Part One: Spatial Strategy and Policies (Regulation 18)
15. Recreation and Community Uses
Introduction
15.1 Recreation and Community uses provide an important part of people's health and wellbeing, as well as improving their quality of life. They also help to build inclusive communities, promote healthy lifestyles and provide green spaces for reflection and relaxation. Community facilities play a significant role in developing the social wellbeing of individuals and communities by allowing activities and interests to grow outside of the home and the workplace. They also bring people together and help to establish new communities.
(5) Policy DLP63 Public Open Space within New Large Housing Developments
- Development proposals of 80 residential dwellings or more will be required to provide new on-site recreational amenity green space if the site is isolated from and poorly served by existing nearby publicly accessible open space areas within a 1-kilometre straight line distance.
- Where new recreational green space provision is being provided on-site, developers will be expected to provide for its future maintenance and management when appropriate in accordance with standards set out in the Council's latest Planning Obligations SPD.
- If it can be demonstrated that it is not practical or viable to provide new on-site informal recreational green space, then a financial contribution will be required towards new or improving nearby off-site public open space areas or play equipment which are well linked by means of cycling and walking in accordance with standards set out in the Council's latest Planning Obligations SPD.
- New on-site recreational green space should be provided to the following quantity standard: At least 0.81 hectares of amenity green space per 1,000 population.
Justification
15.2 New large residential developments generate a requirement for outdoor playing space. This ranges from small areas of amenity green space that sometimes have seating and play equipment, through to larger areas of green space for informal recreation and outdoor sports space. Evidence from the Council's Dudley Open Space Review (2019) shows that coverage levels of publicly accessible green space vary across the borough with some areas being well-served and some areas having less provision.
15.3 Access to open space plays an essential role in providing a high-quality environment, as well as positively contributing to biodiversity and the character of the area. In addition, to help facilitate and promote healthy and active lifestyles, as well as sustainable development, it is important to ensure that there are good levels of access to recreation amenity green space close to existing and new residential communities.
15.4 Public open space as part of new developments should be well-designed and functional to meet the needs of the community and should not be left over land and space around a development. The function, location and design of any open space should be considered and included during the initial stages of an application to ensure a well-designed scheme, with useable public open space delivered.
(1) Policy DLP64 Children's Play Areas
- Children's play areas will be retained and, where necessary, improved.
- Where a development proposal results in the loss of existing children's play space, or results in an increased deficiency in the availability of such play space, then planning permission will only be granted if a replacement facility of equivalent or better quantity and quality is provided. Such a replacement facility should be in an agreed suitable location well linked by means of cycling and walking and operational before the new development is occupied.
- In residential development proposals over the 80 units threshold, equipped children's play areas will be explored within the on-site recreational green space area in consultation with the Council to assess the type of play equipment needed to meet need. Guidance in the Council's latest Open Space, Sport and Recreation Provision SPD will be considered in the suitability and type of any new play area.
Justification
15.5 This policy seeks to maintain and, where possible, improve the quality and provision of children's play areas. The provision and accessibility of safe children's play areas is important to the positive contribution to social development and health and wellbeing of children and promoting a child friendly borough. Particularly in promoting activity in young children and the provision and accessibility of play areas helps to counter the increasing childhood obesity levels in the borough.
