The Land Trust acquires new sites to protect and enhance valuable community green space across the UK

1st June 2017

National land management charity, the Land Trust is delighted to announce the acquisition of new public open spaces in Warrington, Cheshire; Ketley, Telford and has confirmed contracts to manage the substantial green space around new housing developments at Waverley, South Yorkshire and New Lubbesthorpe, Leicestershire.

Spanning over 16 hectares, the green space at Ketley is an area enhanced as part of Telford Millennium Community which includes a stream, grassland, woodland and a network of paths to explore. Acquisition by the Land Trust means that this site next to the new residential development will continue to remain as public open space with long term management and funding plans in place.

The Omega Greenheart has been added to the extensive portfolio of public open space that the charity already manages in Warrington. The 22 hectare site, in the centre and edges of the new Omega development to the south of the M62, will initially continue to be used by the developers, but over the next three years will be remodelled to create a new park, providing valuable green space to local residents and workers alike.

Both sites were transferred to the Land Trust at the end of March 2017 with funds from the Homes and Communities Agency enabling them to be managed sustainably for long term community benefit by enhancing the environmental, health and community opportunities.

Additionally, at the end of March, the charity signed agreements with Harworth Group Plc and Drummond Estates to manage the greenspaces around new residential developments at Waverley in Rotherham – Yorkshire’s largest ever brownfield redevelopment that includes 350 acres of public open space and New Lubbesthorpe a completely new community west of Leicester which includes 75 acres of woodland and 250 acres of public open space and parkland.

The charity’s approach to managing greenspace and creating communities around new residential developments was recognised earlier this month at the Property Week Resi Awards where the Land Trust won the Newcomer of the Year Award for its residential service charge subsidiary.

Euan Hall, Chief Executive of the Land Trust, said: “These transfers contribute enormously to the provision of sustainably managed green space around communities across the UK. The range of sites transferred in March show the diversity of sites that the Land Trust can manage. From established sites that require a long term funding and maintenance plan, to site creation and to the management and integration of our vital green spaces around our new homes and communities”

He added “As a charity the Land Trust is more than just a contractor who comes in and cuts the grass. We help landowners develop sustainable funding solutions for greenspace and work with local people to deliver the long term management of sites, helping to unlock the site’s vast potential for the benefit of the community; enhancing health and wellbeing; environment and biodiversity and economic and social value.”

The Land Trust’s long term vision is to improve the quality of people’s lives by creating, improving and maintaining sustainable, high quality green spaces that deliver environmental, social and economic benefits. To find out more about the work of the Land Trust, visit www.thelandtrust.org.uk


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