Access to Public Open Space and Nature by Ward

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.

Also the proportion of homes located within public open space, and access to nature boundaries.

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).

The analysis of public open space is based on access to designated green/public open space and therefore excludes farmland, and other types of green space outside of the public open space category definitions within the London Plan.

These measures take no account of additional public rights of way, that can also give the same benefits as more formal open spaces.

Homes further away than the maximum recommended distance are considered to be deficient in access to that type of public open space (POS).

In 2015 the recommended distances for each type, are:

R - Regional Parks = 5km max

M - Metropolitan Parks = 2.4km max

D - District = 1.2km max

LSP - Local, Small and Pocket parks = 400 metres max.

For a definition of public open space types refer to the London Plan 2011, Table 7.2 http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/planning/londonplan

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.

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.

This measure takes no account of the quality or facilities at each open space.

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.

Residental addresses provided by Ordnance Survey.

Wards in the City of London have been merged to create one area in 2013.

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.

Visit the Greenspace Information for Greater London (GiGL) website here