In 2007, Knight Kavanagh & Page (KKP) was appointed by a partnership of three local authorities to undertake a PPG17 Open Space, Sport and Recreation Assessment for the whole Peak Sub-Region (an area comprising High Peak Borough Council, Derbyshire Dales District Council and the Peak District National Park Authority).

Collaborative sub-regional approach

The three authorities needed an evidence base to support preparation of planning policy for a joint Core Strategy for High Peak and Derbyshire Dales. Via a multiparty commission, they were seeking a regional view of future need, to explore opportunities for joint work and to share responsibility to serve residents within the Peak Sub-Region.

KKP applied its project delivery processes to effectively manage the complexities of this study:

Scale

Leaving no stone unturned, we collected the views of 1,000 residents via a street survey, customised online and paper questionnaires to clubs and parish councils and face to face consultation with over 100 stakeholders. These included key individuals, interest and community groups, sports clubs, local authority officers, the County Council and agencies working in and around the Peak Sub-region.

We placed our customary strong emphasis on face-to-face consultation and meeting people in their communities to accurately identify levels of demand for, and qualitative issues around, each typology and highlight the differences by area and group. This is particularly important in rural communities where travel barriers are often exacerbated as a result of reliance upon public transport.

Our in-house research team also audited over 500 open space, sport and recreation sites spread over 200 miles due to the dispersed rural topography of much of the region/area.

Complexity

Inclusion of the Peak District National Park further added to the already complex nature of this large scale, rural study. Its boundary encapsulates many open space and sport sites. However, these are rarely owned/managed directly by the National Park Authority; many are serviced by the relevant local authority or parish council. Our consultation process hence widened to cover officers from neighbouring local authorities including Tameside and Sheffield to ensure that the different management styles adopted across the study area were encapsulated.

This wide catchment also enabled us to identify and consider cross boundary issues more effectively.

Evidence for core strategies

KKP has a reputation for providing PPG17 assessments and strategies of a higher standard than its counterparts - based on what independent commentators have confirmed is the most comprehensive, detailed evidence base within the sector. This means that the policy direction we propose is based on rock solid foundations.

The extensive PPG17 study conducted in the Peak Sub-region has provided a robust evidence base, which incorporated:

• A verified, up to date account of all sites across all nine PPG17 typologies.
• A comprehensive audit of existing provision detailing quantity, quality, accessibility and wider value to the community.
• An accurate assessment/definition of need via an account of supply and demand.

KKP also provided a ‘standards paper', which identified deficiencies and potential surpluses in provision and recommended standards of provision (quality, quantity and accessibility) for all types of open space, sport and recreation facilities in accordance with PPG17. This took account of estimated population growth scenarios to identify how much open space will be required to serve the area in the future.

Following approval of the Assessment Report and Standards Paper, KKP has been retained to develop a PPG17 Strategy for High Peak and Derbyshire Dales detailing:

• A clear framework for practical action to protect and improve existing open spaces and to increase the provision of such facilities, where it is shown that there are deficiencies.
• As appropriate, proposals for rationalisation or change of use of current provision.
• Recommended priorities and an action plan for improving provision to meet local needs as identified in the course of the study.

Jo Bagnall, Senior Planning Officer at High Peak Borough Council said,

"Many thanks for all the work that went into the reports, we have been very impressed by all your team and look forward to working with you again for the strategy."