Brownfields open space initiative in the UK

[Bob Hersh <bhersh@cpeo.org>]

_From the Guardian Newspaper, UK

Derelict land to be transformed

Tuesday April 6, 2004

Thousands of acres of wasteland are to be turned into "open green
spaces" over the next 10 years, the government announced today.

The deputy prime minister, John Prescott, has launched the Land
Restoration Trust - "a new venture aimed at tackling enduring
dereliction across England and transforming eyesores into valuable
community assets".

The trust aims to expand its portfolio to 25,000 acres in the next 10
years, restoring and maintaining brownfield land.

Mr Prescott said: "A successful, sustainable community has to be about
more than just housing. It needs the right mix of ingredients to make it
a desirable place where people choose to live and work.

"And that is why the creation of the Land Restoration Trust is so
important. By transforming swathes of neglected brownfield land into
open green spaces for the community to enjoy, the trust will help to
improve not only the local environment but people's quality of life.

"I hope to see the Land Restoration Trust helping communities across the
country - from the former coal mining areas to the creation of new
sustainable communities in the Thames Gateway."

The trust is a partnership between the Forestry Commission; the
Environment Agency; English Partnerships,the national regeneration
agency and Groundwork, a federation of environment trusts that work in
deprived areas, which aims to transform derelict, neglected or
under-used brownfield land into accessible, open green spaces during its
three-year pilot phase.

The first three sites transferring to the trust from the English
Partnerships' national coalfields programme are Monkton in the
north-east plus Bentley and Hickleton, both in Yorkshire.

Euan Hall, the chief executive of the Land Restoration Trust, said: "We
are now well aware how much of an impact derelict land can have on a
community in both social and economic terms.

"Pieces of wasteland can have adverse effects on health and morale, and
can be a common environment for crime. The Land Restoration Trust will
tackle these issues head on by restoring under-used land for community
benefit, improving quality of life and community interaction."

He said each site would be unique and required a different approach, but
could include creation of woodlands, wetlands, skateboard parks or
nature trails - or in some cases managing community facilities or
ancient monuments.

A spokeswoman from Cabe Space, the parks and public spaces branch of
Cabe - the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, the
government's design watchdog, said they are "very supportive" of the
plans as people living near derelict wasteland are "very concerned -
they're keen to see it transformed".

The public have demonstrated an appetite for derelict land improvements
by their response to Cabe Space's Wasted Space? campaign'. "Cabe Space
will continue campaigning to help people improve their local
environment," she said.

"Parks and green spaces are as essential to our cities as roads and
sewers, breathing life into communities, bringing charm, beauty,
character, nature, and wildlife."




Bob Hersh
Brownfields Program Director
Center for Public Environmental Oversight (CPEO)
1101 Connecticut Ave., NW  Suite 1000
Washington, DC  20036

Tel:     202.452.8043
Fax:    202.452.8095
email:  bhersh@cpeo.org
url:      www.cpeo.org