What is a Local Green Space?
Local Green Space designation is a way of allocating green spaces within towns and cities in order to help protect them from development. Local Green Space designation gives land a similar status to Green Belt land.
The rules for Local Green Space designation, and the mechanism for creating them, is set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (paragraphs 101 & 102).
The designation of land as Local Green Space through local and neighbourhood plans allows communities to identify and protect green areas of particular importance to them. Designating land as Local Green Space should be consistent with the local planning of sustainable development and complement investment in sufficient homes, jobs and other essential services. Local Green Spaces should only be designated when a plan is prepared or updated, and be capable of enduring beyond the end of the plan period.
National Planning Policy Framework (Paragraph 101)
What qualifies as a potential Local Green Space?
The National Planning Policy sets out three criteria for sites.
A nominated site must be:
(a) in reasonably close proximity to the community it serves;
(b) demonstrably special to a local community and holds a particular local significance, for example because of its beauty, historic significance, recreational value (including as a playing field), tranquillity or richness of its wildlife; and
(c) local in character and is not an extensive tract of land.
Do Local Green Spaces have to be publicly accessible?
No. This designation only affects planning matters. Local Green Spaces can be privately owned, and designation as a Local Green Space does not confer any additional rights on the public nor any additional responsibilities on landowners.
Find out more
Here are some useful resources about Local Green Space Designation: