Access to Public Open Space and Nature by Ward

<p>Percentage and count of residential households within Wards, with access to at least one open space by specified type of space, and the amount/proportion of each ward that is open space with and without public access.</p> <p>Also the proportion of homes located within public open space, and access to nature boundaries.</p> <p>Areas of deficiency in access to nature are defined as built-up areas more than one kilometre actual walking distance from an accessible Metropolitan or Borough Site of Interest for Nature Conservation (SINC).</p> <p>The analysis of public open space is based on access to designated green/public open space and therefore <strong>excludes farmland</strong>, and other types of green space outside of the public open space category definitions within the London Plan.</p> <p>These measures take no account of additional public rights of way, that can also give the same benefits as more formal open spaces.</p> <p>Homes further away than the maximum recommended distance are considered to be deficient in access to that type of public open space (POS).</p> <p>In 2015 the recommended distances for each type, are:</p> <p>R - Regional Parks = 5km max</p> <p>M - Metropolitan Parks = 2.4km max</p> <p>D - District = 1.2km max</p> <p>LSP - Local, Small and Pocket parks = 400 metres max.</p> <p>For a definition of public open space types refer to the London Plan 2011, Table 7.2 <a href="http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/planning/londonplan">http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/planning/londonplan</a></p> <p>Higher category parks also perform the function of lower category parks, e.g. a Metropolitan Park also functions as a District Park and a Local Park.</p> <p>The distance is actual walking distance (taking into account fences, railway lines, rivers etc.) to reach access points of parks and other, generally managed, sites, usually with some facilities.</p> <p>This measure takes no account of the quality or facilities at each open space.</p> <p>No account of local, small and pocket parks outside the Greater London boundary has been made, though all regional, metropolitan and district parks in the vicinity of London have been included.</p> <p>Residental addresses provided by Ordnance Survey.</p> <p>Wards in the City of London have been merged to create one area in 2013.</p> <p>2014 ward boundaries only affect three boroughs in which wards changed in 2014 - Hackney, Tower Hamlets, and Kensington and Chelsea. All other ward boundaries in London remain unchanged.</p> <p>Visit the Greenspace Information for Greater London (GiGL) website <a title="Greenspace Information for Greater London" href="http://www.gigl.org.uk/">here</a></p>