Design and accessibility of public open space

All public open space should be accessible, suitably located, proportioned and planted, providing a focal point to the development, and offering varied, useable and attractive areas. Consideration should be given to minimal areas of shading within open spaces through appropriate landscape design interventions designed to provide exterior shelter, and existing mature trees and hedgerows should be retained, where possible. In instances where removal is necessary, there will be a requirement for compensatory planting. Where possible to achieve, opportunities to connect to strategic open space should also be intrinsic to the development, with the potential to create and enhance safe movement corridors. The space should be integral to the development and not simply formed of leftover parcels of land.