London green space toolkit to unlock planning blocks for communities

Planning Aid for London and Ramboll launch community gardens toolkit

A new toolkit for London’s green spaces designed to help communities navigate the difficulties of the planning system has been launched today by Ramboll and Planning Aid for London, the free planning advice service.

The Mayor of London’s green infrastructure strategy aims to create green spaces that are accessible within a 10-minute walk from every Londoner’s home. Despite public green space making up 20% of the capital, London’s Green Space Index score still falls below the minimum standard, with over 170,000 people not having access to a green space within a 10-minute walk of their home.

The Community-led Green Space Toolkit provides advice for communities and individuals on how to design green, sustainable and vibrant spaces for all to enjoy. It will empower local communities with the information they need to transform urban areas by providing guidance on planning applications and legal requirements, how to design a community-led green space, and a checklist of key actions and case studies.

Planning regulations can often be difficult to navigate, particularly for disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The guide will help communities create high-quality, long-term spaces which reflect their needs and are inclusive for all.

Being part of creating and maintaining a local green space can support communities to be more resilient and create a sense of local stewardship. Yet the planning system can be difficult to navigate, especially for our most disadvantaged communities, who are often time poor and for whom English is not a first language. If we want to create an equitable city, we need to ensure everyone can take part in the planning system and we hope this toolkit goes someway to achieving that.

Rebecca Dillon-Robinson

Principal Urban Planner

“Furthermore, the toolkit offers insights to visioning, designing and biodiversity. By bringing this thinking into the planning at the beginning, the value of these spaces can be maximised and can contribute to tackling the climate and biodiversity crisis and support climate resilience”.

The toolkit has been designed in collaboration with community garden groups across the city, drawing on the expertise of Ramboll’s regenerative cities experts, landscape and ecology consultants and digital designers, alongside Planning Aid for London’s town planners and legal experts. Ramboll’s pro bono expertise has been funded by its Making a Difference network, which enables employees to use their skills on charitable projects that have a positive impact on society.

It was great to collaborate with Ramboll on this project. We know that access to green spaces is important for good health and wellbeing and yet many underserved communities in London do not have adequate access to them. We hope that this toolkit will serve as an important tool for those groups to create and maintain green spaces in their neighbourhoods.

Denean Rowe

Project Manager, Planning Aid for London

Are you planning a community-led green space?

Download the guide from Planning Aid for London

About Planning Aid London

Planning Aid for London is a registered charity founded in 1973 by Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) and members of the RTPI. With the help of volunteer planners, architects, urban designers and other built environment professionals, we provide free advice and training so that Londoners from underserved communities can participate meaningfully in the planning process and make a difference in their local neighbourhoods.

Find out more about Planning Aid for London on planningaidforlondon.org.uk.

Want to know more?

Rebecca Dillon-Robinson
Senior Urban Designer
+44 7971 877062