Access to green and blue space short of target

The government has published new statistics which suggest only 80% of households in England are within easy reach of green or blue space – someway off its target for everyone in the country to have easy access to such spaces.

Green space includes public parks, playing fields, sports facilities, play areas and allotments – which are often managed by BALI members – while blue space includes lakes, rivers, canals, and the sea.

Both the previous and current governments have promised to ensure all households have access to a green or blue space within a 15-minute walk through their wide-ranging Environmental Improvement Plans.

But this new data suggest that either more green and blue spaces are needed or access to existing spaces needs to be improved, both of which might present opportunities for landscapers.

There is also a rural-urban divide, with the data suggesting that 91% of rural households have easy access to green or blue space and only 78% of urban households enjoy the same level of access.

The Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 set out a range of actions in order to make progress on the access commitment, including:

• Create nine new National River Walks, one in every region of England, and establish three new national forests.
• Provide advice on applying the accessible green space and urban greening factor standards as part of the green belt golden rules set out in the National Policy Planning Framework, to ensure that new residents in developments from 2025 can access good-quality green and blue spaces.
• Identify how best to improve the quality and sustainability of parks and green spaces, including issues relating to planning, finance, and inclusion, by working with third sector stakeholders.

The BALI policy team will continue to push for progress on the access target alongside other ambitions for landscaped environments, maximising opportunities for members and industry growth.