Community facilities, infrastructure and assets of community value

SE4: Community facilities, infrastructure and assets of community value 1. The council will refuse proposals for the change of use of community buildings and facilities for which there is a demonstrable local need. To allow the change of use of a community building, a developer will be required to prove that the loss resulting from the proposed development would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location. 2. In considering applications for alternative development or uses, the council will consider the viability of the existing use, that the site/use must have been marketed for a minimum period of 12 months at a price commensurate with its use together with proof there has been no viable interest, the presence of alternative local facilities and the community benefits of the proposed use. 3. Where the proposal involves the loss of a public house, local amenity centre or community-serving employment use, it must be demonstrated that the loss is not a result of short-term land value pressures or redevelopment opportunities, and that the use is genuinely no longer viable or needed to serve the local community. 4. Where permission includes converting the use of a building, conditions will be imposed to ensure later resumption of a community use is not excluded. 5. In considering applications for residential development, the council will consider the need for new community facilities and community infrastructure arising from the proposal. Conditions will be imposed on permissions, or planning obligations sought to secure appropriate community facilities, or financial contributions towards community facilities, reasonably related to the scale and kind of development proposed. 6. A financial contribution will be required subject to compliance with the CIL Regulations to provide or enhance community facilities or community infrastructure on developments of more than 10 homes. 7.469 The National Planning Policy Framework (2024) promotes healthy inclusive communities where residents have opportunities to meet through safe and accessible environments. Community facilities and services include public halls, schools, local shops, post offices, areas of off-street public car parking, public houses, places of worship, libraries, museums, community centres, theatres, arts centres, crèches, day centres and doctor’s surgeries. (see further information below in relation to doctors’ surgeries). They make a vital contribution to the social and economic life of the community, particularly in rural areas, and are especially important for elderly and disabled people and for those who do not have easy access to private or public transport. 7.470 The council therefore generally aims to resist proposals that would result in the erosion of the valuable community facilities and services, unless it can be clearly demonstrated that there is no long-term requirement for their retention. In the case of a proposal affecting a commercial venture which operates as a community facility, it is important that the existing use is no longer commercially viable and to prove that a genuine attempt has been made to market the enterprise as a going concern. 7.471 Doctors' surgeries are an important community facility, however for the purposes of the Local plan for Buckinghamshire they are covered by the infrastructure policy. This is because doctor's surgeries are unique in that the surgeries are run by independent General Practitioners (GP’s) but funded by the NHS. The provision of a new doctor's surgery therefore needs to meet the NHS criteria and have a set of GPs willing to run the facility. As such provision of a new doctor's surgery is controlled by factors outside normal planning powers and will involve negotiation with the infrastructure provider the NHS. 7.472 Similarly, new development, depending on its scale, creates an additional need for community facilities and community infrastructure. This may be new provision or enhancement/maintenance of existing provision. The type of facilities and infrastructure needed depends on existing infrastructure facilities in the locality, and the type of development proposed. 7.473 An asset of community value (ACV) is land or property of importance to a local community which is subject to additional protection from development under the Localism Act 2011. Voluntary and community organisations can nominate an asset to be included on their local authority's register of assets of community value. ACV status is a material consideration when dealing with planning applications that affect an asset.