GreenFields Recreation Ground and Parks

12/08/2026

There is a Review of Legislative Protections of Public Recreational Green Spaces created by
Dr Benjamin Cordwell
Senior Policy Advisor – Parks and Green Spaces
Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government It is for individuals or groups who are active in support of campaigning for green and recreational spaces If you have experience of managing, using, advising on, protecting, planning for or developing these spaces, we would welcome your views and evidence. Response to Recent proposed changes to both the Infrastructure Bill and the Devolution Bill https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=EGg0v32c3kOociSi7zmVqGVTI5OaQ2NLrzEo5P7Bja9UNzVKTkI2TkNPSENLQ1YzVUk4T1RUUTBJQS4u&route=shorturl

24/06/2026

The leader of Enfield Council has decided to withdraw the civic centre’s legal defence against a judicial review case brought by campaigners wanting to stop Tottenham Hotspur building on Whitewebbs Park.

Cllr Georgiou said: “Enfield’s new administration has pledged to protect Whitewebbs Park from unacceptable development and to ensure it remains accessible for local residents and communities to enjoy.

The case is the second judicial review brought by local campaigners against the council regarding the future of Whitewebbs - as it stands, the judicial review is still due to be held over two days next week at the High Court in central London, on Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th June 2026 – without any lawyer representing the council.

Planning committee members were “misled” on the issue of biodiversity and that some council policies were also “misinterpreted” in a report presented to councillors. Tottenham Hotspur football club plan to build on the Park.

Local campaigners have brought a judicial review against the decision to grant planning permission to Tottenham Hotspur for a new training centre

29/04/2026

Architects and consultants are developing a conservation management plan for the famous town centre park.

A trio of property firms in Shrewsbury has been appointed to develop a management plan for the town's famous Quarry park.

Architecture practices Camlins and BCHN have joined forces with consultancy Berrys to create the conservation management plan.

https://www.shropshirestar.com/business/future-of-shrewsburys-famous-quarry-under-spotlight-as-local-team-appointed-7982859?fbclid=IwY2xjawRer_FleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeXSxdZt8m-vynaD0m2z0lw6iJy1zPMydlFJDeICmap6R1robz6Lfbs__oBHk_aem_DwcHvTkTyfEY9cBERbhUug

Architects and consultants are developing a conservation management plan for the famous town centre park.

17/04/2026

CPRE London is calling for:
1. A change to the law to place strong conditions on the sale and lease of public parks to safeguard our open space for generations to come
2. A change to the law to place spatial and temporal limits on the commercial use of public parks to ensure that public access is protected, along with the physical fabric of the park and the biodiversity it support
3. The introduction of rent controls to enable long-term leases at realistic rents for sports club leaseholders; and
4. The removal of the requirement to pay
‘hope value’ when a green site is bought by or on behalf of the community; plus a programme of compulsory purchase of out-of-use or derelict pitches, particularly in areas lacking access to facilities.

13/04/2026

Shrewsbury residents invited to have an input on the future of Quarry Park and develop a strategy for its future - Thursday 30 April from 7pm at The Guildhall: The Annual Town Meeting is open to all residents across Shrewsbury’s 17 wards. Whether you want to learn more about what’s happening locally, ask questions, or directly influence decisions about The Quarry and wider town priorities, this is your opportunity to get involved.
https://www.shrewsburytowncouncil.gov.uk/shrewsbury-residents-invited-to-help-shape-the-future-of-the-quarry-at-annual-town-meeting/?fbclid=IwY2xjawRJ-pdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBOSG9QdHFEOTczMGRzVWNwc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHoIMzpg0jCOkdGkwph3YV2PaUrhWOzYvJmxz2yk2IL9h-vTw54JRkaJAhSlr_aem_XJynrAOWvYGoND-c5jHpRA

31/03/2026

A number of amendments to Bills are or have been proposed to change the law on how recreation grounds and parks are held in trust. The most recent amendments proposed in the House of Lords Asan amendment to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill:

OPEN SPACES SOCIETY

NEWS RELEASE

GOVERNMENT DRAGS FEET ON GREEN-SPACE REVIEW

‘A review of the laws protecting vital green spaces is urgently needed, yet despite a government promise last November to undertake this, nothing has happened’, says the Open Spaces Society(1).

Meanwhile, the government has undermined its own promise by supporting an amendment (248) to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, due to be debated in the House of Lords on 13 April.

The amendment, tabled by Lords Banner (Conservative) and Grabiner (crossbench), spells out a procedure whereby local authorities, which have failed to follow the rules for disposal of open space under section 123(2A) of the Local Government Act 1972(2), can recover the situation. Bizarrely, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, parliamentary under-secretary of state for housing and local government, has added her name to it.

The Open Spaces Society is deeply concerned about the amendment, the content of which, it avers, should form part of the review and not pre-empt it.

Says Helen Monger, case officer for the society: ‘We are opposed to this amendment because it is both premature and flawed. It could have a wide-ranging effect on green spaces throughout England, enabling them to be made subject to disposal and development.

28/03/2026

Positive Park News: A bid to buy the 220-acre Old Park estate on the outskirts of Canterbury from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has been launched by Canterbury City Council today (Friday 27 March).
https://news.canterbury.gov.uk/news/bid-to-buy-green-jewel-in-citys-crown-launched/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQ1JkRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFzbHkyYzdPZGNTcmF2S1JNc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHh7NiX0tLEv42r0ZXJFEalIA58DfeXIq-CUHXf2KHLJSF3RwlbgeIr059NE7_aem_zrru0FnAf5NsO1d31KIQmw

A bid to buy the 220-acre Old Park estate on the outskirts of Canterbury from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has been launched by Canterbury City Council today (Friday 27 March).