Open Space SPD
Context/Policy Background
2.1 This SPD is underpinned by a range of national, regional and local policy documents and strategies.
2.2 Planning Policy Guidance Note 17 (Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation) was issued in July 2002. It sets out the role of the planning system in assessing opportunities and needs for sport and recreation provision and safeguarding open space which has recreational value.
2.3 This guidance states that it is part of the function of the planning system to ensure that through the preparation of development plans adequate land is allocated for informal recreation and opportunities for organised sport.
2.4 It states that local planning authorities should take account of the community's need for recreational space, having regard to current levels of provision and deficiencies and resisting pressures for development of open space which conflict with the wider public interest.
2.5 PPG17 moves away from the approach taken in its predecessor which set a broad standard (the six acre standard) for the provision of open space. This guidance requires that open space standards are set according to local needs. To inform these standards local authorities are required to carry out 'robust assessments of the existing and future needs of their communities for open space, sports and recreational facilities'. These standards should be used to determine the level of provision which will be required from development proposals.
2.6 The West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) was adopted in 2004 and forms part of the development plan. A review of the RSS is currently being undertaken and the preferred options version was published in December 2007. This document contains policies that aim to achieve balanced sustainable communities throughout the region. In particular, policy QE4: Greenery, Urban Greenspace and Public Space requires authorities to undertake local assessments of need and audits of provision necessary to develop appropriate strategies and policy to ensure the provision of accessible, high quality urban greenspace.
2.7 The Warwick District Local Plan was adopted in September 2007 and forms part of the Development Plan. It includes a suite of 'parent' policies which provide the framework for this SPD.
2.8 Policy SC5 Protecting Open Spaces and policy SC6 Protecting Sport and Recreational Facilities provide a policy framework necessary to ensure the broad protection of the District's open space and recreational assets. In addition, policy SC13 Open Space and Recreational Improvements provides a framework to ensure that new residential and commercial development provide open space to meet future needs. Policy SC13 is set out in full in Appendix A. The supporting text to this policy recognised the need to expand upon the policy requirements and the Council's intention to produce a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) in due course.
2.9 The Warwick District Sustainable Community Strategy contains a number of strategic aims relevant to the provision of open space. These include aims related to a healthy community and providing opportunities for everyone to enjoy and participate in sport and enjoy a healthy lifestyle.
2.10 The proposed SPD is in accordance with the aims of the Council's Corporate Strategy in that the protection of existing open space and the provision of new / improved open space through new development will enable help to deliver healthy, sustainable local communities. It is intended that good access to open space will afford the District's current and future population the ability to enjoy increased opportunities for leisure and recreation.
Government Circular 05/2005: Planning Obligations clarifies how planning obligations should be assessed, and gives further guidance on the processes of securing obligations. Planning obligations are sought only where they are:
- relevant to planning;
- necessary to make the proposed development acceptable in planning terms;
- directly related to the proposed development;
- fairly and reasonably related in scale and kind to the proposed development; and
- reasonable in all other respects
2.12 In relation to open space provision, the Circular gives particular advice concerning maintenance payments. Where a facility is to be provided predominantly for the benefit of users of the associated development, it may be appropriate for the developer to make provision for payment in perpetuity. If the asset is intended for the wider community however, then the on-going costs should normally be borne by the organisation in which the facility is to be vested. Maintenance payments may be sought for initial support, reflecting the time lag between the provision of the facility and its receipt of public sector funding.