Nottingham City has a historic network of open and green spaces whose legacy dates from the 18th century. Despite the City's tight urban boundary, over one fifth (20%) of the City's total land area is made up of accessible open and green spaces. Thus providing opportunities for recreation and enjoyment as well as contributing to the quality of the environment.

Breathing Space 2010 - 2020

The revised 'Breathing Space' embeds the strategic framework, seeking to add value and revitalise the City of Nottingham's open and green spaces.

Nottingham's first 'Breathing Space' strategic document was adopted in 2007 and has proved invaluable in providing a strategic approach towards the future planning, development and management of the open and green spaces network within the City in order to make a contribution to its citizens' quality of life.

Since the adoption of Breathing Space there has been a great deal of work completed to ensure that the strategic approach to the management of open and green spaces in the City is further developed and implemented. This work has been shaped by the two audits that have been completed - the PPG17 and Outdoor Sports Playing Pitch Assessment - and through typology specific work including the Food Growing Framework, Allotment Strategy, Play Management Plan and the joint work with other Departments in the City which has produced the Area Commentaries and Impact Assessment Toolkit.

The City is also working closely with voluntary / third sector organisations and further work is being undertaken through the initiation of the Urban Forest Strategy, Biodiversity Statement, Climate Change Strategy and Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan. In light of these documents and the current economic climate it seems timely to review and update the Breathing Space Strategy to ensure that its vision and aims are consistent, relevant for the next 10 years, and the recommendations from the recent studies, frameworks and plans are included and embedded in the City's strategic document for the future provision of open and green spaces in Nottingham.

Area Commentaries

The three Area Commentaries prioritise the main concerns for open and green space by quality, accessibility and quantity and bring out some of the major development issues affecting the City.

The City Council has been working intensively to understand at a neighbourhood level the needs, aspirations and issues our communities have towards the existing open and green space network.

The aim is to develop a clearer understanding of the existing gaps, issues and opportunities to inform decisions affecting provision. They are the basis for recommending standards in terms of quality and accessibility, which the emerging LDF Core Strategy can consider alongside other evidence when establishing strategic guidance and policies on open and green space.

The 3 Area Commentaries cover the Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) areas; The North West Area, Central and East Area and South Area. They consider a wide range of detailed work which has recently been undertaken including the PPG17 audit, the Playing Pitch Assessment, Food Growing Framework and Allotment Strategy. They put together both visually and via data audits the challenges and opportunities that need to be addressed over the next ten years for quality open and green space infrastructure provision across the City.

PPG17

This 2008 study is an audit of where the City Council currently is in terms of the range and levels of provision of open space, sport and recreation across the City, it is a snapshot in time. This study provides the evidence that has enabled the City Council to develop a strategy for the future. It has enabled the City Council to develop and understand the standards of provision required across the City and at the local level based on local needs. It has also helped inform and fit to local planning policy regarding the planned regeneration of the City.

This study embraces one of the main ambitions of the City Council to plan positively, effectively and creatively to ensure that there is adequate provision of accessible, high quality open and green spaces, sport and recreation facilities that meet the needs and aspirations of local communities, local people and people who work in or visit the City.

The study is an audit of provision and assessment of local need and as such it reflects the first two stages of PPG17. It makes generic recommendations regarding the quantity, quality and accessibility of provision. It allows the City Council to establish baseline standards of provision that reflect the needs required as part of the progressing Local Development Framework. The study also provides the baseline evidence and adheres to the guidance detailed in "Assessing Needs and Opportunities: A Companion Guide to PPG17". PPG17 guidance requires local authorities to undertake an assessment of provision of open space, sports and recreational provision. This study has reviewed existing strategies and has undertaken consultation with the public as part of the evidence that has been collated.

Biodiversity Position Statement

In October 2011 Nottingham City Council adopted the updated 'Biodiversity Position Statement: Ambitious for Wildlife'. The document reflects our commitment to wildlife and the natural environment, by supporting key policy and legislation at both local and national levels. The recent production of several key documents such as the Natural Environment White Paper 'The Natural Choice: securing the value of nature' enforces the importance of wildlife and strengthens the Councils dedication to implementing the Biodiversity Position Statements action plan, targets and monitoring. Nottingham is very fortunate to be home to many important wildlife sites, including three Sites of Special Scientific Interest, 8 Local Nature Reserves and many Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation. There are also lots of interesting animals including several species of bats, water voles and birds.