Page 20 - Ickford Neighbourhood Plan

20 VISION FOR ICKFORD : ICKFORD NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN : 2019 – 2033

Open Spaces
6.23.
6.23.
6.23.
6.23.
6.23. Ickford has a number of green spaces, both privately and publically owned,
which play a role in the general character of the village as well as benefiting the
general populace. One of the key qualities of the village environs is how a number of
these green spaces are linked by footpaths enabling a circumnavigation of the village
away from the built frontages. This pedestrian connectivity is an asset which could be
enhanced.

6.24. The key open spaces are the Churchyard, the well-used open setting of
6.24.
6.24.
6.24.
6.24.
the recreation ground (which provides a green lung in the centre of the village), and
the village pond (which plays a fundamental role in creating the setting to the listed
buildings in Little Ickford.)
6.25. Incidental open spaces which add to the character of the village are the
6.25.
6.25.
6.25.
6.25.
areas of open verge. These are particularly noticeable at the corner of Church and
Sheldon Road, where the verge runs north to the junction with Golders Close. Along
Sheldon Road a wide verge is located to the frontages of the houses to the north from
Field Close up towards Little Ickford. The lack of boundary treatments to front gardens
adds to the sense of openness in this locality.

6.26.
6.26.
6.26.
6.26. A further key green space is the field to the rear of Sheldon House. Whilst
6.26.
this lies outside the settlement boundary, it nonetheless forms a continuation of the
green space of the recreation ground, allotments and linking corridor to the end of
Turnfields. The footpath that runs through the field is an important link between the
built-up area and fields adjacent to Little Ickford.
6.27.
6.27. Two private open spaces also play a key role in the village. The hayfield to
6.27.
6.27.
6.27.
the south of the village shop and the smaller fields at the rear of Sheldon Road are
important gaps, which help to delineate the historic cores of the original medieval
settlement areas. Development over time along the roadsides has joined up the
previously distinct areas. The spatial qualities of these gaps are fundamental to the
rural character of the village, and its historical linear layout. Both the hayfield and the
Bridge Road-Little Ickford field have footpaths crossing them and they play a key role
in bringing the rural surroundings into the heart of the village. The hayfield is of
particular importance due to the shallow plot depths on this part of Sheldon Road,
which borrow the view and a sense of openness from the adjacent field.

Local Green Space

6.28.
6.28.
6.28.
6.28. Local Green Space is a very important designation which will protect
6.28.
areas of land which are much valued by the community and make a contribution to
the character of the village in various ways. In the NPPF it is stated that in
Neighbourhood Plans, local communities can identify green areas of particular
importance to them for special protection and to rule out new development, other
than in “very special circumstances”. The proposed designations are in accordance
with the requirement in Paragraph 100 of the NPPF:

• The green space is in reasonably close proximity to the community it
serves;

VISION FOR ICKFORD – NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN
www.visionforickford.co.uk