8 Towards a Strategy

8.1 This strategy is entitled ‘Creation and Enhancement’ to emphasise the importance of the benefits to accrue from improving and enhancing existing open space resources as well as providing new areas.

8.2 Each area of open space has important attributes which can be used, either singly or together, to assign a key function or assess its inherent value when developing local strategies for open space. They include:

a. strategic/structural function: its contribution to local image and structure

b. amenity: its contribution to the balance of open space and buildings and/or the street scene

c. urban quality/regeneration: its contribution to regeneration by increasing its amenity

d. promoting health: its contribution to physical and mental wellbeing through its use for informal and formal recreation and as a pleasant feature of the environment

e. ecology: its capacity for contributing towards nature and wildlife conservation and acting as a green corridor important to wildlife

f. community resources/meeting place: its role for social interaction – whether organised or unorganised

g. educational: its existing use or potential as a learning resource

h. sport and culture: its contribution to the district’s sporting and cultural resources

8.3 The North Devon District Open Space Database will enable land to be further classified and an index of quality to be developed at the local level by, for example, affording each area a value based on such factors as its accessibility, the overall level of supply, use, its visual quality, its functions and its facilities.

8.4 The Strategy is a living document which will need to evolve and change as circumstances allow. The following summarises some of the challenges which the North Devon Open Space Strategy must take on board:

a. The pressure to find additional land for housing which continues to grow. Campaigns to save the countryside are directing more pressure on urban areas: former industrial land and urban open space are in the direct line of fire, with allotments and playing fields particularly at risk.

b. The need to consider both capital and revenue funding for the creation, restoration and regeneration of open space. In this respect, the New Opportunities Fund and its resourcing of the Green Spaces Initiative is very important. Within North Devon, these funds should be particularly targeted towards the North Molton, Bishop’s Nympton, Chittlehampton, Bratton Fleming, Chulmleigh, Swimbridge and Marwood rural wards. The urban wards of Trinity and St Mary’s in Barnstaple and Ilfracombe Central and East wards are priority wards within this programme and could be eligible for enhanced funding of up to 90%. There are also potential sources of funding in such projects as the South West Forestry Initiative.

c. To find new ways of creating open space, especially through retail, industrial and residential schemes which will provide opportunities for new provision.

d. The need to take more account of the needs of different landowners. In the private sector and increasingly in the public sector, open space is seen as a reliable resource for capital receipts.

e. The increasing focus on the ‘public realm’ - hard open space, such as piazzas and squares, the value of which has been highlighted by the Urban Task Force and is likely to become more prominent in urban planning.

f. Ultimately, the long term value and quality of open space depends not only on the planning system to protect and provide it, but on effective management and maintenance, coupled with strong community support, to safeguard it and realise its true community and environmental value.

g. Sustainable development: the need to protect and enhance biodiversity and habitats and managing open space in more appropriate ways.

h. Issues covered in the open space strategy should be cross cutting and the Strategy should recognise the importance of linking to other District Council strategies and other interested local and national agencies and stakeholders.

i. The tremendous importance of the countryside and coastline to people’s perception of North Devon and the influence of this on providing and managing other areas of open space.

j. The requirement for open space to meet the needs of different groups within the population and to be accessible to all ages.

8.5 In summary, certain themes have emerged from the survey work, around which the Strategy should be based. These are summarized below.

a. Deficiencies in provision and the need for new areas of open space

b. Deficiencies in existing provision and the need for improvement and enhancement – making the best use of existing provision.

c. The need to protect and conserve existing areas of open space

d. Ensuring there are good, efficient open space linkages and routeways between existing open space areas

e. Ease of travel to open space and accessibility for all the community

f. The benefits of involving the local community in planning, managing and enhancing open space

g. The role of open space in contributing to the quality of life and regeneration

h. Ensuring that open space in North Devon meets the needs of all the community

8.6 These themes are further considered under the following ‘Key Policy Considerations’ and provide a framework for the development of more detailed policies. It is also recommended that the District Council should adopt the following statement of intent:

‘North Devon District Council recognises the recreational and non-recreational roles and value of open space, particularly its benefits with regard to health and education, the environment, regeneration and the local economy, sport and culture and wishes to promote these to, and in consultation with, the local community and visitors alike.’