Agenda item

The Director of Neighbourhood Services provided the Members with a detailed update in respect of the Belfast Open Spaces Strategy (BOSS) and the proposed approach to implement the strategy through the development of Delivery Plans.

            He reminded the Members that the new BOSS was an update of the previous Open Spaces Strategy – ‘Your City, Your Space’ which had been completed in 2005.  The Council had appointed AECOM to help prepare a new BOSS for the council area.  The BOSS, including the data collected during its preparation, had formed part of the evidence base for the Local Development Plan (LDP).  A public consultation had been carried out on the draft BOSS from June -September 2019, with an update and proposed amendments having been presented to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee in March 2020.  As a result of the pandemic there had been a delay in finalising the publication of the BOSS.

            The Members noted that the vision of the BOSS was that by 2035 ‘Belfast will have a well-connected, accessible network of high quality, sustainable open spaces recognised for the value and benefits they provide to everyone who lives, works in and visits our city.’

            The strategy outlined seven guiding strategic principles (SP), to ensure the council’s existing and new open spaces were fit for the future.

·        SP1. Provide welcoming shared spaces

·        SP2. Improve connectivity

·        SP3. Improve health and wellbeing

·        SP4. Support place-making and enhance the built environment

·        SP5. Increase resilience to climate change

·        SP6. Protect and enhance the natural environment

·        SP7. Be celebrated and support learning

            The Director advised that the strategy had identified a range of opportunities and headline actions aligned to the seven strategic principles above. These actions were currently underway or planned for the council’s open space network across the city in the next five years.  He detailed that over the coming months, officers from the CNS Department would work collaboratively with colleagues across the council to develop more focused thematic and geographically based (N, S, E, W and city wide) open space delivery plans. This work would include a review of the progress to date on the headline actions currently in the BOSS and the development of smart outcomes-based proposals for future actions.

           Several Members welcomed and noted the importance of open spaces, stating that this had been particularly highlighted during the pandemic.  During discussion the importance of improving connectivity through connecting spaces (greenways), sustainable transport and accessible travel and linking this work with the Belfast Access Strategy and aligning it with the work of the Physical Programmes section was highlighted. 

           The Director of Neighbourhood Services referred to localised delivery plans and advised that it was anticipated that much of the work to develop these plans would be progressed through the Area Working Groups.

            The Members of the Committee noted the final version of the Belfast Open Spaces Strategy and the proposed approach and next steps in implementing the strategy through the development of smart outcomes-based delivery plans.