Recreational space

For the purpose of the Home Quality Mark (HQM) public recreational spaces can include the following where they over 1 hectare in size and are within 1km of the home via a safe pedestrian route:

1. Green park spaces - an area of grass, trees, or other vegetation set apart for recreational or aesthetic purposes and that is publicly owned and allows public access during the hours of daylight.
2. Woodland.
3. Nature reserves, or Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

OR The following where they are within 650m of the home:

1. Play park.
2. Sports fields.
3. Tennis courts. Ref Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment. 2009. Open space strategies: Best practice guidance. 2009.

NB Safe pedestrian routes are pedestrian routes on a development site which are within the control of a developer, that are deemed to be safe and accessible for pedestrian users (including people with disabilities, the elderly and children). For more information see: Safe pedestrian routes.

Ref Home Quality Mark One, Technical Manual SD239, England, Scotland & Wales, published by BRE in 2018.

--BRE Group

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Ancient woodland.
• Allotment.
• BRE articles.
• Building Research Establishment.
• Garden
• Green roof.
• Growing space.
• Home quality mark.
• Landscape.
• National park.
• Nature reserve.
• Planting.
• Recreational land.
• Safe pedestrian route.
• Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
• Types of land.