Open Spaces Supplementary Planning Document
Appendix 3: Design Standards
Public Open Space Design Guidance
Open space is a key facet of creating a successful place. As a starting point, existing features should be retained wherever possible and utilised to define design character and allow new development to assimilate naturally into its context.
Overall landscape design should be done with reference to the council’s green space strategy April 2019. This sets out both the standard and amount of provision the city council would expect to see within or near to the development work.
The Coventry Green Space strategy in line with the Coventry Local Plan classifies green spaces according to three broad categories: Formal; Informal and Functional. The table below shows the component types of green space within each classification. Guidance on sports provision and associated standards will be covered in the Coventry Playing Pitch Strategy.
| Type of Green Space | Planning Classification |
| Parks and Gardens | Formal |
| Outdoor Sports Facilities (with unrestricted access) | |
| Provision for Children & Young People | |
| Amenity Green Space | Informal |
| Natural and Semi-natural Green Space | |
| Green Corridors | |
| Community Gardens | Functional |
| Cemeteries & Churchyards |
The ongoing care and maintenance of open space is also a key issue in ensuring that its quality is enduring. The Council will expect full details to be provided regarding the proposed management of open space within all new residential and mixed use developments.
Formal Open Space
A clean, safe and well maintained and drained green space which is capable of receiving a Green Flag award with a score of at least 70 (out of 100). The site will demonstrate a high level of design to reinforce the sense of enclosure. The design element should allow the space to flow naturally and sit well within a more informal space if required. It will contain ornamental planting, some formal tree planting e.g. avenue and at least one formal element possibly more, depending on size, including play area; play equipment; outdoor gym equipment; sports/games area, band stand/performance area, artwork/sculpture. The site and its ancillary features (footpaths, seats, gates and fencing etc.) will be both safe to use and comply with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 / Equality Act 2010 as applicable. Ideally the site will contain a lucy pillar or metered mains electricity supply to allow for catering/entertainment concessions.
Informal Open Space
A clean, safe and well maintained and drained green space which is capable of achieving Green Flag score of 60 (out of 100). The site will be big enough and of sufficient variety of landscape to encourage natural play and other forms of informal recreation and leisure. It will be easily accessed with welcoming entrances and well-constructed all weather footpaths and defined by suitable well-constructed boundary fencing. The site and its ancillary features (footpaths, seats, gates and fencing etc.) will be both safe to use and comply with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 / Equality Act 2010 as applicable. The site will have appropriate and sufficient furniture for its potential users, with a minimum of one bin for each bench and each entrance. The site will have attractive soft landscaping including structural tree planting of diverse native species, shrubs, grassed areas and other natural features which promote and support biodiversity. The site will have a spacious outlook and will enhance the appearance of the surrounding environment.
Quality Standards
| Type of provision | Required standard | Relevant links | |||||||||||||||||
| Quality Standard for Open Space | The proposed quality standard is 70 (out of 100) for all formal green spaces-broadly equivalent to achieve the Green Flag Award. The proposed quality standard is 60 (out of 100) for all informal green spaces. All informal green spaces should achieve a minimum of ‘good’ against the Green Flag Award Standard. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Accessibility to Public Open Space | Coventry Green Space Strategy; All residents should be within 1200m of a District Level Space or All residents should be within 800m of a Neighbourhood level space or All residents should be within 400m of a Local Level Space. Functional Green Space; all residents should be within1200m of a community garden, churchyard or cemetery. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Provision for Children and Young People | Whilst Provision for Children and Young people forms part of the classification Formal Green Space, the Green Space Strategy and Local Standards do not propose a quantity standard for equipped provision for children and young people. However, the authority has adopted the Fields in Trust accessibility standards[1] as summarised below.
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The Coventry Green Space Strategy proposes the following minimum quantity standards
| Type of Green Space | Planning Classification | Quantity Standard (ha/1000) |
| Parks and Gardens | Formal | 0.84 |
| Outdoor Sports Facilities (with unrestricted access) | ||
| Provision for Children & Young People | ||
| Amenity Green Space | Informal | 2.12 |
| Natural and Semi-natural Green Space | ||
| Green Corridors | ||
| Community Gardens | Functional | 0.37 |
| Cemeteries & Churchyards | ||
| TOTAL | 3.11 | |
NB : There is no proposed quantity standard for provision for children and young people since this is determined by access standards as published by the Fields in Trust.
Provision for Children and Young People
The Green Space Strategy and Local Standards do not propose a quantity standard for green space and equipped play provision for children and young people. However, the authority has adopted the Fields in Trust accessibility standards[2] as summarised below.
| Designation | Accessibility Standard | ||
| Equipped / designated play areas | LAP | Local Area for Play (and informal recreation) | 100 m |
| LEAP | Local Equipped Area for Play (and informal recreation) | 400 m | |
| NEAP | Neighbourhood Equipped Area for Play (and informal recreation, and provision for children and young people) | 1,000 m | |
| MUGA | Multi Use Games Area | 700 m | |
Summary table: Specifications for children’s play provision
A detailed specification must be submitted with a full application or at Reserved Matters stage and will be subject to community consultation.
| Type | Minimum Size | Equipment/Facilities | Design Considerations | Distance from dwellings | Boundary Treatment | Management |
| LAP | 100 sqm | A designed space for natural play, using changes in level, natural features such as boulders, logs or small dips, and planting with a range of textures, scents and colours. Creating a space that will stimulate senses and enable young children to claim the space as their own. Provision of seating. | Appropriate to community needs Unique to the development Taking into account natural features Integrated within the open space Accessible to children with disabilities Good natural surveillance Safer surfacing Generous use of planting | 5m for boundary | Incorporated within open space, planting may be used to indicate boundaries. Perimeter fencing is not appropriate. The open space itself may be fenced from roads if appropriate. | Arrangements for graffiti removal, litter picking, dog waste clearance, dog waste and general waste collection. |
| LEAP | 400 sqm | At least 5 types of play equipment, providing a range of activities2, avoiding duplication of nearby play facilities. Planting to provide a range of textures, scents and colours. Seating in sun and shade. Litter bins. | 20m from facade | Recognisable by either fencing or landscaping. Perimeter fencing is generally inappropriate although the site may be fenced from adjoining roads and other hazards. | In addition to LEAP requirements - Post installation RoSPA inspection. Inspection regime incorporated in management and maintenance plan. Weekly visual inspections. 3 monthly inspections to a recognised standard. | |
| NEAP | 1000 sqm | In addition to LEAP requirements - minimum activity zone of 1,000m2, with play equipment and structures. Hard surfaced area of 465sqm for five a side football and other games. Separation of more adventurous play. | 30m from boundary |
Design Standard
Streetpride and Greenspace work towards the Green Flag standard of maintenance in the city and currently have 5 Green Flag Awards. Due to the size and number of dwellings in this development the green space represents a significant provision and should also aim towards the Green Flag Award Standard.
Applicants are judged against 27 different criteria divided into eight sections. These are not a list of requirements – the strength of the Green Flag Award is that it provides a framework for good management that professionals can evaluate and apply to their own particular site. For some sites, some of the sub-criteria will be ‘not applicable’ and for every site their proportionate importance will vary widely. This approach provides a clear but flexible framework for current management and future planning, and helps to make a case for funding, proving the value of the site to the community that it serves (often in ways that are otherwise difficult to quantify) and recognising the hard work of staff and volunteers.
The eight sections are:-
A Welcoming Place, Healthy Safe & Secure, Well Maintained & Clean, Environmental Management, Biodiversty Landscape & Heritage, Community Involvement, Marketing & Communication and Management.
Outlines for these sections can be seen in Fig. 1 and details found here; http://www.greenflagaward.org.uk/media/1019/green-flag-award-guidelines.pdf
Figure 1
[1] Fields in Trust (2018) – Guidance for Outdoor Sport and Play : Beyond the Six Acre Standard (England)
[2] Fields in Trust (2018) – Guidance for Outdoor Sport and Play : Beyond the Six Acre Standard (England)
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