James Brokenshire, secretary of state for communities, has announced £13 million of funding for green spaces. This will include £9.7 million for day-to-day maintenance and creation of new spaces, alongside £2.7 million for the Pocket Parks Plus programme.
The Government will also provide a further £1.2 million to the National Trust and The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Future Parks Accelerator Initiative.
Brokenshire said: “Our parks and green spaces are huge assets to our towns and cities, offering precious spaces for all of us to get together, to exercise and to play.”
He added: “The future of our nation’s parks is an issue close to all our hearts and we will do all we can to preserve these vital green lungs that breathe life into our communities.”
The National Federation of Builders (NFB) welcomes the new funding because of the positive impact that green spaces have on communities, development and place-making.
Developers are increasingly delivering their own open spaces and therefore praise efforts to place green spaces at the heart of communities.
Communities need to see investment in green spaces and housing and it is constructive when one supports the other.
Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “New and well maintained open spaces can encourage development by reassuring local people that new homes do not mean a loss of quality green and open space.
“Strategic green spaces are at the heart of our communities and we welcome every effort to make sure they remain there.
