GreenFields Recreation Ground and Parks

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).

20/03/2026

Wimbledon has received a major boost to its expansion plans. The All England Club’s proposals to almost triple the size of the current site are not prohibited by restrictions on how the land earmarked for development can be used, a high court judge has ruled.

Mr Justice Thompsell said the land was “never appropriated or dedicated to the use of public recreation” and instead “was used as a private golf club”, adding that the club was “unencumbered by any statutory trust”.

The All England Club wants 38 new courts and a new stadium but the campaign group Save Wimbledon Park said it will ‘fight on’

03/03/2026

Parks, Recreation Grounds and The government is consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

The government is consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The NPPF controls how councils make local plans, and how they make decisions. The government is suggesting changes which mean that no recreation ground in the country will be safe from development. The NPPF says: “Exi...

17/02/2026

There are a number of Bills that have either been in Parliament or are being tabled such as the English Devolution Bill that create material changes to the disposal of land held in statute - on the whole parks, recreation with public rights. Lord Banner is proposing such changes here. The Open Spaces Society are objecting and informing peers of the impacts.

26/01/2026

For those who campaigned and interested in the Greenfields Recreation Ground outcome 2023. Six days of High Court hearings concluded on Friday 23 January 2026 with some significant concessions around statutory trusts by AELTC (All England Tennis Club). The laws on statutory trusts were a key part of the Supreme Court outcome 2023:

First, AELTC (All England Tennis Club) admitted its proposed development “would breach” the restrictive covenants attached to the land. The tennis club argued this was a problem “for another day” – it would need to resolve the covenants through negotiation or by applying to the Lands Tribunal before commencing any development.

Second, the AELTC admitted that if the statutory trust is found to apply to the land, “it would preclude use of the Golf Course Land for the Project” – in other words, the expansion cannot proceed.

Both concessions were noted in court and may limit the AELTC’s ability to argue the development could somehow proceed even if a statutory trust is found to exist.

Judge openly discusses appeals as six-day Wimbledon Park trial concludes.

21/01/2026

Expansion plans for Shrewsbury's Attingham Park recommended for approval.

Shropshire councillors are advised to approve the plans for a new area of the Attingham estate.