Open Space SPD
Implementing the SPD - Advice to developers
5.1 To ensure compliance with this SPD, the Council would encourage all applicants to enter into pre- application discussions to confirm that a contribution is required and that the appropriate amount and type of contribution is acceptable. This will involve joint discussions with officers of both the Planning and Cultural Services department. Appendix D of this document (Applying the Standards / Developer Guidance) outlines key considerations that will have to be addressed in the formulation of any development project.
5.2 It is important that discussions regarding open space requirements take place at an early stage in the formulation of any development proposal. This is fundamental as the outcomes will be critical in determining the ultimate form and acceptability of a particular project.
5.3 Historically, many planning applications have been approved subject to conditions requiring the finalisation of the precise details of open space, location of play areas, requirements etc either through details submitted at a later date, or via legal agreements. In order to promote successful design outcomes, the Council will now be reluctant to determine applications that at the outset do not have the benefit of providing sufficiently detailed arrangements in relation to open space matters.
5.4 As part of any design and access statement submitted in support of a planning application, applicants will be required to submit appropriate details of the intended open space contribution in order to demonstrate how they intend to address the requirements of this SPD. In accordance with the guidance set out in this SPD, design and access statements should stipulate the detailed arrangements for open space in terms of any intended on-site open space contribution; and the specific size, location, layout and intended typology should be apparent. It is important that the details of any pre-application discussions with the Council that may have assisted the assignation of open space (or any alternative commuted/off-site financial contribution) should also be included.
5.5 It is intended that this SPD will be implemented through the development control process, and contributions to open space will be secured by planning conditions or legal agreements. The impact of the policy on open space provision will be monitored through annual revisions of the audit provision table (see appendix C) which will feed into the Council's Annual Monitoring Report.
5.6 The Council will be publishing additional guidance on 'open space costings', in relation to the costs of implementing certain types of open space / play areas. It should be noted that this information will be produced by the Cultural Services department and be updated on a regular basis. This will complement the SPD by providing up to date information on costs in relation to the provision of various types of open space contributions.
