PARTNERSHIP-BASED POLICIES AND PLANS FOR OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENT OF CASE STUDIES IN POST-INDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPES

Abstract

Post-industrial landscapes have been transformed through environmental regeneration, creating open spaces with public access. To maintain quality over the long term, working partnerships that include voluntary, community, public and private organizations will be necessary. This paper uses literature reviews and interviews to examine policies and plans for open space management through community forestry activities in the post-industrial landscapes of St Helens in the UK, where the borough council has been updating masterplans for green infrastructure. Two action plan case studies and one involving the strategic sites included in the masterplans for green infrastructure in St Helens are featured. Findings suggest that policies and updated plans can be tools for ensuring proper standards for open spaces in restored post-industrial landscapes that will be well-used by the community. However, this needs to be done in tandem with partnerships working towards long-term management by securing sufficient resources to maintain the open spaces.