Torfaen County Borough Council in South East Wales has commissioned Knight, Kavanagh & Page (KKP) to conduct an open space, sport and recreation study. The Council is currently preparing its Local Development Plan (LDP) and this study will be integral to preparation of its evidence base for this and form the basis of the Borough's recreation and open space strategy.

It will include a comprehensive audit of a wide range of existing open space and recreation facilities (including allotments, outdoor sports facilities and play areas) detailing their quantity, quality, accessibility and wider value to the community.

Recognising the extent of the brief and the specific requirements of Torfaen, we are adapting our standard approach, grouping together key elements into outdoor recreation (outdoor sports and play areas), important urban open spaces and allotment provision. The study will, as a result, be based on range of relevant UK and Welsh principles, advocated in:

• Technical Advice Note 16 Sport & Recreation (TAN 16)
• Sport England's 'Towards a Level Playing Field'
• The new Fields In Trust (FIT) standards (the update of the NPFA Six Acre Standard)
• Countryside Council for Wales's: Providing Accessible Natural Greenspace in Towns and Cities Toolkit
• Local Government Association: Good Practice Guide 'Growing the Community'.
  Planning and Design for Outdoor Sport and Play

Making the most appropriate use of such guidance and resources is a key skill for which KKP is highly regarded. It was commended for this by Bridgend CBC, following recent completion of its Natural Greenspaces Study. Key to this was classification of areas of deficiencies in relation to the Accessible Natural Greenspace Standard (ANGSt) model. These are already recognised in Torfaen, so KKP will focus on identifying sites to address deficiencies and site access issues.

At the end of the process, Torfaen will have a five year action plan for protection, enhancement, and alternative use for provision and a recommended outdoor recreation standard reflecting quality and quantity.

Commenting on the project, lead consultant, Claire Fallon said:

"We are looking forward to returning to South East Wales and are keen to build on the success of the Bridgend study and further reinforce our reputation for supporting local authorities to address the key challenges in developing policy and informing future planning decisions."

For more information, visit our Open Space Studies page