Green spaces | LocalGov

Green Liverpool projects win European funding

08/04/2024

Greening projects designed to complement new active travel routes in Liverpool will be funded by a European climate grant worth almost £80,000.

Two-thirds of councils to cut neighbourhood services

27/02/2024

Community services will have to be ‘drastically scaled back’ or cut altogether without further funding for councils, the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned.

Brighton U-turns on pesticide use

25/01/2024

The use of a controversial pesticide will be reintroduced by Brighton and Hove City Council less than five years after it pledged to become ‘pesticide free’.

City Hall to decide on Wimbledon expansion plans

23/01/2024

The Mayor of London’s office has called in a controversial planning application to expand Wimbledon’s tennis grounds.

London council launches green investment scheme

17/11/2023

Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council is inviting residents and businesses to invest in green projects across the borough.

‘Strong correlation’ between poverty and shortage of green space

16/10/2023

There is a ‘strong correlation’ between deprivation and a lack of green space, a new report into Local Green Spaces (LGS) has found.

Recycled soil used to create Liverpool’s largest park

08/08/2023

Liverpool City Council has used recycled soil from a former landfill site to create one of the largest transformed urban green spaces in England.

Council ‘disappointed’ by planning decision

06/06/2023

Wiltshire Council has said it is ‘disappointed’ at the Planning Inspectorate’s decision to override the council's rejection of a planning application.

Leicestershire hits 250,000 tree planting milestone

02/06/2023

An environment plan in Leicestershire has reached a milestone with 250,000 trees now planted throughout the county.

Council unveils plans to make Carlisle ‘more vibrant’

01/06/2023

Cumberland Council has unveiled plans to make Carlisle city centre ‘more vibrant and welcoming’.

Why green belt expansion requires a strategic review

25/05/2023

Ian Barnett, national land director, Leaders Romans Group (LRG) argues that a strategic approach can expand the green belt and deliver more houses.

Green belt building could deliver 150,000 new homes

25/05/2023

Plans by the Labour Party to allow building on green belt land could result in more than 150,000 new homes, analysis has suggested.

Toxic ‘chemical cocktails’ discovered in rivers

24/05/2023

A toxic concoction of ‘chemical cocktails’ have been detected at over 1,600 river and other freshwater sites across England, wildlife charities have found.

Boosting urban biodiversity with new innovations in green infrastructure

24/04/2023

Cities play a critical role in addressing biodiversity loss. Alexander Ilsink, Mobilane, looks at how to maximise the potential of green infrastructure.

Council and HS2 at loggerheads over tree felling

31/03/2023

Buckinghamshire council has served a tree preservation order on HS2 Ltd after discovering that the company was cutting down trees in a SSSI.

Council seeks legal advice after minister green lights solar farm

29/03/2023

Telford & Wrekin Council is taking ‘urgent legal advice’ over the Government’s decision to allow a new solar farm to go-ahead despite local opposition.

Green gatekeepers: How local authorities are creating sustainable cities

14/11/2022

Steve McIntyre outlines how local authorities are leading the green charge to welcome nature back into cities.

Cities require urgent rethink, study says

18/10/2022

Britain’s cities require urgent transformation, including more green spaces and public transport, if the country is to meet its net zero targets, study says.

Government urged to reform Green Belt policy

16/09/2022

The Government has been urged to reform the Green Belt policy as new figures reveal there has been an increase in protected green areas.

Council wins High Court case to protect ‘green spaces’

02/08/2022

Worthing Borough Council has welcomed a decision by the High Court to rule against plans to build 475 homes, which it argues would spoil its ‘green spaces’.

One in five children at risk of obesity

19/05/2022

Government should help provide more affordable leisure opportunities, council chiefs say as study reveals children are not getting enough exercise.

Green space provision should be central to levelling up, charity says

18/05/2022

The amount of green space per person is lower in areas that the Government is targeting as part of the levelling up agenda than it is elsewhere, study reveals.

Mental health impacted by decline in green space

05/05/2022

Green space provision around housing developments has dramatically declined over the last century with negative consequences for mental health, research finds.

Green spaces provide £25.6bn of ‘welfare value’ every year, study finds

04/05/2022

A new study has shown that parks and green spaces in England and Wales provide adults with £25.6bn of ‘welfare value’ each year.

Why local authorities need to re-think the role of urban farming in their planning

07/04/2022

New evidence from urban areas has shown that any space used for growing food provides all kinds of benefits to the eco-system and people's health. Dr Dan Evans reports.

Council wins planning case against unauthorised caravan site

06/04/2022

Cheshire East Council has won a planning appeal in the case of an unauthorised caravan site set up on green belt land.

Government proposes new targets to protect environment

17/03/2022

New legal targets on air quality, nutrient pollution and water quality have been proposed by the Government as part of its Environment Act.

The greenfield / brownfield debate

20/12/2021

David Churchill, partner, Carter Jonas London examines the ongoing greenfield / brownfield debate.

Over 20,000 green spaces on ‘endangered list’

17/11/2021

Over 20,000 parks and green spaces are at risk of being lost to building development, a charity has warned.

Record number of parks achieve Green Flag Award

14/10/2021

Over 2,000 parks and green spaces across the UK have received a Green Flag Award for 2021.

Young people urged to 'reclaim' their parks

09/09/2021

Young people often feel unwelcome in parks and other green spaces, a charity has warned.

Study warns of 'dramatic' increase in Japanese Knotweed cases

06/09/2021

The number of confirmed Japanese Knotweed cases in the UK have increased by 28% over the last five years , a new study has revealed.

Public call on councils to do more to protect the natural environment

19/07/2021

Only a third of the UK public think local government is doing enough to protect and enhance the natural environment, a report has revealed today.

Calls to invest £1bn a year in wild spaces to boost public’s health

04/06/2021

A new report has called for an urgent £1bn per year funding package to restore nature at scale.

Green space 'not equally accessible to all' index reveals

27/05/2021

The most deprived communities tend to have the less access to green spaces, an annual report has found.

Landowner sentenced to jail for siting caravans on greenbelt

06/05/2021

A landowner has been given a suspended jail sentence by the High Court after siting caravans on greenbelt land in Cheshire East.

Private outdoor space for public housing: how much is enough?

23/03/2021

Recommendations for private outdoor space standards for public housing could help local authorities optimise those benefits for residents. Paul Miller reports.

Liverpool parks to be protected 'forever'

19/03/2021

Liverpool City Council has become the first local authority to legally protect the future of its parks and green spaces.

Coalition publishes new vision for planning reforms

15/01/2021

The Government has been urged to rethink its ‘damaging’ reforms to the planning system and put people, climate and nature at its heart by a coalition of 18 organisations.

Record number of spaces achieve Green Flag Awards

14/10/2020

A record number of parks and green spaces have been recognised in this year's Green Flag Awards.

Call for £5.5bn to level up access to urban green spaces

07/07/2020

The prime minister has been urged to invest £5.5bn to 'level up' access to urban green spaces by a coalition of councils, city leaders and charities.

Parks are a 'smart investment' argues new report

24/06/2020

Parks save the health service over £2bn a year making them a ‘smart investment’, according to the Parks Alliance (TPA).

Think tank calls for £100bn investment in the North's nature

01/06/2020

The Government has been urged by a think tank to invest up to £100bn over the next 25 years to create a plan for nature in the North of England.

Public parks at 'significant' risk of loss, charity warns

28/05/2020

Hundreds of thousands of people could lose their local green space in the coming years due to development, research has warned today.

Council mows grass in two metre 'channels' to promote social distancing

14/05/2020

Birmingham City Council has come up with an unusual way to remind people to obey social distancing rules, by mowing two metre strips into its parks and green spaces.

Walkers urged to find 'missing' paths before 2026 deadline

11/02/2020

There are around 10,000 miles of historic paths missing from the map in England and Wales, according to a walking charity.

From grey to green: The role of SuDS in Britain's green spaces

31/01/2020

Ian Geeson describes why green spaces are a key element of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and the role they play in helping Britain to avoid flooding.

Joint venture unlocks ‘biggest brownfield’ site in the Black Country

21/10/2019

Industrial land in Sandwell is set to be the site of a 750-home community after a deal was struck by the council and the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Only 10% of recent homes built on the Green Belt are 'affordable'

14/10/2019

Only one in ten homes built on land released from the Green Belt over the past decade are considered ‘affordable’, a new report has found.

Councils urged to only cut road verges twice a year

27/09/2019

Road verges should only be cut two times a year in order to protect wild flowers and wildlife, new guidelines have recommended.

New financial model needed for national parks, review says

23/09/2019

A review of the way in which green spaces are managed could see more affordable housing built in rural areas and the introduction of a new financial model for national parks.

Building on 'brownfield' sites at five-year low

03/06/2019

Construction on derelict land has fallen to a five-year low while development in countryside areas has increased, according to the latest figures.

Parks in danger of being sold, campaigners warn

23/05/2019

Campaigners are calling on local government and landowners to legally protect the parks and green spaces they own.

To what extent is the environment shaping national politics?

15/05/2019

Erica Popplewell explores what the local election results can tell us about concerns for the countryside and environment.

Play as a powerful motivator

26/04/2019

Beth Cooper explores the value of play and green places in preserving the nation’s health.

Brokenshire announces £13m of ‘much-needed’ park funding

18/02/2019

Councils across the country are to benefit from a multi-million pound funding boost to ‘breathe new life’ into green spaces.

Only a week left to enter Street Design Awards 

14/02/2019

The Street Design Awards, celebrating innovation and best practice in street design schemes, have been relaunched by Local Government News magazine.

Majority supports new housing but only on brownfield sites, survey finds

01/02/2019

New research shows that the majority of people support the building of new homes but oppose developments being located on green field sites.

Councils release record 10,000 hectares of green belt for housing

05/10/2018

Record amounts of green belt land have been released for housing, according to environmenal campaigners.

Nearly half a million new homes to be built on Green Belt land, campaigners say

06/08/2018

Nearly half a million new homes are set to be built on land that will soon be released from the Green Belt, study shows.

Nearly 2,000 green spaces celebrated in Green Flag Awards

17/07/2018

From traditional parks to burial sites, a record number of green spaces have been awarded a Green Flag this year.

Green spaces are being lost to housing at ‘alarming rate’, campaigners say

04/06/2018

The Government’s ‘market-driven rhetoric’ is leading to the countryside being lost to housing at an ‘alarming rate’, campaigners warn.

Parks provide over £34bn of health benefits, report says

08/05/2018

Parks and green spaces across the UK provide people with over £34bn of health and wellbeing benefits, report says.

Campaigners reveal enough brownfield sites for one million homes

12/02/2018

Local authorities have identified enough brownfield land for over one million new homes, research reveals.

Japanese knotweed: New advice to tackle a growing problem

05/02/2018

Conor Leyden explains why new guidance can help councils to understand the issues surrounding the management of Japanese knotweed.

Council agrees to place parks in charitable trust

11/01/2018

Knowsley has agreed to establish a charitable trust to manage the borough’s green spaces after the scrutiny committee requested the decision be put on hold.

Why planning policy should be a part of the welfare state

21/12/2017

Localis' Jack Airey looks at how green belts can be made to serve the public interest through the creation of 'yellowfield registers' by councils.

Mayor Khan pledges to restrict building on Green Belt land

27/11/2017

Sadiq Khan has pledged to protect ‘the lungs of the capital’ as he sets out new plans to strengthen safeguards for the Green Belt.

Liverpool approves plans to hand parks contract to council company

27/10/2017

Liverpool City Council has approved plans to award its parks and green spaces maintenance contract to Liverpool Street Scene Services Limited.

Council-owned company set to take over maintenance of Liverpool’s green spaces

20/10/2017

The contract to maintain Liverpool’s green spaces is to be handed to a council-owned company which operates the refuse, recycling and street cleansing service.

Councils clash over green belt development proposals

06/10/2017

South Bucks council has criticised their southern neighbours in Slough for publishing proposals to build on green belt land within the former’s boundary.

Green belt should be developed to meet housing needs, say real estate experts

04/10/2017

Releasing green belt land for development is necessary to meet housing needs, real estate adviser argues.

Councils support parks research despite funding pressures

19/09/2017

Council chiefs have thrown their support behind a new Government-created group looking into the future of parks despite funding pressures.

£30m green belt garden given go ahead

13/06/2017

Salford’s £30m ‘historic’ garden has been given the go ahead by the Government after concerns were raised about locating it on the green belt.

Housing minister gives green light to controversial local plan

30/03/2017

The housing minister has given Bradford’s local plan the go ahead after a delay caused by concerns regarding Green Belt boundaries.

Green spaces can save NHS money, report claims

02/02/2017

Green spaces can help reduce costs for public services such as the NHS, report claims.

Challenging the false dichotomy between conservation and development

13/01/2017

Should councils take a more strategic approach to developing sections of Green Belt land in order to fund nature conservation? William Eichler investigates.

Controversial Birmingham development plan to go ahead

25/11/2016

Whitehall has given the go-ahead to Birmingham’s plans to build thousands of homes on green belt land in order to address the city’s ‘acute’ housing shortage.

London’s Green Belt under ‘greater threat than ever’

12/09/2016

London’s Green Belt is under ‘greater threat than ever’ despite Tory manifesto promises it would be ‘safe under us’.

Councils must treat planning applications for Green Belt ‘consistently’

14/07/2016

Councils must apply planning rules properly when considering applications for building on the Green Belt, the Local Government Ombudsman has warned.

Minister outlines how satellite data is transforming environmental protection

03/02/2016

Satellite data is now being used to protect and improve the UK’s natural environment.

Manhattan-style ‘pocket parks’ to be created in UK towns and cities

09/11/2015

England’s ‘unloved spaces’ will be transformed into Manhattan-style ‘pocket parks’, according to new proposals.

Report: Link stamp duty to energy efficiency

23/09/2015

Stamp duty should be used to ‘re-energise the energy efficiency market’ by linking it with performance and handing the proceeds to city-regions to fund incentives, according to a new report.

Record numbers waving the Green Flag

23/07/2015

A record number of parks and green spaces have been given the Green Flag Award this year, partly due to the scheme’s expansion into new territory.

Battle lines drawn over All Weather Pitch reclamation

23/07/2015

A war of words has broken out between companies specialising in the recycling and reclamation of All Weather Pitches. Ken Oxley reports.

Urban beauty is being restricted to the rich says think tank

23/07/2015

Green spaces and beautiful urban surroundings are the realms of the wealthy, a report by the independent think tank ResPublica reveals.

Banning urban pesticide use image

Banning urban pesticide use

RSPB and PAN are working on a letter from local councillors calling on the Government to introduce a national ban on urban pesticide use. Find out more below.
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