Open Spaces Assessment

The National Planning Policy Framework discusses how to create opportunities to bring together members of a community who work, live and play within an area.  Paragraph 73 of the Framework states:

‘Access to high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and recreation can make an important contribution to the health and well-being of communities.  Planning policies should be based on robust and up to date assessments of the needs for open space, sports and recreation facilities and opportunities for new provision.  The assessments should identify specific needs and quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses of open space, sports and recreational facilities in the local area.’

The Cheshire East Open Space Assessment has combined existing data sources from previous surveys and carried out a new comprehensive survey of all the sites within the main 24 settlements listed in the Council's Determining the Settlement Hierarchy study.  All the sites are contained within a database with corresponding digital mapping.

The Open Spaces Introductory Report explains the structure and content of each open space summary report.  The 11 open space summary reports and associated maps cover the 11 Key Service Centres: Alsager, Congleton, Crewe, Handforth, Knutsford, Macclesfield, Middlewich, Nantwich, Poynton, Sandbach and Wilmslow.  In additional there is a report covering the 13 Local Service Centres.

The summary reports are ‘living documents’ and an addendum will be produced every year with any corrections, new information and new sites.  The evidence contained in the summary reports informs the Cheshire East Local Plan.

Any updates or corrections can be sent to planningpolicy@cheshireeast.gov.uk or by post to Spatial Planning, Cheshire East Council, Westfields, Middlewich Road, Sandbach CW11 1HZ.

Key Service Centres Open Spaces Summary Reports March 2012

• Introductory Report (PDF, 242KB)
• Alsager Summary Report (PDF, 570KB ) and Alsager Open Space Map (PDF, 503KB)
• Congleton Summary Report (PDF, 731KB) and Congleton Open Space Map (PDF, 1.18MB)
• Crewe Summary Report (PDF, 1.02MB), Crewe North Open Space Map (PDF, 754KB) and Crewe South Open Space Map (PDF, 1.24MB)
• Handforth Summary Report (PDF, 401KB) and Handforth Open Space Map (PDF, 1.17MB)
• Knutsford Summary Report (PDF, 545KB) and Knutsford Open Space Map (PDF, 969KB)
• Macclesfield Summary Report (PDF, 1.23MB), Macclesfield North Open Space Map (PDF, 1.35MB) and Macclesfield South Open Space Map (PDF, 1.14MB)
• Middlewich Summary Report (PDF, 524KB) and Middlewich Open Space Map (PDF, 894KB)
• Nantwich Summary Report (PDF, 616KB) and Nantwich Open Space Map (PDF, 508KB)
• Poynton Summary Report (PDF, 533KB) and Poynton Open Space Map (PDF, 540KB)
• Sandbach Summary Report (PDF, 755KB) and Sandbach Open Space Map (PDF, 968KB)
• Wilmslow Summary Report (PDF, 719KB) and Wilmslow Open Space Map (PDF, 1.18MB)

Local Service Centres Document Reports March 2012

• Local Service Centres Open Spaces Summary Report (PDF, 555KB)
• Alderley Edge Appendices (PDF, 208KB) and Alderley Edge Open Space Map (PDF, 455KB)
• Audlem Appendices (PDF, 202KB) and Audlem Open Space Map (PDF, 295KB)
• Bollington Appendices (PDF, 233KB) and Bollington Open Space Map (PDF, 472KB)
• Bunbury Appendices (PDF, 198KB) and Bunbury Open Space Map (PDF, 257KB)
• Chelford Appendices (PDF, 116KB) and Chelford Open Space Map (PDF, 275KB)
• Disley Appendices (PDF, 210KB) and Disley Open Space Map (PDF, 656KB)
• Goostrey Appendices (PDF, 199KB) and Goostrey Open Space Map (PDF, 520KB)
• Haslington Appendices (PDF, 203KB) and Haslington Open Space Map (PDF, 336KB)
• Holmes Chapel Appendices (PDF, 207KB) and Holmes Chapel Open Space Map (PDF, 426KB)
• Mobberley Appendices (PDF, 201KB) and Mobberley Open Space Map (PDF, 260KB)
• Prestbury Appendices (PDF, 205KB) and Prestbury Open Space Map (PDF, 970KB)
• Shavington Appendices (PDF, 203KB) and Shavington Open Space Map (PDF, 340KB)
• Wrenbury Appendices (PDF, 230KB) and Wrenbury Open Space Map (PDF, 239KB)

Archived Studies

Information from previous studies is also provided here for information:

Former Macclesfield Borough

• PPG17 Assessment of Need and Audit of Provision Summary Document (PDF, 239KB)

Former Congleton Borough

An Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study was undertaken in 2004 and published in February 2005 by PMP. It aims to provide a clear picture of existing and future open space, sport and recreation needs in accordance with the requirements of PPG17. The full study report can be downloaded below:

1. Introduction (PDF, 46KB)
2. Undertaking the Study (PDF, 37KB) 
3. Strategic Review (PDF, 72KB) 
4. Consultation Findings (PDF, 68KB)
5. Parks and Gardens (PDF, 1.10MB) 
6. Natural and Semi-Natural Open Space (PDF, 1.33MB)
7. Amenity Green Space (PDF, 1.87MB)
8. Provision for Children and Young People (PDF, 1.37MB)
9. Outdoor Sports Facilities (PDF, 454KB)
10. Allotments and Community Gardens (PDF, 617KB)
11. Green Corridors (PDF, 127KB)
12. Planning Overview (PDF, 40KB)
13. Resourcing Open Space (PDF, 54KB) 
14. Conclusions (PDF, 50KB)
15. Executive Summary (PDF, 36KB)