LOCAL GREEN SPACE – WHAT IS IT?

Local Green Space (LGS) is a formal planning designation which was introduced in the 2012 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Councils can designate land as LGS in their Local Plans (or Neighbourhood Plans) and this gives protection similar to Green Belt land. Government Planning Guidance specifically states that, in the Green Belt, LGS designation “could help to identify areas that are of particular importance to the local community”.

It should also be noted that the incoming Government in 2024 has significantly weakened Green Belt Protection and so Local Green Space designation may take on added importance.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that a LGS should be:

a) in reasonably close proximity to the community it serves;

b) demonstrably special to a local community, with a particular local significance, for example because of its:

• beauty
• historic significance
• recreational value (including as a playing field)
• tranquillity
• richness of its wildlife

c) local in character and not an extensive tract of land.

 While designation affords protection from development, this should not be the main reason for designation.

A Local Green Space can be in private ownership and not accessible to the public, or only accessible over rights of way. Designation does not change access or current use unless negotiated with the landowner but does protect the land from built development. This applies to two of the LGS we propose.

We argue that the three sites we have put forward are special and meet the designation criteria for the reasons we have given in our responses to the consultations.