The Accessible Greenspace Standard clarifies the quantity, quality and location of the green infrastructure required to meet local needs. Its focus is accessible natural green spaces for public access, providing contact with nature and contributing to nature recovery networks.

How does it work?

Standards set out size, proximity, capacity and quality of the green infrastructure needed to provide everyone with access to a variety of quality green and blue spaces close to their home. Local authorities specify the targets, taking into account local needs, opportunities and constraints, in consultation with partnerships to set a shared a vision.

A strategic approach is taken to maintaining and enhancing networks of habitats and green infrastructure, with quality greenspaces meeting the Green Flag Award criteria and best practice in accessibility for all, as defined in the ‘By All Reasonable Means’ guidance published by the Sensory Trust on behalf of Natural England.

What is the standard?

Area-wide standard:

Size and proximity criteria: Everyone has access to good quality green and blue spaces close to home for health and wellbeing and contact with nature, to meet the AGS size and proximity criteria, with an initial focus on access to green and blue spaces within 15 minutes' walk from home.

Capacity criteria: Local authorities have at least 3 hectares of publicly accessible greenspace per 1,000 population and there is no net loss or reduction in capacity of accessible greenspace per 1,000 population at an area-wide scale. Local authorities specify capacity targets for all major residential development informed by a local accessible greenspace baseline, and taking into account local needs, opportunities and constraints.

Quality criteria: Accessible greenspace meets the Green Flag Award Criteria, (Ellicott, 2016) and best practice in accessibility for all: By All Reasonable Means: Least restrictive access to the outdoors (The Sensory Trust, 2020).

Major development standard:

Size and proximity criteria: For all major residential developments, the local authority specifies to the developer the quantity, size and distance criteria (see Appendix 2) for any accessible greenspace to be provided within/ associated with the development, based on the Accessible Greenspace Standards.

Capacity criteria: All major residential development is designed to meet capacity targets (hectares of accessible greenspace per 1,000 population), specified by the local planning authority.

Quality criteria: Accessible greenspace meets the Green Flag Award Criteria, (Ellicott, 2016) and best practice in accessibility for all: By All Reasonable Means: Least restrictive access to the outdoors (The Sensory Trust, 2020) in major new developments.