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Challenges facing green space: is statute the answer?

Jill Dickinson (Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK)
Ellen Bennett (Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK)
James Marson (Law and Criminology, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK)

Journal of Place Management and Development

ISSN: 1753-8335

Article publication date: 4 March 2019

Issue publication date: 4 March 2019

351

Abstract

Purpose

Against a backdrop of austerity, characterised by public-sector funding cuts and a devolutionary agenda, this paper aims to explore how legislation might address two inter-related challenges which public urban green space (“greenspace) faces in England and Wales, namely, responsibility for provision and identification of supporting funds. It focuses on two proposals: first, the introduction of legislative powers to enable local authorities to create user-charging schemes, and second, the imposition of a local authority statutory duty to provide greenspace.

Design/methodology/approach

Adopting a traditional doctrinal approach, this exploratory study provides a synthesis and analysis of statutory materials.

Findings

While the study considers debates around user-charging schemes, it suggests that the imposition of a statutory duty to provide greenspace would provide a more equitable and effective solution.

Research limitations/implications

This paper calls for further research to establish the detail of such a statutory duty and how it might operate in practice.

Practical implications

There is an appetite amongst local authority stakeholders in England and Wales for such a statutory duty to better enable them to access the requisite underpinning funding.

Social implications

Imposing a statutory duty would help in protecting the well-established social, economic and environmental benefits associated with greenspace.

Originality/value

This multi-disciplinary research considers the inter-relationship between two key greenspace challenges: responsibility for provision and funding. It identifies and evaluates a potential model for imposing a greenspace statutory duty, which could address some of these issues.

Keywords

Citation

Dickinson, J., Bennett, E. and Marson, J. (2019), "Challenges facing green space: is statute the answer?", Journal of Place Management and Development, Vol. 12 No. 1, pp. 121-138. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMD-09-2017-0091

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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