Recreation Spaces

The Department has not made a formal assessment of the number of additional parks required by 2033 to maintain current provision per head.

MHCLG is supporting the creation of green and recreational spaces through the planning system. Planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the need for open space, sport and recreation facilities (including quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses) and opportunities for new provision. Information gained from the assessments should be used to determine what open space, sport and recreational provision is needed, which plans should then seek to accommodate.

MHCLG works with the parks sector through the Parks Working Group, bringing together national and local partners to develop practical solutions to improve the quality, sustainability and accessibility of parks and green spaces. The government also supports provision of parks through the Green Flag Award, which sets the national standard and has transformed thousands of parks across the country.

In 2023, Natural England published the Green Infrastructure Framework, a tool to help towns and cities turn greener. The Framework is aimed at planners and developers and intends to increase the amount of green cover to 40% in urban residential areas.

Furthermore, the government believes that a new generation of new towns is essential to address England’s structural housing crisis, unlock economic growth and increase access to green space. Final decisions on New Towns locations will be taken once consultation responses have been considered and all necessary environmental assessments are complete, informed by the Taskforce’s advice on infrastructure, public services and green space required to create well-connected and sustainable towns.