Knight, Kavanagh & Page (KKP) has been commissioned to carry out a PAN65 compliant Audit of Open Space for Dumfries and Galloway Council (DGC).

The audit will be used to aid preparation of its new Local Development Plan and will establish the Plan's requirements for open space, provide a solid basis on which to justify decisions and contribute to supplementary planning guidance.

This will, geographically, be one of KKP's largest audits: Dumfries and Galloway stretches from Langholm in the East to Stranraer in the West. It will be assessed on a settlement basis, with 26 settlements featured.

KKP's research will involve consultation with local people and groups and will be undertaken in accordance with Scottish Planning Policy Open Space and Physical Activity and Planning Advice Note (PAN65) - Planning and Open Space. It will provide a clear strategic pathway for improvement, investment and protection of provision and for the first time, KKP will be partnering with Greenspace Scotland to map the settlement areas.

Greenspace Scotland is a charitable company with the stated mission of "improving the quality of life of people living and working in urban Scotland through the planning, development and sustainable management of greenspaces." Applying its standard methodology, Greenspace will undertake mapping for nine of the largest settlements, with KKP completing the remainder. The inclusion and mutual learning that will result from the application of this additional technique signifies a progressive step forward in expanding KKP's open space portfolio.

Renowned for delivering the highest quality open space, playing pitch, indoor and outdoor sports assessments and strategies, our extensive track record of strategic and operational understanding places us at the forefront of land-use planning across the UK.

Previous work conducted in Scotland includes work for North Lanarkshire where following delivery of a successful playing pitch strategy in 2006 we were then commissioned to deliver its open spaces strategy in 2007 and sports facilities strategy in 2008-09. We have also, over this period, delivered West Dunbartonshire's open space audit and strategy, for East Renfrewshire, KKP produced the Council's facilities and playing pitch strategy following delivery of a linked options appraisal and feasibility project.