccessfuldesignapproachesalongsidechildrenandfamilies(Demos2007).Observationofhowchildrenandfamiliesactuallyusespacesisinvaluable.Whenitcomestoprovisionforyoungpeoplemeaningful,directengagementwithlocalgroupsofteenagerswillbecrucialininformingboththelocationanddesignoffacilities(PlayEngland2008;GreaterLondonAuthority2012).
Asalreadynoted,UKevaluationtoolsforplayprovisiontypicallydonotaddresstheneedsandinterestsofteenagerswell.OneAmericanproject,‘GrowingUpBoulder’,hasdrawnupachecklistofteen-friendlyfeaturesofparks,producedwithinputfromyoungpeoplethemselves(Derr2015).Teenswerekeentoseeplayspacesforbothchildrenandadults;theprojectfoundinparticularthat“youngerteensconsistentlyaskformoreactiveformsofplay,suchasziplinesor parkour courses that allow risk taking.” This project found that other park featuresimportantforteensinclude:
• WiFi • LightingandArt• Study Space • Trees, Flowers, Nature • Water features
Bearinginmindtheroleofoutdoorspacesinsupportingchildren’seducation,it is not surprising that interest in the topic has been growing in London, with thespreadofinitiativessuchasForestSchool.Appropriatefacilitiesinlocalparksandgreenspacescansupporttheseinitiatives,forinstancethroughthe
creationofoutdoorstorytellingareasandwildlifetrails(Gill2011).Goodplayspacedesignisinclusive,andinclusivedesignisaboutquality,notcompliance.Itisconcernedwiththerangeofoffersacrossthewholeofaplayfacility/space,notwhethereverypieceofequipmentbeingaccessibletoall.Disabledchildrenwanttobeabletoplaywiththeirnon-disabledfamily,peersandfriends,anddesignsinalllocationsshouldreflectthisintheirchoiceofequipmentandother features. It means addressing the needs and concerns of children with arangeofdisabilitiesandimpairments,notsimplythoseinwheelchairs.Siteaccessibilityincludingcarparking,andprovisionoftoiletfacilitiesarecrucialtoinclusion(OfficeoftheDeputyPrimeMinister2003;WhewayandJohn2004;KIDS2010).
Goodplaygrounddesignisnotsimplyamatterofselectingequipmentfromacatalogue.Asaresult,playgroundsafetyisnotsimplyamatterofcompliancewithequipmentstandards.Challenge,adventureandexcitementarepartofchildren’splay,andwhatgoodplaygroundsshouldbeoffering.Henceabalancedapproachtoriskmanagementisessential.
Riskbenefitassessment(RBA),assetoutinguidancefromPlayEngland(Balletal2013)isatoolthatsupportsaconsidered,balancedapproachtoriskmanagement.Itbringstogetherconsiderationsaboutrisksandbenefitsalongsideotherfactorsinasingledecision-makingprocess.ItisrecognisedbytheHealthandSafetyExecutiveasasensibleapproachtoriskmanagement(HealthandSafetyExecutive2012).
Inkeepingwithgoodpracticefromworkplaceandofficehealthandsafety,RBAassetoutinthePlayEnglandguidanceadoptsanarrativeapproach;itdoesnotrecommendtheuseofmatricesorratingsschemesforrisks.Instead,ittakesusersthroughasetofopen-endedquestionsunderthefollowingheadings(PlayScotland2014):
• Whatarethebenefits–forchildrenandyoungpeople,andforothers?• What are the risks?• Whatrelevantlocalfactorsneedtobeconsidered?• Whataretheoptionsformanagingtherisk,andwhatarethepros,cons
and costs of each?• What precedents and comparisons are there?• Whatistherisk–benefitjudgement?• How should the judgement be implemented?
Goodprocurementproceduresaredesign-led,andhelptounderpinthelandscape-ledapproachtodesignthatisproposedinDesignforPlay.Likewise,while ease and costs of maintenance are clearly factors that shape design, if allowedtohavetoogreataninfluencetheycanunderminethecreationofattractive,successfulplayareas(GreaterLondonAuthority2012).GoodpracticeguidanceisavailablefromPlayEnglandonmaintainingspacesthatincorporatenaturalplayelementsandfeatures(Davisetal2009).Theguidanceaddressesconcernsandmisconceptionsaboutnaturalplay(suchastheviewthatloosefillmaterialsroutinelyleadtocontaminationproblems)andincludessectionson:
• How to create a framework to support nature play and its ongoing maintenance.
• Procedures that can be used to support the maintenance of play spaces.
[Extract from NICE Public health guideline on physical activity for children and young people]
Those providing local opportunities for physical activity in the voluntary, community and private sectors should provide a range of indoor and outdoor physical activities for children on a daily basis, including opportunities for unstructured, spontaneous play. Public, voluntary, community and private sector managers and decision-makers responsible for – or able to influence – opportunities for children to be physically active should:
• Ensure opportunities, facilities and equipment are available to encourage children to develop movement skills, regardless of their ability or disability.
• Provide children with access to environments that stimulate their need to explore and which safely challenge them. The aim is to develop their risk awareness and an understanding of their own abilities as necessary life skills.
• Ensure children have the opportunity to explore a range of physical activities to help them identify those they can enjoy by themselves and those they can do with friends and family.
• Provide daily opportunities for participation in physically active play by providing guidance and support, equipment and facilities.
• Ensure opportunities are available after school, at weekends, during half-term breaks and during the longer school holidays. Activities should be led by appropriately trained and qualified staff (paid or voluntary) and take place in schools and other community settings.
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base42
• Specificmaterialsthatoftenfeatureinnatureplayandinformationonhow to maintain them.
7.5 PROGRAMMING AND EVENTSProgrammingisinvaluableinpromotingneworimprovedplayfacilities,andcanalsohelptobuildupandsustainlevelsofengagementovertime.ConventionaleventssuchastheannualPlaydaycelebration(onthefirstWednesdayinAugusteachyear),familyfestivalsandperformancesarepartofthis,andareconsideredinmoredetailinSection6.
Alongsidethese,moreregularplaywork-ledcommunityplaysessionsinpublicspacescanalsoplayarole.AnevaluationreportofaprogrammeofcommunityplaysessionsinTowerHamletsshowsthattheyhaveledtosignificantengagementinactiveplay.Theyhavealsohelpedraiseparentalawarenessofthevalueofplay,engagedparentsandchildreninchampioningplayandinsomecaseledtoparentsandchildrenbecominginvolvedinpublicspaceimprovementprojects(Gill2016).
Programmingmaybeparticularlyeffectiveinconnectingteenswithparks.TheGrowingupBoulderinitiativediscussedabovefoundthatteenswerekeentoseemusicandmovienights,aswellasfood-relatedeventsandfacilities(Derr2015).
7.6 RECOMMENDATIONSPriorities for creating and improving play facilities across LBBD should take into account the findings of the GIS analysis setoutaboveatsection7.3,andespeciallytheareasofunder-provision.
Play facility designsshouldfollowthelandscape-ledapproachsetoutinDesignforPlayandtheGLASPG,embracingitsapproachtotheincorporationofnaturalelementsandhardandsoftlandscaping,tofencingandboundarydefinitionandtoengagementwithchildren,familiesandotherlocalstakeholders. The typology and accessibility criteria in the GLA SPG should be appliedthoughtfullyandflexibly.
Main or hub play facilitiesshouldbelocatednearothercafé/sport/leisurefacilities,withastrongnetworkofwalking/cyclingpaths,tocreateahubofmutuallysupportivepatternsofuse.Thiswillbeespeciallyimportantinlargerparks(egMayesbrook,Central,OldDagenhamandParsloes).Thesehubfacilitiesshouldwhereappropriatebesupplementedwithsmallerplayareas,playtrailsandincidentalplayfeaturestailoredtoeachpark/sitecontext.Hubplayareasshouldincludegenerousprovisionofformalseatingsuchaspicnicbenchesandalso‘sittablestructures’suchaslowwallsandlargelogsthatalsoformpartoftheplayoffer.
A site-specific approach to boundary definition should be taken. Forinstance,boundariescanbecreatedcost-effectivelythroughhardand/orsoftlandscaping:dog-proofmetalfencingisnotalwaysnecessaryorwarranted.In larger playgrounds, the aim should be to create a space that can be used flexibly,includingamixofscaleswithinanoverallarea.Hardsegregationbyageshouldbeavoided.
LBBD should explore the idea of creating at least one flagship inclusive play space, designed with input from children and families with arangeofabilitiesanddisabilities.
There should be greater emphasis on adventurous facilities that are likely to engage a broader age range of children and teenagers, and that keepthemengagedformoreoftheirchildhood.Facilitiesshouldincludewell-designedsocialandinformalleisureoffersthatimproveonoff-the-shelfyouthshelter/ballarea/skateparkdesigns,withlocationanddesignshapedbyinputfrom local young people.
Overthelongerterm, the development of a teen-oriented assessment tool/setofindicatorsshouldbeconsideredtofillthegapleftbyexistingtools.Suchatoolcoulddrawonthe‘GrowingUpBoulder’checklistreferencedabove.
Features and structures should be created that are suitable for use in outdoor learning/forest school contexts where the parklandscapehasamorenaturalisticcharacter(e.g.Central,Eastbrookend,StChads).Structurescouldincludestorytellingareas,raisedplatformssuitableforpond-dipping,wildlifetrailsandminibeaststructures).
A balanced approach should be taken to risk management, supportedbyriskbenefitassessment(RBA)andthoughtfulapplicationofequipmentstandards.Procurementprocessesneedtobedesign-led:theyshouldallowforintegrationofhigh-qualitylandscapedesignandequipmentchoices,andforflexibleresponsestolocalsitesandcircumstances.Maintenanceandinspectionshouldmakeuseofgoodpracticeguidance,including on the use of RBA to inform decisions about safety.
LBBD should consider raising the public profile and awareness of play facilities through programmed events and activities (includingconventionaleventsandalsoplaywork-ledsessions)linkedtoopenings/refurbishments.Aspartofthis,itshouldcontinuetosupporttheannualPlaydayevent,ideallywithapresenceinallLBBDparks,andlinkittopublichealthpromotioninitiativesaroundoutdoorplay.Thesecouldbecuratedasanannualcalendarofparkplayevents.LBBDshouldalsoexplorethepotentialtopromotefacilitiesviasocialmediaandapps.
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 43
REFERENCES Baines,EandBlatchford,P(2010)Children’s Games and Playground Activities in School and Their Role in Development.In:APellegrini(Ed.),TheOxfordHandbookoftheDevelopmentofPlay.
Ball,D,Gill,TandSpiegal,B(2013)Managing Risk in Play Provision: Implementation Guide.
Cavill,NandRutter,H(2013)Obesity and the environment: increasing physical activity and active travel.
Blatchford,P,Baines,EandPellegrini,A(2003)‘The social context of school playground games: Sex and ethnic differences, and changes over time after entry to junior school.’BritishJournalofDevelopmentalPsychology,21(4),481–505.
Bornat,D(2016)Housing Design and Community Life.
CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention(2010)The Association Between School-Based Physical Activity, Including Physical Education , and Academic Performance(Vol.2010).
ChiefMedicalOfficer(2013)Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer 2012.
Davis,L,White,AandKnight,J(2009)Nature play: Maintenance guide.
DEMOS(2007),Seen and Heard: Reclaiming the public realm with children and young people.
Derr,V(2015)Parks for teens: 10 features teens want to see. https://www.childinthecity.org/2015/12/02/parks-for-teens-10-features-teens-want-to-see/
FaberTaylor,AandKuoF(2009)‘Children With Attention Deficits Concentrate Better After Walk in the Park.’JournalofAttentionDisorders12(5)pp.402-409.
Fjortoft,I(2004)‘Landscape as Playscape: The Effects of Natural Environments on Children’s Play and Motor Development.’Children,YouthandEnvironments14(2)pp.21-44.
Gill,T(2011)Sowing the Seeds: Reconnecting London’s Children with Nature.
Gill(2014a)The Play Return: A review of the wider impacts of play initiatives.
GreaterLondonAuthority(2012)Shaping Neighbourhoods Play and Informal Recreation.
Gill,T(2014b)‘The Benefits of Children’s Engagement with Nature: A Systematic Literature Review.’Children,YouthandEnvironments24(2):10-34.
Gill,T(2016)Supporting Play on Housing Estates in Tower Hamlets: An Evaluation of PATH’s Community Play Programme.
HallAitken(2013)Community Spaces evaluation: Annual Report 2012/13. Birmingham:GroundworkUK.
Hampshire,R,andWilkinson,M(2002)Youth Shelters and Sports Systems: A good practice guide(Secondedition).Kidlington:ThamesValleyPolice.
HealthandSafetyExecutive(2012)Children’s Play and Leisure – Promoting a Balanced Approach.
JosephRowntreeFoundation(2006)Mixed communities: success and sustainability.
KaBOOM!(undated)Family Togetherness: A Look at Play & Family Well-Being. kaboom.org/docs/documents/pdf/Play-and-Family-Well-Being.pdf.
KIDS(2010)Playing Outdoors? Disabled children’s views of play pathfinder and playbuilder play spaces.
Lachowycz,K,Jones,A,Page,A,Wheeler,BandCooper,A(2012)What can global positioning systems tell us about the contribution of different types of urban greenspace to children’s physical activity?Health&Place,18(3),586–94.
Lester,SandRussellW(2007)Play For A Change.
Loebach,JandGilliland,J(2016)‘Free Range Kids? Using GPS-Derived Activity Spaces to Examine Children’s Neighborhood Activity and Mobility.’EnvironmentandBehavior,vol.48,issue3pp.421-453.
Mackett,R,andPaskins,J(2008)Children’sPhysicalActivity:TheContributionofPlayingandWalking.Children&Society,22(5),345–357.
MentalHealthFoundation(undated)webpageonchildrenandyoungpeople.
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/c/children-and-young-people.
NationalInstituteforHealthandCareExcellence(2009)Physical activity for children and young people: Public health guideline[PH17]
NationalInstituteforHealthandCareExcellence(2015)Promoting physical activity for children and young people: Evidence Update
NaturalEngland(2016)Natural Connections Demonstration Project, 2012-2016: Final Report.
Nielsen,G,Taylor,R,Williams,SandMann,J(2010)Permanent play facilities in school playgrounds as a determinant of children’s activity.JournalofPhysicalActivity&Health,7(4),490–6.
OfficeoftheDeputyPrimeMinister(2003)Developing Accessible Play Space: A Good Practice Guide.
Pellegrini,A(2009)Research and Policy on Children’s Play. Child Development Perspectives,3(2),131–136.
PlayEngland(2009)Playable Space Quality Assessment Tool.
PlayScotland(2014)Risk Benefit Assessment Form: Worked Example.
PlayWales(2015) Play: mental health and wellbeing.
Potwarka,L,Kaczynski,AandFlack,A(2008)Places to play: association of park space and facilities with healthy weight status among children.JournalofCommunityHealth,33(5),344–50.
Roe,J(2009)Forest school and restorative health benefits in young people with varying emotional health.
Scholz,UandKrombholzH(2007)‘A study of the physical performance ability of childrenfrom wood kindergartens and from regular kindergartens.’Motorik1:pp.17-22.
Townsend,N,Wickramasinghe,K,Williams,J,Bhatnagar,PandRayner,M(2015),Physical Activity Statistics 2015.
UnitedNationsCommitteeontheRightsoftheChild(2013)General Comment 17
Wallace,E,Pye,J,Nunney,FandMaybanks,N(2009)Children and Parents’ Experiences of Recently Improved Play Areas: Qualitative Research.
WardThompson,C,Aspinall,PandMontarzino,A(2008) ‘The Childhood Factor: Adult Visits to Green Places and the Significance of Childhood Experience.’EnvironmentandBehaviour40(1)pp.111-143.
Wheway,RandJohn,A(2004)Can Play Will Play.
Wheway,RandMillward,A(1997)Child’s Play: Facilitating play on housing estates.
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base44
FOOD GROWING IN BARKING AND DAGENHAM
88.1 WHY GROW FOOD IN PARKS?Itiswidelyrecognisedthatgardeningandfoodgrowinghaveapositiveimpactonpeople’shealthandwellbeingandthereisagrowingbodyofevidencetosupport this 65.
Regularcontactwithplantsandthenaturalenvironmentcanimprovementalwellbeingandcombinedwiththeactivityofgrowingfood,itcanhelpimprovephysicalhealthforawiderangeofabilitiesandages.Regularinvolvementingardeningcan:
• Improvepsychologicalhealth,byreducingstress,theseverityofstressandassociated depression.
• Increasephysicalactivity,burncaloriesandcontributetomaintainingahealthy weight and reduce the risk of obesity.
• Helpwithrehabilitationorrecoveryfromsurgeryorothermedicalinterventions.
• AlleviatethesymptomsofillnesseslikedementiaandAlzheimer’sdisease,suchasagitationandaggressivebehaviour.
• Contributetoimprovedsocialinteractionsandcommunitycohesion.• Provideaccesstolocallygrown,freshproduceandhelpincreasethe
consumptionoffruitandvegetables,aswellasimprovingattitudestohealthyeating.
• Introduceawayoflifetohelppeopleimprovetheirwellbeinginthelonger term.
Inadditiontothehealthbenefitstherearemanysocial,economicandenvironmentalfactorsthatimpactonhealth.Communityfoodgrowingprojectscanhavepositivebenefitsonthese:
• Individuallifestyle:supportsahealthylifestylewithregularoutdooractivityandcontactwithnaturewhichhelpsimprovephysicalandmentalhealth.
• Providesaccesstohealthy,affordable,locallygrownfood.• Socialandcommunity:engagesthecommunityandenhances
mechanismsforgettingpeopleinvolvedinthingsthatmattertothem.• Activities:promoteshealthandwellbeingaswellasanopportunityfor
learning new skills.• Builtenvironment:physicalexerciseisdesignedintothelocalarea.• Naturalenvironmentalfactors:enhancesthenaturalenvironmentand
engages people with nature.
8.2 GREEN SPACE, GARDENING & HEALTHEvidenceontheimpactofgardensandgardeningonhealthiscloselylinkedtothewidearrayofevidenceon‘greenspacesandhealth’.Itisclearthataccesstonatureisacriticalpartofahealthycommunitybutincreasinglysedentaryandstressfullifestylesareresultinginpoorphysicalandmentalhealth.Thismeansthatwhilelifeexpectancyhassignificantlyimproved,longtermconditionssuchasdepression,obesityanddiabetesalsocontinuetoincrease,decreasing quality of life.
Thelinkbetweenaccesstonatureandparticularlytostress,depressionandanxietyissupportedbyevidence,suchas:
• Visitstonatureareassociatedwithdecreasesinself-reportedstress(Annerstedt,2010)andastudyintheNetherlandsshowedevery10percentincreaseinaccesstogreenspacetranslatedinanimprovementinhealthequivalenttobeingfiveyearsyounger(deVries,etal2003),withsimilarbenefitsfoundbystudiesinCanada(Villeneuveetal2012)andJapan(Takano2002).
• GreenspaceshavealsobeenlinkedwithreducedlevelsofobesityinchildrenandyoungpeopleinAmerica(Lisetal2007).
Natural England has become increasingly interested in this topic, leading them tosetupthe“OutdoorsforAll”workinggroupandpublishingresearch,reportsandrecommendationonthesubject66.
8.3 HEALTH IMPACT OF FOOD GROWINGInadditiontoprovidingpassiveaccesstonature,theactofgardeningalsohasanimportantrole.ItisanimportantpastimeintheUK,particularlyforadultsover24andrisinginimportanceforolderpeoplewhoarelesslikelytobeactivebutmorelikelytoundertakegardening.Whilemuchgardeningisundertakenathome,theopportunitiestogardenwithinpublicandsharedspaces,particularlyinurbanareascanprovideincreasedopportunitiesforpeopletoimprovehealthandwellbeingbenefits,makingitanimportantconsiderationwhenplanningpublicopenspaces.Inparticulargardeningandmorespecificallyfoodgrowingisausefulinterventionformanytargetaudiences.TheKingsFundReportonGardensandHealth cites the following 67:
• Schoolagedchildren:Well-designedstudiesofschoolgardeningsuggestthatchildren’sfruitandvegetableintakecanbesignificantlyincreasedcombinedwitheffortstoimproveparentalsupport;afurtherrangeofstudies points to increased knowledge, and preferences for fruit and vegetables
• Families:Arecentreportof2,000homeownersshowedthatparentswithchildrenunder18spentsignificantlymoremoneyontheirgardensthanthose without, including on play equipment such as slides, sandpits and swings. Almost 1 in 4 parents thought that their children did not spend enoughtimeoutdoors.
• OlderPeopleandthosewithdementia:Surveyssuggestgardensbecomemuchmoreimportantasasourceofphysicalactivityinolderage,aswellasindependence,andinamelioratingloneliness.Thereisemergingevidencethatgardeningmayalsobeimportantinfallsprevention(helpingtomaintaingoodgaitandbalance)andalsoindementiapreventionandcognitivedecline.
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 45
Additionalresearchhasalsofoundevidenceforthefollowing:
• Vulnerablegroups–astudyin2015(Weinammet.al)foundmorebeneficialeffectsforasubgroupwithapoorprognosisforgoodhealthandthe“GrowingHealth”reportfoundmanyexamplesofeffectiveinterventionsandbenefitsfortargetgroupsincludingsubstancemisusersand excluded groups 68.
Theuseoffoodgrowingandgardeningfortherapeuticbenefits(i.e.ledbyatrainedtherapistforagroupwithdefinedneeds)iscommonandwellevaluated,throughnetworkssuchasCareFarmingUK.Areaswheretherapeutichorticulturecanhavegoodimpactsinclude:
• Mentalhealth:gardeningandrelatedactivitieshavelongbeenadvocatedinmentalhealthprogrammes(SpurgeonandUnderhill,1979).
• Physicalhealth:healthproblemscentredaroundsedentarylifestyles,obesityandevenoldagehavebeenalleviatedortackledwithgardeningprogrammes.
• Substancemisusers:therapeuticandmanualworkisincreasinglybeingused to include drug and alcohol dependent people and aside from horticultureprojects“CareFarms”arealsobeingincreasinglyusedtomeaningfully occupy this client group in the UK.
• Excludedgroups(refugeesetc.):horticultureprojectsareincreasinglyseenasawayofgeneratingmeaningfulactivityforexcludedgroupslikerefugees.
Creationoffoodgrowinggardenswithinpublicspacesprovidesimportantinfrastructureforuseoffoodgrowingastherapy,andopensuplotsofpotentialfordifferentgroupstobenefitfromthesespaces.
8.4 COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF FOOD GROWINGCapitalGrowth’s“GrowingSuccess”69evaluationreporthighlightedmanyofthebenefitsoffoodgrowingthathadoccurredasaresultoftheircampaign,launchedin2008.Thisincludedreporting:
• 99,000peoplewereinvolvedacrossthenetwork(anaverageof20percommunitygarden);
• 71%ofpeoplehadmadeanewfriendwithsomeoneintheneighbourhood/localareaasaresultofgettinginvolved;
• 38%ofpeoplefeltsaferintheirneighbourhoodasaresultofthegrowingproject.
ThefeedbackfromanadditionalCapitalGrowthsurveyof342foodgrowingprojectsshowedmanyarelocatedinplacesofdiverseintegrationintermsofage,ability,ethnicbackgroundandemploymentstatus.Thesurveyalsoshowedthekeymotivationforinvolvementincommunityfoodgrowingistocreateasenseofcommunityandimprovehealthandwellbeing(both90%)70.
FurtherlocalevidencefromGrowingCommunitiesDagenhamFarmdemonstratestheimpactthatfoodgrowingprojectsishavingwithintheborough.Todatetheproject,withsupportfromBigLottery’sReachingCommunities’fund,hasrun:
• Avolunteerprogramme–withopenvolunteeringallyearandOpenFarmSundays during the warmer season for local residents to learn new skills, take gentle exercise in the open air and buy fresh farm produce.
• Afreelunchprogrammewherevolunteerslearncookingskillsusingfreshproduce from the site and then eat communally.
• A“GrowninDagenham”youngpeople’sprogrammeworkinginpartnership with 2 local schools and Barking and Dagenham College where 80 children take part in food growing and cooking workshops each week.
• Afreeholidayandafterschoolgrowingclub.• Training workshops for school teachers and teaching assistant in food
growing and working with the farm. • A 9 month long, paid Food Worker training programme for 4 unemployed
loneparents(fromApril–December)withthehoursgearedtomeettheirchildcare needs.
• AweeklyfoodgrowingandskillssessionforLBBDresidentsinrecoveryfromalcoholandsubstanceabuse.Twoofthepreviousserviceusershavemadethetransitiontoworkingaspartoftheregularvolunteerteam,visitingthefarmindependently.
• Aweekly(inseason)freshproducestallatthefarmonSundaysandaweeklystallatDagenhamEaststationduetoresumetradinginthesummer of 2017.
During2016thishasresultedin:
• 42regularlocalvolunteerslearningskillsandworkingonthefarm.• 2,205volunteerhoursworkedonthefarm–equivalentto298days.• 135localresidentsvisitingthefarmtofindoutaboutvolunteeringand/or
to buy fresh produce.• 384localresidentsvisitingthefarmand/orattendingthefarm.• 179youngpeopletakingpartinfoodgrowingandfoodpreparation(April-
Dec2016).• 4Trainees(unemployedloneparents).
8.5 EDUCATIONAL IMPACT OF FOOD GROWINGFoodgrowinginschoolsandforeducationalpurposesisfairlywidespreadwitharangeofstudiesshowingtheoutcomeonknowledge,skills,educationalattainmentandbehaviour.
ArecentevaluationofGardenOrganic’sFoodGrowingSchoolsLondonprojecthasshownthatasaresultofinvolvementinschoolfoodgrowing;
• 79%ofschoolsreportedimprovedbehaviourorattainment.• 62%reportedpupilsaremoreawareofhealthyeating71
While most of the projects for schools are set up within school grounds, there isclearlyscopeforprovisionoutsideofschoolgroundsandwithinparksettings.ThishasbeendemonstratedinGrowingCommunitiesschoolengagementprogramme(seeabove).
8.6 FOOD GROWING AND CLIMATE CHANGETheproductionandsupplyoffoodcurrentlyaccountsfor20-30%ofgreenhouse(GHG)emissionintheUK.Whilemuchoftheemissionsaredownthemethodofproduction(withorganicproductionmethodsbeinglower),thereisalsoimpactfromtransportation,storageandthiscanvaryfortypeofcrop.
Somequantifiableevidenceisavailabletosupportthis,includingastudybyKulaketal(201372)whohighlighttheroleofurbanfarmsinreducingtheemissionsoflocallyconsumedfoods;whilethereductionisrelativelylow,itexceedsthecarbonsequestrationforconventionalurbangreenspaceprojectssuch as parks and forest.
8.7 THE BUSINESS CASE FOR FOOD GROWINGSustain’sGrowingHealthprojecthasdocumentedmanypublichealthandNHScommissionedinterventions,althoughcostcomparisontootherinterventionsisstillrelativelydifficulttofindevidence.Costbenefitanalysisoffoodgrowingactivitiesisrelativelynewandlimitedinitsabilitytomeasuredifferenttypesofintervention,butthereisevidenceofabusinesscaseforgrowingfood.NaturalEngland(2009)estimatethat£2.1billionwouldbesavedannuallythroughavertedhealthcostsifeveryoneinEnglandhadequalaccesstogreenspace.TheKingsFundReport(2016)alsosummarisesthefinancialevidenceofgardeningincludingthefollowingexamples:
• TheNewEconomicsFoundationestimatedthevalueoftheEcomindsprogramme(aprogrammesupportedbyMindtoofferoutdoorexperiencesincludinggardeningforthosewithmentalhealthproblems)forfiveparticipantstobearound£7,000eachthroughreducedNHScosts,welfarebenefitreductionsandincreasedtaxcontributions(NewEconomicsFoundation2014).
• Accesstogreenspacecanreducementalhealthadmissions,resultinginadditionalsavingsfortheNHS(Wheateretal2007).
• ThenationalevaluationoftheBritishTrustforConservationVolunteers(BTCV)GreenGymproject(Yerrell2008)between2005and2009estimatedthatforevery£1investedingreengyms,£2.55wouldbesavedintreatingillnessrelatedtophysicalinactivity.
• Benefitslinkedtohealthincludingcarbonstorage,floodalleviationandamenityvalue,valuedintotalatmorethan£130billion(Kentonetal2015).
The current picture Food growing in London
Capital Growth 73, a network of 2000 food growing projects in London, has been workingtosupportcommunityfoodgrowingprojectssince2008(seemapofprojectsatwww.capitalgrowth.org/spaces/).Duringthistimefoodgrowingprojectsinalltypesofpublicandprivatespaceshavebeendevelopedandthenumberscontinuetogrow,withallboroughsdevelopingarangeofgrowinginitiatives.
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base46
DuringthistimefoodgrowinghasalsobeensupportedwithintheLondonPlanandsubsequentlyfiltereddowntoLocalPlanlevel.
ResearchbyCapitalGrowthin2016found:
• 28ofthe33boroughssupportingcommunitygrowingwithintheirplanning policy
• 19of33boroughsreportingfoodgrowinginparks
TheapproachcouncilsacrossLondontaketowardsdevelopingfoodgrowingvariesandinmanycasesitischaracterisedbypartnershipswithvoluntarysectororlocalhousingproviders.Inotherareas,wherethesepartnershipsdonotexist,localauthoritieshavetakenaleadershiprole,settingupprojectsdirectlyandinmanycasesresponsibilityfordrivingfoodgrowingsitswithintheparks department.
Food growing in parks
Foodgrowinginparksisestablishedgoodpractice;thereareexamplesanda track record across the UK, with areas dedicated to growing food in parks ranging from local pocket parks to the Royal Parks Regents Park Allotment Garden.
Aslocalauthoritieslookfornewmodelsofmanagingparks,theprevalenceoffoodgrowingislikelytoincreaseduetothemultiplebenefitsthatthisactivitycanprovide.
TosupportthedevelopmentoftheParksandandOpenSpacesStrategyparkmasterplanningproject,over25parksinLondonandnationwidewerereviewed.Manyofthesewerefoundtooperategrowingprojectsinconjunctionwithparkbuildingswithpreviousamenityuses.TheseincludeMyattsField(LBLambeth),MayowPark(LBLewisham)andWalpolePark(LBEaling).RefertoTable8.1casestudy1.
Manyothergrowingprojectshavebeendevelopedonpreviouslyabandonedareas,reclaimingthem.ExamplesincludedLammasPark(LBEaling)andMaryonPark(LBLewisham).InanumberofouterLondonboroughsvoluntary-sectorledinitiativeshadbeensetupinex-councilnurseriesandgreenhousesnolongerrequiredbythecouncilcontractors.Thesehavebeenleasedtovoluntarysectortomanageascommunityresources,oftenwithanenterpriseelementincludingGrowingCommunities(LBHackneyandBarking&Dagenham),Organiclea(LBWalthamForest),EdibleLandscapes(LBHaringey)andSuttonCommunityFarm(LBSutton).RefertoTable8.2casestudy2.
Examples of food growing in parks with open access were found but were more commoninsmallerpocketparksthatareoverlookedbyresidentsorfocusing
onorchardsoredibleplantingwithintheparksplantingschemes.Itshouldbenotedthatevenwithinthesetypesofschemescommunityengagementisrequiredtoencouragegroupstoharvestandcarefortheplantsandtrees.Refer to Table 8.3 case study 3.
London Plan Policy 7.22 Land for food
Strategic
A The Mayor will seek to encourage and support thriving farming and land-based sectors in London, particularly in the Green Belt.
B Use of land for growing food will be encouraged nearer to urban communities via such mechanisms as ‘Capital Growth’.
LDF preparation
C Boroughs should protect existing allotments. They should identify other potential spaces that could be used for commercial food production or for community gardening, including for allotments and orchards. Particularly in inner and central London innovative approaches to the provision of spaces may need to be followed, these could include the use of green roofs. 74
Name of Park WalpolePark-WalledKitchenGardenType of Park Historic ornamental gardens and parkland of Pitzhanger ManorDescriptionofpark WalpoleParkisa12-hectarepublicpark;Grade2intheEnglishHeritageRegisterofparksandgardens.Theparkfacilitiesincludea
walledkitchengarden,alearningandeducationcentre,anewplayground,greenopenspaces,plusacaféandtoiletfacilities.
Therestorationworkinthewalledkitchengardenincludedreplantingmanyheritagevarietiesoffruitandvegetables.Thenewgardenismaintainedundertheguidanceoftheparkmanagerbytwosite-basedgardeners.
Descriptionoflocalarea Walpole Park is located at the edge of Ealing Broadway behind Pitzhanger ManorWho runs it Redbridge Council
House(PitzhangerManor&GalleryTrust)Organisation Drop-ingardeningsessionsEveryThursday10am-12pm,WalledGarden,WalpolePark.Funding HeritageLotterFund/EalingCouncilUsers Horticulturestudents,volunteersandcommunitygroups
Table 8.1 - Case study: Walpole Park, LB Ealing
Name of Park MaryonPark–RBGreenwichType of Park Smallurbanpark–excouncilnurseryDescriptionofpark Formerly a quarry, it was once part of the estate of the Maryon Wilson family, former Lords of the Manor of Charlton. This large,
hillywoodedsiteoverlookstheThameswiththeGreenChainWalkrunningthroughit.Descriptionoflocalarea Royal Borough of GreenwichWho runs it FriendofMaryonandMaryonWilsonParksvolunteersOrganisation MaryonParkCommunityGardenisanot-for-profitvoluntarycommunityproject.TheFriendsofMaryonandMaryonWilsonParks
arealocalvoluntarycommunitygroupwhohaveaninterestintheparksandtwoassociatedgreenspacesintheofNorthCharlton.
Thecommunitygardenwassetupon2011ontheabandonednurseryforsurroundingpark.Itismanagedbyacommitteeelectedbytheplotholdersandgardenvolunteers.MaryonParkCommunityGardenwasestablishedbytheFriendsbutisnowrunasaindependentnot-for-profit,councilrecognisedcommunitygroup.TheFriendsregularlyhelptocleartheparkoflitterandrubbishandestablishspecialprojectsincludingthe‘MaryonParkCommunityGarden’anda‘WildLifeMeadow’inMaryonWilsonParks
TheCommunityGardenprovidesraisedgrowingplotsforlocalpeoplewhodonothavegardensorforwhomgardeningcanhavehealthbenefitsandlocalretiredpeople
Funding TheFriendsofMaryonParks,withthehelpofGroundworkandgrantsfromCapitalGrowthandtheOlympicgreenheritagefundTransform, transformed the abandoned Maryon Park plant nursery into a Community Food Growing Garden. The work started in April 2102, the garden opened in April 2013.
Table 8.2 - Case study: Maryon Park, RB Greenwich
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 47
8.8 FOOD GROWING IN BARKING & DAGENHAMThe borough has supported the principle of food growing as part of the Capital Growthcampaign,throughpolicyandthroughdevelopingpracticalprojectsfora number of years.
The council worked with the Capital Growth campaign to support the demand fornewfoodgrowingprojectsandasaresulttheset-upofnewfoodgrowingsites in the borough, which was consistent with the demand shown from other outerLondonboroughsinthistime.Intotal42projectshavebeenregisteredwiththeinitiativesince2009witharound20currentlyregisteredasactiveonthemap(seePlanJSA-L700&JSA-L701).
Simultaneously the demand for allotments in the borough has grown, as in mostLondonareas,andcurrentlynearlyallsitesoperateawaitinglistwhichthecouncilhasmadeeffortstoreduce.Thecouncilhavealsoworkedtocreatesomenewsiteswithintheboroughandtore-locateothersites,whicharenowall independently managed.
Morerecentlyintheboroughanumberofmoreestablishedvoluntary/thirdsectororganisationshavesupportednewinitiativesintheboroughincluding:
• GrowingCommunitieswww.growingcommunities.org• TreesforCitieswww.treesforcities.org• TheOrchardProjectwww.theorchardproject.org.uk• Company Drinks www.companydrinks.info
Theseorganisationshaveconsiderableexperienceandaccesstoresourcesandexpertise,andprovideagreatwaytobuildthelocalcapacityofresidentstogetinvolvedandinthelongerterm,toleadonparkfoodgrowinginitiatives.
Current provision and demandThemapbelowshowsthedistributionoffoodgrowingprojectswithintheborough.Foodgrowinginitiativesarecurrentlyinplaceinthefollowingparks.Potentialexiststoextendtheseoperationsandtodevelopinitiativesinotherparks.
Central Park GrowingCommunitiestookoverthissitein2011andnowrunasuccessfulbranch of their social enterprise, which produces organic food for sale as well asprovidingtrainingandlearningopportunities.
Barking ParkThisparkhasanorchardwhichrecentlyhasrequiredsignificantmaintenancedeliveredthroughtrainingprogrammesledbyTheOrchardProject.InadditionCompanyDrinkshavetakenoverthePavilionwhichtheywilluseaspartoftheirsocial enterprise, making drinks from foraged ingredients.
St Chads ParkAneworchard/woodlandareahasbeenplannedandplantinghasbegun,ledbyTreesforCities.
Valence ParkAdemonstrationfoodgardenhasbeendevelopedhereaspartofthewiderHeritageLotteryFundproject,whichiscoordinatedbytheRangersServiceandinvolveslocalvolunteersinthemaintenance.
Opportunity and considerations for food growing within the borough’s parksTherearedifferentwaystocharacterisefoodgrowingandeachoftheseoffersdifferentopportunitiesforparks.ThefollowingTable8.4setsoutthekeyissuesandthissectiongoesontotodiscussthekeyissuesthathavebeenusedtoassesssuitabilityforfoodgrowingfortheborough’sparks.Thistypologyisnotexhaustiveandtheelementsarenotmutuallyexclusivebutcansupportdecision-makingintermsofthetypeofgrowingactivitythatcouldbedevelopedforeachsite.
AccessMostsuccessfulgrowingprojectsrequirealevelofrestrictedaccessorprotectiontoenablevolunteerstobenefitfromtheharvestandalsotogiveaccesstowater,shelterandamenities.Whilerestrictingaccesstechnicallylimitsopenaccess,italsocreatesbenefitsforthoserunningandusingtheprojectsandisessentialforcommercialfoodproduction.Manylimitedaccessprojectsareoftenabletoopentheirsitesforvisitorsduringparkopeninghours,ifstaffareavailabletounlock.
Giventhesizeoftheborough’sparks,limitingaccessmeansthatlimitingaccesstoprovideahighqualityamenity,wouldhavealimitedimpactonaccesstogreenspace.Thebenefitsoflimitingaccesswouldalsobeseenbythoseusingthesite,andanyagreementcouldensurethatopendaysand‘opendoor’policies were put in place by those using the site.
Thereisalsoscopetoattachprotectedsitestoanyneworexistingbuildingswithinparkspaces.ThisapproachcouldincludeEastEndCountryParkcafé,andthebowlingPavilionsiteinCentralParkandBarkingPark.
Where it is not appropriate to create protected or limited access growing space, thedevelopmentoforchardsandedibleplantingisamoreviableoption.ThisiscurrentlytheapproachadoptedinStChadsandGreatfieldsPark.
Community capacity and partnership opportunitiesTheboroughdoesnotcurrentlyhavealargenumberofcommunitygroupswiththe capacity to take on to take on the management of land and open spaces. Converselyitdoeshaveastrongandgrowingdemandforlandtogrowfoodandaninterestindevelopingtheseprojects.Thisisevidencedbythegrowingdemandforallotments,thenumberofgroupsthathavetriedtostartfoodgrowing projects. This interest is in part a consequence of the success of the GrowingCommunitiesDagenhamFarmprojectwhichhasseenhighnumberofparticipationintheirstructuredprogramme.
Tosupportgreatercommunityinvolvementinmanagingfoodgrowingprojects,capacity could be built in a structured way through the leadership of third sectororganisationsandthecouncilindevelopingprojects.Thisapproachiscurrentlybeingadoptedatthefollowingsites:
• BarkingParkOrchard–theOrchardProjecthasruntrainingsessions.• BarkingParkPavilionandotherparkforaging–ledbyCompanyDrinks.• StChadsOrchard–recentlyfacilitatedbyTreesforCities.
Name of Park AbbeyGardens–LBNewhamType of Park Small urban park on historic monument siteDescriptionofpark In2006agroupoflocalresidentsformedFriendsofAbbeyGardenstorescuethederelictsitefromvandalismandneglect.Thesoil
wasfoundtobecontaminated,butwithtimeandeffortthissetbackwasovercomeandanartistdesignedshared‘harvestgarden’wascreatedin30longraisedbedsoverthe80by20Msite.
Anyoneiswelcometoparticipateinthesharedgrowingofflowers,fruitandvegetables.Thegroupteachesfoodgrowingandgardeningskills,provideslocallygrownproducesharedcommunallyandpromoteshealthandwellbeing.
ThegroupnowensuresthatAbbeyGardenscontinuestobeusedandmanagedbylocalpeopleasanopen-accesssiteandharvestgardenwhichimprovesthelocalenvironment,helpstobuildastrongercommunity,givespeopleanunderstandingoflocallygrownfoodandservesasavenueforculturalevents.Thegroupholdsregularfreeevents,includingaSummerFairandaHarvestFestival.
Local Authority NewhamWho runs it Friends of Abbey GardensOrganisation FundingreceivedfromNewhamCouncil,People’sHealthTrust,ChilternSeedsandtheHealthLottery.Funding Localpeople,culturalevents,workshops
Table 8.3 - Case study: Abbey Gardens, B Newham
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base48
• CentralParknursery–takenoverbyGrowingCommunitiesDagenhamFarm.
• TheRangerService–facilitatestheValenceHouseallotmentproject.
Theseorganisationsoffersignificantpotentialpartnershipsforthecouncil,thatcanhelptodevelopfoodgrowinginitiativesinparksandbuildontheaspirationsoutlinedintheparkmasterplans.
ResourcesTheinvestmentneededforphysicalinfrastructuretocreatefoodgrowingprojectsisrelativelylowincomparisonwithotherparkuses,andvariousgrantsareavailabletocoverthesestart-upcosts.Abiggerchallengeisfindingwaystoresourcetheupkeepofthesitesandtofundstaffingandmaintenancecosts.Opportunitiestoresourceanincreaseinfoodgrowingacrosstheboroughinclude:
Volunteers and volunteer led groups
Usingvolunteersandcommunitygroupsisonewaytoreducepaidstaffcosts,butgiventhelowlevelofvolunteeringcapacityacrosstheborough,thisisarelativelyhigh-riskapproach.Volunteerrunprojectsinlargeparkscouldcreateconflictintermsofuseofproduceandwouldrequireadefinedagreementdefiningresponsibilityofsitemaintenance.Inthelongertermtheseprojectswould be more suited to smaller parks.
Council led schemes
In many boroughs and in Barking and Dagenham, there are projects that are led orfacilitatedbythecouncil.TheroleofthecouncilvariesacrossLondon,butinBarkingandDagenham,thisroleispartoftheRangersServiceremit.
Community & social enterprise
Thecouncilalreadybenefitsfromtwosocial/communityenterprisesthattradefoodandproductstogenerateincomefromtheiractivities.Increasingcommunityandsocialenterpriseintheboroughandprovidingcontinuedopportunitieswithinparks,isagoodwaytoresourcetheseactivities.GrowingCommunitiesusethesaleoftheirproducetofundtheirheadgrower,althoughitshouldbenotedthattheadditionalactivitiesthatprovideeducationalandotheroutcomesstillrequiregrantfunding.Ifproduceistobesoldatalevelthatgeneratessignificantincomeitisusuallyimportantthatthereislimitedaccesstothesesites.Otheropportunitiesalsoexisttoaddvaluetotheproduceharvest.ThisistheCompanyDrinksmodel(theproductionofsoftdrinksusinggrownandforagedproduce).ThismodelisalsobeingdevelopedbytheOrchardProjectwhichproducesapplejuiceandcider.
London-wide initiatives
TherearemanyLondonwideorganisationsthataccessfundingtosetupgrowingprojectswithinparksandmanyofthesehavedevelopedmodelstocontinuetheinvolvementofcommunitygroups.Theseorganisationsareabletodraw down funding from other sources, but it should be noted that long term maintenance and exit strategies for when the funding ends are important.
Name Detail Benefits Limitations Potentialpartners1.Edibleplanting&productivelandscapes
Edibles plants incorporated into existingplantingandmaintenanceschemes
Low maintenance, long term costBuildsa‘culture’offoodgrowingLends itself to foraging and walking groups
LimitededucationalopportunitiesLess engagement
Walking GroupCompany Drinks
2.Orchard/ForestGarden(e.g.BarkingPark)
Plantingoffruittrees,canincludeperennialunderplantingofedibleplants
Provideopportunityforcommunity engagementCan be open accessMorevarietyoffoodgrowing
Varietiesrequirecarefulselectionandmaintenance planTake a number of years to produce harvest
TheOrchardProjectTreesforCities
3.Openaccesseducationalgrowingprojects
These projects would be run by groupororganisationtodemonstratebenefitsoffoodgrowing,typesplants. Oftenholdregularvolunteerdays
HavepotentialforwiderreachGoodengagementtool/developcapacity/skillsEncourageparticipation
Require resources to set up and runOpentothe‘elements’(human&animal)e.g.vandalism/interferenceHarvestcanbetakensolimitedbenefitforvolunteers
OrchardProjectTreesforCitiesLBBD
4. Gated growing projects–educational(e.g.ValenceHouse)
Runbygroupororganisationtodemonstrate health and other benefitsoffoodgrowing.Regularaccessbutunlikeaboveaccessislimited or the site is gated.
Canoftenbe‘open’formostofthetimeWorkswellinconjunctionwith a facility or building
RequiresinvestmentRemoveslandfrompublicusealthough requirements for open days can be built in
Company DrinksLBBDCommunity groups
5.Productivegrowing* (e.g.CentralPark)
Growing spaces are larger scale to enablesignificantharvestthatcanbesold.Projects would be gated, with access through open days.Runbypaidstaffwithexperiencebutopportunity for training.
Generaterevenuetohelpwith sustainability.Providehealthy,locallyproduced
Needscapitalinvestment.Mostfood‘sold’althoughmanysocialenterprises will encourage residents to buy.Access has to be structured e.g. volunteeringschemes,canrequireopen days
Growing Communities
6.GatedGrowing–individualplots
Small allotments allocated to individualsorgroups
Generate limited income Removeslandfrompublicusealthough requirements for open days can be built in
AllotmentSocieties
*Note:purelycommercialfoodproductionwithinparklandwouldrequiresignificantlandtocreateenoughyield,infrastructureforprocessingandwouldbenotaccessibletothepublic,limitinghealth,socialandcommunityactivity.CreatingprofitableprimaryproductionfoodbusinesseswithinLondonischallengingduetolandandhousingpricesandthereforetheyarenotrecommendedordiscussedwithinthisdocument,astheywouldrequiresignificantfeasibilityandconsultation.Insteadthefocusisonsocialenterprisemodels.
Table 8.4 - Relationship between categories of food growing and opportunities for parks
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 49
NOTES65 *SchmutzU.,etal(2014).Thebenefitsofgardeningandfoodgrowing
forhealthandwellbeing.GardenOrganicandSustain.[online]www.growinghealth.info
66 http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/category/6502695238107136
67 https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/sites/files/kf/field/field_publication_file/Gardens_and_health.pdf
68 https://www.sustainweb.org/growinghealth/evidence/
69 Growing Success
70 https://www.sustainweb.org/publications/capital_growth_monitoring_survey_2013/?section=
71 http://www.foodgrowingschools.org/resources/files/FGSL_InterimReport_2016_v2.pdf
72 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204612003209
73 PartofSustain;theallianceforbetterfoodandfarming
74 https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/planning/london-plan/current-london-plan/london-plan-chapter-seven-londons-living-spac-23
Links with other key themesItisworthnotingthattheinclusionoffoodgrowinginthemasterplansfortheborough’sparkscrossreferencewithinitiativesforplayandevents.Informaland natural play can be realised in food growing areas, in food growing and edibleplantingareasandusedbyparentsforinformalplayactivities.
Similarlyaprogrammeforeventscanfocusonandutiliseexistingfoodgrowinginitiatives.Thiscandeveloplocalinvolvementinexistinginitiativesorstimulateanappetitefornewones.ExamplesofthiscanbeseeninotherLondonparks,such as the popular Walthamstow Garden Party in Lloyds Park, where food and foodgrowinghasbecomeanimportantthemealongsidemusicandcreativeactivities.
RECOMMENDATIONS
General recommendations• Opportunitiesforfoodgrowingprojectswithinlargerparksshouldbe
identifiedparticularlythosethatcouldprovideprotectedorlimitedaccessinordertoincreasescopeforincomegenerationandvolunteering.
• Parkplansshouldbeflexiblesothatthereisanopportunitytobuildintoplansandanyparkdevelopments,sothereisopportunitytorespondtogrowing demand in the future and adapt.
• Edibleplantingshouldbeincorporatedwithinterpretationandsignagetoencourage park users to interact with the scheme.
• Demandforstructuredfoodgrowingopportunitieswithinparksshouldbemetthroughdevelopmentandbuildingpartnershipswithsocialenterpriseandvoluntaryorganisationsthathavealreadystartedtoworkintheborough.
• Opportunitiestosupportsocialenterprisesandcommunityenterprisesthatutilisefoodproduction,shouldbeidentified.
• Discussions with public health and local health partnerships, should considerthepotentialforsocialprescribingandcommissioningtolinktoparkbasedgrowingactivities.
• Linksshouldbemadebetweendevelopmentofplay,eventsandfoodgrowingtobuildonthestrongassetsdevelopingwithintheborough.
Specific recommendations• FurtheropportunitieswithinCentralPark,includingthePavilion,shouldbe
exploredtobuildonthesuccessfulGrowingCommunitiesDagenhamFarmand to make this park an exemplar of food growing within London.
• AnewgrowingareashouldbedevelopedwithintheOldDagenhamPark,workinginpartnershipwithavoluntarysectorpartnershipandlocalresidents.
• Aplanforcurrentandneworchards(includingStChadsandBarkingPark)isdevelopedtoensureagoodselectionofspecies,maintenanceandaprogramme of community engagement.
• Incorporationofsaladandherbbedsshouldbeexploredaspartofthecaféprovision/picnicareainEastbrookEndCountryPark.
• FoodgrowingareasareencouragedaspartoftheevolvingmasterplanforatBarkingParkPavilion.
• ResidentsandvolunteersinvolvedinGreatfieldsParkshouldbeconsultedabouttheinclusionofedibleplantsintothecurrentflowerbeds.
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base50
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 51
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base52
OUTDOOR PLAYING PITCH PROVISION IN BARKING AND DAGENHAM
99.1 PLAYING PITCH STRATEGYLondon Borough of Barking and Dagenham Pitch Strategy 2016 guides the futureprovisionandmanagementofsportspitchesandoutdoorsportsfacilitiesintheBarkingandDagenhamareainthecontextofnationalpolicyandlocalsportsdevelopmentcriteria.ThestrategyupdatesthepreviousPlayingPitchStrategyproducedin2005.Thenewreportprovidesanuptodateassessmentofthesupplyanddemandforplayingpitches(grassandartificial)whichservethefollowingcoresports:football,rugbyunion,cricketandhockey.
9.1.1 Football SummaryThesupplyoffacilitiesdedicatedtomini-footballispoorintermsofquantity.Thereisanoversupplyofadultpitchesandthesepitchesshouldbere-markedas pitches for youth and mini football to meet growing demand in this area.
Therearespecificsiteissues,drivenpredominantlybyoveruse,unauthoriseduse and problems with drainage and maintenance regimes. There are also issuesatthosesiteswithancillaryaccommodationthatneedtobeaddressedacrosstheboroughbutparticularlyatkeysites.
ParsloesParkhasbeenidentifiedasastrategicfootballhubduetothesignificantnumberofpitchesandteamsthatuseitasahomeground.Thereisaconsiderableneedforthissitetoservicetheneedsofadultfootballteamsintheborough.However,issuessuchasunauthoriseduse,poorcarparkingandverypoorancillaryfacilitiesmustbeaddressed.
Pitchqualityisaproblemacrosstheboroughwithmanyclubsreportingthattheconditionofpitchesisdeteriorating,notimproving.Councilpitchesinparticularneedtodemonstrateimprovementstomaintenanceregimesandmarking/seeding,andbegintoinvestinbetterdrainagesystems.
TheFAwouldliketheCouncil,throughthedeliveryofthisstrategy,toplaceagreateremphasisonprotectingthequalityofpitchsurfacesthrough,lowlevelfences and other measures to protect pitches from dog walkers and people riding across them on motorbikes and bicycles.
ValenceParkhasbeenidentifiedasasitethatcouldaccommodatefurtherpitches,whichwouldbewelcomewiththeexpectedincreaseinteamsaffiliatedwith Valence United FC.
One3Gisknowntobeintheplanningprocessatthe“AcademyofDreams”developmentatManorRoadSportsGround.TheCouncilwouldalsobekeentosee3GpitchprovisionatParsloesPark.
9.1.2 Cricket summaryThereisalowerlevelofcricketparticipationinBarkingandDagenhamthanmightbeexpectedfromnationaldatasuchasthe“ActivePeople”survey.Thismayinpartbeexplainedbyacomparativeunder-supplyoffacilitiesleadinginturntoplayershavingtoplayoutsidetheborough.
There is a high number of wickets at the Eastbrook May and Baker sports club, which are unlikely to be all playable each season.
There are only three cricket clubs in the borough. The England Cricket Board carriedoutaNationalPlayerSurveythatcapturedthedemographicprofile
ofitsparticipants.Itevidencedthat30%ofthecricketplayingpopulationisdrawnfromtheSouthAsianCommunity.EastLondonboroughsareheavilyrepresented in this segment.
Thereisaneedtosecureadditionalfacilitiesthroughtheparksdevelopmentand masterplanning processes to encourage these groups and teams to developfurther.
AncillaryfacilitiesandparticularlychangingroomssuchasStChad’sParkpavilionareinneedofrefurbishment.
9.1.3 Rugby Union summaryThere is an undersupply of rugby pitches in the borough that equates to a deficitoftwopitchesforadultsand16pitchesforjuniors.Existingpitchesneedtobeprotected,carryingcapacityimprovedwherepossibleatexistingpitchesandalsoandopportunitiescreatedfortrainingon3Gpitchestoreducepressure on grass pitches.
Thereisasignificantshortageofjuniorrugbypitchesandcriticallythereisno single rugby site in the borough that can cater for both seniors and junior sections(duetoinadequatechangingfacilities),whichmeansmostclubshavetoseparatetrainingsessionsacrossmulti-sites.Thislackofcapacitycanaffectaclub’sappealandsustainability.
CentralPark’sfacilitieshavebeenidentifiedaspoorandinneedofrefurbishment to support the growing needs of Dagenham RFC. The club also needs more pitches.
Thereneedstobesignificantimprovementstomaintenanceandsiltdrainagesystemstoimproveplayingsurfaces.
9.1.4 Hockey summaryTherearetwoactiveclubsintheboroughandevidenceofariseinpopularityfor the sport locally.
9.1.5 Tennis summaryThereissomeevidencetosupportlatentdemandfortennisandpotentialclubmembershipandthisshouldbeaddressedthroughaTennisDevelopmentPlan.
Thereisalackofawarenessaboutcurrentfacilitiesandopportunitiestoparticipateintennis,andthereexistsastrongperceptionthatparticipatingintennisisexpensive,andlikelytocostmorethanmembersofthepublicwouldbe willing to pay.
Itisrecommendedthatthecouncilseekstoidentifyfundingtoresurfacethefollowingcourtsand/orreplacementofnetsandrepair/replacefencing:
• BarkingPark–2courtsonly• Central Park• St Chads Park• OldDagenhamPark• GreatfieldsPark
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 53
ThepreviousTennisDevelopmentPlanhighlightedthepotentialissuesoflackofaccesstoaffordabletennisracquetsandballs.AsimplehireschemerunningoutoffacilitiesatBarkingParkandotherparksitessuchasCentralParkcouldaddressthisissue.Thisinitiativecouldlinktoatennisequipmentdonationschemewhichcouldredistributeequipmenttopotentialusers.75
9.2 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OUTDOOR PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY (OPPS)ThefindingsandrecommendationsoftheOutdoorPlayingPitchStrategy(OPPS)havelargelybeenincorporatedintotheninemasterplanspreparedaspartoftheParksandOpenSpacesStrategy(POSS).
Table9.1setsouthowtherecommendationswithintheOPSShavebeenimplementedinthePOSS.
As part of the masterplanning process, all sports clubs listed as consultees withintheadoptedOPPSandwereinvitedtoreviewthePOSSandspecificparkmasterplansatthefollowingevents:
• GeneralPOSSconsultations BarkingLibrary:March18th DagenhamLibrary:March25th
• Masterplanconsultations AbbeyGreen,BarkingPark,GreatfieldsParkandMayesbrookPark- BarkingLibrary:April20th CentralPark,EastbrookendPark,OldDagenhamPark,StChad’sPark, ValencePark–DagenhamLibrary:April27th.
CommentsreceivedfromattendeesandparticipantshavebeenincorporatedintothefinalrevisionsofparkmasterplanincludedintheParksandOpenSpaces strategy.
Park OPPSrecommendations POSSdeliverythroughmasterplanningAbbey Green N/A N/ABarking • Reduce football pitches by 1no.
• Providenewcricketsquare• 2 No. adult football pitches for use by Euro Dagenham FC• 1 new cricket square
Central • Reduceadultfootballpitchesby1no,YouthPitchesby4noand mini pitches by 2 no.
• Providenewcricketsquare• Providenewjuniorrugbypitches
• Provide2no.juniorrugbypitches• Providenewcricketsquare• Re-furbishtenniscourts• Providenewpavilionbuilding
Eastbrookend N/A N/AGreatfields N/A • Upgrade tennis courts
• ProvidecasualsportsopportunitiesMayesbrook • Reduce adult football pitches by 3 no.
• Increase mini pitches by 3 no. • Reduce adult football pitches by 3 no. • Increase mini pitches by 3 no.
OldDagenham • Reduce adult pitches by 4 no. • Add 1 no. mini pitch
• Reduce adult pitches by 4 no. • Add 1 no. mini pitch
Parsloes • Developsiteasfootballhubwith3Gandenhancedsupportingfacilites
• Reduce adult football pitches• Increaseminipitchprovision• Promotecricketdevelopment• Re-surfacetenniscourts
• Developfootballhubwithtwono.3Gpitchesandsupportingfacilities.
• Retain7existinggrasspitches,possiblyre-markasminpitches.
StChad’s • Reduce adult football pitches by 2 no. • Add 1 no. mini pitch
• Reduce adult football pitches by 2 no. • Add 1 no. mini pitch• Upgradeorere-purposepavilion• Re-providetenniscourts
Valence N/A • Seekfundingforpavilionrefurbishment
Table 9.1
NOTES75 PlayingPitchStrategyReport-App.1
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base54
CORPORATE NATURAL CAPITAL ACCOUNTING IN BARKING AND DAGENHAM
1010.1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY10.1.1 IntroductionIncommonwithallLondonlocalauthorities,theLondonBoroughofBarkingandDagenhamrecognisesthehugecontributionmadebygreeninfrastructureto the wellbeing of its residents and the success of its economy.
TheLondonBoroughofBarkingandDagenham(LBBD)isoneofthefirstLondon Boroughs to produce a Corporate Natural Capital Account for its parks andopenspaces.Theaccounthasbeendevelopedusingthequalityandvalueassessmentdataofthesespacesassembledfortheborough’sParksandOpenSpaces Strategy.
BarkingandDagenhamisfacingsomesignificantissues.Thepopulationoftheboroughissettoincreaseby48%overthenext20years.Muchofthisnewpopulationwillbeaccommodatedinhighdensityhousingofferinglittleornoaccesstoprivatespace.Thiswillplaceanincreasinglevelofdemandontheborough’sexistinggreeninfrastructureassets.Healthstatisticsintheboroughpresentseveralchallengesandthecapacityofgreenspacetosupportpositiveoutcomes for health has been well established.
BarkingandDagenham’sgreeninfrastructureassetswillbeplacedundersignificantadditionalpressuretodeliverarangeofeconomic,socialandenvironmentalbenefitsatatimewhenbudgetsthataimtosustainthecapacity
oftheseassetstodeliverbenefitsisunderpressure.TheCorporateNaturalCapital Account for Barking and Dagenham has the capacity to demonstrate the enormousvalueoftheborough’sopenspacesforthewell-beingofresidents.Thetotalvalueofbenefitsaccruingfromtheseassetsisestimatedatmorethan£400millioninperpetuity.Thecostsofmaintainingtheseopenspacesareestimatedat£100millionoverthesameperiod.GreenInfrastructureassetsthusdeliverafourfoldreturnoninvestment.Thissimpleequationprovidesabusinesscaseforinvestmentingreeninfrastructure.
10.1.2 Background – Natural Capital AccountingNatural capital refers to the stock of natural assets, such as parks and open spacesthatprovideeconomic,socialandenvironmentalbenefitstopeople.TheNaturalCapitalCommitteehasdevelopedaCorporateNaturalCapitalAccounting(CNCA)frameworktocapturethefinancialvalueofnaturalcapitalassetsandtoquantifythecostsofsustainingthesebenefitsovertime.TheCorporateNaturalCapitalAccountprovidesabalancesheetthatshowsthebenefitsprovidedbynaturalcapitalagainstthecostofmaintainingthem.ProductionofaCorporateNaturalCapitalAccountisinlinewiththerecommendationsfromtheNaturalCapitalCommittee’sfourthreportthat“..the government should actively promote corporate natural capital valuation, accounting and reporting; local Authorities and major infrastructure providers should ensure that natural capital is protected and improved”(pg.4)(NaturalCapitalCommittee,2017).
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 55
10.1.3 What natural capital assets do LB Barking and Dagenham own?BarkingandDagenhamownsandmanagesover460hectaresofnaturalcapitalassets,withafurther90hectarescomingonstreamthroughtheborough’semergingregenerationschemes.AsshowninFigure10.1,theassetscoverawide range of habitat types, but the majority of this is amenity and neutral grasslandandwoodland.RefertoplanA1763-JSA-L005(pg.58).
10.1.4 What benefits do these assets provide to people?BarkingandDagenham’snaturalcapitalassetsproduceessentialbenefitsforresidentsandtherestofsociety.Theseopenspacesimprove:
• Air quality by absorbing pollutants. • Thelocalclimatebycoolingduringheatwaves.• Resiliencetofloodingbyslowingwaterflows.• Waterqualitybyfilteringwater.• Opportunitiesforoutdoorrecreationinmorenaturalenvironments.• Habitat for a broad range of species.
ThesebenefitsmaketheBoroughamoreattractiveplacetoliveandwork.Accesstogoodqualitygreenspacehasapositiveinfluenceonphysicalandmentalhealth,socialcohesionandeducationalattainment,andsupportstheprosperityoftowncentres.Allofthebenefitshaveafinancialvalue.
BenefitscapturedwithintheCNCAforBarkingandDagenhaminclude:• Recreation:Nearly3millionvisitsaremadetoBarking and Dagenham
greenspaces each year• Physicalhealthbenefits:Nearly1.5millionvisitsinvolvephysicalactivity
thatcontributestomeetinghealthguidelines(over30minutesandof,atleast,moderateintensity)
Climateregulation:Barking and Dagenham’swoodlandandgrasslandsequesterover500tonnesofCO2equivalenteachyear.
10.1.5 What are the benefits worth in monetary terms each year?Thevalueofbenefitsdeliveredbynaturalcapitalassetsisestimatedtobe£419m:thisincludesthevalueofrecreationalvisitstogreenspaces,physicalhealthbenefits(avoidedhealthcosts)supportedbygreenspaces,andclimateregulation(carbonsequestration)benefits.Thesebenefitsrepresentexternalvaluesarisingtotherestofsociety,ratherthanfinancialvaluestotheCouncilitself.
Usingavailabledataandvaluationevidence,thisreportestimatesthemonetaryvalueofsomeofthelargestbenefitsthatnaturalcapitalassetswithinBarkingandDagenhamprovide.Theseinclude:
• Recreation:VisitsmadetoBarking and Dagenhamgreenspaceshaveanestimatedvalueofover£11mperyear.
• Physicalhealthbenefits:Thevalue(throughtheavoidedhealthcostsofinactivity)ofthephysicalactivitysupportedbyBarking and Dagenham’sgreenspacesisnearly£2mperyear.
• Climateregulation:CarbonsequesteredbyBarking and Dagenham’swoodlandandgrasslandisvaluedatover£30,000peryear.
Itisreasonabletoexpectthebenefitsabovetobedeliveredtoatleasttheselevelspermanentlyandconsistentlyovertimeandwhenvaluedinperpetuityareworth£419m.Thisisthefigurethatisusedfortheirvaluationinthebalance sheet below.
Whilesignificant,thesevaluesarepartial,andlikelytobeasignificantunderestimateofthetotalvalueoftotalbenefits.Theyomitservicessuchasairqualityregulationandfloodriskreduction,andinparticularmentalhealthbenefits.Thefullmeasurementofhealthbenefitsisconsideredamajorgapinthe current natural capital account for two reasons.
First,itislikelythatmanyvisitorstogreenspaces(notonlythosewhoactivelyengagein30minsofexerciseofatleastmoderateintensity),aregainingphysicalhealthbenefitsthroughexposuretonaturalenvironments.Secondly,itcanbereasonablyassumedthatthementalhealthbenefitsarelikelytobeassignificant,ifnotmoresignificant,thanphysicalhealthbenefits.Asignificantamountofevidencesuggeststhatexposureandaccesstothenaturalenvironmentcanproducepositivementalhealthbenefitsincludingstressreductionandmentalhealthpromotion(e.g.eftec&CRESR,2013;UKNEA,2014;Gascon,2015),theprovisionofopportunitiestoengageinmental-healthenhancingphysicalactivity(e.g.Hunteretal.,2015;Lachowycz&Jones,2011)andtheencouragementofpositivesocialinteractionsandenhancementofcommunitycohesion(e.g.Holtanetal.,2014;Weinsteinetal.2015).WhilementalillnessesrepresentthelargestcategoryofNHS‘disease’
expenditureintheUK,thequantifiedevidencetomeasurethementalhealthbenefitsofexposuretothenaturalenvironmentandestimateitsvalue,remainsunderdeveloped..
10.1.6 What does it cost to maintain these monetary benefits?WorkingwithLBBD’sfinanceofficers,thecoststothecouncilofmaintainingthenaturalassetsitownshavebeenestimated.Themaintenancecostaccounthas been prepared on the basis of the total costs required to maintain all the servicesprovidedbyparksandopenspaces,includingoperating,cleaningandmaintainingbuildingsandfixedassets(e.g.playgroundequipment)aswellasnaturalelementssuchaswoodsandgrassland.Thetablebelowprovidesabreakdown of costs by type.
Theestimateof£3.4misanannualmaintenancecostinperpetuityequatingtoanongoingliabilityof£108minpresentvalueterms.Thisistheestimatedtotal cost of maintaining the natural capital in parks and green spaces into the future.Thesemaintenancecostscoverthewholeboroughandrepresenttheon-goingmaintenanceliabilityonthebalancesheet.
10.1.7 Natural capital balance sheet for LB Barking and DagenhamTheestimatedbenefitsprovidedbyopenspacesinLBBDandthecostsofmaintaining them are shown in a natural capital balance sheet. The capitalised values76arepresentedinpresentvalueterms,discounted(usingHMTreasury-recommendeddiscountratesover100yrs)andincludingaresidualvalueelementforbenefitsbeyond100years.RefertoTable10.2.
10.1.8 Conclusions and recommendationsThe CNCA for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham highlights the significantvaluesdeliveredbytheborough’sgreeninfrastructureassets.Italsoorganisesdataaboutopenspacesintoanaccountingframeworkthatcanbeupdatedeachyear,linkingphysicalassetstotheirbenefitsandeconomicvalues,andmaintenancecosts.
Fig.10.1-LBBDPark&OpenSpaceAreabyHabitatType
Expenditure AnnualCost(£m)Payroll related 1.5Grounds maintenance 1.0Recharges 0.2Depreciation 0.2Misc & other costs 0.4Total £3.4mNote:Resultsforeachexpenditurehavebeenrounded,andsomaynotaddto total.
Table 10.1 - Breakdown of costs by type
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base56
River Roding
Goresbrook
Beam River
Parks and open spaces
Green Belt
Development Sites
All London Green Grid Strategic River Corridors
Barking and Dagenham District Park Strategic Link
Local Park Neighbourhood Green Links
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 57
Thisisthefirstattemptatanaturalcapitalaccountfortheentireborough.Asaresult,therearelikelytobeopportunitiesforfurtherlearningandrefinementoftheaccountandtoexpandtheaccounttocoveradditionalbenefits,suchasimprovementstoairqualityandfloodriskreduction.However,theexistingresultsshowthatevenwithoutvaluationofallimportantbenefits,thevaluesdeliveredbyopenspacesaresubstantial,withnetbenefitsbeingapproximatelyfourtimesthecostofmaintenance.
Thebroadrangeofbenefitsaccruingtosocietyfromnaturalcapitalincitiessuch as London are now understoodatagreaterlevelofdetailthaneverbefore.Naturalcapitaldatawillinformfuturestrategicdecision-makingaroundplanning,regenerationandhealthpromotion.ThisCNCAprovidesatemplateforfutureworkbylocalauthoritiesintheassessmentofthevalueoftheirgreeninfrastructureassets.Equippedwiththisbestpracticeguidance,landmanagerswillhavearobustevidencebasetosupportthefuturemanagementof natural capital assets.
10.2 INTRODUCTIONThisreportpresentsaCorporateNaturalCapitalAccount(CNCA)oftheparksandopenspacesoftheLondonBoroughofBarking&Dagenham(LBBD).TheCNCAaimstoprovideLBBDwithanimprovedunderstandingofthevalueoftheseareastoitsresidents,inordertosupportbetterdecisionsabouttheirfuture management.
10.2.1 BackgroundLBBD’snaturalcapital,alsoreferredtoasgreeninfrastructure77,isasignificantcontributor to sustaining Barking & Dagenham as a healthy place in which to live,andasanattractiveplaceforworkandbusiness.Inordertomaximisethebenefitsaccruingfromgreeninfrastructure,theCouncilisintheprocessofreviewingandupdatingitsParksandOpenSpacesStrategy(POSS).
Increased public budget pressures suggest that future management and fundingarrangementsforgreeninfrastructureassetscoveredbythestrategyareuncertain.Inparallel,theBoroughwillseesignificantpopulationgrowththatwillresultinincreasingdemandforthebenefitsandservicesprovidedbygreeninfrastructure,puttingfurtherpressureonitscapacitytosustainandenhance the quality of life enjoyed by residents.
Asaresult,LBBDhasaneedtounderstandthecostsandbenefitsofthegreen infrastructure it manages in more detail. The CNCA framework providesastrongbasisfordevelopinganunderstandingofthevalueofgreeninfrastructure,andthisinturncanbeusedtoinformdecision-makingaroundfuturefundingandgovernanceforgreeninfrastructure.Inparticular,CNCAallowsforbetteralignmentbetweenthenon-statutoryserviceofnaturalcapitalassetmanagement,andLBBD’smandatorydutiesandpurposes(e.g.healthandsocialcare,regenerationandland-useplanning,transport,environmentalprotection).
InthecontextofBarking&Dagenham,theapplicationoftheCNCAapproachisaimedathelpingtodeliverfourobjectives:
• DevelopaCNCAforLBBD’snaturalcapitalandgreeninfrastructureassets,usingtheassetregisterdevelopedaspartoftheemergingParks&OpenSpacesStrategy.ThiswillprovidetheCouncilwithatoolforunderstandingthebenefitsandcostsassociatedwithnaturalcapitalassetsandallowtheCounciltomakeinformeddecisionsabouthowtoallocatescarcerevenueresources,basedon‘outcomes’data.
• Supportthedevelopmentoftheborough’semergingParks&OpenSpacesStrategyandalignLBBD’sgreeninfrastructurepolicywiththeLondonInfrastructure Plan and other emerging open space policy and best practice.
• Reviewoptionsanddevelopanoutlinebusinesscaseforfuturemanagement,fundingandgovernancearrangementsforLBBD’sgreeninfrastructureassetsbasedonthefuturefundingandgovernanceoptionssetoutintheParks&OpenSpacesStrategy.
• Supportthedeliveryofgreeninfrastructureactionsidentifiedintheadopted strategy.
10.2.2 Report structure ThisreportsummarisesinformationreportedtoLBBDwithintheCNCAExcelworkbook(LBBDCNCAWorkbook.xls).Theworkbookholdsallofthespatialandhabitatdatabehindtheaccount,aswellascostandbenefitcalculationsandshouldbeusedinconjunctionwiththisreport.Thereportisstructuredasfollows:
• Section10.3:abriefbackgroundoftheCNCAapproach.• Section10.4:thenaturalcapitalassetregisterforLBBD.• Sections10.5–10.7:thephysicalflowaccount,themonetaryaccount,
andthemaintenanceaccountforLBBD,respectively.• Section10.8:conclusionsandrecommendations.
Thereportisalsosupportedbyannexes:• Appendix7:amoredetailedexplanationoftheCNCAapproach;and• Appendix8:adetailedoverviewofmethodsandsourcesusedtodevelop
the CNCA
10.3 BACKGROUND TO CNCAThis natural capital account for LBBD follows the framework for corporate naturalcapitalaccounting(CNCA)developedfortheNaturalCapitalCommittee(eftecetal.,2015).ThepurposeoftheCNCAframeworkistohelporganisationsmakebetterdecisionsaboutthenaturalcapitalassets(orgreeninfrastructure)thattheymanage.Itdoesthisbycompilingdataandinformationonthenaturalcapitalassets,theirbenefitsandcostsofmaintainingthem,inasingleaccountingstructure,providingclearandexplicitinformationnecessaryforlong-termmanagement.Thisinformationiscriticaltomakinginformeddecisionsconcerningstrategicprioritieswithinanorganisation,suchasprioritisinginvestmentsandbudgets.
Byrecordingthisinformationinasystematicway,CNCAstatementswillhelpLBBD:
(i) demonstratethevalueopenspacesprovidetosociety(evenifthevalueofonlyasubsetofsuchbenefitscanbemeasured)
(ii)revealwhoreceivessuchbenefitsandhowthesecanhelpwiththedeliveryofthestatutoryservicesoftheCouncil
(iii)improvedecision-makingbymakingclearerthelinkbetweentheenvironmentalmanagementandtheeconomicperformance(value)ofnatural capital assets
An important aspect of CNCA is that it creates a baseline statement of natural assetextent,conditionandvaluewhichisusedasareferencepointagainstwhich the future status of natural capital can be monitored and reported in subsequentreportingperiods.AsthisisthefirstCNCAforLBBD,thisaccountwillprovidethefirstbaselinefortheperiod2016/17.
Theaccountcanalsoprovidethebasisfordevelopingabusinesscaseforfuturemanagementandfundingarrangementsandfortheleveragingofinvestment.Annex1providesfurtherinformationontheCNCAapproach,includinganexplanationofthedifferentstagesoftheprocessandkeyterms.
PrivateValue(PV£m)
External Value(PV£m)
Total Value (PV£m)
Assets
Baseline Value 419 419
CumulativeGains/(Losses)
Additions/(DisposalsorConsumption)
RevaluationsandAdjustments
Gross Asset Value - 419 419
Liabilities
LegalProvisions -
OtherMaintenanceProvisions (108) nil (108)
Total Net Maintenance Provisions
(108) (108)
Total Net Natural Capital Assets
- 419 310
Notes:ThisbalancesheetisbasedonthenaturalcapitalaccountwhichprovidesadequatecoverageofthebenefitsfromLBBD’sassetsforthepurposesofdevelopingaCNCA.Furtheriterationsoftheaccountmightaimtoextendthiscoverage,forexample,byincludingestimatesforbenefitsnotcurrentlycovered,suchasmentalhealthbenefits.Assetvaluesandliabilitiesarereportedinpresentvalue(PV)termscalculatedasthediscountedflowoffuturevalueover100years,usingavariablediscountrateassuggestedbyGreenBookGuidance(2003&updated2011):3.5%for0-30years,3.0%for31-75,and2.5%for76-100years.
Table 10.2 - Natural capital balance sheet for LBBD (15 May 2017)
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base58
10.4 NATURAL CAPITAL ASSET REGISTERThe natural capital asset register shows the natural capital assets, their size, and wheredataisavailable,theircondition.
ThisSectiondescribeshowtheprojectteamandstaffinLBBDdevelopedtheassetregister,givinganinventorythatholdsdetailsofthestocksofnaturalcapitalassetsitownsand/ormanages.
10.4.1 DevelopmentTheaccountassetregisterforLBBDhasbeencompiledbyallocatingthesitesidentifiedwithintheOpenSpaceAssessmenttothebroadhabitattypes(accountingunits)usedintheUKNationalEcosystemAssessment(2011)(seeTable10.3foralistofthese).
TheassetregisterislargelycompleteintermsofthespatialextentofassetsbasedonthespacesdefinedintheParks&OpenSpacesStrategy.Buttherearegaps,largestofwhicharelikelytobeinrelationtogreenspacessuchas‘GreenBelt’land,allotmentsandcemeteriesthatwerenotincludedwithintheoriginalOpenSpaceAssessment.Furtherdataonthesesitescanbesought,butprioritiesforfillinggapsshouldbebasedonitspotentialtoinformmanagement,i.e.whetherthedataisofrelevancetofulfillingtheobjectivesofdecision-makers.
10.4.2 ResultsTable 10.3 presents the natural capital asset register for LBBD, organised by greenspacetypologyasidentifiedintheLondonPlan(2015)andtheaccountingunitsforCNCA.Theregisterincludestheoverallextent(areainhectares(ha))ofdifferenttypesofhabitat,aswellastheproportionin‘Good’,‘Fair’,or‘Poor’condition.
Asshown,amenitygrassland(184ha)andneutralgrassland(110ha)comprisethe largest area of habitat for each type of park. District Parks make up the largestarea(319hectares),followedbyLocalParks(89hectares).HalfofDistrictParksare‘Good’quality(50%),andsimilarproportionforLocalParks‘Fair’(53%).SmallOpenSpaceshavethelowestproportionofareaclassifiedas‘Good’quality(33%).
QualityisbasedonthemethodologysetoutintheOpenSpacesAssessment,which included an assessment of the quality of each greenspace against a set of criteria based on the 2003 assessment of greenspace quality.
AsfurtheriterationsofLBBD’saccountarecompletedovertime,theassetregister can be used to track the extent and quality of natural capital assets againstthisbaselineposition.RefertoTable10.3.
10.4.3 Data gaps and limitationsThe most important asset register data gap that could be addressed by further researchis:incorporateareasthatarenotcurrentlyincludedaspartoftheOpenSpaceAssessment(including‘GreenBelt’land,allotments,streettrees,andcemeteries).TheseareasmaycontributesignificantlytothebenefitsprovidedbygreeninfrastructureinLBBD,includingcarbonsequestrationandairpollutionmitigation.Theymayalsoprovidesignificantvaluestolargepopulationsthathavefewalternativegreenspacesavailable.
Table10.3-LBBDnaturalcapitalassetregister,2017data(hectares)
Table 10.3
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 59
10.5 PHYSICAL FLOW ACCOUNTPhysicalflowaccountsshowtheannualflowsofenvironmental(ecosystem)servicesprovidedbynaturalcapitalinbiophysicalterms.ThisSectiondescribeshowwedevelopedthisaccountfortheservicescapturedintheCNCAforLBBD.
10.5.1 DevelopmentFollowingthecompilationofasset,areaandqualityinformationintheassetregister,thephysicalflowaccountreportstheestimatedannualbenefitsprovidedfromtheseassets.Theaccountreportstheannualflowinthebaselineyear2016/17(Table10.4).Itcurrentlycapturesasubsetofbenefitsfromtheassets,including:
• Recreation(focusingonthenumberofvisitstogreenspaces).• Physicalhealthbenefits(welfarebenefitsfromexerciseundertaken
outdoors).• Climateregulation(focusingontonnesofcarbonsequestered).
ThesebenefitshavebeenselectedinordertocoverthosethatareexpectedtobeamongstthemostsignificantintheLBBDaccount,andwheredataisavailable.Themethodsforestimatingeachofthesebenefitsinphysicaltermsareasfollows:
• Recreation–ThenumberofvisitstositeswithinLBBDhasbeenestimatedusingtheOutdoorRecreationValuationTool(ORVal)developedbytheUniversityofExeterforDefra78.ORValisanonlinetoolthatallowsuserstoexploretherecreationaluseandwelfarevalueofaccessibleopenspacesinEngland.ThetoolisbasedonthenationallyrepresentativeMonitorofEngagementwiththeNaturalEnvironment(MENE)surveywhichusesinterviewswithaweeklyquotasample,conductedsince2009.Thisdataisaggregated,usingpopulationweights,toestimatevisitstoopen spaces across the whole of England. The tool takes into account substituteswhenestimatingtherecreationalvaluesofagivensite,e.g.existenceofparksnearby.Themodelcanalsoestimatewhatproportionofvisitstoasitewillbenew(additional)ordisplacedfromelsewhere,whenthequality/accessibilityofasitechanges.
ORValestimatesthat2.9millionvisitsaremadetoLBBDparksandopenspaceseachyear.Theseresultsaresubdividedbysocio-economicgroups:
• 0.9millionvisitsarefromtheABsocio-economicgroup(SEG)79 • 1.0 million from C1 • 0.5 from C2• 0.5 million from DE
AparticularpointofinterestishowtheproportionofvisitsfromeachSEGalignswithLBBarkingandDagenham’spopulationbreakdown.Comparingthebreakdowntodatareleasedfromthe2011census(ONS,2011)showsthatthesmallestcategory(AB),whichmakesuparound12%ofLBBDpopulation,ismakingnearlythelargestnumberofvisits(~31%),andthelargestcategory(DE),around33%oftheLBBDpopulation,ismakingtheleastamountofvisits(~17%oftotal).ItshouldbenotedthatmethodsforestimatingnumbersofvisitsbysocialgroupsarestillunderdevelopmentinORVal,andsothisinformationhasgreateruncertaintythantheoverallvisitornumbers.However,LBBDmayfinditusefultotrackthisinformationinfuture,aschangesinthe
make-upofvisitscanhaveimplicationsforhealthinequalitiesandmayhelptoassesswhetherresourcesareevenlydistributedacrosstheBorough,andthatcertainpartssufferfrompooraccess.
• Physicalhealth–UKActive(2014)ranksLBBDasoneofthemostinactiveboroughsinthecountry(138outof150),andthelowestinLondon.Thissurveyestimatesthat35%oftheborough’spopulationisinactivewhichgeneratesacostofinactivityofover£23mperannum.Clearlythisisanareaforimprovementandtheissueisnotsolelyoneofextentofgreenspaceprovision.Forexample,theLBofIslingtonhasthelowestpercentageofgreenspaceofallLondonBoroughs(8%),yethasoneofthelowestinactiveratesinthecountry(20%).Itisestimatedthatoverhalftherecreationalvisitswithintheboroughareactive80(51.5%,Whiteetal(2016))givinganestimateof1.5mactivevisitsperyear.Ofthese,around39%areundertakenby‘activepeople’whomeetweeklyrecommendedguidelinesforphysicalactivity(whiteetal.,2016).
• Climateregulation–TheaverageUKcarbonsequestrationratesforthethreemainhabitattypes(i.e.woodland,amenitygrassland,andneutralgrassland)havebeenappliedtotheareaofeachhabitat(asmeasuredandcompiledbasedonLBBDaspartofthisstudy).Woodlandisassociatedwithtotalcarbonequivalent(CO2te)sequestrationofover100tonnesperyear,whileamenityandneutralgrasslandareassociatedwithover359tonnesand65tonnesrespectively.
Furtherdetailsonsources,methods,andassumptionsforeachcalculationareprovidedinAppendix8.
Thephysicalflowaccount,whichpresentstheaboveinphysicalunits,isthebasisforcalculatingtheeconomicvalueinmonetaryterms,inthemonetaryaccount.
10.5.2 ResultsTable10.4showsthephysicalflowaccountforthenaturalcapitalbenefitsthatare within the scope of this CNCA.
10.5.3 Data gaps and limitationsTheunquantifiedareastoconsiderforresearchtofurtherdevelopthenaturalTheunquantifiedareastoconsiderforresearchtofurtherdevelopthenaturalcapitalphysicalflowaccountare:
• Forsomeservicesprovidedbynaturalcapital,dataisnotreadilyavailable.Forexample,airpollutionmitigationandwaterflowattenuation(forfloodriskmanagement)fromdifferentsitesinLBBDwouldrequiremodellingthat is not in the scope of this project.
• Recreationalvisitnumbersmayrepresentasignificantunderestimateastheydonotincludethosebychildrenundertheageof16(aspertheparametersoftheMENEsurvey).
• Theimpactthatopenspacesandgreenspaceshavebyenhancingpropertyvaluesislikelytobesignificant(e.g.inthehundredsofmillions),howeverduetothescopeofthisprojectandthecomplexitiesinmodellingthenumberofpropertieswithinGIS,afullanalysisfortheBoroughwasnotundertaken. With adequate GIS knowledge and data layers, this analysis couldbecarriedoutinfuture.Ifthisbenefitisusedinfuture,overlapwithothertypesofbenefitsneedtobeassessed.
Spatialaccountingunit by natural capitalbenefit
Indicator Units Baseline year2015/16
Recreation SEGABvisits millionvisitsperyear
0.9
SEGC1visits millionvisitsperyear
1.0
SEGC2visits millionvisitsperyear
0.5
SEGDEvisits millionvisitsperyear
0.5
Totalnumberofvisits millionvisitsperyear
2.9
Physical health Numberofactivevisits millionvisitsperyear
1.5
Climateregulation Total carbon dioxideequivalentsequestered from woodland
tCO2eperyear 101
Total carbon dioxide equivalentsequesteredfrom amenity grassland
tCO2eperyear 359
Total carbon dioxide equivalentsequesteredfrom neutral grassland
tCO2eperyear 65
Table 10.4 - LBBD physical flow account (various units) (2016 - 2017)
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base60
10.6 MONETARY FLOW ACCOUNTThemonetaryflowaccountshowstheeconomicvalueofthebenefitsfromnaturalcapitalthataccruetotheorganisationwhichowns/managestheassets(privatebenefits)andthosethataccruetoothers(externalbenefits).ThissectiondescribeshowthemonetaryflowaccountforLBBDwasdeveloped,buildingonthephysicalflowaccountpresentedinSection10.5.
10.6.1 DevelopmentTheadvantageofusingtheUKNEAhabitattypesinthenaturalcapitalassetregistry(asinTable10.3)isthatitisanestablishedclassificationthatalignswiththeevidencebase,developedaspartoftheUKNEA(2011),andusedinanumberofServicesGuide’(Defra,2007)andsupplementaryguidancetotheGreenBookonvaluingenvironmentalimpacts(HMTreasuryandDefra,2012).Further,itiseasilyreconciledwiththeNaturalCapitalCommittee’sclassificationofbroadhabitats.Thehabitatclassificationsthereforehelpinlinkingthephysicalflowaccounttothevaluationevidenceusedtoconstructthemonetaryflowaccount.
Monetaryestimatesweredevelopedasfollows:• Recreation–TherecreationalvalueoftripstoBarkingandDagenham’s
greenspaceswasestimatedusingORVal.Eachyearthe2.9millionvisitsmadetogreenspacesinLBBDareestimatedtoprovideavalueofover£11million.Ofthistotal:• around£3millionareassociatedwithSEGAB• nearly£4millionwithC1• £4millionareassociatedwithC2andDE.Thisestimatedvaluedoesnottakeintoconsiderationvisitsbytouristsandchildrenundertheageof16andisthusanunderestimate.Nonetheless,theassessmenthighlightsthatLBBD’sopenspacesprovidesignificantrecreationalbenefitstothelocalpopulation.
• Physical health–ToestimatethevalueofthehealthbenefitsprovidedbyLBBD’sparksandopenspaces,UKActiveestimatestheproportionofLBBD’spopulationthatisinactive(approx.35%)andtheannualcosttothelocaleconomyasaresultofphysicalinactivity,(over£23million),whichincludestreatingdiseasesandsickness/absencesfromwork.Thesefigureswereusedtoestimatetheaveragecostsperinactivepersonintheborough(£326)(UKActive,2014).Thephysicalactivityguidelineof5visitsperweektranslatestoatotalof260activevisitsperyear.Therefore,asitecanbeassumedtosupporttheentirephysicallyactivelifestyleforonepersonwithevery260activevisitsitreceives.ForLBBD,anestimated1,491,641activevisitsaremade,meaningLBBDsiteshavethecapacitytosupporttheentirephysicallyactivelifestyleof5,737peopleperyear(1,491,641/260).Thevalueoftheseactivelifestylescanbeinferredusingavoidedmedicalcostsofinactivity,anestimated£326forLBBD.Thisgivesanestimateofthevalueofphysicalactivityundertakenoutdoors,intermsofavoidedhealthcosts,ofover£1.9millionperyear.
Itshouldbenotedthatitisnotbeingassumedthatactiveresidentswouldnotpartakeinphysicalactivityifthegreenspacesdidnotexist,ratherthisestimateishighlightingthevalueofphysicalactivityundertakenin,andsupportby,BarkingandDagenham’sgreenspaces.
• Climate regulation–DECCguidance(2014)wasfollowedtoestimatethevalueofcarbonsequestered.TheaveragesequestrationratesforthethreemainhabitattypespresentedinthephysicalflowaccountwerecoupledwithDECCnon-tradedcarbonvalues.Thetotalestimatedvalueofcarbonsequesteredisjustover£33kperyear,withcarbonsequesteredbyamenityandneutralgrasslandrepresentingthevastmajorityofthisvalue(£27k).ThecomparativelylowvaluesforcarbonsequestrationsuggeststhatitisnotcurrentlyasignificantserviceprovidedbysiteswithintheBorough.However,itispossiblethatotherhabitatnotincludedwithinthesitescoveredbythisassessment(e.g.‘GreenBelt’land)mayprovideamoreimportantclimateregulationservice.
AdetaileddescriptionofthemethodsandsourcesusedtoestimatemonetaryvaluesisprovidedinAnnex7and8.
10.6.2 ResultsTable 10.5 presentsthemonetaryflowaccountforLBBD.Thevalueofeachnaturalcapitalbenefithasbeenestimatedbasedoninformationcompiledaspartofthephysicalflowaccount.
Thefigureof£13m(£11.2m+£1.9m+£0.03m)isusedasanestimateofannualbenefits,inperpetuity,whichhaveatotalvalueovertimeof£419minpresentvalueterms (seeTable10.7).
Itshouldbenotedthattherecreationalvaluesandhealthvaluesareconsideredadditive,eventhoughtheybothrelatetorecreationalvisits.Thisisbecausetheformerisareflectionoftheincreasedwelfareofindividualswhomakerecreationalvisits.Thelatterisbasedontheavoidedhealthtreatmentcostswithinthehealthcaresystemasaresultofphysicalactivityundertakenduringrecreationalvisits.
10.6.3 Data gaps and limitationsThemonetaryflowaccountpresentedinthisSectionshouldbeinterpretedinthecontextofthefollowingkeylimitations:
• TheaccountdoesnotassessallservicesprovidedbyLBBD’snaturalcapitalassetsbutitdoesincludeseveralofthosedeemedtobemostsignificanttourbangreenspace.Otherserviceswhichlikelyprovideimportantvalues,suchaspollutionmitigation(airquality),biodiversity,andwaterflowattenuation,arenotcurrentlyassessedintheaccount.Theseserviceswere not measured due to their being beyond the scope of the study (i.e.thedetailedairqualitymodellingrequiredtoderivephysicalvaluesforpollutionmitigationwasnotinscope),alackofscientificevidence(e.g.forfloodriskmitigation),andalackofeconomicvaluationevidence(e.g.forbiodiversity).Itislikelythattosomeextenttheseservicesarepartiallycapturedinthevalueofotherecosystemservicesthattheysupport.Overall,theaccountconveyssignificantvaluesattributabletoLBBD’snaturalcapitalassets,andsubsequentiterationscanbuildontheseestimatesandprovideamoreuptodateanduniformpictureoftheaccount.
• Recreationalvaluesmayrepresentasignificantunderestimateasvaluesdonotincludebenefitstonon-localsandchildrenundertheageof16.
10.7 NATURAL CAPITAL MAINTENANCE COST ACCOUNTMonetary cost accounts show the spending on maintaining natural capital assets.TheinformationreportedcomesfromtheexistingfinancialaccountsthatincludeLBBD’smanagementoftheassets.ThisSectiondescribeshowwedevelopedthemaintenancecostaccountforLBBD’sparksandopenspaces.
10.7.1 DevelopmentThebenefitsofparksandopenspacesareanoutputofotherformsofcapitalaswellasnaturalcapital.Forexample,aparkprovidesbenefitsfromitsvegetation(naturalcapital),butalsofromtheworkofparkkeepers(humancapital)andinfrastructurelikepaths(builtcapital)thatmaintainnaturalcapitaland allow access to it.
The maintenance cost account has been prepared on the basis of the total costsrequiredtomaintainalltheservicesprovidedbyparksandopenspaces,suchasoperating,cleaningandmaintainingchangingfacilities,playgroundequipment maintenance, etc. as well as managing natural elements such as woods and grassland.
DiscussionwithLBBD’sfinanceteamidentifiedthetypeofexpensesandthecostcentreswhichwererelevantforcapturingthemaintenancecostsofparksandopenspaces.Twentyonecostcentresunderthesummaryfinancialaccountshierarchyof‘ParksGeneral’and‘ParksandOpenSpaces’wereidentified,providingacomprehensivepictureofmaintenanceactivity.Extractreportswereproducedforallincomeandexpensesinthefinancialyear2016/17.Onlyfullreportsforthepreviousfinancialyearonlywereavailablefortheanalysis,creatingadegreeofuncertaintyinrespectofmakinganestimateoflong-runmaintenancecosts.Thiswasaddressedintwoways.
Spatialaccountingunit by natural capitalbenefit
Indicator Units Baseline year2015/16
Recreation (Totalvalueofvisits) £mperyr 11.2SEG AB £mperyr 3.3SEG C1 £mperyr 3.9SEG C2 £mperyr 1.9SEG DE £mperyr 2.0
Physical health Value of physical activitysupported(avoidedcostsofinactivity)
£mperyr 1.9
Climate regulation
(Totalvalueofcarbonsequestered)
£mperyr 0.03
Woodland £mperyr 0.01
Amenity and neutral grassland
£mperyr 0.02
Table 10.5 - LBBD monetary flow account (various units) (2016-2017)
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 61
First,thesuppliedfigureswerecomparedwiththelocalgovernmentspendinganalysistoolESPRESSO,andthefiguresobtainedforLBBDParksandOpenspacesfor2014/15talliedcloselywiththegrossspendfor2016/17.Secondly,atime-seriesofthedatasetcanprovideconfidenceintherobustnessofthefiguresused.
Thelevelsofcapitalspendonparkfixedassets(suchasplayingfacilities,fencingetc.)forthelastthreeyearswereusedtotestthereasonablenessofthecurrentyear’sdepreciationchargeandtoassessthestabilityofcapitalexpenditure.Theaveragelevelofcapitalspendoverthethreeyearperiodwasstableandcloselymatchedthecurrentlevelofdepreciation.Consequentlyitwasdeterminedthatthecurrentdepreciationchargeprovidedareasonableestimateofcapitalmaintenanceinthelongrun.Thesechecksprovidedahighdegreeofconfidenceinthestabilityofspendlevels.
10.7.2 ResultsThecostsofmaintainingtheservicesdeliveredbynaturalcapitalhavebeenestimatedat£3.4mperannum.Asummaryofthebreakdownofcostsbycategory is shown in Table 10.6 below.
Thefigureof£3.4misusedasanestimateofannualmaintenancecostinperpetuity,equatingtoanongoingliabilityof£108minpresentvalueterms(seeliabilitiesintheaccountinTable10.7).Thisisanestimateofthetotalcostsofmaintainingtheborough’sparksandopenspacesintothefuture.
10.7.3 Data gaps and limitationsCNCA encourages a deeper understanding of natural capital maintenance activitybypromotingtheseparationofmaintenancecostsinrespectoflegalobligationsandinrespectofotherrequirements.Inthecontextofparksandopenspaces,itwasrecognisedmanylegalobligationsarelikelytorelatetothesafetyofequipmentandfacilitiesprovidedratherthanrequirementstomaintainnaturalassetsperse.Thisisanareathatcouldprovideusefulinsightsand could be worth considering for future enhancements to the accounts.
10.8 CONCLUSIONS10.8.1 Natural Capital Balance Sheet
ThefinaloutputofaCNCAisthenaturalcapitalbalancesheet.Itshowsthebenefitsofnaturalcapitalassetsunder‘Assets’andthemaintenancecostsunder‘Liabilities’;itaimstogiveareasonablerepresentationofmaterialcostsandofasubsetofbenefits.ThisSectionsummarisestheaccountevidencefortheassetsandbenefitsthatareinwithinthescopeoftheCNCAforLBBD.
Basedontheinformationcompiledfortheaccount,Table10.7setsoutanaturalcapitalbalancesheetforLBBD’sparksandopenspaces.Assetvaluesandliabilitiesarereportedinpresentvalue(PV)terms,calculatedinperpetuity,asthediscountedflowoffuturevalue.Thismethodisbasedontheconceptthatthevalueofanassetisthetotalvalueofthebenefitsitcanprovideoveritslifetime.ThevaluesthataccrueindifferentfutureperiodsarediscountedsothattheyareexpressedinpresentvaluetermsthroughdiscountingataraterecommendedintheHMTreasuryGreenBook(2003&update2011).
Theassetvalueswerecalculatedbyfirstaggregatingallannualvaluespresented in Table 10.5. Discounted annual costs were then subtracted to arriveatanetvalue.
Therowsintheassetandliabilitypartsofthebalancesheetmirrorafinancialbalancesheet.ThebalancesheetgivesareasonablerepresentationofmaterialcostsandasubsetofbenefitsfromparksandopenspacesinLBBD.
OneusefulinsightthatCNCAprovidesisacomparisonbetweenthevaluesfornaturalassetsasrecognisedinthefinancialaccounts,andthemorecomprehensivevaluationprovidedbytheCNCA.Valuationdatawasobtained
fromtheFixedAssetRegisterfor18ofthe28in-scopeparksandopenspaces,coveringallthelargerparks.Thetotalvalueofthelandwasrecordedas£8.1m,whichdoesnotincludethevalueofmanufacturedcapitalsuchasfacilitiesandplayequipmentconstructedonthesesites.Thisvaluationrepresentslessthan2%ofthevalueofbenefitsevaluatedinthisstudy.
10.8.2 Key resultsThebalancesheetgivesareasonablerepresentationofmaterialcostsandasubsetofbenefitsfromparksandopenspacesinLBBDTheaccountdetailsthebenefitsdeliveredwhichaccruetothepopulationofLBBDand,inthecaseofcarbonsequestration,therestofsociety.Theservicescapturedwithintheaccountinclude:
• Recreation–ThenumberofvisitstositeswithinLBBDhavebeenassessedusingtheORValtoolwhichestimatesthat2.9millionvisitsaremadetotheborough’sparksandopenspaceseachyear.Theanalysissuggeststhattheannualvalueofthisrecreationisover£11millionperyear.
• Physical health–Theanalysisestimatesthatnearly1.5millionactivevisitsare made to LBBD parks and open spaces each year, helping some 6,000 peoplemeetrecommendedphysicalactivityguidelines.Thevalueofthisphysicalactivityisestimatedatnearly£2millioninavoidedhealthcostsofinactivityperyear.
• Climate regulation–Theaveragesequestrationratesforthethreemainhabitattypes(i.e.woodland,amenitygrassland,andneutralgrassland)havebeenappliedtotheareaofeachhabitat.Thetotalvalueofcarbonsequesteredbythesehabitatsisestimatedtobeover£30kperyear.
Developmentofthemaintenancecostaccountfoundthatthecostsofmaintainingthenaturalcapitalinparksandopenspacesthatdelivertheseservicesareestimatedat£3.4millionperannum.
Theresultsshowthatthenetvalueofnaturalcapitalassetsisestimatedatover£300million81.ThebenefitsfromopenspacesinLBBDareoverfourtimesthecostsofmaintainingtheminperpetuity.Thisvaluationisalsosignificantlygreaterthanthegrossbookvalueoftheland(ataround£8m).
TheCNCAalsoshowsthatthecostsofmanagingnaturalcapitalinLBBD’sparksandopenspacesappearinfinancialaccountsoftheCouncil,buttheresultinghealth,wellbeingandeconomicbenefitsforthepopulationofBarking&Dagenham do not.
10.8.3 Discussion TheCNCAforLBBDhighlightsthesignificantvaluesdeliveredbynaturalcapitalassetssuchasparksandopenspaces.Italsoprovidesavaluableresourceintermsoforganisingandlinkingdataonnaturalcapitalandcommunicatingthosebenefitsthatareinvisible,(ifonlythefinancialaccountsareconsidered).
LBBD is only the second London Borough to formally create a baseline CNCA foritsparksandopenspaces(therehavebeenpartialbenefitassessmentsdevelopedforotherBoroughs).Asaresult,therearelikelytobeopportunitiesforfurtherlearningandrefinementoftheaccount,buttheresultsshowthatthevaluesdeliveredbyparksandopenspacesaresubstantial(withnetbenefitsaroundfourtimesthecosts)andcanbeconsideredasagoodguidetoinformdecision-makers.
Expenditure AnnualCost(£m) Comments
Payroll related 1.476 Costsoflabourtimespentonparksactivity
Grounds maintenance
1.034
Recharges 0.242
Depreciation 0.234
Misc & other costs 0.415
TOTAL 3.401m
Table 10.6 - LBBD natural capital maintenance cost account (2016/17)
NC Balance Sheet at 15 May 2017 PrivateValue(PV£m)
External Value (PV£m)
Total Value (PV£m)
Assets
Baseline Value 419 419
CumulativeGains/(Losses)
Additions/(DisposalsorConsumption)
RevaluationsandAdjustments
Gross Asset Value - 419 419
Liabilities
LegalProvisions -
OtherMaintenanceProvisions (108) nil (108)
TotalNetMaintenanceProvisions (108) (108)
Total Net Natural Capital Assets - 419 310
Notes: AssetvaluesandliabilitiesarereportedinPVtermscalculatedasthediscountedflowoffuturevalueover100years,usingavariablediscountrateassuggestedbyGreenBookGuidance(2003&updated2011):3.5%for0-30years,3.0%for31-75,and2.5%for76-100years.
Table 10.7 - LBBD natural capital balance sheet (£)
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base62
Thedevelopmentoftheaccounthasconfirmedthatthereisenoughinformationavailabletodevelopameaningfulaccountthathighlightsthesignificanceofvaluesfromthenaturalcapitalassetsthatarenotcapturedinconventionalfinancialaccounts.Thisaccountcanbeupdatedovertime,providingausefulresourceforfuturemonitoring,decision-makingandanalysis.
Itshouldbenotedthattheaggregationofrecreationandphysicalhealthvalueshasthepotentialtodouble-countsomeofthebenefits,assomepeoplepartakeinrecreationactivelyenoughtogeneratehealthbenefits.However,theuseofavoidedhealthcoststovaluethephysicalactivityundertakenwithingreenspacesreducesthisdouble-countingtoanegligiblelevel,soitisnotconsideredasignificantinaccuracy.
Thisiterationofthebalancesheetaimstoestablishabaselineagainstwhichgainsandlossescanbecalculatedinfutureaccountingperiods.Furtheriterationsoftheaccountmayalsoextendthecoverageof:
• The whole account, by including natural capital assets other than parks andopenspaces(e.g.streettrees,privateland)
• Themonetaryaccount,byincludingfurtherbenefits,suchasairqualityregulation
• Financial returns from natural capital that may already be captured by the Council in terms of rents, or captured by others in terms of property values
Thesecouldchangethebalancesheetposition.
Thephysicalandmonetaryflowaccountscanbeusedtotrackhowandwhynaturalcapitalassetvalueschangeovertime,includingtheinfluenceofmanagementdecisionsbyLBBD.Forexample,changesinthenumberofvisitorstotheopenspaces,whichcouldbeduetoanincreaseinlocalpopulation,changesintheirhabitsand/orchangesinthequalityoforaccesstotheopenspaces,wouldbereflectedinthephysicalflowaccount.Thiswouldthenresultinachangeinthemonetaryflowaccountwherethenumberofvisitorsismultipliedbythevalueperrecreationalvisit.Achangeinthevalueperrecreationalvisitwouldonlybereflectedinthemonetaryflowaccount.Bothofthesechangeswouldfeedintothebalancesheetandtheirinterpretationcouldhelpdecision-makerstoidentifyopportunitiesandriskstobettermanagethefactorsthataffectassetvalues.
10.8.4 Data gaps and limitationsAn important omission of data could be addressed by further research to developthenaturalcapitalassetregistertoincludeareaswithinLBBDthatarenotcurrentlyincludedaspartoftheOpenSpaceAssessment(including‘GreenBelt’land,privateland,allotments,andcemeteries).TheseareasmaycontributesignificantlytothebenefitsprovidedbygreeninfrastructureinLBBD,includingadditionalcarbonsequestrationandairpollutionmitigation.Theymayalsoprovidesignificantvaluestolargepopulationsthathavefewalternativegreenspacesavailable.
Theaccountdoesnotencompassallofthebenefitsdeliveredbynaturalcapitalassets,althoughitdoesincludethoseconsideredtobemostsignificant.Furtherresearchcouldcover:
• Thecalculationofairqualityregulationprovidedbyhabitatsthroughpollutionabsorption.Methodsfordevelopingtheseestimatesare
currentlybeingfurtherdevelopedthroughwork-ledbytheCentreforEcologyandHydrology,involvingeftec,fortheOfficeforNationalStatistics(ONS).Resultsfromthisworkcaninformfutureiterationsofthisaccount.
• Thefloodriskreductionbenefitsprovidedbynaturalhabitats(whichrequirelocalmodelling)couldalsobeestimated.
• Theimpactthatopenspacesandgreenspaceshaveonenhancedpropertyvaluesislikelytobesignificant(e.g.inthehundredsofmillionsofpounds).HoweverduetothescopeofthisprojectandthecomplexitiesinmodellingthenumberofpropertiesinGIS,afullanalysisofpropertyvalueimpactswasnotundertaken.WithadequateGISknowledgeanddata layers, this analysis could be carried out in future, but care would be neededtoassesspotentialdouble-counting.
• Recreationalvaluesmayrepresentasignificantunderestimateasvaluesdonotincludebenefitstonon-localsandchildrenundertheageof16.
• ThisstudyprovidesforanestimateofnaturalcapitalmaintenancecostsandopportunitiesforrefinementhavebeenidentifiedandwillbesharedwithLBBD’sfinanceteam.
• Whethersomeofthehealthbenefitsidentified(theavoidedhealthcosts)areactuallyprivatevaluestoLBBD(inthattheyareavoidedhealthtreatmentcoststhatwouldhavetobemetfromthesocialcarebudgetofLBBD)requiresfurtherdiscussion.EvidenceisnotcurrentlyavailabletoestimatewhatproportionoftheavoidedhealthcostswouldhavetobemetbyLBBDandwhatproportionfromothersources(e.g.theNHSformosttreatments,andemployersforlostworkforceproductivity)inordertoattributethembetweentheprivateandexternalpartsoftheaccount.Furtherinvestigationcouldtrytoestablishwhetherevidenceisavailabletoattributebenefitsinthisway.
Itshouldbenotedthatmanyoftheservicesprovidedareco-dependentorintrinsicallylinkedandtheadditionofestimatesofthevaluesofdifferentservicesprovidedbythesamehabitats/spacesincreasestheriskofdouble-counting.Thereturnsoneffortstoincludemoreandmoreservicesthereforediminish,asfurthervaluescannotalwayssimplybeaddedtotheaccount.However,furthervaluationsofserviceswouldcontributetounderstandingthedistributionofvaluesprovided,bothspatiallyandacrosssocialgroups.Thisshould remain a point to be considered in future updates of the account.
Previousworkhashighlightedtheneedtodevelopaformalplantocommunicatethefindingsofthenaturalcapitalaccount.TheCNCAcanbeaverypowerfultoolaslongasitisusedappropriately.Itisrecommendedthatmaintenancecostestimatesintheaccountarelinkedtothecouncil’saccountingsystemtoautomatetheirproductionasfaraspracticalinfuture.
NOTES76 Assessmentofthevalueofanasset,basedonthetotalincomeexpected
toberealizedoveritseconomiclifespan,inthiscase,inperpetuity.
77 Greeninfrastructureisthenetworkofgreenspaces(aswellasfeaturessuchasstreettreesandgreenroofs)thatisplanned,designedandmanagedtodeliverarangeofbenefits,including:• Healthyliving.• Mitigatingflooding.• Improvingairandwaterquality.• Coolingtheurbanenvironment.• Encouraging walking and cycling.• Enhancingbiodiversityandecologicalresilience(GreenInfrastructure
TaskForce,2015).Itisatermthatrepresentsapproachingparticularnaturalcapitalassetsfromalanduseplanningpointofview;greeninfrastructureisatypeofnaturalcapital.Naturalcapitalreferstothewidernaturalenvironment,includinggeology,soil,air,waterandalllivingthings.
78 Availableonline:http://leep.exeter.ac.uk/orval/.
79 SEGsareaclassificationthatgroupspeoplewithsimilarsocialandeconomicstatus:A–Highmanagerial,administrativeorprofessional;B-Intermediatemanagerial,administrativeorprofessional;C1–supervisory,clericalandjuniormanagerial,administrativeorprofessional;C2–Skilledmanualworkers;andD–Semiandunskilledmanualworkers;andE-state pensioners, casual or lowest grade workers, unemployed with state benefitsonly.
80 Definedasmorethan30minsindurationandofintensitygreaterthanorequalto3MetabolicEquivalenceofTask(METs).METsarearatioofthemetabolicrateofoxygenconsumptionassociatedwithanactivitycomparedtotherestingrate.FormoreinformationseeAinsworthetal.(2011).
81 Thefigureisthepresentvalueinperpetuityforrecreational,physicalhealthandcarbonsequestrationbenefits.
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 63
REFERENCESAinsworth,B.E.,Haskell,W.L.,Herrmann,S.D.,etal.(2011).2011compendiumofphysicalactivities:asecondupdateofcodesandMETvalues.Med.Sci.SportsExerc.,43,pp.1575–1581.
CABESpace(2005).Doesmoneygrowontrees?AvailableOnline:http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110118095356/http:/www.cabe.org.uk/files/does-money-grow-on-trees.pdf
CABESpace(2010).UrbanGreenNation:Buildingtheevidencebase,London:CommissionforArchitectureandtheBuiltEnvironment.
DepartmentforEnergyandClimateChange(DECC)(2014).Valuationofenergy use and greenhouse gas emissions, supplementary guidance to the HMTreasuryGreenBookonAppraisalandEvaluationinCentralGovernment.Availableonline:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/valuation-of-energy-use-and-greenhouse-gas-emissions-for-appraisal
DepartmentforEnvironment,FoodandRuralAffairs(Defra)(2007).Anintroductoryguidetovaluingecosystemservices.Availableat:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/191502/Introductory_guide_to_valuing_ecosystem_services.pdf
Dunse,N.,White,M.andDehring,C.(2007).UrbanParks,OpenSpaceandResidentialPropertyValues,ResearchPaperSeries7(8),London:RoyalInstituteforCharteredSurveyors.
eftec(2010).TheEconomicContributionofthePublicForestEstateinEngland.A report to the Forestry Commission England.
eftec,RSPBandPwC(2015).DevelopingCorporateNaturalCapitalAccounts.FinalreportfortheNaturalCapitalCommittee,January2015.
Garrod,G.,Willis,K.G.,Bjarnadottir,H.andCockbain,P.(1996)‘TheNonpricedBenefitsofRenovatingHistoricBuildings-ACaseStudyofNewcastleGraingerTown’,Cities13(6),423-430.
GenslerandtheUrbanLandInstitute(2011)OpenSpace:Anassetwithoutachampion?ReportfortheUrbanInvestmentNetwork.
GreaterLondonAuthority(GLA)(2015).LondonInfrasdtructurePlan2050Update.Availableonline:https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/business-and-economy/better-infrastructure/london-infrastructure-plan-2050
GreenInfrastructureTaskForce(2015).NaturalCapital:InvestinginaGreenInfrastructureforaFutureCity.Availableonline:https://www.london.gov.uk/WHAT-WE-DO/environment/environment-publications/green-infrastructure-task-force-report
HMTreasuryandDepartmentforEnvironment,FoodandRuralAffairs(2012).Accountingforenvironmentalimpacts:SupplementaryGreenBookguidance.Availableat:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/191500/Accounting_for_enviornomental_impacts.pdf
Luther,M.andGruehn,D.(2001).Puttingapriceonurbangreenspaces,LandscapeDesign,303,23-25.
Luttik,J.(2000).Thevalueoftrees,waterandopenspacesasreflectedbyhousepricesintheNetherlands,LandscapeandUrbanPlanning,48(3-4),161-167.
Mourato, S., Atkinson, G., Collins, M., Gibbons, S., MacKerron, G., Resende, G., Church,A.,Molloy,D.,Morling,P.,&Pretty,J.(2011).UKNationalEconomicAssessment:AssessmentofEcosystemRelatedUKCulturalServices.
NationalinstituteforHealthandCareExcellence(NICE)(2016).Glossary.Availableonline:https://www.nice.org.uk/glossary?letter=q
NaturalCapitalCommittee(2017).Improvingnaturalcapital,anassessmentofprogress.FourthreporttotheEconomicAffairsCommittee.Availableonline:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/585429/ncc-annual-report-2017.pdf
NaturalEngland(2010).Naturenearby,accessiblenaturalgreenspaceguidance.Availableonline:http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/40004
ONS(2011).Approximatedsocialgrade,BarkingandDagenham.Availableonline:https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/QS613EW/view/1946157260?cols=measures
PublicHealthEngland(2016).Physicalactivitydataexplorer.Availableonline:https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/physical-activity/data#page/0/gid/1938132899/pat/6/par/E12000007/ati/102/are/E09000003/iid/90275/age/164/sex/4
Soussana,J.F.;Tallec,T.;andBlanfort,V.(2009).Mitigatingthegreenhousegasbalanceofruminantproductionsystemsthroughcarbonsequestrationingrasslands.AvailableOnline:http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=%2FANM%2FANM4_03%2FS1751731109990784a.pdf&code=3148a5665a431bdda467b20ce538f628
Thomy,B.,Morrison,M.,andBark,R.(2016).Valuingurbanripariancorridors:theinteractionofriparianbuffersandchannelconditionandtheirinfluenceonpropertyprices.Availableat:http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/235637/2/Thomy%20ppt%20upload.pdf
UKActive(2014).Turningthetideofinactivity,dataforBarkingandDagenham.Availableonline:http://www.ukactive.com/turningthetide/la.asp?la=E09000002
UKNationalEcosystemAssessment(2011).TheUKNationalEcosystemAssessment:SynthesisoftheKeyFindings.UNEP-WCMC,Cambridge.
White,M.P.,Elliott,L.R.,Taylor,T.,Wheeler,B.W.,Spencer,A.,Bone,A.,Depledge,M.H.andFleming,L.E.(2016).Recreationalphysicalactivityinnaturalenvironmentsandimplicationsforhealth:Apopulationbasedcross-sectionalstudyinEngland.PreventiveMedicine,91,pp.383-388.
Wolf,K.L.(2007).CityTreesandPropertyValues.ArboristNews16,4:34-36.Availableat:http://www.naturewithin.info/Policy/Hedonics.pdf
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base
1164
PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND ENGAGEMENT
Parksareforpeopleandit’simportantthatthenewParksandOpenSpacesStrategyrespondstotheneedsandaspirationsoftheboroughsresidents.Thereareanumberofspecificreasonsforthis:
• Satisfactionwiththeborough’sparksandopensspacesiscurrentlylowrelativetootherLondonboroughs.Theimplementationofthestrategyshouldhelptoimprovelevelsofsatisfaction.
• Parksandopenspacescandeliveravarietyofpositiveoutcomesforresidents but these can only happen if people use parks and open spaces. Thestrategyneedstoaddressresidents’concernstomakeparksmorepopular.
• Thecouncilwantspeopletobemoreinvolvedindaytodaydecisionsaboutparksandwantstosupportvolunteeringopportunitiesinparks.
Inordertomeettheseobjectives,wehavecarriedoutadetailedconsultationandengagementprocesstogatherviewsontheboroughsparksandideasfortheirfuturemanagementanddevelopment.
Wehavegatheredinformationinthefollowingways:
• Anon-linequestionnairewasavailableforaperiodofsixweeks.583residentsparticipatedinthesurveyprocess,providinguswithusefulinformationoncurrentuseofparksandthemainissuesfacedbyresidentsusing parks.
• Twopublicmeetingstodiscussthedifferentpartsofthestrategy.• Twopublicmeetingstodiscussmasterplansfortheborough’smost
important parks.• AmeetingwithBarkingandDagenham’sAccessandPlanningForumfor
peoplewithdisabilities.• AmeetingwiththeBADYouthForum.• A workshop with Northbury Primary School.• AmeetingwiththeLeaderandDeputyLeader.• Meetingswithcouncilofficerstoco-ordinatetheParksandOpenSpaces
Strategywithothercouncilinitiativesinrespectofparks,events,planning,health,education,environment,crimeandanti-socialbehaviour.
• AworkshoptodevelopthestrategyActionPlan.• Discussionswithneighbouringboroughstoencouragebestpracticeand
cross-borderworking.• Byusingsocialmedia,gatheringviewsonparksandopenspacesthrough
thecouncil’sFacebookpages.
11.1 ON-LINE QUESTIONNAIREAnin-depthquestionnairethatwascirculatedamongstcommunitymembersand user groups to help us understand how people feel about their parks and whatifatalltheycurrentlyusethemfor.Thequestionnaireranfromthe10thMarchuntilthe24thApril2017andstimulated583responses.
Theoverallthemesemergingfromthequestionnaireshowedthatmanypeoplethoughtthatthesafetyandsecurity,playoffersandcleanlinesswerethemainissues with their local parks and open spaces.
Mayesbrook Park, Parsloes Park, Barking Park and Valence Park were clearly the
mostpopularparksintermsoffrequencyofvisit.81%ofpeoplevisittheirlocalparkbyfoot,70%ofpeoplevisitwiththeirchildrenand54%withapartner.Mostpopularreasonsforvisitingparksincludedgoingforawalk,spendingtimewithchildren,visitingaplayground,walkingadogandenjoyingpeacequietandtranquillity.Alargemajorityofothercommentsmentionedalackofmaintenance,cafefacilitiesandplayoffers.
Whenaskedwhichfacilitiesandservicesaremostimportantinapark65%chosecleanlinessandonly0.3%choseopportunitiestovolunteer.Howeverwhenasked,whatmostneedimprovinginBarkingandDagenhamparks,46%ofrespondentschosefacilitiesforparentsandchildrenastheirtopchoicewithcleanlinessasthesecondchoice(43%).Intermsofimportance,opportunitiestovolunteer(1%)andsportspavilions(3%)werejudgedtobetheleastimportantattractions.
As the following Q.13 shows most respondents consider Barking and Dagenhamparkstobeeithergood(26%)oraverage.Onlyasmallproportionofrespondentsmoredirectlyinvolvedwiththeirlocalpark(95.6%)saidthattheyarenotinvolvedatall,withmoststatingthattheydonothavetime,alackofinformationaboutgettinginvolved.
Thedetailedon-linequestionnaireresponsesappearinAppendix3.
Q11. Looking at the list below, which three things are most important to you in your local parks and open spaces?100%90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%0%
Opp
ortunitie
stovolun
teer
The
qual
ity o
f sig
nage
in th
e pa
rk
Sportspavilion
Form
alspo
rtsactiv
ities
(e.g.spo
rtspitche
s) Oth
er
Thequ
ality
oflighti
ng
Theeven
tsinth
epa
rk
Thecafefaciliti
es
Thequ
ality
ofseatin
gan
d pl
aces
to re
stTh
etoiletfacilitie
s
Thecareand
protection
of
nat
ure
and
wild
life
The
appe
aran
ce o
f the
par
k
The
mai
nten
ance
of t
he p
ark
Thequ
ality
offacilitie
sfor
pare
nts
and
child
ren
Feel
ing
safe
in th
e pa
rk
The
clea
nlin
ess
of th
e pa
rk
%ofrespo
nden
ts
0% 1% 1% 3% 3% 4% 5% 8% 11% 14
%
24% 29
%
40% 43
% 48%
65%
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 65
11.2 PUBLIC CONSULTATION EVENTS
Twopublicconsultationeventswereheldtocapturealargeraudienceandawiderrangeofexistingandpotentialparkusers.ThefirstwasatBarkingLearning Centre on the 18th of March 2017 and the second at Dagenham Library on the 25th of March 2017.
Theaimofthepublicconsultationeventsweretoengagewithpeopleandunderstand what it is that people want from their parks, how they currently useparksandwhattheirfutureaspirationsareforparks.Viewsweregatheredinconversationwithparticipants,withthesecommentsbeingrecordedbyfacilitators. To support the discussion, a number of boards were presented showingdifferentoptionsforparksincludingsports,events,foodgrowing,heritageandcommunityandwildlifeandbiodiversity.Participantswerethenaskedtousered,yellowandgreenstickerstoindicatewhichideastheylike,didn’tlikeoraboutwhichtheyfeltneutral.Membersofthepublicwerealsoofferedtheopportunitytoleavetheircommentstoprovidetheirviewsandopinionsonseveralaspectsaboutparks,eitherindirectresponsetotheimageboardsorinrespectofissuesandopportunitiessignificantforthemincontextof their use and enjoyment of parks.
89%supportedtheideaspresentedontheboardsasaspirationalimages.2%feltneutralabouttheseimages.9%didnotsupporttheimages(with6%votingspecificallyagainstwildlifeandbiodiversity).
Manyparticipantsalsorecordedtheirviewsandopinionsandthesewerelatercategorisedintogenerictopics.35%ofthesecommentsrelatedtotheactivitieswithmanysupportingmoreactivitiesandthingstodoinparks,includingopportunitiestobecomemoreinvolved.Facilitiesandserviceswasthe second most commented on topic, with the key themes running through relatingtoincreasedplayoffers,andbettersafetyandsecuritypotentiallybyintroducing park wardens.
A full record of the responses recorded at these sessions can be found in Appendix 4.
11.3 MASTERPLAN CONSULTATIONS Twopublicmeetingstodiscussmasterplansfortheborough’smostimportantparks
Twodrop-insessionswereheldonthe20thofApril2017atBarkingLearningCentreandonthe27thofApril2017atDagenhamLibrary.Aninvitationtothemeetingswasextendedtothepublicandlocalusergroupsandsportsclubs.Participantswerepresentedwithdrawingsoftheninemasterplanssites.Participantswereaskedtoexpresstheirviewsandopinionsandtoraiseanysignificantissueswiththeproposedmasterplan.Ateachmeetingwhereconcernswereexpressedthesewererecordedandrespondedtoasrevisionstothe masterplan.
DiscussionsatthemeetingatBarkingLibrarymainlysurroundedthemasterplanforGreatfieldsPark.Themainconcernsexpressedwerethatthemaintenanceoftheparkwaspoorandthatpeopledidn’tfeelsafewhenusingthe space. Masterplans for Abbey Green, Barking Park and Mayesbrook Park werealsobrieflydiscussed.
ThemeetingatDagenhamLibraryincludeddiscussionsofmasterplansforOldDagenhamPark,StChad’sPark,ValencePark,CentralParkandEastbrookendCountryPark.Atthismeetings,discussionsfocusedon:
• There-provisionoftheBMXtrackatOldDagenhamPark.• TheprovisionofnewsportsfacilitiesatCentralPark(withafocuson
rugby).• ProposalsforStChad’sPark(withafocusonthebowlingclub).
A full record of the responses recorded at these sessions can be found in Appendix 5.
11.4 MEETING WITH BARKING AND DAGENHAM’S ACCESS AND PLANNING FORUMJonSheaffandAssociatesattendedameetingofBarkingandDagenham’sAccessandPlanningReviewForumonthe7thFebruary2017andgaveapresentationontheParsandOpenSpacesStrategy.
AQandAsessionfollowedthepresentationandthefollowingissueswereraised:
• StateofdisrepairoftennisandpitchanputtfacilitiesinCentralPark.• TenderingoutparksservicestoTenantsAssociationsandtendersensory
anddisabilityinitiativestolocaldisabilityorganisations.• Installationof‘ChangingPlaces’toiletfacilities.• Providingspecificdogareasandmakingotherareasofparksdogfree.• Bettertransportlinksandwayfindingtoandwithinparks.• Lightinginparks.• Bringing park buildings back into use.• Entrancedesignthatimpedeswheelchairusers(e.g.EastbrookendCountry
Park).• Problems with motor bikes.• Useofparksforprivateevents(e.g.weddings).
TheForumrequestedthatpapercopiesofanysurveyscarriedoutaspartoftheStrategyshouldbemadeavailableforpeoplewithdisabilities.
11.5 Meeting with the BAD Youth ForumTheprojectteammettheBADYouthForumonthe28thMarch2017.Forummembersraisedanumberofimportantissuesabouthowyoungpeopleviewtheirlocalparksandopenspacesandmadeaseriesofconstructivesuggestionsforhowtheycouldbettermeettheirneedsinfuture.
JonSheaffandAssociatesintroducedtheStrategyconsultationandsaidtheteamwereparticularlylookingattheeconomic,socialandenvironmentbenefitsoftheBorough’sparksandopenspaces.Thisincludedparksasspaceswhich supported healthy lifestyles and contributed to tackling issues such as childhood obesity.
Thediscussionfocusedonhowparticipantsusedtheirlocalparksandopenspaces,thefacilitiestheylikedandthosethingswhichdeterredthemfromvisitingparks.Finally,theForumwasaskedfortheirviewsonhowparkscouldbeimprovedtobettermeettheirneeds.Thepointsbelowsummarisethemainthreads from the discussion.
1.Parkswhichweenjoyvisitinginclude:• BarkingPark–goingtherewithfamilyandplayingfootball.• GreatfieldsPark–it’speaceful,fulloftreesandagoodplaceforapicnic.• ValancePark–theplayareaandthehill.• ValentinesPark(Ilford)–thewildlifeandbirds,rowingonthelake.
2.Generally,thegoodthingsaboutBarkingandDagenhamParksare:• Kids play areas, but only where they were well used and well maintained.• Trees and wildlife.• Wherethereareopportunitiesforfunfairs,festivalsandevents.• Lotsofparticipantscyclethroughtheparks.
3.Thingswhichputusoffvisitingourlocalparksare:• Where parks are not well maintained. For example, the lake at Barking
Parkwasdescribedas‘dirty’.• Safetyconcerns,particularlyaroundgangsusingtheparks,and
motorcycles in the parks.• Whenthereisnothingtodointhepark,noactivitiesorequipmentforus.• Wherenothingeverchanges–theparkbecomesboring.• Thereareproblemswithhygiene–dogmess/litter/notenoughtoilets.• Where the surfaces of the paths are slippery and make cycling dangerous.• Wheredogownersareirresponsibleanddonotcontroltheirpets–some
participantswereafraidofdogsanddidnotwantthemtobeoffthelead.• Wheretherearenotenoughbenches/placestositandenjoythespace.• Veryfewfoodanddrinkoutletsandtheytendtobeexpensive.
Q13. Overall what is your opinion of parks in Barking and Dagenham?
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%Excellent Very
GoodGood Average Poor Extremely
poorDon’tknow
Very poor
% o
f res
pond
ents
1%
13%
26%
28%
19%
7% 6%
1%
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base66
4.Whatwe’dliketoseeinthefuture• Programmesofsportingactivityincludingfootball,basketball,netballand
tennis,andmoresportsfacilitiesparticularlythose,suchasrugby,whichare less common in the Borough.
• Morebenches/placestosit.• A designated dog friendly area which is contained in one area of the park.• Moreplacestoexplore–thereshouldbeareaswhicharemore‘wild’and
whereyoucanfindthingsforyourself.Noteverythingshouldbelaidoutneatly.
• Lotsofparticipantswenttoschoolsthatwerenexttoalocalparkandtheywouldliketoseetheirschoolsusetheparksbetter.Theyunderstoodthatthiswouldneedtobemanagedtoavoidtruancyandbadbehaviourbutfelttheopportunitiestobeoutsidemorewerenotbeingexploitedfully.
• HavingmorefamilyfriendlyareasforBBQsandpicnics.• Moreaffordablefoodanddrinkoutlets.Cafeswerewelcomeandcould
provideadditionalfacilitiessuchasfreeWiFi,toilets,firstaidareas,anddrinking fountains in a safe and secure space.
• Indooractivityspaceslocatedinparkswerealsomentioned,forexamplefor badminton and trampolining.
• Morewildlifeandplants–theviews/sceneryinparkswasimportantandhavinglotsofbenchestostopandenjoyitwasalsoapriority.
• Morefunactivitiesandeventsforyoungpeople–aprogrammeofthingstodointheparks.Thisshouldalsoincludecultural/familyfriendlyeventsfor the whole community.
• Morelightingandbettersecurity.• Play equipment for the right ages and in the right places so it was well
used. It also needed to be maintained so it was safe and fun to use.• Morelitterbins.• More secure bike stands.• Lookforwaysforschoolstothinkdifferentlyabouthowtheyusetheir
nearbyparksforoutdoorlearningandsocialactivities.
Fig.2.1-Asafeplacetostandandfeedtheducksandfish
Fig.2.1-Awaterfountain,slideandfunfair
Fig.2.1-Lotsofsportsfacilitiesincludingfootball,hockey,swimmingandbasketball.Alsoincluded are changing rooms and play equipment.
Fig.2.1-Lotsofsportsfacilitiesincludingfootball,hockey,swimmingandbasketball.Alsoincluded are changing rooms and play equipment.
WHAT WE LIKE WHATWEDON’TLIKE• There are lots of bins and the
parks are kept clean• There is water, fountains and
birds• We like to feed the ducks• There are playgrounds with
swings and slides• There is space for dogs to play • There is lots of space for
children to play• Therearelotsofsportsfacilities
(grassandhardcourts)andwe like to play football and basketball
• Wecanhavepicnicsinthepark• There are lots of trees that we
can sit and read under• We can ride our bikes and
scooters in the park• Sometimestherearefunfairs
whichvisittheparks• If we go to the park we can
meet other children and make friends with them
• We like to learn in the park• Shelter
• Peopledon’tpickupaftertheiranimals so there is dog poo in the parks
• Somepeoplethrowlitterandthis can harm the animals who eat it
• Some people disturb the animals in the park
• Some people smoke, drink alcohol,swearandfightinthepark.Sometimeswedon’tfeelsafe
• The water can be a bit scary if there are no railings around it
• Not enough toilets• Some play equipment gets
brokenandwornsowecan’tuse it. The football goals are too small and the nets are broken
• Sometimestheycutdowntrees
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 67
5.Communications• TheYouthForumisparticularlyconcernedabouthowtheCouncil
communicateswithyoungpeopleintheboroughandaskedthat:• Therebebetterinformationavailableaboutcurrentandfutureactivities
in parks, and that this be signposted to young people so they know where to look
• TheybekeptuptodatewiththeworkontheParksandOpenSpacesStrategyviaSallyAllen-Clarke-Sally.Allen-Clarke@lbbd.gov.uk
11.6 A WORKSHOP WITH NORTHBURY PRIMARY SCHOOL A 60 minute workshop was held with nine members of Northbury Primary School’sEcoWarriorsPanel.PupilsattendingrepresentedYear1toYear6.
Theobjectiveswerethat,bytheendoftheworkshop,studentswouldhavehadtheopportunitytodiscuss:
• Theirassessmentofthequalityofthespacesandfacilitiesinlocalparks;• Theirviewsonwhatwouldmakeparksandopenspacesmoreattractiveto
youngpeople;and• Theirprioritiesforthefuture.
What we like and don’t like
Afterintroductions,pupilswereaskedtodiscusswhattheylikedanddidn’tlikeabout their local parks and to agree pros and cons in each of their small groups. InparticularpupilssaidtheyhadexperienceofBarkingPark,AbbeyGreenPark, Valence Park and Mayesbrook Park and their comments related to these spaces.Theysaidthefollowing:
Indiscussionpupilssaidthatparkswhichhadgoodsportsfacilities,lotsofspace,andavarietyofnaturalresources(water,trees,animals)workedwell.Theywereparticularlyconcernedthattherewastoomuchlitter,dogpooandanti-socialbehaviourinsomeparks.Theyalsoidentifiedthesocialsideofparksasopportunitiestomeetnewfriendsandtheyenjoyedschooltripstothepark,where they could learn outside.
What would your ideal park look like?
Pupilswereaskedtoconsidertheprosandconstheyhadidentifiedandtodrawtheiridealpark,includingtheir‘bigideas’forwhatwouldmakeBarking&Dagenham Parks work best for them.
A sample of their work is included on page 66.
Pupilssharedtheirparkdrawingsanddescribedtheir‘bigideas’.Thesewerewrittenonpost-itsandpupilswereeachgiven6votestoshareamongstthebest ideas they had heard. This produced a priority list of the most popular ideas as listed in the adjoining “Big Idea” table.
ConclusionThepupilsexpressedavarietyofideasaboutwhatwouldmakeaparkworkforchildren.Highontheprioritylistwereawiderangeofsportsfacilitiesthathadgoodequipmentandwereavailableforalltouse.Alsoimportantwereplayspacesincludingopenareasaswellasmoreformalchildren’splaygroundswitha wide range of good quality equipment.
Safety was important, including keeping the parks clean for all users, reducing anti-socialbehaviourandensuringopenwaterwasfenced.Waterfountainswere talked about and it was felt that they were important to children who used the parks, as were toilets.
Creativeopportunitieswerealsodiscussedwithindoor‘fun/activityhouse’facilitiesbeingseenasimportant–thesewouldbeplacestoletyourimaginationrunwildanddiscovernewthings.
11.7 MEETINGS WITH COUNCIL OFFICERSInordertoensurethattheemergingParksandOpenSpacesStrategyreflectsandreinforcesotheradoptedcouncilstrategiesandpolicies,anumberofbi-lateralmeetingswereheldwithindividualcouncilofficersasfollows:
EricStein:YouthServicesPrincipalareasofdiscussion:BarkingandDagenham’sChildrenandYoungPeople’sPlan;targetprogrammesandcohorts;deliverypoints;formsofengagement and possible consultees
DanPope:PlanningandRegenerationPrincipalareasofdiscussion:LocalPlanrevisionprogramme;2010parksprovisionstandardandsustainabilityofthis;deploymentofCILandS106fund;LPfundingforimprovementstoaccesstoparks;‘ParticipatoryCity’community planning and management project
EmmaGillian:Sport,HealthandWellbeingPrincipalareasofdiscussion:currentprogrammes;LeisureManagementcontract tender.
ClaireClark:EducationPrincipalareasofdiscussion:sizeofschoolagecohortofborough’sschools;
SargentJamesBrowning:SaferNeighbouroodsTeamPrincipalareasofdiscussion:manpowerresources;forthcomingre-structure/mergerwithHaveringandRedbridge;mainproblemsites;mainissues
11.8 ACTION PLAN WORKSHOPAworkshoptodiscusswithkeystakeholderstheActionPlanelementoftheParksandOpenSpaceswasheldonthe27thApril2017.Thepurposeoftheworkshopwastohelpparticipantstoconsiderasfullyaspossibletheopportunitiesandconstraintsinfuturepartnerships,management,andfundingandgovernancestrategies.TheworkshopwasdesignedtoexpressthroughtheActionPlan,positiveeconomic,socialandenvironmentaloutcomesaccruingfrom parks and open spaces.
Theworkshopconsistedofthefollowingthreeexercises:
• Anintroductoryexercisetoencourageparticipantstothinkabouttheirpersonalrelationshipswiththeirlocalparksandwhattheymightrequireas a user
• Asecondexercisewhereparticipantsweredividedintotwogroupsandaskedtodiscussanddevisetypicalusersandnon–usersofparks.ParticipantswerealsoaskedtoidentifypotentialpartnershipsthatcoulddeliverActionPlanoutcomes.
• Athirdexercisewhereparticipantsweredividedintothreegroupswitheachgroupconsideringanindividualoutcomecategory-economicoutcomes,socialoutcomesandenvironmentaloutcomes.Participantswere asked to consider how these outcomes might be expressed as individualActionPlanproposals
11.9 DISCUSSIONS WITH NEIGHBOURING AUTHORITIESJonSheaffandAssociatesrequestedmeetingswithHavering,TowerHamletsandRedbridgecouncils.OnlyRedbridgerespondedtoarequestforaninterview.
JonSheaffandAssociatesmetKevinWackett(HeadofParksandOpenSpaces,VisionRedbridge)onthe13thofMarch2017.
RedbridgehasundertakenanOpenSpaceAuditandthishasbeenadoptedas
BIG IDEA PRIORITY• APlayHouse–thiswouldbefulloffunactivitiesandcould
evenbehaunted!• Playequipment(swings,roundabouts,slidesetc)• A football pitch with goals• A basketball court• Aswimmingpool/pond
1
2345
• Avolleyballcourt• Water fountains• Metal railings around ponds• A hockey area
=6=6=6=6
• Netball courts• Badminton courts• Space for fun fairs• Indoor sports spaces including for table tennis• Acricketfield• Tennis courts
=10=10=10=10=10=10
• Shedswhichhavesportsequipmentthatanyonecanusewhentheyvisitthepark
• A pond• Music
=16
=16=16
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base68
SPGaspartofthelocalplanreview.TheboroughadoptedanOutdoorPlayingPitchStrategyinJuly2016whichdetaileda15-yearactionplanforpitchprovisionandproposedthere-locationofsomeclubsoperatingintheborough.
VisionRedbridgedeliverstheparksandopenspacesserviceonthecouncil’sbehalfandisfundeduntil2021.Thecurrentmodelofcouncilcontrolhasplusandminuspoints.Savingswereinitiallyfoundbyre-structuringoutlonger-termemployees.ThereisacurrentstaffcohortofParkKeepersin10‘premierparks’,aGroundsMaintenanceTeam(of8),aRepairsandMaintenanceTeam(of4),aMobileLitterTeam(of4-5)andNatureConservationTeam(of4).
Visiondeliversasurplusandre-investsthisinitsassets.Thesurplushasbeensecuredbyreducingrevenuecostsandearningrevenuefromexternally-sourcedcontracts(schools,carehomesetc..).Potentialexistsforcross-borderworkingwithBarkingandDagenham,potentiallygeneratingfurthersavings.
11.10 SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENTSThrough its Facebook pages, the council has gathered as number of comments onitsparksandopenspacesandonthestrategydevelopmentprocess.
These comments are recorded in Appendix 6.
11.11 SUMMARY OF FINDINGSThereareaseriesofcommonalitiesthatrunthroughtheresponsesfromthequestionnaireandthecommentsfromtheconsultationevents:
Parksareforpeopleandit’simportantthatthenewParksandOpenSpacesStrategyrespondstotheneedsandaspirationsoftheboroughsresidents.Thereareanumberofspecificreasonsforthis:
• Satisfactionwiththeborough’sparksandopensspacesiscurrentlylowrelativetootherLondonboroughs.Theimplementationofthestrategyshouldhelptoimprovelevelsofsatisfaction.
• Parksandopenspacescandeliveravarietyofpositiveoutcomesforresidents but this can only happen if people use parks and open spaces. Thestrategyneedstoaddressresidents’concernstomakeparksmorepopular.
• Thecouncilwantspeopletobemoreinvolvedindaytodaydecisionsaboutparksandwantstosupportvolunteeringopportunitiesinparks.
Theconsultationprocesshasgivenusthefollowinginformation:
• Cleanliness,safetyandthequalityofthefacilitiesforparentsandchildreninparkswereidentifiedasthemostimportantissuesaffectingenjoymentanduseofparksandopenspaces(seeFig.5.2).
• Thequalityoffacilitiesforfamilies(includingtoiletsandplayspaces)andthecleanlinessandmaintenanceofparkswereidentifiedasmostinneedofimprovementinlocalparksandopenspaces(seeFig.5.3).
• Respondentsvaluedwelcoming,accessibleandinclusivespaces.• Opportunitiesshouldbedevelopedforolderchildren.• Opportunitiesforvolunteeringshouldbedeveloped.• Dog fouling and control are seen as major issues.• Anti-socialbehaviouraffectstheuseandenjoymentofparks.• Thereintroductionofparkwardensisseenasdesirable.• Awiderangeofeventsinparksisseenasimportant.• Peoplewouldalsoliketoseemoreandbettercommunicationabout
eventsandvolunteeringopportunitiesinparks.
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 69
CAPITAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY12
ThequalityassessmentssetoutinSection5haveestablishedanumberofunderlyingprinciplesthatshouldinformtheemergingcapitalinvestmentstrategyandresultintangibleoutcomesinindividualparksandopenspaces.Ingeneralterms,thequalityofBarkingandDagenham’sparksneedstoimprovesothatparksbecomemoreattractivetoresidents.Buttheseimprovementsneedtobeprioritised.
Thequalityassessmentoftheborough’sparkshasbeenusedto:• Developaprogrammeforinvestmentandrenewaloverthe10yearperiod
of the strategy so that the most serious issues are addressed as soon as possible.
• Targetthisinvestmentprogrammeinareaswherethepopulationisgrowingtogrowmostsignificantlyandwheredemandforparksisgoingtogreatest in future.
12.1 REGENERATION AREA RENEWALBarking and Dagenham is embarking on a major programme of housing constructionprovisionthatwillresultintheprovisionofover30,000newhomesoverthenext20years.Thecreationofnewhousingwillimplytheneedfortheprovisionofsignificantadditionalcommunityfacilitiesincludingpublicopenspace,fundedthroughS106andCommunityInterestLevygeneratedbythesedevelopments.S106allocationsinrespectoftheBarkingRiversideregenerationareahavebeenagreedinprincipleandequatetoaninvestmentof£7,154,000.
Detailed designs for the Castle Green, Thames Road, Creekmouth and Chadwell Heathregenerationareashavenotyetbeendevelopedtotheextentthatadetailedquantificationofgreenspaceprovisioncanbeprepared.ToprovideanindicationofthelevelofS106investmentthateachareamightgenerate,anassumedlevelofprovisionof20%ofsurfaceareahasbeenproposed.NoS106fundshaveyetbeenallocatedwithintheseregenerationareas,butontheassumptionofaninvestmentof£140,000/Ha(basedontheBarkingRiversideS106allocation),atotalinvestmentof£3,402,000couldbemodelledfortheseregenerationareas.
12.2 EXTERNAL FUNDINGTheadoptionoftheParksandOpensSpacesStrategy,intandemwiththeadoptionoftheOutdoorPlayingPitchStrategywillallowthecounciltoaccesspotentialexternalfundingfromestablishedfundersofpublicopenspaceprovision.
TheHeritageLotteryFund,inpartnershipwithBigLottery,remainsthesinglemostimportantcontributorofcapitalfundingtoparksinvestmentprojectsacrosstheUKthroughits‘ParksforPeople’programme.
Inordertoqualifyfora‘ParksforPeople’grant,applicantsmustbeabletodemonstrate that a park, cemetery or open space has a heritage dimension. InthecontextofouterLondon,thisisusuallymanifestedbyanassociationbetween an historic house and the landscape surrounding it, but areas of landwithotherhistoricalsignificancethatcanberecorded,preservedand
RegenerationArea
Target greenspace provision(hectares)
Rate per hectare (£)
Totalvalue(£)
Barking Riverside
51.1 140,000 7,154,000
Castle Green 13.5 1 140,000 2 1,890,000Creekmouth 4.3 1 140,000 2 602,000Chadwell Heath 6.5 1 140,000 2 910,000TOTAL 10,556,0001 Assuming20%ofregenerationareaasgreenspace2 RatedevelopedfromS106allocatedforgreenspacewithinBarkingRiverside
Table 12.1 - Possible investments in regeneration areas
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base70
interpreted and could also quality for funding. A match funding of a minimum of10%ofprojectcostsisrequiredtobecontributedbyapplicants,buta25%matchfundingrequirementisgenerallyexpected.TheHLFalsorequiresapplicantstocommittoincreasinglevelsofmanagementandmaintenanceovera5yearperiodpostcompletionofcapitalworks.Theseadditionalrevenuecostscanbemetthroughconvertingpartofthecapitalmatchfundingcontributiontorevenueoverthisperiod.
HLFprojectsdeliverarangeofoutcomes,themostimportantofwhichisthephysicalrestorationoflandscapesandbuildings.Aparallel‘activities’programme will include community engagement, training and skills related opportunitiesandvolunteering.
TwoHLF-fundedprojectsarecurrentlyeitherinthedevelopmentordeliverystagesinBarkingandDagenham:
• BarkingTownCentreTownscapeHeritageproject:value£1.5million.• AbbeyRuinsParksforPeopleproject:value£2million.
TheboroughhasalsocompletedasuccessfulHLF-fundedprojectatValencePark.
FurtherHLF-fundedprojectscouldbeconsideredbythecounciltodeliveritsstrategicobjectivesforparkandopenspaces.
Majorcapitalinvestmentopportunitiesareofferedbyanumberofsports funders and sports governing bodies.
Thecouncilhassubmittedsuccessfulbidforthecreationofafootballhubunderthe‘Parklife’programme.Theaimofthenewprogrammeistocreateanewsustainablemodelforfootballfacilitiesbasedaroundartificialgrasspitchesonhubsites.Thefundwillprovidesignificantnewinvestmentintolocal,accessiblefacilitiesanddiffersfromtraditionalfootballinvestmentstreamsasthefundingpartnersarekeentoseeaportfolioapproachthatprovidesanarea-widesolution,ratherthanaone-offsiteinvestment.
ThemasterplanforCentralParkproposesthedevelopmentofasportshubwitharugbyfocusbutalsoprovidingnewfacilitiesfortennisandcricket(asproposedintheBarkingandDagenhamOutdoorPlayingPithStrategy).Thedevelopmentofthissportshubcouldinvolveaconsortiumofsportsgoverningbodies(RFU,ECBandLTA)contributingtoacapitalinvestmentproject.
12.3 OTHER EXTERNAL FUNDING OPTIONS
GiventheoptionsforalternativeapproachestofundingandgovernancepresentedinthisStrategy,considerationisbeinggiventotheprocurementofdevelopmentagreementswithexternalpartnerstoprogressindividualcapitalprojectsandtoseekalternativeapproachestofunding.
ThemasterplanforCentralParkproposesthecreationofnewlandformusingimportedmaterialsthatwillbringafundingdowrywithit.Thecreationofthislandscapewillreinforcetheoutcomesdeliveredbythisparkthroughthecreationofadramaticnewlandscapeandenhancedleisureactivitiesandprovidetheparkwitha‘dowry’thatwillhelptosustainitsfuturemanagement.Considerationwillbegiventofuturegovernancemodelsastheprojectdevelops.
Anumberofsmallerscalefundingopportunitiesforenvironmentalandcommunity-focusedprojectsareprovidedthroughtheLandfillCommunitiesFund(mostsignificantly,theVeoliaTrustandBiffaward)andthroughtheLondon Marathon Trust.
Assumingthedevelopmentof8projectsof£50keachoverthelifeoftheStrategy,£400,000ofexternalfundingcouldbesecuredfortheboroughsparks.
12.4 BARKING AND DAGENHAM COUNCIL CAPITAL INVESTMENTTheParksandOpenSpacesActionPlansetsoutadetailedsetofproposalsforarangeofcapitalinvestmentprojectsthatwillbefundedbythecouncilandbyexternal funders.
Localspacesarejustassignificantindeliveringpositiveoutcomesfortheborough and are just as important for stakeholders and local residents as major sites. This is emphasised in the London Plan that promotes standards ofaccesstoalltypesofparksandgreenspacesofvaryingsize.AnumberofkeythemeshaveemergedthroughtheParksandOpenSpacesStrategyengagementprocessandmanyofthesecanbeaddressedthroughlocally-basedinterventionsinlocalparksaswellasthroughmajorprojects.
Thecapitalinvestmentprogrammewillincludeasetofproposalsforlowcost‘quickwins’thatcanbeinitiatedintheshorttermandthatwillrespondtothethemesthathaveemergedthroughtheengagementprocess.
Theimplementationoftheborough’sGrowthStrategywillgeneratesignificantsumsinrespectofS106andCommunityInterestLevy(CIL).Theinvestmentoftheseresourcesneedstobecarefullytargetedtoensurethatinvestmentdeliversthemostsignificantrangeofpositiveoutcomesandaddressesthemostsignificantissuesthattheboroughcurrentlyfaces.BycreatingaCorporateNaturalCapitalAccount(CNCA)forBarkingandDagenham,wehavedevelopedarobustevidencebasetosupporttheinvestmentofthecouncil’sownresources in its parks and open spaces.
The council is currently preparing a new policy for the deployment of S106 and CILfundingandtheCNCAwillbeusedtosupportthecaseforinvestmentinthe greenspace sector. For the purposes of this Strategy, we are proposing the allocationof£100,000ofS106/CILfundsperyearforparksprojectsthatwillincludethe‘quickwins’programme,on-goingworkstorefurbishandupgradetheborough’splaygroundsandforuseasmatch-fundingresourcestosupportapplicationsforexternalfunding.
Project HLF grant (£)
LBBD match funding(£)
Othermatch
funding
Project total(£)
Abbey Ruins restoration
2,000,000 400,000 0 2.4 million
Barking Town Centre TH project
1,143,700 140,127 41,854 1.325 million
Table 12.2 - HLF funded projects in LBBD
Project Parklifegrant(£) LBBD match funding(£)
Projecttotal(£)
Parsloes Park c£3million £400,000 3.4 million
Table 12.3 - ‘Parklife’ funded projects in LBBD
Project SE Strategic Facilities(£)
Otherfunders(£)
Projecttotal(£)
Central Park 1.5 million 250,000 1,750,000
Table 12.4
Project Projectcost(£)
Central Park landscape works 1,500,000
Table 12.5
London Marathon Trust(4projectsof£50k)
LandfillCommunities
Fund(4projectsof£50k)(£)
LBBD Match funding
requirement (25%)(£)
Totalvalue(£)
200,000 200,000 100,000 500,000
Table 12.6
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 71
External sources Total£ Internal sources Total
HLF 3,143,700 540,127 3,683,827Sport England 1,000,000 165,000 1,165,000Sportgoverningbodies 500,000 82,500 582,500London Marathon Trust 200,000 50,000 250,000LandfillCommunitiesScheme 200,000 50,000 250,000Parklife partners 3,000,000 400,000 3,400,000s106/CIL 1,000,000 1,000,000TOTAL 8,043,700 2,287,627 10,331,327
Table 12.7
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base72
FUTURE FUNDING AND GOVERNANCE OPTIONS FOR PARKS AND OPEN SPACES
13BarkingandDagenham’sParksandOpenSpacesaremanagedthroughtheCultureandRecreationServiceswhichoperatewithintheGrowthandHomesDirectorate.Aswithmanylocalauthorities,thecouncilhashadtofaceconsiderablefinancialchallengesinrecentyearsasitseekstodelivermorecost-effectiveserviceswhilstsignificantlyreducingitsoveralloperationalbudget.
The State of UK Public Parks82 publishedrecentlybytheHeritageLotteryFundhighlightstheparticularchallengesparksandparkservicesarefacingacrossthecountry,withlargereductionsinfundingandthelossofstaffandtraditionalhorticulturalskills.BarkingandDagenhamisnoexceptionandexpectsthatforevery£1offundingthatwasavailabletotheservicein2010willbejust35pby2020-areductionofalmosttwothirdsoveradecade.Whilstthisbringssubstantialchallengesitalsoprovidestheopportunitytoestablishmuchhigheroperationalefficiencies,inspiringtheservicetoexplorenewwaysoffunding,managementanddeliveryinthefuture.
ThesechangeswillbekeypartofBarkingandDagenham’sambitiousplanstotransformationthewayitlooks,worksanddeliversitsservices.‘Weallhaveaparttoplay’83describesasetofproposalsandinitiativestoguidethisprocess.Parks,OpenSpacesandCemeterieswillcurrentlyremainanin-houseservicewhilstitisproposedto‘establishanewservicedesignedtobreathelifebackintotheBorough’sflagshipparksandopenspaceswithaparticularemphasisonexploitingtheircommercialpotentialforthebenefitofallusers’.
13.1 FUTURE FUNDING STREAMSThereareavarietyofestablishedandemergingopportunitiestogrowthecommercialpotentialoftheborough’sparksinthefuture.Somearefamiliarandhavebeenusedformanyyearswhilstotherswillbefarmoreinnovative,requiringanewandmoreentrepreneurialapproachtoresourcingtheservicegoingforwards.Theseinclude:
A) Grants and Contributions-Traditionallylocalauthoritiesfundtheirparksandrecreationservicesthroughannualbudgetsdirectlyfromtheirown resources. Increasingly this may be supplemented by other directorates, servicesandagenciessuchaspublichealthandeducation,tosupportthedeliveryofawidervarietyofoutcomesandsocialbenefits.
B) Events and Festivals-Thereisanincreasingdrivetouseparksandopenspacesaslocationsforavarietyofevents,activitiesandfestivals.Thereareclearbenefitstoimprovetheprogrammingofparkstoincreasesocialandculturalactivitiesforthebenefitoflocalcommunities.Avarietyofthesecangenerateincomethroughticketingandcorporatesponsorshipalthoughthismayhaveashort-termimpactonpublicaccess.
C) Cafes and Concessions -Improvingthelocationandvarietyofrefreshmentsthatareofferedwithinparksencouragegreateruseandgenerateadditionalincomeopportunities.Thesemaybeprovideddirectlyby
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 73
thecouncil,whichwoulddirectlybenefitfromallprofitsorthroughannualorseasonallicencesandleasesthatcanincludeaprofitsharingarrangement.
D) Fees and Charges-Provideavarietyofopportunitiestogenerateincomethroughchargingforspecificusesandactivities.Thismayincludestandardandfamiliarchargesforcarparkingandtheuseofsportsfacilities,pitchesandcourts.Increasinglycouncilsaresettingfeeratesforusingparksforprofessionaltrainers,fitnessclasses,filmingandprivateevents.Additionally,someauthoritiesaredirectlyinvestingin,orprovidingleasesformoresubstantialincomegeneratingfacilitiessuchastree-topwalks,high-ropecourses,golfandnichesportsfacilities.
E) Planning Gain-Isacommonwayforlocalplanningauthoritiestosecurecontributionsfromdevelopmentandregeneration.Section106(s106)fundingarrangements,andincreasinglytheCommunityInfrastructureLevy(CIL),shouldprovideimportantandsubstantialresourcesforbothcapitalinvestmentandon-goingrevenueforparksandopenspaces.
F) Sponsorship and Fundraising-Mayprovidespecificopportunitiestogenerateincomedirectlyorthroughtheactivitiesofassociatedcharitableandcommunityactivities.Thiscanincludefundraisingprogrammesbylocal Friends Groups and more formalised and targeted arrangements for fundraisingfrombusinessesandcorporateorganisationsandindividuals.
G) Public and Corporate Volunteering-Thiscangeneratenon-financialandin-kindbenefitsforparksandopenspaces.Programmesandinitiativestopromotemoreregularcontributionfromvolunteershavebecomemorestructuredandsophisticatedinrecentyears.Thesecandeliverwiderenvironmentalandsocialbenefitsandhelpprovidetraininganddevelopskills.
H) Endowment Funds–AreusedbyanumberofparksandparkservicesintheUK.Thesecantaketheformofbothcapital/cashandotherassetscapableofgeneratingaregularincometoprovidebothrevenueandcapitalfunding.Ifwell-structuredandofadequatesize,endowmentscancontinueinperpetuityprovidinganindependentsourceoffunding.
I) Localised Levies-Whilstnotcommonlyusedtofundparksandopenspaces,thereisgrowinginterestinthepotentialofestablishingParkImprovementDistrictstocapturelocalisedinvestment.FollowingthestructureofBusinessImprovementDistricts,localleviescanbevoluntaryorcompulsoryifapprovedbyamajoritythroughalocalballot.
J) Ecosystem services-Theabilitytogenerateincomebymakingpaymentsforecosystemservicesisbeingexploredthoughavarietyofenvironmentalpilotschemes.Theseseektocaptureandmonetisethevaluethatnaturalsystemsprovideinimprovingairquality,managingsurfacewaterandfloodrisk,reducingpeaksummertemperatures,capturingcarbon,generatingfoodandimprovingpublichealth.
13.2 ALTERNATIVE GOVERNANCE MODELSCurrentlyBarkingandDagenham’sParksandOpenSpaceServicearedeliveredthroughanin-houseservicedeliveryarrangementthatincludesaverysmallcoremanagementteamandanauthoritywideoperationalteam.Asmallnumberofcommercialcontractsareletforspecialistactivitiessuchasweedcontrolandtreemanagement.Thecurrentstrategyistoincreasethecost-effectivenessandefficiencyoftheserviceasameanstodrivedownannualrevenuecosts.Whilstthereisstillacapitalinvestmentprogrammethishasbeensignificantlyreducedinrecentyearsandnowprincipallyfocusesonreplacingdamagedequipmentandfacilitiesandaddressingspecificandimmediate health and safety concerns.
Althoughtheboroughisnotactivelyconsideringalternativemanagementarrangementsfortheservicethereareanumberofdifferentmodelsthatcouldbeconsideredinthefutureforeitherindividualparks,neighbourhoodsortheentireservice.Afirststageinassessingthepotentialoptionsforfuturemanagementwillbetocompileabaselineofthecurrentoperationalarrangementsthatshouldinclude:
• Summaryoftheexistingservicestructure,what’sincludedandhowitisdelivered.
• Summaryofheadlinecostsandbudgetsincludingcurrentrevenueandcapital expenditure.
• Breakdownofcostsperactivity,park/greenspacewherepossible.• Changingprofileofrevenueandcapitalexpenditureoverpastfiveyears.• Summary of funding sources including grants, s106 and new income.• Breakdownofexistingmanagementandfront-linestaffingandresources.• Costsofalloverheadsandcentralrechargeratesandfees.• Arrangementsforcapitalreceiptsandring-fencingorreturningincometo
central funds.• Zerobasedbudgetingexercisetoestablishfuturefundingprojectionsand
needs.Thereareavarietyofbusinessandorganisationalstructuresthatcouldbeadoptedtomanageaparksserviceinthefuture.Theseinclude:
• Charitable Trusts.• CommunityBenefitSocieties.• Community Interest Companies.• Co-operativeCompanyorSocieties.• EmployeeOwnershipandCo-ownershipCompanies.• Limited Companies.• Mutual Companies.• Local Authority Trading Companies.• PrivateCompanies.• Companies Limited by Guarantee.• UnincorporatedAssociations.
AninitiallistoffivealternativeoptionscouldbeconsideredforthefuturemanagementofBarkingandDagenham’sparksandeachwillneedspecificmodelling and appraisal to assess their suitability.
A) Arm’s-Length OrganisationsAnumberofservicesintheborough,includingHome,LegalandLeisure,havebeentransferredouttoseparatecompanies.LocalAuthorityTradingCompanies(LATCs)areabletoprovidewiderandincomegeneratingservicesinadditiontothoseprovidedforthecouncil.AcrosstheUKavarietyofparksservicesnowoperateinthismannerforeitherasinglelocalauthorityorawidergroup.Theprincipleobjectiveofthismodelisfortheservicetobecomeself-fundingandabletoreinvestprofitswithintheserviceandlocality.
Anappraisalofthisoptionshouldinclude:• AreviewofexistingLBBDservicesthathavebeentransferredtoarms-
lengthmanagementcompaniestoidentifyspecificstrengthsandweaknesses in the model.
• Anassessmentofthescopeoftheorganisationincludingtherangeofgreenspacesthatwouldbeincluded(parks,amenitygreenspaces,cemeteries,allotments,etc.)alongwiththetypesofservices(grasscutting,refusecollection,security,horticulture,etc.).
• An assessment of the future management and maintenance contracts thatcouldbeexpectedtobesecureddirectly,throughservicelevelarrangementswithLBBD,andthoseserviceswhichtheorganisationwouldhavetobidcompetitivelyfor.Thiswouldrequirea‘teckaltest’todefinewhether the local authority owned company can be commissioned directly orhavetobidcompetitivelyforcontracts.
• Anassessmentofanyadditionalservicestheorganisationcouldundertakeinthefuture,itsgeographicremit(withinandbeyondtheboroughboundary)andtheanticipatedincomethatsuchservicescouldgenerate.
B) Social EnterprisesWhilstparksandopenspacescangeneratesomelevelofincometopart-fundtheiroperationalcosts,socialenterprisesprovideameanstodeliverwidercommunitybenefit.Thereareavarietyoforganisationsthatmanageandmaintainindividualparksorspecificareaswithinparksaspartofwidersocial,educationalortherapeuticprogrammesthatarefundedthroughavarietyofcommercial and grant programmes.
Anappraisalofthisoptionshouldinclude:• AreviewofwiderandadditionalLBBDsocialservicesthatcouldbe
integratedwithoralignedtotheparksservice(programmesforhealth,educational,training,skillsdevelopment,etc.).
• Asummaryoftheadditionalsocialoutcomesthattheparksservicecoulddeliver.
• Anticipatedgrantsandadditionalfundingstreamsthatcouldbeaccessedintheshortandmedium-termtosupportthedeliveryofwidersocialbenefits.
• A framework and methodology to assess and measure the wider social returnoninvestmentthatasocialenterprisecoulddeliver.
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base74
C) Partnerships and Shared Services Increasinglyparkservicesarebeingdeliveredthroughmorecollaborativearrangementswithavarietyofagencies,environmentalorganisationsandcommunity groups. Strategically this could take the form of establishing shared orcombinedserviceswithadjacentlocalauthoritiesforspecificdestinationparksorentireparkservices.Thiscouldalsofocusonspecificthematicelementssuchasco-managingwildlifeareaswithconservationgroupsorriversandwaterbodieswithagenciesorusergroups.Sitebasepartnershipsareincreasinglylookingtoharnessthebenefitsofworkingmoredirectlywithvolunteersandcommunitygroupsthroughformalandinformalmanagementarrangements.
Anappraisalofthisoptionshouldinclude:• Anassessmentandmappingofappropriatelocal,London-wideand
nationalpartnersthatcouldcollaborateindeliveringtheserviceinthefuture.
• Areviewofexistingmanagementandmaintenancetasksdeliveredbytheservicetoidentifythosewhichcouldbeco-deliveredorout-sourcedtopartners in the future.
• DiscussionswithadjacentLondonBoroughstoassesstheappetiteforgreatercollaborationindeliveringorsharingservicesinthefuture.Thiscouldincludespecificactivitiesandtasksorcombiningwiththeentireactivitiesofadjacentservices.
D) Trusts and FoundationsSeveralindividualparksorwidernetworksofparksaremanagedthoughindependentandcharitabletrustsorfoundations.Somehavebeenformedmorerecentlywhilstothershaveoperatedformanydecades.Whilstparklandgenerally remains in public ownership through lease arrangements, Trusts can benefitfromoperatinginadedicatedandindependentmanner.Charitablestatusbringsadditionalfinancialbenefitintermsofbothtaxationandtheirappealtosecuregiftsandphilanthropicsupport.
Anappraisalofthisoptionshouldinclude:• Anassessmentshouldidentifywhetherestablishingeitheranew
independenttrustoranarrangementwithexistingmanagementtrusts,such as the Land Trust or the London Wildlife Trust, could be a suitable vehiclestosupportthefuturemanagementoftheBorough’sparks.
• Financial modelling including a full business case will need to be prepared toestablishboththecosts,financialandtaxationbenefitsofestablishingan independent trust.
• Afullreviewofthelegalownershipandanyspecificconstraintswillneedto be undertaken for all parks and green spaces that could be transferred toaTrustandthetermsofthetransfer,includingthedurationofleases,will need to be considered.
• Thegovernancestructureanddecisionmakingprocesswillneedtobeestablishedtoensurelocalrepresentationandfutureoperationisinthepublic interest.
E) Area-based Management OrganisationsDedicatedmanagementorganisationscanbeestablishedforspecificlocationsandneighbourhoods.IntheUnitedStates,CityParkDistrictshavebeenestablishedinseveralurbanareasasameanstofocusbothmanagementactivitiesandinvestment.Whilstuncommon,NeighbourhoodImprovementDistrictshavebeenformedtopoolinvestmentfromlocalresidentsandbusinessesandprovideameanstotackleparticularsitespecific,social,environmentalandcommercialconcernsandopportunities.
Anappraisalofthisoptionshouldinclude:• Thepotentialforestablishingmorelocalanddecentralisedmanagement
arrangements could be assessed which could incorporate other neighbourhoodmanagementactivitiessuchasstreetcleansing,wastecollectionandrecycling.
• Areabasedimprovementdistrictsgenerallyoperatethroughraisingalocallevyforwhichaclearbusinesscaseandjustificationneedstobeestablished.
• A legal assessment will need to be undertaken to ensure such arrangementscomplywithlegislationandcanwithstandalegalchallenge.
Inassessingalloptionsanumberofcommoncriteriaandfactorswillneedtobetakenintoaccountintheprocessofidentifyingwhatmaybethemostappropriate model for managing parks and green spaces in the future. These criteriaforassessmentwillinclude:
• Thelevelofcomplexity,adaptabilityandthepotentialforscalingupthemodel.
• Governancearrangementstoensurelocalaccountabilityindecisionmaking.
• Theabilitytocontrol,upholdandimprovethequalityofsitemaintenance.• Thesocialvalueandsocialreturnthatcanbegainedforpublicbenefit.• Restrictionsandconstraintsfromexistingcontractualarrangementsand
leases.• Theimpactonstaff,employmentandpensiontermsandcomplexityof
transfer. • Thefinancialflexibility,taximplicationsandbenefitsofcharitablestatus.• Theabilitytogenerateadditionalincomefromothersourcesand
activities.• Thestaffingandskillsrequiredtoestablishanddevelopanew
organisation.• Politicalperceptionandpoliticalaccountabilityofanindependent
organisation.
NOTES82 State of UK Public Parks 2016,HeritageLotteryFund. https://www.hlf.org.uk/state-uk-public-parks-2016
83 London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, “We all have a part to play” Ourproposalsforconsultation,2016.
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 75
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base76
APPENDIX 1A1QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF PARKS AND OPEN SPACESSupporting evidence maps
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 77
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base78
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 79
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base80
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 81
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base82
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 83
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base84
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 85
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base86
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 87
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base88
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 89
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base90
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 91
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base92
APPENDIX 2
PLAY ASSESSMENT
A2
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base98
PLAY ASSESSMENTHousing Playgrounds
NOTE:Type of playground is highlighted in yellow
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 99
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base100
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 101
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base102
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 103
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base104
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 105
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base106
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 107
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base108
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 109
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base110
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 111
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base112
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 113
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base114
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 115
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base116
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 117
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base118
PLAY ASSESSMENTParks Playgrounds
NOTE:Type of playground is highlighted in yellow
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 119
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base120
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 121
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base122
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 123
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base124
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 125
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base126
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 127
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base128
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 129
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base130
APPENDIX 3
ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE
A Beam
Par
klan
ds
Beam
Val
ley
Coun
try
Park
Esse
x Ro
ad G
arde
ns
OldDagen
hamPark
May
esbr
ook
Park
Bark
ing
Park
ChaseNatureRe
serve
East
broo
kend
Cou
ntry
Par
k
Cent
ral P
ark
Abbe
yGreen
/Ab
beyRu
ins
Vale
nce
Park
Ripp
leNatureRe
serve
Scratton
sFarm
Ecopa
rk
St C
hads
Par
k
Padn
all o
pen
spac
e
Cast
le G
reen
Gor
esbr
ook
Park
Greatf
ieldsPark
Hea
th o
pen
spac
e
New
land
s Pa
rk
Pars
loes
Par
k
Pond
fieldPark
StPeter’san
dStPau
l’sChu
rchyard
Tant
ony
Gre
en
The
Leys
Non
eofth
eab
ove
Q1. The following parks are included in the Open Space Strategy assessment. Please tick any parks you visit often.
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
%ofrespo
nden
ts
1% 1% 1% 2% 2% 2% 3% 4% 4% 5% 5% 6% 7% 7% 8% 11%
12%
12%
13% 20
% 23%
23% 29
% 31%
32%
33%
Barkingan
dDa
genh
am’s
park
s ar
e no
t eas
y to
get
to
Iprefertovisitparksand
ope
nsp
aces
out
side
the
boro
ugh
Idono
thavetim
e
Idono
tfee
lsafevisiti
ngth
em
Barkingan
dDa
genh
am’spa
rks
are
not w
ell m
aint
aine
d
Barkingan
dDa
genh
am’spa
rks
donotoffe
rthe
faciliti
esIwan
t
Q2. If you don’t use parks and open spaces in the borough, could you please tell us why?
100%
90%80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
%ofrespo
nden
ts
8%
17% 25
%
33%
42%
67%
3
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 131
Havemorefacilitiesincludingplacestositandrelax,avarietyofplacestobuyfoodanddrinkincludingicecreamvendors,possibleartexhibitions,waterfeaturesorlandscaped gardens.
Because my nearest park on Hedgemans road i cannot get my mobility scooter on there becauseofametalbarriertostopmotorbikes!
Q3. If you prefer to use parks outside the borough, please tell us what we could do to encourage you to visit a park in Barking and Dagenham?
Beam
Val
ley
Coun
try
Park
OldDagen
hamPark
May
esbr
ook
Park
Bark
ing
Park
BarkingRiverside
Goo
dmay
es P
ark
Recreatio
nGroun
d
ChaseNatureRe
serve
East
broo
kend
Cou
ntry
Par
k
Cent
ral P
ark
Abbe
yGreen
/Ab
beyRu
ins
Vale
nce
Park
Ripp
leNatureRe
serve
Scratton
sFarm
Ecopa
rk
St C
hads
Par
k
Padn
all o
pen
spac
e
Cast
le G
reen
Gor
esbr
ook
Park
Greatf
ieldsPark
Hea
th o
pen
spac
e
New
land
s Pa
rk
Pars
loes
Par
k
Pond
fieldPark
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Q4. Which Barking and Dagenham park do you visit most often?
%ofrespo
nden
ts
0.5%
0.5%
0.5%
0.5%
1% 1% 1% 1% 2% 2% 2% 2% 3% 4% 4% 5% 8% 9% 11% 14
%
14%
15%
Q7. Again thinking about the park you visit most often, would you normally visit alone or with a group?
In a group 35%
Alone 24%
Both 41%
OnfootBicycle CarBusCoach Tube
Q6. How would you normally travel there?
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
% o
f res
pond
ents
0% 1% 1% 2%
16%
81%
Q5. How often do you visit a park or open space in Barking and Dagenham?
Never
Onceayear
Twoorthree
timesayear
Onceeverytw
owee
ks
Everyday
Onceamon
th
Mos
t day
s
Onceortw
iceawee
k
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
%ofrespo
nden
ts
2% 2%
7%
14%
10%
30%
24%
11%
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base132
Q9. When you visit as part of a group, who is normally with you?Other - Please specify NOT INCLUDED IN OPTIONS PROVIDED
Pets
Dog Dogs
Dog walkers
Walk dogs
dogs
Pets
Family
Husband
Ownfamily
Grandchildren
Work
Staff
Sports and activities
Ourparksfitnessgroup
Park run group
Football team
Fishing buddies
Cycling club
Children and adults as part of football teams
Group of local mums with children
Club members
School group
Other Otherfamily
Friends Partner Children
Q8. When you visit as part of a group, who is normally with you?
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
% o
f res
pond
ents
5% 7%
27% 33
%
54%
71%
Q9. When you visit as part of a group, who is normally with you?Other - Please specify
Pets 33%
Family 17%Sports and club members 44%
Work 6%
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 133
Q10. Why do you normally visit this park or open space in Barking and Dagenham?
Other - Please specify
To walk dogs
Itakemydogbutwelovethewildlifethere,especiallythebreedingbirds.
Walk the dogs and take the grandchildren to the swing park
Q10. Why do you normally visit this park or open space in Barking and Dagenham?
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Tovolun
teer
To g
o on
gui
ded
wal
ks a
nd ta
lks
Tovisita
nou
tdoo
rgym
To p
lay
info
rmal
spor
ts(e.g.foo
tballclub) Other
Tovisitthe
café
To p
lay
info
rmal
spo
rts
Toatten
dan
event
To g
o fo
r a jo
g
To ta
ke a
sho
rtcu
t
To m
eet f
riend
s
Tohaveapicnic
To w
alk
a do
g
Toenjoyflow
ers/tree
s
To s
ee b
irds
and
wild
life
To e
njoy
the
beau
ty o
f the
sur
roun
ding
s
For p
eace
and
qui
et
Tovisita
playarea
Fora
children/familyouti
ng
To g
o fo
r a w
alk
% o
f res
pond
ents
0.5%
0.5%
1% 1% 1% 2% 2% 3% 3% 3% 4% 4% 7% 8% 8% 8% 8% 11%
12%
13%
Work
Park Keeper
Work
Management and maintenance
Cutthegrassregularly,cleanthelake,trimtheovergrownhedges(whichneverhappens),puttheswingsonforkids,keepitniceandtidy.
Events
ForeventssuchasStGeorgesdayorhistoryevents
Toalsoattendeventsinthesummer.
InormallyvisittojoinintheParkruneventheldonSaturdaymornings
Facilities
NocafeatStChad’sPark!
Visit Valence House
Wedon’thaveacafebutifwedidthiswouldbeonmylist.AsStChad’sparkisanimportantpartofourfamilysociallife,acafewouldbeafantasticbonus.Wehavepicnicsoftenthroughoutthespringandsummermonthsandacupofteaisalwaysonthe wishlist.
Socialise
To enjoy a chat on a bench with a friend
Tohaveabitetoeatpicnic
For fun days. Picnics
Walks, outdoor fresh air, meet friends, gym, equipment for children
TomeetfriendsTohaveapicnic
Family
Sports and activities
Fishing
Cycling
Outdoorexerciseequipmentandatrackaroundvalanceparktojogaroundtheedgesofthe park.
Feed the ducks at the lake
Play football with my grandson
To do Legs, Bums and Thighs classes
To play bowls
To get some exercise
Forexpertise,healthandwellbeing.Accessiblepaths.
TovisittheIndoorBowlClubLocatedintheBark.
WalkthroughtogotoBetterExtreme
Fishing
Positivecomment
Negativecomment
Aspirationalcomment
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base134
Environment
To learn. I like when there are signs explaining which animals are there, what the historyoftheparkis,howtheriversshapetheland,etc.
Togettowalkongrass!Sickofconcreteandastro-turf
But usually for a walk to see wildlife and enjoy the surroundings.
WeenjoytheopenspaceandthepeaceandquietofStChadsParkasweliveinanapartment.
Togetoutofthehouse.Oneofthefewplacesaccessiblebywheelchair
Get out of the house and get some fresh air.
To try and relax
Iliketophotographnatureandinformallysurveytheinsectlifeandflorainthepark’swildlife area
IpersonallyusetheParkforavarietyofreasonsdependingonhowIamfeeling.Sometimestobealonetogatherthoughtsandchilloutinthefreshopenspace.Ilikebeautifulsurroundingsawayfromtrafficandtrafficfumes.ShameBarkingParkfacesontoLongbridgeRoadthatissometimescongested.Notgoodforthoserunningbutunknowinglycouldbeinhalingharmfulfumesbeitnotdangerouslevels.
LovetoseetheSwansandducksinthelake
Thedaffodilsarelovelythereinthespringandthat’saboutit.Thenicelavenderwithrosesarenotmaintained.Moreflowerbedswouldbenice.AlsoIwouldlovemoretrees there. It is always too breezy there because the space is too open. Specially the playground could be surrounded by some. There is no cafe, nothing fun to do there. Barkingparkisgreat.Eastbrookendparkisverynicetoobutagainshame,nocafethere.Wouldlikesomeniceflowerymeadows,moreplants,makeitlively.Sinceitsacountrypark,somemoreoriginalplants,bushescouldgrowthere.(liketheytrytodoinOlympicpark).Niceandmorebenchesthere.Mayitnicersopeoplewouldliketogoforapicnicthere.Orisitnotsupposedtobeforthis?
Play
Asachild-minderwevisitvalenceparkalotforwalks,puddlesplashing,feedingducks&squirrelsbutit’sgettinglessduetolackofmaintenancetherewhichisverydisappointing
AsasafeplaceforchildrentoplayItwouldbenicetovisitacafeItwouldbenicetohaveawellmaintainedswimmingpool
Betterchildrenplayfacilities,I.eswingsandslides,etcandmoredogwastebins
Children’splayareas
EspeciallyatValenceparkthereisverylittleforthechildrentoplayon&whatisthereismainlyaimedatchildren4yrsandbelow.There’snothingreallyforchildrenbetweenage4-8yrs.Manyparkswehavevisitedoutoftheareahaveapparatusmadefromtreelogsandropeetc.Alsoteenagerscongregating,smokingandswearingaroundthechildrenisamassiveissue.Thelocalparksdon’tseemtobemonitoredbyauthorityandwhenproblemslikethisoccur,itgetsreportedbutnothingevercomesfromit.Ithinkthingslikethisisamajorputoffformanyparksinthearea
Moreplayareaforkidsandmoreactivitiestoplaywith,lesssandandmorehardsurface like the rubber mats
Mostlyvisitafterschoolwiththechildrentoplayandtoduringthedaytowalkthedogs
Mychildrenhavevisitedtheparkto,walkourdogwiththeirfriends
OldDagenhamparkisnotaccommodatedforchildrenallagesandit’sboringforchildrenandit’satoiletfordogs,cozownersaretoodamelazytopickitup
Play with kids
Pokemonhunting
TakegrandchildrentothecountryparktheplayareaisveryUNsafeandnotveryappealing
TheChildrenareainValenceparkneedanupgrade.Almosteverythingisbrokenandorneverbeenupdatedsinceweliveinthearea(9years).Barkingparklooksamazingandmy we are enjoying the children playground
Theparksintheboroughareappallingthechildren’sfacilitiesaresopoortheydon’tevenappealtomychildrentheyaresooutdateditsuntrueyoucantevenspendlongperiodoftimestherecosthere’snotmuchtodo
To take the kids out
Tovisittheparkwithmyson
Walk the dogs and take the grandchildren to the swing park
We would like more equipments for children.
Mostlyvisittheplayareabutwedocyclingaswell.Toimprovethechildren’splaygroundsinGoresbrookI’veheardthereisadesignforresidents playgrounds if your playing when the park is out of hours they can break in but cant get out
Grandchildren
AbetterplaygroundinOldDagenhamparkwouldbenice.Theonethereissooutdated,most is from metal with scratched paint, no slide.
Ibeenlivingnexttotheplaygroundlast4yearsandIneversawanybodyfromcounciltocomeandfixthechildrenactivities.Isverypoorparkwithnotpropersafeplayareforthelocalkids.Nobinsaroundtodroplitters.Ibeenlivingonhackneymorethan7yearsandtheplaygroundsareamazingandalwayscleanandchildrenliveit.Dagenhamisverypoorwithlookingafterparksandplaygrounds.Verydisappointed.Ascounciltaxpayermykidsdeservehaveniceplaygroundsaroundhome.
I think more play areas are needed for older children....actual equipment they can go onanduse...notjumping/swingingbarsandsilly1.5mclimbingwalls.Heck!Ievenliketohaveaplayandgoonthingwiththekids....Imeanwhathappenedtoroundabouts??Theywerearoundforyearsandkidslovethem,buttheredoesn’tseemtobeanywherelikethatanymoreandit’ssadmykidsdogetgototheparktoplayasoften,astheequipment is just too young for them....my 13 and 17 year old like to come to the playgroundtoletoffabitofsteam!
IthinktheCentralParkhasagreatpotential.Forsomereasonitfeelsabit“empty”andunpopular.Ithaslotsofspaceandsomereallyniceplaygroundwouldbeverygoodidea.LikeinBarkingPark,playgroundtherejustamazing!WhyDagenhamareacan’thavesomethingsimilar?Joggingtracksbyparkperimeterwouldbegreattoo!SofarIseepeoplerunningbyperimeteroftheparksometimesonwetgrasswhichnotalwayssafe.
IwouldliketotakemychildovertheparkmoreoftenbutunfortunatelyIdonotfillsafealso there is no toilets or good play equipment for him
In Valence park there are not enough for children and not enough security. As of right nowwedonotgotoValencebecausethereisalwayslitterandpeoplewhoshouldn’tbeinthepark.drunksteenagekidswithabadattitude.Thanks
Itwouldbewonderfultohaveafewsensoryequipmentstoplaywith/onforchildrenwith special needs.
Kids day out
Moreplayareaandridesforthechildren.Removethesandpit.Maketheplayareasuch that children feel safe from others trying to cause trouble and reck the place.
Ensuredogsarenotallowedinchildren’splayareas.
TheChildrenareainValenceparkneedanupgrade.Almosteverythingisbrokenandorneverbeenupdatedsinceweliveinthearea(9years).Barkingparklooksamazingandmy we are enjoying the children playground
Positivecomment
Negativecomment
Aspirationalcomment
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 135
Play
Pokemonhunting
Mostlyvisittheplayareabutwedocyclingaswell.
Facilities
Visit Valence House
Environment
To learn. I like when there are signs explaining which animals are there, what the historyoftheparkis,howtheriversshapetheland,etc.
Togetoutofthehouse.Oneofthefewplacesaccessiblebywheelchair
To try and relax
Sports and activities
Fishing
Cycling
Feed the ducks at the lake
To do Legs, Bums and Thighs classes
To play bowls
To get some exercise
Forexpertise,healthandwellbeing.
Q10. Why do you normally visit this park or open space in Barking and Dagenham?
Other - Please specify NOT INCLUDED IN OPTIONS PROVIDED
Q10. Why do you normally visit this park or open space in Barking and Dagenham?
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base136
Dogs
Dogs should be kept on leads while in the park and the person in charge of the dog shouldbecarryingabagtopickupitsmessorbefinedfornothavingabagwiththem.
No lose dogs
Q11. Looking at the list below, which three things are most important to you in your local parks and open spaces?
Other - Please specify NOT INCLUDED IN OPTIONS
Facilities
Needsacafe,needsbetterplaygroundequipment,toiletsneedtobeopenallday!!
Dogs
Dogs should be kept on leads while in the park and the person in charge of the dog shouldbecarryingabagtopickupitsmessorbefinedfornothavingabagwiththem.
No lose dogs
Aesthetic appeal
Havingsomenicetreesandflowerstolookat,notjustgrass
Sports and activities
Itwouldbenicetovisitthisparkandbeabletoplayapropergameoftennis.Thecourtsareruined.Thebowlinggreenisaneyesoreovergrownwithpeopleliving/lurkinginthebushes.There’snowheretogetanyrefreshmentsandyouhavetododgethemopeds riding through. Need I go on?
Fishing
Childrenactivities
Other
Shakingoffthestressesofmanningthefrontdesk
Q11. Looking at the list below, which three things are most important to you in your local parks and open spaces?
Other - Please specifySafety and cleanliness
Don’tlikelargegroupsofmaleswhetherdrinkingornot.Don’tappreciatepeopleurinatingdiscreetbutcanbeobservedornoticed.ThisproblemofurinatingisnotlimitedtotheParksinBarkingtheproblemofurinatingiscommononBarkingstreetsanditmakesmeembarrassedandsickasit’sfilthyandalackofdecently.IpersonnoticedamaleofEasternEuropeansporranevenwithemptycansathisfeetandacaninhishandfacethenowclosedBarclaysBankonFaircrossParadeandwasurinating.Thiswaswhilsttherewasstilldaylightaround1700/1900.Kidsareinthearea.WorststillthereissomecamerasbuttheypointatthenorightturntoearncashwhichIexcept(thesignspositionisquestionableIjustwanttosaythoughIdigress)
Feelingsafeinacleanwellmaintainedparkwithgoodcomfortableseatinginsafeshelteredlocations.
tohavenoantisocialbehaviour
Q11. Looking at the list below, which three things are most important to you in your local parks and open spaces?100%90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%0%
Opp
ortunitie
stovolun
teer
The
qual
ity o
f sig
nage
in th
e pa
rk
Sportspavilion
Form
alspo
rtsactiv
ities
(e.g.spo
rtspitche
s) Oth
-er
Thequ
ality
oflighti
ng
Theeven
tsinth
epa
rk
Thecafefaciliti
es
Thequ
ality
ofseatin
gan
d pl
aces
to re
stTh
etoiletfacilitie
s
Thecareand
protection
of
nat
ure
and
wild
life
The
appe
aran
ce o
f the
par
k
The
mai
nten
ance
of t
he p
ark
Thequ
ality
offacilitie
sfor
pare
nts
and
child
ren
Feel
ing
safe
in th
e pa
rk
The
clea
nlin
ess
of th
e pa
rk
%ofrespo
nden
ts
0% 1% 1% 3% 3% 4% 5% 8% 11% 14
%
24% 29
%
40% 43
% 48%
65%
Positivecomment
Negativecomment
Aspirationalcomment
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 137
Q11. Looking at the list below, which three things are most important to you in your local parks and open spaces?
Other - Please specify
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base138
Dogs
Aclearlydefinedareaforpeoplewithdogs.Atthemomentifeelunsaferunningtheparksbecauseofdogsthatarewalkedwithoutaleash.Alsopeopledon\’talwayscleanaftertheirdogsmakingtheparkunsafefortoddlers
Adogsectionforuswithpets
Central park needs more dog and waste bins as most are broken
Facilitiesfordogwalkers,closedinfields,dogpoobins,pathsnotsafefordogs
More dog poo bins are needed.
Dogs on leads only
Dogs to be kept on leads and excluded fro play areas.
Facilities
Need a cafe, need toilets open all day.
Carparkingeitherinoronsurroundingroad,free!Management and maintenance
Feelingsafeinacleanwellmaintainedparkwithgoodcomfortableseatinginsafeshelteredlocations.
The grass needs to be cut on a more regular basis please
Too much being spent on rubbish.
Miscellaneous
De-stressingandRelaxationwatchingtherippleofthewavesafteraweekresolvingissuesonfrontdeskatTownHall!
Safety and security
GETRIDOFRATS
Mayesbrookparkwillhavebirdpooeverywherewhichisaproblem
Peoplerespectingthepark
Removethedrunks
Safety
Security of fencing
Antisocialbehaviour
Everyonetorespecttheplayareasandtotreattheplayfacilitieswithduecareandtoleavethelittlechildren’splayareasforlittlechildrenonlyandtonotlittertheseareasandtonotbringtheirdogsintotheseareas,nortosmokeany(e-)cigarettesnorconsumealcoholnortointimidateanyofthosefreelyandhappilyenjoyingtheplayaresimplybytheir(often)intimidatingpresenceanddominationoftheplayequipment
Q12. Which three things need most improving in your local parks and open spaces? (Feel free to specify another option in the text box provided)Other
Play
Lots of play equipment has been taken away or damaged. The children desperately needabettersaferplayarea
Needbetterplaygroundequipment
Thedamagedswingsetcnevergetreplaced
The equipment in the play area
Zebra crossings into park area, enclosed play area, more toddler appropriate playgroundequipment.Notenoughswingsorpadded/waterproofmattingtoensuresafe playing and allow children to be more free with play in all weathers.
Q12. Which three things need most improving in your local parks and open spaces?
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Opp
ortunitie
stovolun
teer
The
qual
ity o
f sig
nage
in th
e pa
rk
Sportspavilion
Form
alsp
ortsactivitie
s(e.g.spo
rtspitche
s) Other
Thequ
ality
oflighti
ng
Theeven
tsinth
epa
rk
Thecafefaciliti
es
Thequ
ality
ofseatin
gan
d pl
aces
to re
st
Thetoiletfacilitie
s
Thecareand
protection
of
nat
ure
and
wild
life
The
appe
aran
ce o
f the
par
k
The
mai
nten
ance
of t
he p
ark
Thequ
ality
offacilitie
sfor
pare
nts
and
child
ren
Feel
ing
safe
in th
e pa
rk
The
clea
nlin
ess o
f the
par
k
% o
f res
pond
ents
1% 3% 4% 4% 7% 8% 10%
12% 16
%
17% 19
%
30% 35
%
35% 43
% 46%
Positivecomment
Negativecomment
Aspirationalcomment
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 139
Facilities
Carparkingeitherinoronsurroundingroad,free!
Q12. Which three things need most improving in your local parks and open spaces? (Feel free to specify another option in the text box provided)NOT INCLUDED IN OPTIONS PROVIDED
Play
Zebra crossings into park area, enclosed play area, more toddler appropriate playgroundequipment.Notenoughswingsorpadded/waterproofmattingtoensuresafe playing and allow children to be more free with play in all weathers.
Dogs
Aclearlydefinedareaforpeoplewithdogs.Atthemomentifeelunsaferunnigintheparksbecauseofdogsthatarewalkedwithoutaleash.Alsopeopledon\’talwayscleanaftertheirdogsmakingtheparkunsafefortoddlers
Adogsectionforuswithpets
Central park needs more dog and waste bins as most are broken
Facilitiesfordogwalkers,closedinfields,dogpoobins,pathsnotsafefordogs
More dog poo bins are needed.
Dogs on leads only
Dogs to be kept on leads and excluded fro play areas.
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base140
Q14. Are you currently involved with your local park?
No 95%
Yes 5%
Formal involvement
Chairman of a local football club with youth and adult teams. Club has been running for 27 years in Barking & Dagenham
Chairman of the Indoor Bowls Club
Ihelpleadtwodifferentdaywalksinthepark.Iorganisefitnesssessionsruns&footballfor all ages from 4 years old to plus 40
Joinedsportsclub
Through partnership work help arrange maintenance
Volunteer at the canoe club
Residentsassociation
Informal involvement
Visit regularly and report issues
AsIusetheparkregularly,Igenerallycleanupanythingthataffectsmydogs,sobranches or food that may injure them.
Gotoeventsdosurveys
Miscellaneous
Gotoevents
BeamAvenuePark
Improvements
Q13. Are you currently involved with your local park?Please specify
Q13. Overall what is your opinion of parks in Barking and Dagenham?
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%Excellent Very
GoodGood Average Poor Extremely
poorDon’tknow
Very poor
% o
f res
pond
ents
1%
13%
26%
28%
19%
7% 6%
1%
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 141
Q14. What factors make it difficult or unappealing for you to be involved in helping to improve the quality of your local park or open space?
Time
Time
time
Lackoftime
Time
Notime
Work
too busy
Working hours
Busy life
Busy with work and family,parks should be maintained by council, pushing responsibility to us is appalling
Donothavethetime
Donothavetime
Don’thavethetime
Freetime
Full Time Employment
Haven’tgottime
Work
Work Commitment
Work Life
Work Life balance
Work and childcare commitments
Work and family commitments
Work and kids
Work commitment
Workeveryday
Workfulltime
Work long hours
Workshifts
Work,childrenmytime
Work/age
Work/notenoughtime
Working
Workingfulltimeandbeingashiftworker
Workingfulltime
Iwork5days.Weekfulltime
Iworkfrom7amto7pmmon-fri
Iworkfulltime
Iworkfulltime
Iworkfulltimeandcommutingtimetakesabigpartofmyfreetime
Iworkfulltime,doshiftsandpaycounciltax.
I work long hours
Iworkshiftsandhaveayoungsonsodifficulttobecomeinvolved
Iwork,gettheunemployedandfulltimemummy’stopicklitterup.
I workf
I’mafulltimecarernotimewouldlovetodosomething
Iamtoobusy!
Time and free labour
Timeandresponsibilities.
Timeconstraintsandlackofskillsandmotivation
Time due to work commitments and children
Timepressure-Ihavelittlesparetime
Timerestrictionsduetomyworkpatterns
Timetoattendmeetingsandnotknowingwhenandwheretheyare
Time...havetowork
Timesofmeetingsnotoverlyaccessibletofamilieswithyoungchildren
Lackoftime,workingfulltimeandhavingtwosmallchildren
Lookedatvolunteeringbutit’smostlyMon-friandiwork
MeetingsareonthesameeveningoftheweekeachtimeanditisadayIamoftentiedup
My working hours
Notenoughfreetime
Notimeforit
Notimehaveayoungchildandamasingleparent
Notenoughtime
Notenoughtimeandwouldn’tknowwhereorhowtosignup
Othercommitments
Tomanydrunksoverpark’s.Busywithfamily
Toobusy,notenoughtimetodothethingsIneedtodoformyselfandfamily.
Tume
Volunteeringelsewhere,sotimeconstraints
don’thavetime
full-timejob&maternity
havingthetimeafterworkingallweek
lackoftime
working
my job
notenoughtimeinmyeverydaylife
usedtobeinvolvedatValence,notenoughtimenow,also,dontknowwhenorwheretoattendmeetingsetc
findingfreetime
Ifthereareopportunitiesatweekendsthatwouldbegood
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base142
Lack of opportunity and promotion
Lackofopportunitytogetinvolved
“Friends”meetingseithersecretorattimeswhenparentsareunabletoattend.
Antisocialbehaviour¬knowinghowtogetinvolved
Communicatewithresidentsmoreoften
Communicationchannels-maybecreateFBgroupforeachpark?
Communicationdontknowhowto,noinformationinparksaboutthis
Didn’tknowIcouldgetinvolved
Didntfindanyinfoaboutit
Don’tknowhowto,noinfo
Don’tknowhow?
IamnewtotheareaandIwasn’tpreviouslyawareoftheseschemes.Whatwouldbegreatissomethingvolunteeringwhereyoucanbringchildrenattheweekends.
Ididn’tknowIcouldofficiallybeinvolved.
Ididn’tknowthiswasanopportunity
ItravelalotalsoIwasverysurprisedatthelistofparksintheborough.Ihadnoideathereweresomanyandstillhavenoideawheretheyare,alistofparksandtheaddressofeachplusamapshowingthelocationofallofthemthatyoucouldclickonforfurtherdetailsiefacilitiesandeventstakingplacewouldfacilitatemyuse of other parks.
IwasnotawareIcantakepartintheseactivities
Lackofinformation
Lackofinformation
Lackofinformationandtimings.
Lack of knowledge
Lackofadvertisingwithregardstovolunteering.
lackofinformation
lackofinformationabouthowtogetinvolved
lack of support from the council.
Notawareofopportunities
Not aware of the opportunity
Lackofopportunitiesduringtheday.Meetingsatoddtimes,StChad’sparkfeelsforgottenabout
Lackofopportunitiesofferedbythecouncil
Lackofopportunitytovolunteer
Neverknowanythingabouthelping.
Neverseenanyonethererecruitingpeopletohelpmaintainpark
No group exists
Noinfoavailable
Noinformationonhowtobecomeinvolved
NotenoughinformationabouthowIcanhelptoimprovemyfavouritepark
Notknowinghowtogetinvolved
Notknowingnowtogetinvolved
Not sure
Not sure how to help out
Noth
Nothing there
UnawareofhowIcangetinvolvedesp.withopenspacesnexttomeshouldbeadvertised/informedtothemostlicalresidents
timeandawareness
there’snotenoughinfooutthereonwhereandhowyoucanhelp.
thereisnotateamtotrytoimproveitandpromotit.
notenoughinformationencouragingtojoin
it’snotbeenbroadcastedinmyarea
dont know who to contact
Wasn’tawarewecouldhelpatValencepark
TherescurrentlynothinghappeningwithCastleGreenpark.Iwouldlovetogetinvolved
Therehasn’tbeenmuchorganisedasyet
Childcare
Always working or taking care of my children.
Busylookingaftermychildren
Child care
Childnotinfulltimeeducation
Childcare and general disrespect, hard work will just be undone
Have2youngchildren
Havingayoungchildalsonothavinganyinformationabouthelpingout
Havingchildrencanmakeattendingmeetingsdifficult.
Iamacarer&parentwithnorespiteorbabysitter
Iamamotheroftwochildren(4yearsand2years)andnothavethetime
Ihavetowatchaftermykids.
I’mtobusywithmychildren1isdisabled
Lookingafter2babies
timeandkids
work and children
havetolookafternewborn
childcaremakesitdifficulttogetinvolved.
Lack of community feel
Thereisnolevelofcaregiventothepark theperceivedlackofappreciation
Feel there is no community feel in the parks and in Barking generally
No-oneelsecares
Norangerserviceorcleanupserviceisorganisedinmylocalpark
The lack of respect of people in the borough
The minority of people not willing to respect their green space
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 143
Age and health
Oldage
Age
My age, plus my tax should be paying for this
Too old
my age
Health
Arthritis,backproblems
Disabled wife
Health
Health problems
I am disabled
MedicalCondition
My health
My poor health
Poor health
arthritis
bad health
wheelchair
health
health issues
disabled
age
I’mdisabled
Safety and cleanliness
DirtyandNotmaintainedresultinginfeelingunsafe
Gangs of teenagers
Its not safe, not well lit, no park rangers, dirty.
Dog crap
Dogs and youths
Don’tfeelsafewithdogsrunningloose
Ihavelotsofideasbuttheolderchildren(teenagers)congregating,smokinganddrivingmopedsaroundisn’tveryappealingandunfortunatelytheyaren’tapproachablesoitputsmeoffattendingparksinBarkingandDagenham.Wenormallytraveloutofthearea.
Unappealing as the parks are going into disrepair possibly due to underfunding. Childrenovertheageof7havemjnja
antisocialbehaviour
they are unsafe
Parkasitisatthemomentdoesn’talwaysfeelsafe,facilitiesarepoorandthere’slittletomaintain
Other
nothing seems unappealing
The type of work
Theoverallstateoftheparksfacilities
Lack of colour in the Park
Lack of good play areas for children < 2
Notenoughplayactivitiesforthechildren
Thisisanappallinglydevisedquestionnaire.
Seriously??
Private
None I would help out
Lack of support
Ihavetriedbeforebutwastoldthecouncilhadnofundstobuildtenniscourtsat castle green
lack of funds
govermetbacking/support
Ourclubwishestobeinvolvedinthedevelopmentofbetterfootballplayingconditionsforourteamsbutdifficulttogetthingsdonewiththelocalcouncil
Not responsibility of volunteers
Ialreadypaycounciltaxwhichsupposedlypaysforleisurefacilities.
I am paying council tax for those thinks to be done.
WhyshouldIpickupotherpeople’sdogmessIpickupminethereshouldbemorewardensfiningpeoplealsooverpondfieldIhaveseenneedlesalongwhere walkway is it has alcoholics drinking in the summer not a place to take children
donotagreewiththemisusevolunteersinplaceofpersonsemployedtoperform the task
theconstantdamagetotheplayareaandmisuseoftheplayequipment-ishouldn’thavetowatcholderchildrenmisusingplayequipmentwhilstallowingmychildrentoplay;iprefertoleaveimmediately.Certainfactorsincludingnotenjoyableexperiencesinplayareas/parks/oopenspaceshasjustmademewanttoleaveratherthanstayinthisborough
thethingsIthinkneedimprovingcouldnotbetakenonbyvolunteers,weneedtoiletsreopened,andthecounciltostopchargingustoparkourcareachtimewego.AstherearenoparksofanyrealsignificancesouthoftheA13,theneedtodriveisgreat,alsotaking2dogsonthebusisunrealisticassomanypeoplethesedaysthatliveinBarkingareridiclouslyafraidofanydog!
ibelieveitistheresponsibilityoftheboroughtomaintaintheparksandthecareand safety of the public when in the parks regardless of costs.
ideaofwastingmytimejustsochavandthievescanwrecktheareaagain
There is no group with authority to secure parks from wrong doers
how long will it last with no care or mo ey being put into it. But lets paint useless yellowlinesandstarsonthefloor.Ohandmoremetalbenchesforthelocalcracks to drink on all day
not enough training
Lackofcommunityfeel3%Childcare8%
Lackoftime39%
Lackofopportunityandpromotion
Age2%
Health8%
Not the responsibility ofvolunteers5%
Alreadyinvolved3%Lackofsupport2%
Safetyandcleanliness5%
Q14. What factors make it difficult or unappealing for you to be involved in helping to improve the quality of your local park or open space?
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base144
Q15. If you would like to be more involved in your local park or open space please tell us how you would most likely choose to be involved?Asabove,alreadyinvolved
AsstatedearlierIamnotabletovolunteerhoweverIhavereportedanyproblemsthatIhaveseenandwillcontinuetodosowhenenjoyingtheselovelyopenspaces.
Dogbreedgroups/walks
Dog walking groups
HaveaForestschoolarea
Helpwithteachingouryoungstersthejoyoffishing.Provideamuchwastedcafe,dropin, community cafe hub in the wasted Millennium centre modity
Ihavealreadyreportedinthepastrubbishbinsoverflowing&brokenglassonthechildren\’sslide&surroundingarea
IsupposeI\’dbehappytobeinvolvedinanymanner.Thisisahorribly-writtensurvey.
Iwanttobeabletogiveideasonfacilitiesthatcouldimproveourparkforthepeoplethatuseitthemostoften.
Iwouldnotgetinvolve
None
NotsureuntilIhadmoreinformationandmyparkwasupgraded
Stopantisocialbehaviourwithintheparks
Park watch for public safety factors
Something to do with the trees and plants
Wildlife/naturebiodiversity
With people who care
Working with plants
Q17. Are you happy to answer these questions?
No15%
Yes85% Q18. Age100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%0-14 15-19 20-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+
% o
f res
pond
ents
0% 1% 2%
22%
36%
17%
13%
9%
1%
Q15. If you would like to be more involved in your local park or open space please tell us how you would most likely choose to be involved?
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Other
Sportsclub-
Joinaspo
rtsclub
Friend
sgrou
p-Joinorsetupafriend
sgr
oup Voluntee
ring-
Becomeavoluntee
r
Commun
ityAction
Days-
Atten
dorhelporganisean
acvitity
ParkW
atchSchem
e-
Helpiden
tifyan
drepo
rtfaulty
ordam
aged
faciliti
esand
poo
rm
aint
enan
ce
% o
f res
pond
ents
9%
19% 26
%
27% 34
%
58%
Q16. How would you like to be kept informed?100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Other
Mee
tings
Prin
ted
park
s ne
wsle
tters
Coun
cil
web
site
Emai
l or
e-ne
wsle
tter
% o
f res
pond
ents
4% 6%
19%
42%
68%
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 145
Q20. Do you identify, or have you ever identified as Transgender?
No99%
Yes1%
Q22. Do you consider yourself disabled?
No90%
Yes7%Prefernottosay3%
Other
White English
White English
Human
Q21. Ethnicity
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Any
othe
r Asia
n ba
ckgr
ound
GypsyorIrishTraveller
Whi
te a
nd A
sian
AnyOtherM
ixed
/multip
le
ethn
ic b
ackg
roun
d
Bang
lade
shi
Chin
ese
Carib
bean
Anyothe
rBlack/Afric
an
/Caribbe
anbackgroun
d
Whi
te a
ndBl
ack
Carib
bean
Afric
an
Otherethnicgrou
p
Pref
er n
ot to
say
Indi
an
Paki
stan
i
Any
othe
rW
hite
bac
kgro
und
WhiteBriti
sh
% o
f res
pond
ents
0% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 2% 2% 3%
13%
70%
Q19. Gender demographics
Male25%Female75%
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base146
Q25. What is your sexual orientation?
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Lesb
ian
Gay
man
Other
Bise
xual
Pref
er n
ot to
say
Het
eros
exua
l
% o
f res
pond
ents Other
Pagan
Other
Breathing problems
Other
Normal
Normal!!
Sexualorientationquestionisnotrelevanttothequestionnaire.
Spee
ch
impa
irmen
t
Lear
ning
difficulty
Hea
ring
impa
irmen
t
Whe
elch
air
user Pr
efer
not
to
say Other
Men
tal H
ealth
iss
ues Re
stric
ted
mob
ility
Q23. Type of impairment100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
% o
f res
pond
ents
5% 5%
9%
14%
14%
14%
27%
50%
Budd
hist
Hin
du
Jewish
Other-p
leasespecify
Sikh
Pref
er n
ot to
say
Mus
lim
No
relig
ion
Christia
n(in
c.
Chur
ch o
f Eng
land
, Ca
thol
ic, P
rote
stan
t an
dallC
hristi
an
deno
minati
ons
Q24. Religion
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
% o
f res
pond
ents
0.5%
0.5%
0.5%
0.5% 1%
3% 4%
37%
51%
0% 1% 1% 2% 5%
90%
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 147
APPENDIX 4
PUBLIC CONSULTATION
A4Barking Learning Centre Consultation18th March 2017
General
All good ideas but how will we get funding for all of this?
TheissueswithBarkingarerelativetoit’sdeclineinindustry.PerhapsAbbeyGreencouldbecomemoreofatraveldestinationsite?
Yestoeverythingonalltheboardsplease
Facilities and Services
AbbeyGreenneedsanofficialVisitorsCentre,preferablyinaexistingperiodbuildingthathassomehistory/relationtoAbbeyGreen,e.g.theVacant Bull Pub opposite the Abbey entrance
AbbeyGreenneedstobemorevisitorfriendly,thecentralgraveyardshouldbecomemoreinviting!Mostentrancesarepoorlylocated.Ithaspotentialtobecomemuchmorebeautiful
MayesbrookParkneedsmoredustbins,possibleparkattendantsandsocialisinginformation/morecommunityinvolvementinformation
Therearen’tenoughamenitiesandactivitiesforteenagersandyoungadults.Currentlythereareonlysportingactivitiesforthembutthere’sabigpotentialforaddingeducational/research-basedactivitiesforthem.
NavigationinEastbrookendandTheChaseisterribleandputsmeoffwantingtovisit
Mayesbrook:moresignpostsandinformationinregardstorunning,na-tureandbetterseatingandaccesspointsaroundthetwoboatinglakes.
Integrated playgrounds for all ages
Cafe Facilities
MaybesbrookParkneedsacafé(otherthantheoneintheSportsBuilding)
Ifyouadd/updgradecafé’sintheparkspleasehavemorehealthyfoodoptions
24-hourtoiletsandcafesshouldbeamust!
CanBarkinghaveabiggerplaygroundandacaféthat’sopen
Security and Cleanliness
Security is a big issue in large wild parks such as Eastbrookend and The Chase,manypeoplearereluctanttovisittheseparksalone,andthisneed not be the case
Safetyandcleanlinessneedsimprovinggenerallyacrossalltheparksinthe borough, but especially in Maybesbrook in terms of dog mess
SouthoftheA13hasadrainageditchwhichthecouncilhavefailedtokeepitclean,clearandflowing;fly-tippingisabigproblem;thereareevensofasinthere!ThisisinandaroundtheThamesViewHousingEstate
Positivecomment
Negativecomment
Aspirationalcomment
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base148
Activities
Muchpotentialforbetterlocalwalks:therewasonepreviouslyadver-tisedatBarkingParkbutitwasveryboring
Considerhavinglocalcommunitycompostheapsinthelocalparkstoavoidimportingsoilfortheparkplantingborders.
Currentvolunteeringopportunitiesdon’taccommodatepeoplewhowork9:00-5:00pmMonday-Friday.
ConsiderfishinginEastbrookend,asasport/communitysocialsession–also hydroponics?
Moreinnovativegames,notjustestablishedsports!Checkmindtheg-apUK facebook group
Possibleannualschoolrunsinthemajorparks,makeitcompetitive?Achancetore-createprideintheboroughetc.
Maybehavevolunteerswhotakeonmanagingothervolunteersatweek-ends(duetoRangerissue)
There’spotentialtoestablishmore‘Friendsof’groups,especiallyaroundMayesbrook Park and Parsloes Park.
Alsoconsideropportunitiesforfamiliessotheycanvolunteertogether.
Biodiversity and the Natural Environment
I’dliketoseemorenestingbirds
Greenspacesaresoimportantandshouldneverbeusedforbuilding,evenifitischeaperthanbrownfieldland.
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 149
APPENDIX 4 PUBLIC CONSULTATION
Dagenham Library Consultation25th March 2017
Security and Cleanliness
Securityconcerns:needguardsandlighting
Managementofbinsandlitter
Cleaner parks
Dog fowling
NeedpeopletopickrubbishupinOldDagenhamPark
Facilities and Services
Park keeper, toilets, cafes, management of parks
Iwouldliketoseetheparksusedmoreextensively,particularlyforsports.Forexampletennisisnowpopular.Makemorecourtsavailablefor young people, at a reasonable cost.
Get more football pitches into use, again at a reasonable cost to users.
More seats and bins
Outdoorgym,greenhouses,lakes(fenced),picnicareas,flowermeadowsand wildlife play
Playgrounds-Bigslides,Rope,sand,soundequipment,seesaws,swings
OldDagenham-therewasanorchardandkidsbreakthem
Sports:biketracks,skateparks,kayak,cricket,rugby,football,basketball
Sports:Basketball,football,bigslides
Do not like big swing
Childrenafraidofdogs-fencedplayareasanddogsneedtobeonalead
InOldDagenhamParktherehavebeenmissingslides/swingforages
Natural play
General
Moreexciting,morediverseexperience
Teenagers do not respect the public spaces
Dogs need park for excersise and freedom for a walk like humans in the park
Donotneednewhome’sinDagenhamonlyparks
Activities
Outdoorgymandchildrenactivities
Moresports,adventurous
More sports in parks
Morechildrenactivities
Communitydayinparks-wherepeoplecancometogetheranddevelopideas, start Friends groups
Photocompetitionsaboutlocalparks
Motorbikes and quad bikes in parks
Playschemes for older kids in all parks
Moreactivities-opportunitiesforchildrenandolderkids
Needvolunteeringevents/communityevents
Growingopportunitiesforchildren
Nature walks
Moreactivities
Positivecomment
Negativecomment
Aspirationalcomment
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base150
Barking Learning Centre Workshop27th March 2017
EXERCISE 1
Niche Users
ConservationVolunteer
Corporatevolunteers
Dogwalkers(thesepeopleuse95%ofparks)
Forager
Park colour codes for walkers and cyclists
Don’toverlookuseofparksbydogs
Dogwalker/dogtrainer
Greenofficeuser
Allotmentuser/growing
Associated Use and Connectivity
Commuters/through-parkusers
Cyclists
Everyspaceshouldbewifienabled.
Accessibility-smallspacesnearhomes
Partners
PartnersNationalTrustexampleMordenHall
DisabilityOrganisations
LWT,RSPB,EA/NaturalEngland,HistoricEngland
LandTrust-futuremanagement
Otherexternalfunderse.g.HLF
Police
SportEngland&SGB’sHousingAssociationsandHouseBuildersNHS
SocialEnterprise/CIC’svoluntarysector
Privateentrepreneurs
Sports and Activity
Informal sports use
Outdoorgymequipment-usedbydifferentgroupsduringtheday
Sportsclubs-organised
Personalfitnessuser-running/taichi/yogaetc.
Formal and informal sport use
Diversity-especiallyfocusontheuseandtypesofsports-faithgroups
Non-usersandspecificethnicgroups
Asianwomenswalkinggroup-BarkingParkonSaturdays
CulturalEventse.g.BiggestLithiuanian-BarkingPark
Children and Young People
GirlGuides/Brownies/Scouts
Schools and Colleges
YoungerChildrenandfamilies
Play, water, cafes and toilets
Olderchildren/youngpeople-14-19
Familieswithyoungerchildren(under10)-5%ofparkuse
Promotepracticeofchildrensplayprovision
Independentchildren(12+)bikes/MUGA’s
Qualityoftheplayfacilities/formalandinformalriveraccess
UniqueopportunityforBarkingRiverside-PlayacrosstheRiver(apoten-tialgamechanger)
Friends of Parks
AbbeyGreen-keyspaceforlocalfamilies
Peoplewithdisabilitiesandspecialneeds
Considervarietyatdifferenttimesoftheyear/changeoffer
Multipleusesagenda-identifyspecificconflictse.g.biodiversityandplay
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 151
Environmental
CleanAir/dieselcars.Treesincities(Manchester)-UrbanForest.Alsonon-vehicularmovement/greentravel
Recyclingandre-useofmaterialsandresources.
RivercorridorstoopenupconnectivityoftheRiverRoding
Promoteregulationofgreen-waycorridorstoconnectareastogether
Shiftmanagementofpracticestopromotebiodiverity.
Renewables-windgeneration
TreesforCitiesalreadyinB&D-expansionofUrbanForestprogrammingamoung many transport routes.
Brownfieldhabitatalsoakeyresource.
Managefloodriskinrelationtoclimatechange.
Habitatrestorationstrategy;watervoles,bats,listofkeyspecies
Waterbodieshavekeybiodiversityroletoplay
Social
Healthyhubsinitiatives;healthywalks,healthchampions,footballclubs(Barking),measuredroutes1,2&3k-low-key
Smartphoneappconnectiontogatherhealthstatistics.
Eventsprogramme-relaxandreligioususe
PlayInitiativesandquickfixesintheshorttomediumterm
Dogcontrol/dogfreeareasforpeopleadversetodogsandpublicspaceprotectionorders.
Healthy New Town partnership
NeedtoreconnecttheboroughwiththeRiverThames
Challenge of the A13 corridor
Economic
Signageinformationandsafetycontacttobeaddedinthemediumterm-Section106
IssueaboutconflictB/M
Improvesportsofferthroughinvestmentinthemedium/longertermleadingtoincreasedparticipation.
Encouragingpartnershipswithfood-growingpartners;companydrinks,growingcommunitiesfortheshort,mediumandlongerterm
Barking Learning Centre Workshop27th March 2017
EXERCISE 2
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base152
APPENDIX 5
MASTERPLANS CONSULTATIONS
A5North-eastentrance:Thereisacompoundareanearthebuilding,itshould be on the plans. Lower the shrubs and hedges around the build-inginsteadofclearingthemall.Keephedgesattheback(justlowerthem),thefrontonescanbecleared.Introducemeansofsustainablemanagemente.g.:wildflowerareas,bird/batboxes,bughotelsetc.
Maintenanceinthepark:Maintenanceisverypooratpresent.Needmorelitterbinsandmorebenches.Bettercagesfornewlyplantedtrees.
Litter:Raisedbedsatsouthernentrancearelittered.TheybelongtoTfL,can’tdomuchaboutthat.
Closinghours: Theyclosetheparktooearlyonmostdays.
Social Issues Raised
Mounds:Wronglocation,therewouldbenospaceforfootball.JSAadvisedonplanstorelocatetheproposedmoundsalongthesouthernedgeofthepark(visualandsoundbarriertoA13)allowinglargerspacefor informal ball games.
Relocatedplaygroundandnewactivityhub:Wronglocation,thenorthern part of the park is supposed to be the quiet end of the park. Friends were happy with the idea of a new sports hub for older kids. Theplaygroundshouldbefenced.JSAagreedtore-arrangetheactivityhubandmoveitslightlytothesouthallowinglargerspaceforquieterareaonthenorthernedgeofthepark.JSAconfirmedthattherelocatedplayground would be fenced.
Newentranceontheeastsideofthepark:Thereisnocrossingthere,inconvenientlocation
Newcircularsocialspace:Thecentralflowerbedshouldstay(dedicatedtoalatememberofthegroup)
Loststream:ThereusedtobeastreamrunningthroughtheparktotheMayesBrook,youcanstillseeadipwhereitusedtobe.
Anti-socialbehaviourinthepark:Drug-dealingonthesouthernedge,andburglariestothehouseonthewestsideofpark. JSAadvisedonourapproachto‘designoutcrime’,byattractingmorepeopleintothepark,andre-organisingentrancestoopenuptheparkforvisitors.
Greatfields Park consultation20th APRIL 2017
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 153
StJohnandStJamesChurchyard:It is part of Hackney town centre, part of my journey to work, where my kids grew up in terms of play.
LocalParkinBarrowdown:Dog walking
BarkingPark:MondaymorningforarunasI’mtrainingforamarathonanditiscon-venientlylocated.Calmandrelaxinginthemornings,boatinglake,enoughdifferentthingsgoingonvegetation,landscapescenery.Quietandpeacefulparkatthattimeinthemorning.
ChalkwellParkinSouthend:Beautifulformalhorticulturaldisplays-walkthroughtobeach
HighlandsParkRomford:Igoeveryweekendwithmyson.IthasMUGA’s-basketballfootball.Gota nice Tarmac route so you can cycle round the park as much as you like. ItisalsoconvenienttowhereIlive.
HeartenCommon:Itookkidsoutforfirstbikerideoftheyear
llamasPark,Ealing:Saturday with 9 month old baby. Very manicured, but got great link from northfieldstoEalingnoroadsneeded.
LocalParkinBenfleet:Ihaven’tvisitedforyears.IalsohadameetinginBarkingparkonTuesday,veryniceveryimpressed
Reason for Visiting Local Park/ Why is it important to you as a place
Millhillpark:Greateststrengthisconnectivity,withitsnetworkofgreenspacesacrossthethroughnorthernpartofborough.TheParkisnotingreatconditionbutserveslotsofareas.
MarshWellCountryPark:Quite a wild sort of park, creeks and estuaries. Walking and bird watching,verywellusedforcycling,andfamiliesanddogwalkers
WalthamPark(NationalTrustPark)inSouthLondon:Imetfriendsforapicnic.Ithasacityfarmandecologynaturereserve.
Pocketpark,nearwhereIlive:Veryvaluableinthesenseofallthedensestreetsnearby,anditwouldbe terrible if it ended up being used for housing.
FinsburyPark:Amassiveopenspacewithallsortsofthings.Icycledthroughhascycletracks.VeryvaluableforthewholeareaandLondon.
N.A:Pass through any number of parks on a weekly regular basis, transient natureofparksIdoveryfrequently.MywifeandIliveinavillageinPeterborough.Werarelymakeapointofvisitingaparkbecausewehaveaccesstothecountryside,thereforegoforawalktoapubinavillagewhichsuitsusintermsofrecreationandleisure.
Masterplan Workshop27th MARCH 2017
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base154
APPENDIX 6
SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDBACK AND COMMENTS
A6
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 155
Park keepers? We need more police presence too and toilets Park keepers need to be brought back Lightingtoowouldn’tgoamiss Get rid of the drunks from Parsloes Bring back Park Keepers Valenceusedtohaveabrilliantparkranger. Bring back park wardens. Yeathecouncilneedtosortthedrunksoutinthatpark PleaseputPondfieldParkasapriority!!!Ourkidscan’tplaythereit’sunsafe Bring the park keepers back so we all feel safe again in the open LightinginCentralPark,apathleadingfromthefirestation,memorialgardenentranceto the park.
Getthedrunksoutoftheparksveryintimidatingwalkingpastthem Maybe CCTV and catch the sods who destroy the equipment Wouldnevertakemygrandchildrentotheparkshere,toomanyunsavourypeopleandfar too much rubbish WastingmoneyondoingparksupwillneedtohaveanalcoholfreepatrolandCCTVintheparkstomonitor24hrsputourcounciltaxtobetteruse Parsloes Park is a disgrace, full of drunks on park benches, nothing for kids to do Whileeveryoneiscallingforparkkeeperstobebroughtback,canwehonestlysaythey’lldoanygood?YobsarenotscaredofthepolicesoIcan’timaginethembeingfrightened of a park keeper. Mayesbrookparkneedslighting!ParticularlyasIhavetogothroughittogettotheBettergym,ratherthantraipsearoundit.Maybeyoucouldpartnerwiththegymonthis? If ur gonna do up the parks plz put cameras .... 1 so you can see who keeps trashing themn2tokeepkidssafe.Uhaveenoughmoneytokeepputtingupspeedcamerasnlastyeahmadebillions(asuputonapost) Idon’tusethemmuchbecauseIfearforoursafety!IwillgotosmallparkslikePondfieldandmysonlovestheskateparkbit,butIgenuinelydon’tfeelsafewalkingthrough Central, Mayesbrook or Parsloes or the bigger parks. I think the smaller parks needmoreinvestment.HeathParkforexampleisreallyheavilyusedbyallthechildrenlivingintheflatsnearbywithnogardensyetitisasorrystateandliterallynodifferentthanhowIrememberitwhenIwasachildapartfromthezipwirewhichisoftenbroken!
Safety and SecurityGeneral
VerytrueI’mashamedofourparkit’sdeterioratingweekly!!!
TotallyagreeDagenhammusthavetheworstparksever!
There’snosunbedsinanyofthem
I think there are trying to run Parsloes Park down x
There are no decent parks in Dagenham
Flower gardens. We need things to be proud of
TheysaidlastyeartheywantedideasforParsloesParkstillnotdoneitalltalklol
WouldlovetogivemyviewsonthedeteriorationofParsloesPark,butlikeeverythingunlessthere’sfundingthennothingwillhappen.Whenthelessfortunatearebeingpenalised what hope is there for a park?
ParsloesParkisawfulnow.Iknowweshouldn’tkeepbeingwistfulforthe‘olddays’(andI’mnotthatoldlol)butitwasashockwhenItookmychildrenoverthereandsawthechange.MeandsomanypeopleIknowspentsomuchtimethereasachild.
Itiseverytimemykidswannagoparkhavetogosofaroutit’sajoke.It’shardforpeoplethatdon’tdriveaswell,weshouldinvestmoneyintoourchildreninsteadofhavingthemhangingaroundthestreetsuptonogood.CanyougetsomeCCTVitwillprovidemorejobsforpeopleaswell.
WhenyouconsiderthatNewYork,veryhighlypopulated,hasonlyone(iflargeandverybeautifullydesigned)greenspace-CentralPark-thenweallneedtotakepartinthisprojectandpreserveourlovelyparks.Theyaresomewhatrundown,butwestillhavethem-andBarkingandDagenhamwerebothbuilttoreplaceLondonslumsandgivetheresidentslovelygreenspacestoenjoy.Lookatallthe‘greens’ourboroughstillhas.Theywerepartofthebrilliantdesign.Mygrandparentsweresomeoftheveryearlytenantsofourborough,soIhavesomeinsightintowhatitwasandremainsanamazingphilosophicalsocialidea.Pleasetrytobepositiveaboutwhatisourlovelypartoftheworld.Ifyouchoosenottobepartofthesolution,youarecertainlypartoftheproblem.
YesIagree.MyfathermovedherefromtheEastendslumsin1923andmymother,now90andIstilllivehere.Ihavebeenherefor64yearsandwhilethereissomedeteriorationofourparks,duemainlytolackofrespectfromsomeresidents,theparksare something we can be proud of in this borough.
Facilities
Havesomecleanusabletoilets,arefreshmentvanandadecentplayareaforthekids.
Morebinsinthemwouldbehelpful..hardtofindabininCentralPark..whereaspopdowntoGoodmayesParkandthere’splentyofbins.
Freeparking?Howaboutfreetea/coffee/cake?Yes-freeparking!
Theseparksshouldhavepublictoiletsastherearenoneandit’sdisgusting.
NearesttoParsloesisthelooonwestboundplatformatBecontreestation!Notgoodfor young kids.
We’vegotnopubliclooshere,either.Troubleis,theyonlygetfrequentedbyjunkies.
Allparksshouldhavetoiletsanparkkeepersanmoreforthekidstoplay.
Maybe Picnic tables and benches, so more people can get out in the fresh air including the disabled.
Parsloesparkneedstoilets,alittlecafeandmorepicnicseats..ScrattonsFarmparkneeds all new working equipment.
Cleanliness
Nodogcrap/brokenbottleswouldbegreat
Getcommunityserviceovertheparkslitterpicking,castlegreenneedstobecleanedup
I’djustbegladiftheykeptthemcleansoIdon’thavetoworryaboutbrokenglassandchickenboneseverywherewhenIwalkmydog
WenttoValenceparktodayandtherubbishwasdisgustingmaybeafterfootballtrainingyesterdaybutbottlesandrubbishlefteverywhere.
IwasinBarkingParkearliertoday.I’vegottosaythelakeislookingcleanerandclearerthanI’veseenitinalongtime.
Management and Maintenance
Allparksneedlightingandtoiletsandthegoodoldparkkeeperneedstobereinstated.
It’sallverywellandgoodspendingmoneydoingparksup,butthenthecouncildon’tmaintain them and they go to rack and ruin
Ithinktheparksarecraptheydon’taccommodatechildrenofallagesandhalfofthemarevandalised.
Ithinkweareveryluckytohavelotsofparks/greeninourareabutsadlyasmallminorityhavenorespect,rubbishanddogmessisleftbehindanditemsarevandalised.Ifwehadparkwardens/patrolsthismayhelp.Needtoilets,alittlecafeandsomeprideback in our borough.
Positivecomment
Negativecomment
Aspirationalcomment
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base156
Play
CastleGreenparkusedtobegreatwhenIwasakidgrowingup,Iwasalwaysoverthere, the swings and slides were fab. Bring back decent parks for the young to play in and for the elderly to walk in safely.
CastleGreenparkhasnoswings/slidesetconlyaskatepark.Itwouldbeniceforthechildrentohaveatleastsomeswingsandclimbingframesnotjustgrasstoplayon;theskate park is more for older children.
HasanyonefromthecouncilactuallyvisitedPondfieldParkrecently!Itisliterallyfallingapart.Ihavemadesomanycomplaintsandgetnoresponse.It’ssounfairasmykidshavenowhereelsetogothatiscloseenoughtogowithoutme.Pleasepleasepleasejustsendsomeonedowntohavealookatthedateoftheplayequipmentitisbloodydisgustinganddangerous
Niceplayareasforthekids,weusedtolovegoingtotheswingparkatParsloesaskids,now there is barely anything there apart from broken glass and rubbish...I actually saw a pair of disagreed knickers under a bench once so maybe patrols across the parks to makesuretheyaren’tbeingmisusedtoo.Inowtakemychildrentootherboroughstoplay which is sad considering the park is a two minute walk from our house.
AbetterplayareainMayesbrookPark
OldDagenhamparkishugebutcrapusedtobeslidesforkidsnownothingthere.
Yeawheredidthebloodyslidesgo.
Sortoutthekidsplaygrounds.Everythingisgettingruinedbythebiggerkids!
Mayesbrookparkcoulddowithabetterplayareaforthelittleonesspeciallyastheyonlyhavetwoswingsforeveryone.
MayesbrookParkislovelyonlythingmysons4andtheplaygroundissosmallandideally for 2 year olds and then the rest is for older kids
Mydaughtersfavouritebitwastheslideanditwentwithoutwarningsheliterallycriedwhenwediscoveredithadgone.(RE:MayesbrookPark)
Hasthebigslidebeenremovedhaven’tbeentherelatelyasmysonfindsitboringonlygo there to feed the ducks x (RE:MayesbrookPark)
Everythingintheplayareasiseitherbrokenorfallingapart.ThezipwireinCentralParkhasnoseatonitbecauseofvandals.Giveourkidswhattheydeserve,somewheredecent to play.
Anditwouldbegreatifyoucouldmendthezipwireandreplacetheseatonit,it’sbeenbrokeforyearsaftersomeonelettheirdogeattheswing.(RE:CentralPark)
ValenceParkisourlocalandit’sindesperateneedofsomeattention,wouldbealovelylittleparkforthelittleonesiftheplaygroundwasrevamped!
It’sajokeintherenowallthatfieldandf***allonitlol(RE:OldDagenhamPark)
OldDagenhamParkhasnothingforkidssothatneedsdoing
PleasepleasepleasefindsomefundsorastrategytoraisesometoreplacetheplayequipmentinStChad’sPark.Ourchildrenjustlovetheparkbutplayingonbarefilled-inpatchesoftarmacandemptyframeswhereswingsonceswungjustisn’tmuchfun
ParsloesandValenceplayareascouldseriouslydowithamakeover.
Let’shavemoreclimbingthings,swings,Valenceishorriblebuthassomuchspacetomake it look nice.
Ithinkwehaveloadsofniceparksherebutplaygroundsneedupdatingandnotoiletsinmany!
Putbackthegoalposts!!Putbackswings!Stoptakingthemdown
TheparksinDagenhamaredisgustingIlivenearPondfieldthebigclimbingframeonone side has been closed for ages and on other side there was big holes in the kids play areaItakemysontoStratfordwheretheygotsandpitswaterfountainsandthatitlovelyandcleangottoiletsandteastallsallaround.
Swings,slides,roundabouts,parkkeeperstostoptheyobsdefacingandvandalisingtheparkequipment!
Dogs
Moresignstellingpeopletopickuptheirdogpoos.Toomanyareleftintheparksmaking them unenjoyable to walk in.
How about more dog bins too I am one one the responsible ones but carrying a bag of pooforamileisdisgusting
GoresbrookandsurroundingparksarefullofbrokenglassdogspoohIhaveadogandcleanupbutIseesomanywhodon’tit’snotgdenoughparkswouldbesomuchbetterifallthiswasn’tthere.
ValenceParkneedswardensandmoredogpoobins,thatareemptiedregularly!Mysonhasfootballtrainingandallucansmellisweed!It’sdisgustinganduneverseeanyonemonitoringintheevening,plusdogpoobinsIthinkthere’sonlytwo!So,everyone,includingmyselfhavetousetheregularbinswhicharealwaysoverflowing!
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 157
SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENTS SUMMARY
35%
59%
6%
NE GA TI VE PO SI TI VE AS PI RA TI ON AL
General15%Dogs5%
Managementandmaintenance5%
Cleanliness6%
Facilities12%
SafetyandSecurity27%
Play30%
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base158
A7.1 CONCEPT OF NATURAL CAPITAL AND ACCOUNTINGNatural capital refers to the stock of natural assets upon which our economies andsocietiesarebuilt.Likeotherformsofcapital,naturalcapitalproducesvalueforpeopleintheformof‘goods’(e.g.timber,fishstocks,minerals)and‘services’(e.g.waterprovision,airpurification,floodprevention).Inordertoeffectivelyandsustainablymanagenaturalcapital,informationonitsconditionandproductivityneedstobecollatedinastructuredandsystematicwaysothatinformeddecisionscanbemadetoachievehigher(longterm)benefitswhileminimising costs.
TheCorporateNaturalCapitalAccounting(CNCA)frameworkdevelopedbyeftecandpartnersfortheNaturalCapitalCommittee84 produces a set of reportingstatementsthatcanbeusedbyanorganisationtomonitorandmeasurethehealthandvalueofnaturalcapitalitownsormanages.CNCAcan also be used to make strategic and business decisions about the future managementanddevelopmentofthatnaturalcapital(aswellasthewiderbusiness).
TheCNCAframeworkcollatesandpresentsinformationaboutnaturalcapitalinasimilarwaytohowothercapitalassets(e.g.financialandphysicalassets)thatarereportedonanorganisationsbalancesheet.Itreportsthebenefittoboththeorganisationsthatownnaturalcapitalassetsandthecommunitiesthatbenefitfromthemwithreferencetothefollowingissues:
1.Whatnaturalcapitalassetsdoestheorganisation,own,manage,orisresponsible for?2.Whatflowsofbenefitsdothoseassetsproducefortheorganisationandwider society?3.Whatisthevalueofthosebenefits?4.Whatdoesitcosttomaintainthenaturalassetsandflowsofbenefits?
Tothisend,theCNCA(i)recordstheconditionofnaturalcapitalownedormanagedbyanorganisation(naturalcapitalassetregisterandphysicalflowaccounts);(ii)measuresthevaluethatthenaturalcapitalproducesfortheorganisationitselfandsocietyingeneral(assetvalues)(monetaryflowaccounts);and(iii)assessesthecosts(liabilities)ofmaintainingthisvalue(maintenancecostaccounts).
A7.2 OVERVIEW OF CNCA PROCESSCNCAismadeupoffoursupportingschedulesandtworeportingschedules(seeFigureA.7.1).
Supportingschedulesare:• Naturalcapitalassetregisterwhichshowsthesizeandtheconditionofthe
assets(Section10.4ofthemainreport).• Physicalflowaccountwhichmeasuresthe(ecosystem)servicesprovided
bytheseassetsinbiophysicalterms–asrelevanttoeachservice(Section10.5).
• Monetaryflowaccountswhichestimatesthebenefitsoftheseservicestotheorganisationitself(privatevalues)andtoothers(externalvalues)(Section10.6).
• Maintenancecostaccountwhichshowshowmuchtheorganisationspends maintaining the natural capital assets within the scope of the CNCA(Section10.7).
Thereportingstatementsare:• Naturalcapitalbalancesheetwhichreportsthevalueofnaturalcapital
assets,andthecosts(liabilities)ofmaintainingthoseassets.• Statementofchangeinnaturalassetswhichreportsthechange(gain
orloss)inassetvaluesandliabilitiesoveragivenaccountingperiod.AstheapplicationinLBBDwasforthefirst(base)yearonly,thisstatementcannot be produced.
This study produced the natural capital balance sheet as an opening account. AnExcelworkbookhasalsobeenproducedforfutureusebyLBBDtodevelopastatement of change.
A7.2 LBBD CNCATheCNCAforLBBDis:
1.Composedof:a.AnassetregisterforthesitesincludedwithintheOpenSpacesStrategy.b.Anaturalcapitalbalancesheetforthebenefitsofthesesitesthatarepossibletoquantifyandmonetise.
2. Consistent with the guidance on CNCA including from the Natural Capital Committee85andtheNaturalCapitalProtocolaswellasexistingCNCAexamples.
3.ReplicablesothatLBBDstaffcanupdateiteveryyeartoallowfuturestatements of changes in net natural assets.
APPENDIX 7 BACKGROUND TO CNCA
A Fig.A.7.1-TheCorporateNaturalCapitalAccounting(CNCA)frameworkstructure7NOTES84 http://www.naturalcapitalcommittee.org/corporate-natural-capital-
accounting.html
85 See:eftecetal.(2015)Developingcorporatenaturalcapitalaccounts,FinalReportfortheNaturalCapitalCommittee,January2015;andeftecetal.(2015)Developingcorporatenaturalcapitalaccounts,GuidelinesfortheNaturalCapitalCommittee,January2015.
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 159
Thisannexprovidesinformationregardingsources,methods,andassumptionsusedtodeveloptheCNCAforLBBD.Detailedstepsofeachsubsequentcalculationoftheanalysisareprovidedwithinthe(automated)ExcelworkbookdevelopedforLBBDaspartofthisaccount.TheExcelworkbookandaccompanyingcalculationswillbepresentedtoCouncilstaffduringatrainingexerciseaimedatenablingLBBDtoupdatetheCNCAinthefuture.Thesectionisorganisedalongthelinesofthebenefitsassessed.
A8.1 RECREATIONSitesconsideredfortheanalysisofrecreationbenefitsarethoseincludedintherevisedParksandOpenSpaceStrategy.AshighlightedinSection4,thenumberofvisitstositeswithinLBBDhasbeenestimatedusingtheOutdoorRecreationValuationTool(ORVal)86developedbytheUniversityofExeterforDefra.ThetoolisbasedonthenationallyrepresentativeMonitorofEngagementwiththeNaturalEnvironment(MENE)survey(n=280,790)whichusesinterviewswithaweeklyquotasample,andpopulationweights,toestimatenaturevisitfrequencyacrossEngland,andprovidesdetailsonthesevisits.Thetoolalsotakesintoaccountsubstitutesindeterminingrecreationalvalues,anddistinguishesbetweendisplacedandadditionalrecreationactivity.ForthepurposesofthisCNCA,andwiththeaimofaligningtheanalysistotheOpenSpaceAssessment,thefollowingtypesofgreenspaceswerefilteredout(i.e.unselectedwithinthetoolsinterface)oftheLBBDboundaryduringORValanalysis:
• Agricultural land• Allotments• Cemeteries• Coastal• Estuary• Golf• Parking• Seaside
Thetoolalsoprovidesanestimateforthewelfarevalues(inmonetaryterms)associatedwiththesevisits.Theestimationofwelfarevaluesidentifieshowmuchwelfareanindividualenjoysasaresultofvisitingagreenspaceanditsattributes(e.g.thesize,theamenities).Inaddition,itidentifieshowmuchwelfareislostfromeachextrapoundofcostincurredintravellingtoagreenspace.ThefiguresreproducedinTableA.1arenetwelfarevaluesforopenspacesinLBBDbasedonthevisitorandvalueestimatesinORVal.
ThesevaluesaredrivenbythenumberofvisitsandwereusedwithintheCNCAasindicativeoftherecreationalvalueprovidedbyLBBD’sgreenspace.
A8.2 PHYSICAL HEALTHAccesstolocal,safeandnaturalgreenspacecanhelpindividualssustainhigherlevelsofphysicalactivity.Inaddition,themotivationtocontinuephysicalactivityschemesismorelikelytobesustainedthroughthenaturalenvironment.Peopletendtobemorelikelytocontinueactivitiesinwhichexercisebecomessecondarytoenvironmentalorsocialbenefits(e.g.Gardening,GreenGymorwalkingingreenspace)thanactivitiesinwhichexerciseremainstheprimarydriver(Bird,2004).
ThisanalysisexploresthepotentialvalueofphysicalactivitysupportedbygreenspaceinLBBDintermsofavoidedhealthcostsofinactivity.InEngland,thedirectcostsofinactivityanditsassociatedhealthcostshavebeenestimatedataround£10billionperyear(Designedtomove,2013;WalkingforHealth,2010;NationalInstituteforHealthandCareExcellence,2006).Inactivityhasbeenidentifiedgloballyasthefourthleadingriskfactorformortality(WHO,2010).Further,areportbytheAssociationofPublicHealthDirectorsshowedthatifeveryoneinEnglandmetguidelinesforphysicalactivitynearly37,000deathsayearcouldbeprevented(NetworkofPublicHealthObservatories,2013).
Toestimatetheeconomicvalueofthisphysicalactivity,UKActiveestimatesof:(i)the%populationinactive(~35%)and(ii)theannualcosttothelocaleconomy,includingtreatingdiseasesandsicknessabsencesfromwork(over£23million),wereusedtoestimatetheaveragecostsperinactivepersoninLBBD(£326)(UKActive,2014).
Thephysicalactivityguidelineof5visitsperweektranslatestoatotalof260activevisitsperyear.Therefore,asitecanbeassumedtosupporttheentirephysicallyactivelifestyleforonepersonwithevery260activevisitsitreceives.ForLBBD,anestimated1,491,641activevisitsaremade,meaningLBBDsiteshavethecapacitytosupporttheentirephysicallyactivelifestyleof5,737peopleperyear(1,491,641/260).Thevalueoftheseactivelifestylescanbeinferredonthebasisthattheyavoidtheadditionalmedicalcostsassociatedwithinactivity,anestimated£326perinactivepersoninLBBD.Thisgivesanestimateofthevalueofphysicalactivityundertakenoutdoors,intermsofavoidedhealthcosts,ofover£1.9millionperyear.
Itshouldbenotedthattheseestimateshavebeencalculatedagainstacounterfactualofthisphysicalactivityhavingnottakenplace.Thisisnotrepresentativeoftheimpactofparksandopenspaces,asitislikelythatmany people who currently exercise outdoors would, if faced with an absence ofoutdoorfacilities,shifttoindoorexercise,ortraveltootherBoroughsforoutdoorexerciseopportunities(althoughbothalternativesdoinvolveadditionalcostsandhencewelfareloss).Theseassumptionsmeantheaccountrepresentsanassetvalueorthehealthbenefitssupportedbyuseofopenspaces, but not necessarily the impact of those spaces. This is considered acceptableforaccountingpurposes.
Itshouldalsobenotedthataproportionofthevalueofincreasedphysicalactivitywouldmanifestitselfasadecreaseincoststolocalhealthfacilitiesandservices.Ingeneral,asaperson’smentalandphysicalhealthandqualityoflifeincreases,theirdependencyonvariouslocalhealthcarefacilitiesandservicesdecrease.AdditionalbenefitstoLBBDarisebecausehealthandwellbeingofanindividualorpopulationcanpositivelyinfluencewiderfactorssuchaseducation,employment,income,andwelfare.
APPENDIX 8CNCA’s METHODOLOGY
A£mperyr
Totalvalueofvisits 11.2
SEG
AB 3.3
C1 3.9
C2 1.9
DE 2.0
Table A8.1 - ORVal recreation welfare value estimates (£ million per year)
8
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base160
A8.3 CLIMATE REGULATIONClimateregulationincludesreducinggreenhousegasemissionsand/ortheirconcentrationsintheatmosphere.Mitigationisavitalresponsetoachangingclimateasthegreaterthereductionofemissionsandconcentrationsofgreenhousegases,thelessseverethenegativeimpactsofclimatechangewillbe.Investmentstoenhancegreenspacescancontributetothefollowingfactorswhichaidmitigation:
• Carbonstorageandsequestrationinsoilandvegetation.• Fossilfuelsubstitution–e.g.throughincreasedbiomassresource.• Materialsubstitution–e.g.throughincreased/alternativefibreresource.• Spaceforlocalfoodproduction.• Reducingtheneedtotraveltoaccessgreenspace.
Inaddition,byhelpingtomanagehightemperatures,greeninfrastructurecouldalso reduce energy demand for cooling in buildings, further helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This also highlights how green infrastructure can playaroleinclimatechangeadaptation,butthisissueisnotexploredfurtherinthis study.
Carbonsequestrationratesdifferfordifferenttypesofhabitatsanddifferentland management choices can either maintain or increase the carbon store forlongperiodsoftime,orresultinnetemissions.Therefore,landuseandmanagementchoicescanhaveanimportantroleindeterminingtheamountofcarbonreleasedintotheatmosphereorstoredinthesoil(mitigation)and,asaconsequence,inglobalclimateregulation(Smithetal.,2007;Thompson,2008).
Forthisanalysisaveragesequestrationratesforthethreemainhabitattypes(providedby(Soussanaetal.,2009;eftec,2010)i.e.woodland,amenitygrassland, and neutral grassland were applied to the area of each habitat. The totalamountofcarbonsequesteredwasthenappliedtocentralnon-tradedcarbonvaluesfollowingDECCGuidance(DECC,2014).DECCestimatesforthe£pertonneofnon-tradedcarbonusedwithinthevaluationcalculationsisprovidedwithintheaccompanyingExcelworkbook.
A8.4 MAINTENANCE COSTSA summary of the cost by cost centre and expense type is shown in the following table A8.2.
Table A8.2 - Summary of the cost by cost centre and expense type
NOTES86 Formoreinformation,see:http://leep.exeter.ac.uk/orval/
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 161
APPENDIX 9FEASIBILITY ESTIMATE
A9
/Volumes/data/Projects2200/2246-CBBDStrategy/CostEstimates/2246B&DOpenSpace-FeasibilityEstimate-17.05.12.xlsx 1of19
LONDONBOROUGHOFBARKINGANDDAGENHAMOPENSPACESTRATEGY
FEASIBILITYESTIMATE
QuantitySurveyors
HUNTLEYCARTWRIGHTCharteredQuantitySurveyorsVictoriaHouseHarestoneValleyRoadCaterhamSurreyCR36HY
May2017
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base162
/Volumes/data/Projects2200/2246-CBBDStrategy/CostEstimates/2246B&DOpenSpace-FeasibilityEstimate-17.05.12.xlsx 2of19
LONDONBOROUGHOFBARKINGANDDAGENHAMOPENSPACESTRATEGY
NOTES
1 DRAWINGS&SPECIFICATION
JonSheafandAssociatesMasterPlansA1763-JSA-L1000GreatfiledsParkOldDagenhamparkStChadsParkValenceParkAbbeyGreenParkEastbrookendCountryParkCentralParkBarkingParkMayesbrookPark
2 REVISIONHISTORY
FirstIssuePreparedby:ND/CB 17-26/5/17Checkedby:IRJ 24-26/5/17
3 NOTES
Assumptions;
Exclusions;
Asbestosremovalworks
CIL,s106ors278costs
Inflation-COSTAREVALIDFOR2NDQUARTER2017VAT
ContaminatedgroundorlandremediationRequirementsarisingfromlistedbuildingand/orconservationareastatusifapplicablePublicenquiries,pressuregroupsorplanningrefusal
ChangesinlegislationrelatingtothebuiltenvironmentoremploymentEcologicalissues-endangeredspecies/habitatsorsitesofspecialscientificinterestRestrictionsonsiteaccessandworkinghours
Noallowancehasbeenmadeforcostsarisingfromthefollowing:
ConstructionworksareprocuredusingcompetitivetenderProvisionalallowanceshavebeenmadeforworkstoexistingutilities(Gas,water,drainageandelectricity)Existingservicesupplieswillneedtobeverified
/Volumes/data/Projects2200/2246-CBBDStrategy/CostEstimates/2246B&DOpenSpace-FeasibilityEstimate-17.05.12.xlsx 3of19
LONDONBOROUGHOFBARKINGANDDAGENHAMOPENSPACESSTRATEGY
FEASIBILITYESTIMATESUMMARY
REF. DESCRIPTION ESTIMATESUMMARY
1 Parks
1.1 GreatfieldsPark 866,425
1.2 OldDagenhamPark 1,674,756
1.3 StChadsPark 1,276,882
1.4 ValencePark 1,858,822
1.5 AbbeyGreenPark 1,311,765
1.6 EastbrookendCountryPark 2,489,164
1.7 CentralPark 2,702,455
1.7 BarkingPark 1,294,205
1.8 MayesbrookPark 4,133,768
SUBTOTAL:PARKWORKS 17,608,241
2 MAINCONTRACTOR'SPRELIMINARIES(10%)ANDOVERHEADS&PROFIT(8%)=(18%) 3,169,483
SUBTOTAL 20,777,724
4 OTHERPROJECTCOSTS
4.1 CONTINGENCIES(15%) 3,116,659
4.2 PROFESSIONALDESIGNFEESANDSURVEYS(15%) 3,116,659
4.2.1 ADDITIONALFEASIBILITYSTUDIES 50,000
4.3 CLIENTCOSTS-TBC TBC
SUBTOTAL 27,061,042
5 INFLATION-Excluded-ProgrammeTBC Excl.
SUBTOTAL 27,061,042
6 VAT-Excluded Excl.
TOTALPROJECTCOST 27,061,042
TOTALCOST;SAY£ 27,060,000
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 163
/Volumes/data/Projects2200/2246-CBBDStrategy/CostEstimates/2246B&DOpenSpace-FeasibilityEstimate-17.05.12.xlsx 4of19
LONDONBOROUGHOFBARKINGANDDAGENHAMOPENSPACESSTRATEGY
GREATFIELDSPARKFEASIBILITYESTIMATE
REF DESCRIPTION QUANTITY UNIT RATE AMOUNT
1 BUILDINGWORKS
1.1 None
2 LANDSCAPINGWORKS
2.1 NorthEastEntrance
Removeexistingpathways 309 m2 30 9,270Newentrancehardlandscaping 804 m2 100 80,425
2.2 MainActivitiesArea
Refurbish/replaceexistingtenniscourt,andfencing 1 item 25,000 25,000Removeexistingtenniscourtpath 36 m2 30 1,080Newtenniscourtpath 172 m2 60 10,320Removeexistinghedgesandplanting 166 m2 15 2,490NewPlaygroundsurface(hardandsafetyplay-extenttbc) 750 m2 100 75,000Allowasumfornewplaygroundequipment 1 item 25,000 25,000Removeexistingpath 258 m2 40 10,320Newpath 262 m2 60 15,720Newfeaturebench/seatingwall 1 item 15,000 15,000Newmultisportsareaandsurface 1,265 m2 50 63,250Newlowherbaceuousplanting 382 m2 15 5,730Removetrees 10 Nr 150 1,500
2.3 NewEastEntrance
Removeexistingpaths 334 m2 30 10,020Newentranceandpath 310 m2 65 20,150Newlowherbaceuousplanting 310 m2 40 12,400
2.4 NewSocialSpace
Removeexistingpaths 187 m2 30 5,610Removetrees 4 Nr 300 1,200Removerosegarden 0 m2 25 0Newpath 286 m2 60 17,160Newlowherbaceuousplanting 971 m2 40 38,840
2.5 NorthWestEntrance
Removeexistingtrees 12 Nr 300 3,600Newlowherbaceuousplanting 337 m2 40 13,480
2.6 Newwetlandarea
Removeexistingpaths 452 m2 30 13,560Removeexistingplanting 573 m2 5 2,865Newwetlandarea;earthworkandpreparation 1,700 m2 35 59,500Plantingtowetlandarea 1,242 m2 20 24,840
2.7 MatureSalixBabylonicaPath
May2017
ESTIMATE
/Volumes/data/Projects2200/2246-CBBDStrategy/CostEstimates/2246B&DOpenSpace-FeasibilityEstimate-17.05.12.xlsx 5of19
LONDONBOROUGHOFBARKINGANDDAGENHAMOPENSPACESSTRATEGY
GREATFIELDSPARKFEASIBILITYESTIMATE
REF DESCRIPTION QUANTITY UNIT RATE AMOUNT
May2017
ESTIMATE
Newtrees 15 Nr 450 6,750Newlowherbaceuousplanting 337 m2 40 13,480Removeexistinghardpavingjunction 109 m2 40 4,360Newhardpavingjunction 109 m2 60 6,540Newjunctionlawn 24 m2 15 360
2.8 AreaSouthofMatureSalixBabylonicaPath
Newmeadowareas 2,790 m2 5 13,950Newgrassmounds 2,505 m2 15 37,575Newtrees 31 Nr 450 13,950Newgrasspath 590 m2 5 2,950Newpath 770 m2 60 46,200Removeexistingpath 900 m2 40 36,000Removeexistingtrees 32 Nr 300 9,600
2.9 Existingplayarea
Removepaths 50 m2 40 2,000Removeplayarea 650 m2 40 26,000Newlawn 700 m2 12 8,400
2.10 SouthEastEntrance
Removeexistingtrees 5 Nr 300 1,500Newentrancehardlandscaping 372 m2 90 33,480
2.11 GeneralItems
Improvementstogatesandrailings 1 PS 20,000 20,000Improvementstoparksignage 1 PS 10,000 10,000Improvementstoparkfurniture 1 PS 10,000 10,000
TOTALCOST;SAY£ 866,425
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base164
/Volumes/data/Projects2200/2246-CBBDStrategy/CostEstimates/2246B&DOpenSpace-FeasibilityEstimate-17.05.12.xlsx 6of19
LONDONBOROUGHOFBARKINGANDDAGENHAMOPENSPACESSTRATEGY
OLDDAGENHAMPARKFEASIBILITYESTIMATE
REF DESCRIPTION QUANTITY UNIT RATE AMOUNT
1 BUILDINGWORKS
1.1 None
2 LANDSCAPINGWORKS
2.1 NorthWestCorner(Enhancedentrace/carpark/changingfacilities/Westboundary)
Removeexistingentrancepathways 247 m2 30 7,410Removeornamentalgarden 515 m2 10 5,150Newroad-turningarea 163 m2 150 24,450Newenhanceentrancehardpaving 454 m2 100 45,400Newperrennialplanting 129 m2 35 4,515Newpathfromentrancetoendoftenniscourt 487 m2 60 29,220RefurbishedEast/WestpathtoChangingFacilities 855 m2 25 21,375Newtenniscourts/fencing/painting(1420m2) 4 nr 30,000 120,000Removeexistingpathways 1,537 m2 30 46,110Removeexistingplantingbyexistingtenniscourts 1,255 m2 10 12,550Newtrees 22 Nr 450 9,900Newdensetreesbynewtenniscourts&bowlinggreen;allowasum 1 Sum 10,000 10,000RemoveexistingBowlingGreenstorageshed 1 Sum 1,000 1,000
2.2 NorthEastCorner(Carpark-EastEnhancedEntrance-CentreSocialCircle)
RemoveexistingBMXtrack 1 Sum 5,000 5,000NewSkatepark(1885m2) 1 Sum 250,000 250,000Refurbishexistingcarpark 1 Sum 25,000 25,000NewpavingaroundChangingFacilities/BowlingGreen 1 Sum 50,000 50,000Removepaths 1,062 m2 30 31,860Removeexistinghardsurfacearea 524 m2 30 15,720Newpath 1,615 m2 60 96,900Newenhancedentrancehardpaving 155 m2 100 15,500Newdensetreesbycarpark 17 Nr 400 6,800Newtrees-orchard 63 Nr 150 9,450Newunder-storeyfoodplanting 2,070 m2 5 10,350Newmounds 3,439 m2 25 85,975Newmeadows 3,877 m2 3 11,631
2.3 WestBorder
Newornamentalplanting 2,123 m2 40 84,920Newperennialplanting 310 m2 35 10,850
2.4 EventSpaceandRemainingParkArea
Removetrees 15 Nr 200 3,000Removeplayarea 550 m2 15 8,250Removeskateablearea 300 m2 15 4,500Newpaths 954 m2 60 57,240Newplaygroundsurface(hardandsafetyplay-extenttbc) 1,060 m2 100 106,000Newplaygroundequipment 1 Sum 50,000 50,000Newgrasspaths&socialareas 1,329 m2 5 6,647Newcircularhardpavingareas 785 m2 75 58,905
May2017
ESTIMATE
/Volumes/data/Projects2200/2246-CBBDStrategy/CostEstimates/2246B&DOpenSpace-FeasibilityEstimate-17.05.12.xlsx 7of19
LONDONBOROUGHOFBARKINGANDDAGENHAMOPENSPACESSTRATEGY
OLDDAGENHAMPARKFEASIBILITYESTIMATE
REF DESCRIPTION QUANTITY UNIT RATE AMOUNT
May2017
ESTIMATE
Newenhancedentranceshardpaving 353 m2 50 17,650Newmeadows 22,338 m2 5 111,688Newadultfootballpitches 2 nr 20,000 40,000Newsmallfootballpitch 1 nr 15,000 15,000Newtrees 69 Nr 400 27,600Newornamentalplanting 1,406 m2 40 56,240
2.5 GeneralItems
Newroadcrossing 1 PS 35,000Improvementstogatesandrailings 1 PS 10,000 10,000Improvementstoparksignage 1 PS 1,500 10,000Newparkequipment 1 Sum 10,000 10,000
TOTALCOST;SAY£ 1,674,756
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 165
/Volumes/data/Projects2200/2246-CBBDStrategy/CostEstimates/2246B&DOpenSpace-FeasibilityEstimate-17.05.12.xlsx 8of19
LONDONBOROUGHOFBARKINGANDDAGENHAMOPENSPACESSTRATEGY
STCHADSPARKFEASIBILITYESTIMATE
REF DESCRIPTION QUANTITY UNIT RATE AMOUNT
1 BUILDINGWORKS
1.1 None
2 LANDSCAPINGWORKS
2.1 AreabetweenExistingNorth/SouthPathandEastBoundary
Newwoodlandplanting 1,553 m2 30 46,590Newtrees 7 Nr 400 2,800Newentrancehardpaving 268 m2 90 24,120Newpath 100 m2 60 6,000Newconifers 6 Nr 200 1,200Removeexisitinggarages 7 nr 500 3,500Removeexistingvehicularaccess 183 m2 30 5,490Newlawnoverremovedgarages,outdoorgymandvehicularaccess 546 m2 15 8,190Breakoutexistingbasketballcourtfornewtenniscourts 1,551 m2 5 7,755Re-locatetenniscourts(3Nr)incl.fencing 1 Sum 75,000 75,000Re-locateoutdoorgym(456m2)incl.gymequipment 1 Sum 20,000 20,000Removeexistingpath 50 m2 40 2,000Removetrees 1 Nr 150 150
2.2 AreabetweenExistingNorth/SouthPathandWestBoundary
Removeredundantparkfeature 1 nr 5,000 5,000Removepath 69 m2 30 2,070Newgravelpath 3,160 m2 30 94,800Newwetlandplanting 1,530 m2 5 7,650Newmeadow 1,300 m2 5 6,500Newgrasspath 3,244 m2 5 16,220Newlonggrass 28,377 m2 3 85,132Newincidentalnaturalplayfeatures 7 Nr 1,500 10,500Newtrees 23 Nr 150 3,450NewWestentrancehardpaving 590 m2 90 53,100Newsmallfootballpitch,includingpaintinglines 1 nr 20,000 20,000Newadultfootballpitch,includingpaintinglines 1 nr 15,000 15,000
2.3 PlayArea
Newplayareasurface 871 m2 100 87,100New/re-configuredplaygroundequipment 1 Sum 15,000 15,000NewSurroudinghardpaving 322 m2 70 22,540Newfence 233 m 100 23,300Newmeadow 741 m2 5 3,705Newtrees 6 Nr 450 2,700Removerailing(lengthunknown) 1 Sum 5,000 5,000
2.4 AreaSouthofmainEast/Westpath
Removetrees 10 Nr 150 1,500Removepaths 418 m2 30 12,540Removetenniscourts 2,227 m2 5 11,135Removehedges 185 m 10 1,850
May2017
ESTIMATE
/Volumes/data/Projects2200/2246-CBBDStrategy/CostEstimates/2246B&DOpenSpace-FeasibilityEstimate-17.05.12.xlsx 9of19
LONDONBOROUGHOFBARKINGANDDAGENHAMOPENSPACESSTRATEGY
STCHADSPARKFEASIBILITYESTIMATE
REF DESCRIPTION QUANTITY UNIT RATE AMOUNT
May2017
ESTIMATE
Removeplantingbeds 94 m2 10 940Newlawn 2,739 m2 5 13,695Newpaths 171 m2 60 10,260Newentrancehardpaving 538 m2 90 48,420Newtrees 28 Nr 450 12,600Newconifers 3 Nr 200 600NewhardpavingaroundnewTeaLawn 4,562 m2 90 410,580NewfencingaroundBowlingGreen 165 m 120 19,800Re-purposeexistingbowlinggreentoTeaLawn 1 Sum 10,000 10,000Re-furbishchangingroom 1 Sum 10,000 10,000Newfoodgrowingarea 360 m2 5 1,800Newunder-storeyplanting(byneworchard) 940 m2 5 4,700
2.5 GeneralItems
Newstreetplanting-trees 22 Nr 450 9,900Improvementstogatesandrailings 1 PS 10,000 10,000Improvementstoparksignage 1 PS 5,000 5,000
TOTALCOST;SAY£ 1,276,882
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base166
/Volumes/data/Projects2200/2246-CBBDStrategy/CostEstimates/2246B&DOpenSpace-FeasibilityEstimate-17.05.12.xlsx 10of19
LONDONBOROUGHOFBARKINGANDDAGENHAMOPENSPACESSTRATEGY
VALENCEPARKFEASIBILITYESTIMATE
REF DESCRIPTION QUANTITY UNIT RATE AMOUNT
1 BUILDINGWORKS
1.1 Newfootballpavilion 390 m2 1,000 390,000
2 LANDSCAPINGWORKS
2.1 NorthEastQuadrant
Newcarpark 1,560 m2 75 117,000Newlonggrass 2,619 m2 5 13,095Newtrees 29 Nr 450 13,050Newshrubs 146 m2 30 4,380Newcircularsocialspace-hardpaving 531 m2 75 39,820Newself-bindinggravelpath 957 m2 30 28,710NewTrimTrails 3 Nr 2,500 7,500Newmounds 2,960 m2 5 14,800Newplayfeatures 3 Nr 2,500 7,500Newpublicfurniture(4xpicnictables,3xbenches) 1 Sum 15,000 15,000Breakoutexistinghardsurfaces 3,456 m2 30 103,680Newlawn 1,728 m2 5 8,640Newentrancehardpaving 102 m2 90 9,180
2.2 SouthEastQuadrant
Newlonggrass 5,810 m2 5 29,050Newtrees 14 Nr 450 6,300Newself-bindinggravelpath 534 m2 30 16,020Newmounds 769 m2 5 3,845Newpublicfurniture(2xbenches) 1 Sum 3,000 3,000Newentrancehardpaving 205 m2 90 18,450Newactivityhardpaving 1,800 m2 70 126,000Newwheelsarea 970 m2 100 97,000Newoutdoorgym 1 item 15,000 15,000Newornatmentalplanting 357 m2 35 12,495Newshrubs 1,018 m2 30 30,536
2.4 SouthWestQuadrant
Removepaths 650 m2 30 19,500Removeexistingbuildings 101 m2 150 15,150Newlawn 101 m2 5 505Newhardsurfacetofootballpavilion 680 m2 70 47,600Newfootballpitches 2 nr 20,000 40,000Newentrancehardpaving 205 m2 90 18,450Newornamentalplanting 478 m2 35 16,730Newtrees 10 Nr 450 4,500
2.5 NorthWestQuadrant
Newself-bindinggravelpath 3,382 m2 30 101,460Newgrasspath 648 m2 5 3,240Newpublicfurniture(3Nrbenches,7xpicnictables) 1 Sum 20,000 20,000NewPlatforms 146 m2 125 18,250
May2017
ESTIMATE
/Volumes/data/Projects2200/2246-CBBDStrategy/CostEstimates/2246B&DOpenSpace-FeasibilityEstimate-17.05.12.xlsx 11of19
LONDONBOROUGHOFBARKINGANDDAGENHAMOPENSPACESSTRATEGY
VALENCEPARKFEASIBILITYESTIMATE
REF DESCRIPTION QUANTITY UNIT RATE AMOUNT
May2017
ESTIMATE
Newlonggrass 396 m2 5 1,980Newtrees 20 Nr 450 9,000Newplayground 220 m2 100 22,000Newplaygroundequipment 1 Sum 25,000 25,000Newexternalcaféhardpavingarea 161 m2 75 12,075Newornamentalplanting 301 m2 35 10,535NewSensoryGardenornamentalplanting 1,155 m2 40 46,208Newwillowstructure 1 Nr 5,000 5,000Newsurfaceatcorneroflake 95 m2 50 4,750
2.5 CentralPlaygroundArea
Newplaygroundsurface 2,235 m2 50 111,750Newplaygroundequipment 1 Sum 10,000 10,000Newpath 2,073 m2 60 124,380Newcircularhardpaving 314 m2 50 15,708Newbandstand(deleted) 0 Sum 0
2.5 GeneralItems
Improvementstogatesandrailings 1 PS 10,000 10,000Improvementstoparksignage 1 PS 10,000 10,000Improvementstowater'sedge 1 PS 5,000 5,000
TOTALCOST;SAY£ 1,858,822
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 167
/Volumes/data/Projects2200/2246-CBBDStrategy/CostEstimates/2246B&DOpenSpace-FeasibilityEstimate-17.05.12.xlsx 12of19
LONDONBOROUGHOFBARKINGANDDAGENHAMOPENSPACESSTRATEGY
ABBEYGREENPARKFEASIBILITYESTIMATE
REF DESCRIPTION QUANTITY UNIT RATE AMOUNT
1 BUILDINGWORKS
1.1 None
2 LANDSCAPINGWORKS
2.1 NorthArea
Enlargedpavingareanexttoexistingbusstops 1,008 m2 60 60,480Newlowplanting 4,732 m2 25 118,300Newpaths 1,700 m2 60 102,000NewPentanquecourt 1 item 10,000 10,000NewBreedongravelarea 140 m2 30 4,200Newchesstablesandseating 1 Sum 5,000 5,000Removetrees(ProsvisionalQuantity) 50 Nr 150 7,500Publicfurniture 1 Sum 10,000 10,000Newlowperennial/herbaceousplanting 175 m2 35 6,125
2.2 CentralArea
Newlightweightviewingstructure 73 m 350 25,550Improvedsignageandinterpretationboards 1 Sum 5,000 5,000Newtrees 13 Nr 450 5,850Reconfiguredcarparking 400 m2 50 20,000Newcivicspace-hardpaving 556 m2 150 83,400Newpublicfurniture 1 Sum 10,000 10,000Newpaths 204 m2 60 12,240Newmeadow(Provisional) 1,507 m2 5 7,535Newextendedpavement 1,910 m2 50 95,500
2.3 SouthArea
Removepaths(ProvisionalQuantity) 1,300 m2 30 39,000Newpaths 1,480 m2 60 88,800Newpathwithwalllighting 553 m2 150 82,950Newwaterfeature 1 Sum 200,000 200,000Newlowplanting 6,357 m2 15 95,355Removetrees(ProsvisionalQuantity) 20 Nr 150 3,000Newtrees 9 Nr 450 4,050Publicfurniture 1 Sum 10,000 10,000Newplayequipment 1 Sum 10,000 10,000Newfencearoundplayarea 110 m 120 13,200Newlowperennial/herbaceousplanting 333 m2 25 8,325Newpop-uppowerandwater 1 Sum 20,000 20,000Newlightingcolumns 12 Nr 750 9,000
2.4 TownQuayArea
Newpaths 418 m2 60 25,080ImprovedconnectiontoTownQuay 32 m2 50 1,600EnhancedviewingplatformtoTownQuay 236 m2 250 59,000Newlowplanting 1,349 m2 25 33,725
May2017
ESTIMATE
/Volumes/data/Projects2200/2246-CBBDStrategy/CostEstimates/2246B&DOpenSpace-FeasibilityEstimate-17.05.12.xlsx 13of19
LONDONBOROUGHOFBARKINGANDDAGENHAMOPENSPACESSTRATEGY
ABBEYGREENPARKFEASIBILITYESTIMATE
REF DESCRIPTION QUANTITY UNIT RATE AMOUNT
May2017
ESTIMATE
2.5 GeneralItems
Improvementstogatesandrailings 1 PS 10,000 10,000Improvementstoparksignage 1 PS 10,000 10,000
TOTALCOST;SAY£ 1,311,765
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base168
/Volumes/data/Projects2200/2246-CBBDStrategy/CostEstimates/2246B&DOpenSpace-FeasibilityEstimate-17.05.12.xlsx 14of19
LONDONBOROUGHOFBARKINGANDDAGENHAMOPENSPACESSTRATEGY
EASTBROOKENDCOUNTRYPARKFEASIBILITYESTIMATE
REF DESCRIPTION QUANTITY UNIT RATE AMOUNT
1 BUILDINGWORKS
1.1 None
2 LANDSCAPINGWORKS
2.1 NorthArea
Removepaths 10,968 m2 15 164,520Newself-bindinggravelpathnetwork 9,247 m2 30 277,410Newmounds 32,686 m2 5 163,430Newviewingpointwithpicnicarea 214 m2 250 53,456Playequipment 1 Sum 10,000 10,000Newcirculargravelpathwayareas 645 m2 80 51,600Removetrees(ProvisionalQuantity) 25 Nr 150 3,750Newtrees 39 Nr 450 17,550Publicfurniture 1 Sum 10,000 10,000Newlonggrassmeadow 54,729 m2 5 273,645
2.2 SouthArea
Removepaths 13,548 m2 15 203,220Newself-bindinggravelpathnetwork 12,348 m2 30 370,440Newgrasspaths 4,326 m2 5 21,630Newplayarea 894 m2 50 44,700Newmounds 7,077 m2 5 35,385Newcirculargravelpathwayareas 2,151 m2 5 10,755Removetrees(ProvisionalQuantity) 50 Nr 150 7,500Newtrees 24 Nr 450 10,800Publicfurniture 1 Sum 1,000 1,000Newlonggrassmeadow 88,062 m2 5 440,310Platformstowater 7 Nr 10,000 70,000Jettiestowater 20 Nr 5,000 100,000Wetlandnetworkpaths 88 m2 35 3,063Areaforeducationalpurposesinc.sharedcarpark(TBC) 1 item 35,000 35,000
2.3 CentralEast/WestCorridor
Reinforcedconnectionwithlargerentrance 1 item 50,000 50,000
2.5 GeneralItems
Improvementstogatesandrailings 1 PS 20,000 20,000Improvementstoparksignage 1 PS 15,000 15,000Improvementstowater'sedge 1 PS 25,000 25,000
TOTALCOST;SAY£ 2,489,164
May2017
ESTIMATE
/Volumes/data/Projects2200/2246-CBBDStrategy/CostEstimates/2246B&DOpenSpace-FeasibilityEstimate-17.05.12.xlsx 15of19
LONDONBOROUGHOFBARKINGANDDAGENHAMOPENSPACESSTRATEGY
CENTRALPARKFEASIBILITYESTIMATE
REF DESCRIPTION QUANTITY UNIT RATE AMOUNT
1 BUILDINGWORKS
1.1 Newpavilion/changingrooms 1 Nr 500,000 500,000Removeexistingpavilion/changingrooms 1 Nr 25,000 25,000Removeexistingpavilionhardpaving 1450 m2 15 21,750Removeexistingstoragesheds 1 Nr 10,000 10,000
2 LANDSCAPINGWORKS
2.1 NorthPitchandPuttArea
Newmounds 6,840 m2 5 34,200Newtrees 37 Nr 450 16,650Newentrancehardpaving 355 m2 90 31,950Newfence 745 m 120 89,400Newcaféterrace 1,507 m2 65 97,955Removetenniscourt 2,000 m2 5 10,000Newlawn 2,000 m2 5 10,000Newplayarea 844 m2 100 84,400Newhigh-wireequipment 1 Sum 50,000 50,000
2.2 EastBoundarytoNewPathArea
Newmeadow 3,370 m2 5 16,850Newpaths 2,448 m2 60 146,880Newwoodlandbelt 12,374 m2 3 37,122Newpublicfurniture 1 Sum 10,000 10,000Newentrancehardpaving 624 m2 90 56,160Removeplayarea&path 1,085 m2 15 16,275Newlawn 1,085 m2 5 5,425Thinoutexistingtrees 1 Sum 10,000 10,000
2.4 East/CentralArea
Removepaths 1,665 m2 15 24,975Newgravelpath 1,195 m2 30 35,850Newgrasspath 825 m2 5 4,125Newlawn 1,665 m2 5 8,325Newcirculargrassarea 454 m2 5 2,270Newplayarea 3,317 m2 100 331,675Newplayequipment 1 Sum 75,000 75,000Newcircularpavingarea 254 m2 50 12,723Newmounds 20,345 m2 5 101,725Newmeadow 11,318 m2 5 56,590Newpublicfurniture 1 Sum 10,000 10,000Newtrees 89 Nr 450 40,050Relocatedtenniscourt 1 Sum 25,000 25,000New3Grugbypitchwithroundedterraces 1 Sum 120,000 120,000Newpavilionexternalsurfaces 2,355 m2 60 141,300Newoutdoorgymarea 444 m2 60 26,640Newoutdoorgymequipment 1 Sum 10,000 10,000Newadultfootballpitches 2 nr 20,000 40,000
May2017
ESTIMATE
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base 169
/Volumes/data/Projects2200/2246-CBBDStrategy/CostEstimates/2246B&DOpenSpace-FeasibilityEstimate-17.05.12.xlsx 16of19
LONDONBOROUGHOFBARKINGANDDAGENHAMOPENSPACESSTRATEGY
CENTRALPARKFEASIBILITYESTIMATE
REF DESCRIPTION QUANTITY UNIT RATE AMOUNT
May2017
ESTIMATE
2.5 CentralNorth/SouthArea
Newgravelpath 354 m2 30 10,620Newgrasspath 123 m2 5 615Newcirculargrassarea 227 m2 5 1,135Newpublicfurniture 1 Sum 10,000 10,000Newmounds 11,016 m2 5 55,080Newtrees 19 Nr 450 8,550Newplayground 170 m2 100 17,024Newplaygroundequipment 1 Sum 10,000 10,000Newcricketpitch 1 item 20,000 20,000NewFormalsquareWoodlandblocks 5,743 m2 1 5,743
2.5 WestArea
Newgravelpath 3,338 m2 30 100,140Newcirculargrassarea 227 m2 5 1,135Newpublicfurniture 1 Sum 10,000 10,000Newplayground 113 m2 100 11,349Newplaygroundequipment 1 Sum 10,000 10,000NewFormalsquareWoodlandblocks 21,205 m2 1 21,205Newmeadow 1,291 m2 5 6,455Newentrancehardpaving 246 m2 90 22,140
2.5 GeneralItems
Improvementstogatesandrailings 1 PS 25,000 25,000Improvementstoparksignage 1 PS 10,000 10,000
TOTALCOST;SAY£ 2,702,455
/Volumes/data/Projects2200/2246-CBBDStrategy/CostEstimates/2246B&DOpenSpace-FeasibilityEstimate-17.05.12.xlsx 17of19
LONDONBOROUGHOFBARKINGANDDAGENHAMOPENSPACESSTRATEGY
BARKINGPARKFEASIBILITYESTIMATE
REF DESCRIPTION QUANTITY UNIT RATE AMOUNT
1 BUILDINGWORKS
1.1 None
2 LANDSCAPINGWORKS
2.1 General
Newenhancedentrancepaving 1,253 m2 90 112,770Newtrees 100 Nr 450 45,000Newreeds 441 m2 25 11,025Newwoodlandplanting 836 m2 30 25,080Newornamentalplanting 10,400 m2 35 363,993Newmounds 11,990 m2 5Newmeadow 3,551 m2 5 17,755Newplayequipmentforolderchildren 1 Sum 50,000 50,000Newskatepark 1 Sum 250,000 250,000Newsportssurfaces 2,024 m2 5 10,120Newcricketpitchandcircle 1 Sum 20,000 20,000Newadultfootballpitches 2 nr 20,000 40,000Newcellularreinforcedgrasswalkway 211 m2 45 9,495Newpathentrance 676 m2 60 40,560Newplaygroundsurface 41 m2 100 4,072Newplaygroundequipment 1 Sum 10,000 10,000Newgrowingareaplantingbeds 705 m2 25 17,625NewbridgetoLoxfordPark 1 nr 150,000 150,000Enhancedaccesstowarmemorial 251 m2 50 12,550Removepaths 862 m2 15 12,930Removeexistinghardplaysurfaces 2,082 m2 15 31,230New(?)pop-uppowerandwaterpoint 1 Sum 25,000 25,000Newpublicfurniture 1 Sum 10,000 10,000
2.5 GeneralItems
Improvementstogatesandrailings 1 PS 10,000 10,000Improvementstoparksignage 1 PS 15,000 15,000
TOTALCOST;SAY£ 1,294,205
May2017
ESTIMATE
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base170
/Volumes/data/Projects2200/2246-CBBDStrategy/CostEstimates/2246B&DOpenSpace-FeasibilityEstimate-17.05.12.xlsx 18of19
LONDONBOROUGHOFBARKINGANDDAGENHAMOPENSPACESSTRATEGY
MAYESBROOKPARKFEASIBILITYESTIMATE
REF DESCRIPTION QUANTITY UNIT RATE AMOUNT
1 BUILDINGWORKS
1.1 Newchangingroomsandsocialspace 400 m2 1,800 720,000Demolishexistingchangingroombuilding 345 m2 75 25,875
2 LANDSCAPINGWORKS
2.1 AreaNorthofcentralEast/WestPath
Newboulderingarea 1,521 m2 75 114,040Newentrancehardpaving 910 m2 90 81,900Newfootpath 2,730 m2 40 109,200Newlonggrass 11,205 m2 5 56,025Newmini-footballpitches 4 nr 15,000 60,000Newfull-sizefootballpitch 1 nr 20,000 20,000Newmounds 6,000 m2 5 30,000Newmulti-sportsarea 4,540 m2 50 227,000Newmeadow 1,055 m2 5 5,275Newtrees 48 Nr 450 21,600Removepaths(sitewide) 1,374 m2 15 20,607Removetrees(sitewide) 40 Nr 150 6,000Newhardpaving(centralsquare) 520 m2 90 46,800Newbollards 26 Nr 350 9,100
2.3 South/EastArea(fromMulti-sportsareatoLake)
Newgravelpaths 1,136 m2 30 34,080Newnaturalplayarea 2,100 m2 5 10,500Newplayequipment 1 Sum 20,000 20,000Newtrimtrails 5 Nr 5,000 25,000Newtrees 37 Nr 450 16,650Newornamentalplanting 13,933 m2 35 487,655Newmounds 1,492 m2 5 7,460Newpublicfurniture 1 Sum 5,000 5,000Newentrancehardpaving 910 m2 90 81,900
2.4 AreaSouthofBoatingCentre
Newenclosedswimmingbarrier 520 m2 400 208,000Newbeach 527 m2 100 52,700Newmeadow 4,651 m2 5 23,255Newpavingarea 1,400 m2 90 126,000Newreeds 2,000 m2 15 30,000Newfloatingboardwalk 70 m 2,000 140,000Newgrasspath 3,256 m2 5 16,280Newgravelpath 2,232 m2 30 66,960
2.5 South/WestArea
Newgravelpath 6,368 m2 30 191,040Newimprovedgravelentrance 238 m2 50 11,900Newswale 6,860 m2 3 20,580Newsocialspace 760 m2 100 76,027
May2017
ESTIMATE
/Volumes/data/Projects2200/2246-CBBDStrategy/CostEstimates/2246B&DOpenSpace-FeasibilityEstimate-17.05.12.xlsx 19of19
LONDONBOROUGHOFBARKINGANDDAGENHAMOPENSPACESSTRATEGY
MAYESBROOKPARKFEASIBILITYESTIMATE
REF DESCRIPTION QUANTITY UNIT RATE AMOUNT
May2017
ESTIMATE
Newplayground 1,742 m2 100 174,200Newplaygroundequipment 1 Sum 50,000 50,000Newornamentalplanting 1,781 m2 35 62,326Newmeadow 3,600 m2 5 18,000Newentrancehardpaving 760 m2 90 68,424Newlonggrass 880 m2 5 4,400Newreeds 2,578 m2 5 12,890Newviewingplatform 969 m2 250 242,250Newfloatingboardwalk 50 m 2,000 100,000Newhardpaving 1,638 m2 90 147,420Newtrees 21 Nr 450 9,450
2.5GeneralItems
Improvementstogatesandrailings 1 PS 25,000 25,000Improvementstoparksignage 1 PS 15,000 15,000
TOTALCOST;SAY£ 4,133,768
LB Barking and Dagenham | Parks and Open Space Strategy | Technical Appendices and Evidence Base