Sport, leisure and recreation

SE5: Sport, leisure and recreation 1. The Council will support development proposals for new sport and recreation facilities that are accessible by walking, cycling, wheeling and, where available, public transport. Development will be permitted where it does not result in unacceptable impacts on: a) visual, noise or other impact on public amenity including safety b) the highway network c) on wildlife and habitats d) the historic environment e) flooding or drainage 2. New housing development of more than 10 units or which have a combined gross floorspace of more than 1,000 square metres (gross internal area) will be required to meet the Standards in Appendix P to secure adequate provision of sports and recreation facilities increased capacity to meet the additional demand for sports and recreation facilities arising from new residential development. Facilities are required to be provided on-site except where off-site provision is acceptable according to the circumstances in Appendix P. 3. Accessible natural green space will be treated separately to formal outdoor sports areas, equipped play facilities and allotment provision, which must be located within or outside such accessible natural green space, on land that is in addition to the accessible natural green space required. 4. Conditions will be imposed on permissions or planning obligations sought to secure appropriate sport and recreation facilities reasonably related to the scale and kind of housing proposed. The recreational benefits to be obtained or provided by the Council by virtue of the obligation will be directly relevant to the development permitted and the needs of its occupiers and fairly and reasonably related to its scale and kind. 5. Proposals involving the loss of existing sports and recreation facilities are required to meet any of the following: f. An assessment has been undertaken which has clearly shown the sports and recreation facilities are surplus to requirements; or g. The development will significantly enhance the Open Space network as a whole and help boost the Council’s Green Infrastructure. In some cases, enhancements could be provided at nearby locations off site; or h. The loss of sports and recreation facilities would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quality and quantity in a suitable location; or i. The developments is for other types of sports or recreational provision or ancillary development associated with the Open Space and the needs for which clearly outweigh the loss. 6. Sports and recreation facilities being provided must have a long-term management and maintenance strategy agreed by the Council that shall set out details of the owner, the responsible body and how the strategy can be implemented by contractors. 7.474 Participation in sport and recreation activities has many physical and health benefits while promoting community cohesion. Facilities that allow for this participation help deliver NHS initiatives around improving health and tackling obesity. Buckinghamshire has a wide range of sports and recreation facilities which provide for a variety of recreational sporting needs. There are important leisure centres in in the main towns Aqua Vale Swimming & Fitness Centre -Aylesbury, The Beacon Sports Centre - Beaconsfield, Chalfont Leisure Centre – Chalfont St Peter, Chesham Leisure Centre, - Chesham, Chilterns Lifestyle Centre –Amersham, Court Garden Leisure Complex – Marlow, Evreham Sports Centre – Iver, Little Marlow Athletics Track –Little Marlow, Risborough Springs Swim and Fitness Centre – Princes Risborough, Swan Pool & Leisure Centre – Buckingham, Wycombe Leisure Centre – High Wycombe, Wycombe Rye Lido Outdoor Swimming Pool – High Wycombe. 7.478 Stoke Mandeville receives global recognition as the birthplace of the Paralympic Games. Within Buckinghamshire there is also Silverstone racing circuit which has established itself as a premier motor sport venue. 7.479 The Sport, Leisure and Recreation policy applies to all types of sports and associated built facilities required for their operation or facilities of a more community nature where sports can take place within. This includes sports halls, swimming pools, community centres and village halls, artificial grass pitches (such as for football), grass playing pitches (such as for cricket), climbing walls, stadia and facilities for outdoor and indoor tennis, outdoor and indoor bowls, athletics, golf, health and fitness, squash and climbing walls. 7.480 Accessible natural green space does not need to be planned separately and can co-exist within a properly master planned approach for open space on a development site. However, sports and leisure facilities provided must be treated separately to accessible natural green space so these areas can function to ensure financial sustainability. Sports facilities are usually hired for a fee and may include built facilities such as a pavilion or club house. Access is usually limited, and sports facilities may be co-located or shared with a school, college, community hall or sports club or other facility. 7.481 Several bodies are responsible for delivering and managing sport and recreation facilities, including Buckinghamshire Council, town and parish councils, Sport England, developers, and private sports clubs and associations. Effective partnership working is required to maintain and enhance the provision in Buckinghamshire. 7.482 A large part of Buckinghamshire has a rural nature, which can mean that access to sport and recreation facilities can be difficult. However current provision across Buckinghamshire is generally sufficient. New housing developments are likely to create additional need for sport and recreation facilities. Buckinghamshire Indoor Leisure Facilities Strategy identifies the existing provision of indoor sports and recreation facilities and identifies deficiencies and opportunities for future provision. 7.483 The council is working on a Buckinghamshire Playing Pitch Strategy and other sports facilities studies. The work will look closely at the users of facilities and the existing facilities and set out whether the existing facilities are adequate or not, need replacing, or can be expanded. The Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS) will ensure a strategic approach to playing pitch provision. The PPS will act as a tool for Buckinghamshire Council and partner organisations to guide resource allocation and to set priorities for pitch sports in the future. The PPS will provide robust evidence for capital funding. As well as proving the need for developer contributions towards pitches and facilities, the PPS provides evidence of need for a range of capital grants. Current funding examples include the Sport England Funding Programmes, Heritage Lottery Fund (for park improvements), the Football Foundation and the Big Lottery. 7.484 The PPS is being produced in consultation with Sport England, National Governing Bodies of Sport, Neighbouring Local Authorities, Leisure Operators and Developers, Outdoor Sports Leagues, Major Sports Clubs, LEAP and Parish and Town Councils and will follow Sport England’s Playing Pitch Strategy Guidance. 7.485 Long term stewardship of sports and recreation facilities is important to ensure facilities provided from development are maintained to high standards.