The Council has prepared planning guidance for developers on how new housing and commercial developments will be required to provide or enhance open spaces for leisure and recreation. The guidance includes:

• providing appropriate protection for existing open spaces;
• setting standards for open spaces within new developments, including standards for parks, green spaces, children's play areas, and allotments;
• providing guidance for when developers should enhance open spaces in the local area rather than within the development; and,
• providing guidance on management and maintenance of open space.

The guidance is called the Open Space Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and expands upon policies in the Warwick District Local Plan which deal with open space and recreation improvements, particularly policy SC13.

Adopting the SPD

The Council Executive approved the final version of the SPD on the 10th June 2009. The SPD was formally adopted on the 24th July 2009 and its associated documents can be viewed below:

• Open Space SPD (608kb, PDF)
• Adoption Statement (52kb, PDF)
• Public Participation Report (143Kb, PDF)

Developer Contributions Guidance

Paragraph 5.7 of the SPD makes reference to additional guidance on the cost of commuting open space contributions off site.  The latest guidance can be viewed below and contains an inflation based adjustment to the original 2010 rates (using the revised RPI base rate from January 2017): 

• Developer Contributions for Commuted Payments for New Provision & Enhancement of Open Spaces (241kb, PDF)

Preparing the SPD

A draft Open Space SPD was the subject of public consultation from 19th December 2008 to 6th February 2009.  

• Draft Open Space SPD (329kb, PDF)

Sustainability Appraisal

As part of preparing the SPD, the Council has undertaken a sustainability appraisal (SA) of the document. This assesses the guidance against a number of environmental, economic and social criteria.  The final SA is available to view below:

• Sustainability Appraisal (537kb, PDF)

Parks and Open Space Audit 2008

As part of the evidence base for the SPD, the Council commissioned Pleydell Smithyman to undertake an audit of open space provision in order to inform standards for new open space provision. The report can be viewed below in four parts.  The accompanying plans can be made available to view at the Council offices. 

Parks and open spaces audit 2008 and background documents

If you have any questions regarding this SPD, please contact Tony Ward, Senior Planning Officer (Policy & Projects) on 01926 456503 or by email to: tony.ward@warwickdc.gov.uk