Open space audits and strategies

Scottish Planning Policy states that,

'Authorities should undertake an audit of the open space resource in their area and how well it meets the needs of the community.' And that 'Using the information from the audit, authorities should prepare an open space strategy which sets out the vision for new and improved open space and addresses any deficiencies identified.'

Scottish Natural Heritage recently funded greenspace scotland to conduct a review of open space audits and strategies    across Scotland. The review provides a useful reference for how the process is being tackled across planning authorities and notes examples of different approaches, innovation and good practice. In addition to the report, a web resource  was also produced. Both outputs should provide support to those working through the audit and strategy process.

Identifying and mapping open space

As part of the audit, planning authorities are required to map the open space resource for their area. greenspace scotland, supported by Scottish Natural Heritage and Scottish Government, worked with 25 local authorities to map and characterise their greenspace in accordance with a standard methodology  . This used Aerial Photo Interpretation (API) of Open Survey Mastermap to produce a GIS data layer showing primary (and where appropriate, secondary) typologies for each greenspace polygon.

Scotland's greenspace map

Scotland's Greenspace Map is a world first; no other country has mapped its greenspace in this way. This interactive map provides information about the type and extent of greenspace in urban Scotland (i.e. towns and cities with a population of over 3000). It was compiled in 2011 from greenspace data provided by the 32 Scottish Councils.

It categorises greenspace into 23 different open space types (for example, public parks, private gardens, play areas, semi-natural, community gardens and allotments). These types are based on the Planning and Advice Note (PAN) 65 Planning and Open Space. Sometimes one area has more than one type of greenspace, for example, the main (primary) use of the area may be a public park, but within this an area is used as a play area (secondary use). The primary use is shown as a block of colour (the primary code), and the secondary use is shown as an area of coloured hatching (the secondary code).

This project was led by greenspace scotland and made possible through funding from Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Government and Forestry Commission Scotland, and the active support of all 32 Scottish local authorities.

Scotland's Greenspace Map can be viewed as an interactive map and the GIS data can be provided to users with appropriate Ordnance Survey licence arrangements. Further details of how to obtain the GIS data can be obtained from Greenspace Scotland  .

Further Support

For further guidance and support on the open space audit and strategy process see the greenspace scotland website and other useful resources listed under Related links.