Redhill Green - Play Area and Breathing Space for All

 

 

 

 

Redhill Green is a treasured pocket park, play area and green, accessible space in a busy, built up area of Hereford on the Ross Road. It is a breathing space for all. It is enjoyed by members of the local community, both children and adults, and provides a peaceful sanctuary in nature away from the busy A49 (Ross Road, Hereford, HR2 7RL, United Kingdom). 

A current planning application seeks to lock the site, and  convert the entire site to allotments leaving no accessible space for play or the wider local community.

We recognise that there is under provision for individual growers in Hereford,  however we are concerned that this proposal would close a valued area of public open space. This is why we are proposing multi-functional use of the space,  to incorporate allotments,  but also to preserve public open space and play space.

Play England have formally objected to the proposed loss of this valued play area.

We aim to protect a play area and public open space incorporating community orchard, natural play area and allotments.

To help save Redhill Green Play Space there are three great things you can do:

1.Sign and share this petition.
2.Object to planning application  P243167/F on Herefordshire Council's planning website. 
3.Complete our survey about what you would like to see at the Play Area.

Responses from all age groups welcome and responses from Children and Teenagers will be very important and valued.                                                                                                            

While a certificate of lawfulness (planning ref P241928/V) has been approved for allotment use, in accordance with planning legislation the existing use of the site remains as public open space as no change of use has been granted by the Local Planning Authority.

 Open Spaces Planning Officer, July 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

The site is a play area and accessible to all. It is enjoyed daily and is valued by both children and adults. The space has been an accessible  space and a play area for decades. Local adults remember playing there as children. The park is situated next to The Child Development Centre in a busy, built up part of  Hereford, it offers a place to play for local children and for children attending appointments at the centre. The park is valued by members of the local community, children and adults, including staff at The Child Development Centre and Children's Community Nurses base, for physical and mental health and well-being.

 

 

 

 

Friends of Redhill Green are a community group; we are in favour of preserving a significant part of the site as a protected, accessible space for the wider local community. We aim to promote multi-functional use of the site, for example incorporating a community orchard, a natural play area and allotments. We would also like to see the area improved for biodiversity. We are seeking to protect the site as a green, accessible space for the local community now and into the future.

 

 

 

 

Photo credits LDRS

Concerns have also been raised about the proposed traffic along the access track, which is a narrow track next to the entrance to The Child Development Centre, and this traffic entering and exiting the track from the A49.

The Importance of Play

Play is fundamental for children’s healthy development and well being; outdoor play is associated with particular benefits. These include access to fresh air, opportunities for social and physical development and improvements to overall health and mental well-being. Through play children develop social, physical and cognitive skills,  creativity,  cultural awareness and resilience.  They learn to manage and benefit from risks, make decisions and develop their identities. Play is essential for happy, healthy,  capable and resilient children. 

Play is so important that it has been recognised as a human right. The United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)declared that the right to play was a critical human right -Article 31 (leisure, play and culture) states; 

"Every child has the right to relax, play and take part in a wide range of cultural and artistic activities."

The following information is from the  Play England website:

A 2023 report [Trends in Children’s Street Play]…shows how children regularly playing out … has declined dramatically over the past 70+ years. Importantly it also demonstrates that regularly playing out is associated with better wellbeing during childhood, as well as better mental health into adulthood. The survey results show that children want to spend more time in the area where they live, and that the proportion of children saying this has increased significantly since the 2013 survey was conducted.

Overall, the report presents a dire picture of declining outdoor play close to home and a society where parents are made to worry about their children making noise outside in case it upsets the neighbours. Children want to spend more time in their local area but are frequently being given the message that they, and their play, are not welcome.

"Playgrounds aren’t just ‘nice-to have’ – they are essential for children’s wellbeing and healthy development” 

(PlayNation Magazine,15th April 2025, interview with Tom Hayes MP)

 

 

 

 

Planning History

The site is owned and managed by a housing association, Connexus. In summer 2023 an allotment group, Hereford Allotment and Leisure Gardeners, (HALGS), submitted a planning application for change of use from a Play Area to allotments. The application was opposed by members of the local community, Hereford City Council, Herefordshire Council's Open Spaces Planning Officer and National Highways. The planning application was then withdrawn.

Allotment plans withdrawn after criticism (Hereford Times)

Then in July 2024, despite these objections, the allotment group applied for a  Certificate of Lawful Development for allotments at the site. The Certificate of Lawful Development was approved by Herefordshire Council. However, with agreement from the relevant parties (Connexus and HALGS), there is still potential to develop the site for multi-functional use, including accessible areas for the wider local community and protected areas for play, rather than the entire site being developed as allotments and locked.

Throughout this process members of Friends of Redhill Green have sought to engage in negotiation with all relevant parties, including Connexus, HALGS, Hereford City Council (who provide funding for the allotment association), and local councillors. We have sought to propose  preserving part of the site as an accessible green space for the wider local community. Despite great efforts to encourage positive communication and negotiation, the current planning application is for the entire site become allotments and for the site to be locked at the boundary. The proposals leave no area of the site available for play and freely accessible for the wider local community.

This is why we are now  launching a petition to oppose the current planning application, with the aim to protect a part of the site for the wider local community.

Protection for Play spaces

Following sustained lobbying by Play England and others, formal play spaces now have new protection under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)  as of December 2024. Play England manifesto win NPPF protection for formal play spaces

The amendment appears under Section 8: Promoting Healthy and Safe Communities, specifically in Paragraph 104 (formerly Paragraph 103 in the December 2023 NPPF). This revision underscores the Government’s growing recognition of the importance of protecting, enhancing and providing spaces to play.

The new NPPF wording specifically states that existing open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields and formal play spaces, should not be built on unless certain strict criteria are met. This includes ensuring that the space is clearly surplus to requirements. This play area is recognised by Herefordshire Council as not surplus to requirements. 

Now is the time to act

The  new deadline for online comments on the planning application is 29th January 2026. Comments and representations can continue to be made after this date and until the application is determined. The planning officers will be reviewing all comments and representations over the coming few weeks.

Let's respectfully communicate our message to the planning team at Herefordshire Council, that we believe multi-functional use of this space, preserving areas for play, public open space and incorporating allotments, would be the most beneficial solution for everyone.

We respectfully urge Herefordshire Council to take heed of Play England's advice to refuse this planning application.

Let's respectfully communicate to Herefordshire Council planning team that there are many of us who believe that this Play Area and Public Open Space should be protected, preserved and improved for the benefit of the wider local community and for nature.

Please support this campaign by signing this petition and help us spread the word.

Help to save this treasured play area and pocket park for everyone, both now and into the future. 

Thank you so much for your support.

Friends of Redhill Green

Thank you

 

 

 

Thriving Community Orchard and Wildflower Meadow, next to fenced allotments, Upton Bishop, Herefordshire