Local Plan - List of Revisions

B4.5

Consequential changes arising from 110/B4

The National Playing Fields Association (NPFA) ‘The Six Acre Standard’ has been applied by a range of local authorities throughout the country. PPG17 ‘Sport and Recreation’ says that councils should formulate local standards, and the Council has carried out its own Playing Pitch Assessment to develop a local standard for playing fields. However but until studies on informal recreation are complete that work is done it is considered that the NPFA standard should be adopted in the plan as a basis for calculating the requirements for other forms of outdoor sport provision and children’s play space.

B4.9

B4.9/A

Consequential changes arising from 110/B4

Government guidance in PPG 17 advises local authorities to resist the loss of open space, sports and recreational facilities where it conflicts with the wider public interest unless an assessment has been undertaken which has clearly shown it to be surplus to requirements. Surplus to requirements should include consideration of all the functions that open space can perform. Sports facilities It has not only have recreation and amenity value but also makes a vital contribution to the conservation of the natural and built heritage of the area. Many are also safeguarded under policy BH.15 as visually important open space.

B4.10

B4.10/A

Consequential changes arising from 110/B4

Outdoor sports include provision for playing pitches, bowling greens, tennis courts and athletic tracks. In the past, playing fields and other areas used for formal recreation of open space valuable for recreation have been lost to other development, particularly that in private ownership in Norton-Radstock and Bath. This depletes the stock and increases pressure on other facilities in other areas of the District.

B4.12

B4.12/A

110/B4

Although there is currently sufficient publicly accessible open space, it is crucial that the District’s stock of open space, particularly sports grounds and playing fields, is well protected from development if it is to meet future recreational requirements. In line with Government advice and Policy 42 of the JRSP, Policy SR.1 seeks to protect open space of recreational value throughout the District including that not currently available for public use such as some school playing fields. The Council has undertaken a playing pitch assessment of football, rugby, hockey and cricket to establish needs up to 2011. Further studies of other outdoor sports such as tennis, bowling and athletics will be undertaken in the future. The playing pitch assessment analysed the current provision of playing fields by establishing how many are currently publicly available (this can include public or privately owned pitches including school pitches, as long as there are formal agreements for public use) and how many teams play in the area and thus need playing pitches. The study looked at provision in four catchment areas, on the basis that travel to facilities is more likely to occur within these areas, but also to give a geographical dimension to current and future provisions. However, the catchment areas do not necessarily reflect all travel patterns to facilities.

New Para B4.12A

B4.12A/A

110/B4

B4.12B

B4.12B/A

110/B4

The four catchment areas perform very differently with high overall deficiencies in Keynsham and Norton Radstock, an equilibrium in Bath and an over provision of some sports in the Chew Valley Area. The overprovision in the Chew Valley area is mainly due to the large provision of pitches from the Chew Valley secondary school and the large provision of pitches in the Whitchurch area, which mainly cater for Bristol Clubs.

B4.13

B4.13/B

2462/B1

Thus, Policy SR.1A seeks to protect formal recreational land throughout the District, including that not currently available for public use such as some school playing fields. There may, however, be special circumstances where the development of existing land of recreational value can be justified but in such cases the existing facility will have to be suitably enhanced or appropriate alternative provision found elsewhere to recompense the loss. However, before accepting the loss of an existing formal recreational site to built-up development, the Council will consider other recreational uses appropriate to these sites such as community open space, allotments, etc.

Policy SR.1 (to be new Policy SR.1A)

SR.1A/A

PM Inset East

SR.1A/B

5001/B164

Policy

SR.1A/C

5001/B164

Designate Dunkerton cricket ground as formal recreational land.

PM Inset

SR.1A/D

5001/B164

Designate Newton College playing field, Newton Park as formal recreational land.

Central

SR.1A/E

5001/B164

Designate Clutton cricket ground as formal recreational land.

SR.1A/F

5001/B164

Designate Camerton Recreation Ground as formal recreational land.

SR.1A/G

5001/B164

Designate Hursley Hill football ground as formal recreational land.

PM Inset 11

SR.1A/H

5001/B164

Designate playing field west of Somerdale as formal recreational land.

PM Inset 13

SR.1A/I

5001/B164

PM Inset 19

SR.1A/J

5001/B38

PM Inset 20

SR.1A/K

2996/B1, 5001/B155

Add formal recreational designation notation to the school playing field at Timsbury

Policy

SR.1A/L

3274/B5

Amend formal recreational land designation at the Royal High School.

PM Inset

SR.1A/M

714/B7, 1902/B1, 3309/B3, 714/B6

Delete formal recreational land designation from playing fields on eastern part of University of Bath Campus (see new GDS.1 site B11).

31

SR.1A/N

505/B80, 505/B93

Add formal recreational land designation to the Recreation Ground at Holcombe Lane, Bathampton

SR.1A/O

5001/B36

Designate Bathford playing fields as formal recreational land.

SR.1A/P

3256/B4, 3309/B4

Delete formal recreational land designation at Newton Fields Recreation Ground.

PM Inset 31a

SR.1A/Q

3260/B2

Amend formal recreational designation at Bath Recreation Ground to exclude land which is not covered by the Sport England definition of playing fields.

New Para B4.13A (was B4.28)

B4.13A/A

Consequential changes arising from 110/B4

Informal recreation and leisure comprises a range of pursuits including walking, playing, cycling and other activities that are not formally organised. Facilities available for such activity range from parks, amenity open spaces including common land, to equipped play areas. As with sports grounds these open spaces are often as important for their amenity value as for their recreational value and contribute to the enhancement to the environments in which they are located making them attractive places to be in or pass through. Many of these areas are safeguarded under Policy BH.15 as Visually Important Open Spaces. However where a need has been identified for the further provision of land for informal recreational use land is allocated in Policy SR.2. Policy SR.1B aims to ensure that this valuable recreational resource is safeguarded.

New Policy SR1B

SR.1B/A

3233/B5, 3260/B4, 3261/B13, 3274/B3, 3299/B31, 88/B29, 241/B11, 2638/B5, 2466/B5, 2462/B1, 2448/B5

Development involving the loss of land used or last used for informal recreation, including children’s playing space, will not be permitted, unless suitable, equally accessible alternative provision of equivalent community benefit is made.

B4.14

B4.14/A

Consequential changes arising from 110/B4

B4.14 Outdoor sports includes provision for playing pitches, bowling greens, tennis courts and athletic tracks. Existing facilities have been assessed to see whether they meet the NPFA’s minimum standards for youth and adult outdoor playing space for sport, see Quick Guide 9.

Quick Guide 9 (to be moved between Para B4.36 and B4.37)

QG9/A

Consequential changes arising from 110/B4

B4.16

B4.16/A

110/B4, 564/B36

There is currently sufficient amounts of publicly accessible outdoor playing space in or close to Bath based on the on the NPFA minimum standards taking into account the availability of many of the school outdoor sports facilities to the public. However, provision varies across the City.

B4.17

B4.17/B

5001/B104

The existing outdoor facilities in Keynsham are estimated to be insufficient by the year 2011 sufficient to continue to meet the NPFA minimum standard for its residents through the Plan period. This takes into account private facilities at the Somerdale site and Crown Fields and Manor Road Playing Fields as well as some the community use of the two secondary schools.

B4.18

B4.18/B

Change arising from deletion of Site GDS.1/K2

These facilities are also used by a larger catchment area which creates additional demand for their use. Some facilities lie within the floodplain of the River Avon and are therefore prone to flooding at certain times of the year. Built development in the floodplain to support these uses is unlikely to be acceptable. In order to meet predicted shortfalls there is scope to re-designate pitches, improve drainage and formalise use of school pitches. The proposed urban extension at South West Keynsham will inevitably give rise to additional local requirements for outdoor sports facilities in this part of Keynsham where there is a limited availability of such facilities. It will also meet Plan objectives on securing Balanced Communities. Further provision of outdoor sports facilities will therefore be required under Policy GDS.1 site K2.

B4.19

B4.19/A

The situation in the Norton-Radstock area is similar to that in Bath and Keynsham with the existing supply of outdoor sports facilities being insufficient to meet expected need until 2011.continuing to meet NPFA standards. However this relies on the availability of school playing fields.

B4.20

B4.20/A

Proposals for development south of Charlton Park adjacent to the A367 provides an opportunity to secure additional facilities to supplement the existing supply and meet Plan objectives on Balanced Communities (Policy GDS.1 site NR1). In addition To secure adequate long term provision land is allocated at Manor Road, Writhlington for outdoor sports pitches. Developers with proposals for new housing will be expected to contribute to this provision (see Policy SR.6).

B4.21

B4.21/A

110/B4

Provision for outdoor sports facilities in some of the most villages appears to meet current needs although others still have a need for this type of facility anticipated needs until 2011. There is a range of facilities including pitches and courts again supplemented by the community use of schools including those outdoor facilities on the edge of Bath. However, the assessment has identified a shortfall of four junior football and one cricket pitch in Paulton, and a shortfall of four junior football pitches in Mendip Ward. The allocation at Writhlington will help to meet some of these deficiencies and there is scope in the Chew Valley catchment area to re-designate pitches.

B4.28

B4.28/A

B4.28 (Para moved to B4.13A)

B4.29

B4.29/A

2050/B1

Bath has a number of large open spaces that are regularly used for informal recreation including Royal Victoria Park, Alice Park, Sydney Gardens, Henrietta Park, Alexandra Park and Parade Gardens. There are also a number of recreation grounds and many other smaller areas of amenity open space accessible to the public.

B4.31

B4.31/A

Changes arising from deletion of Site GDS.1/NR1

Informal public open space provision in Norton-Radstock largely comprises small amenity areas and playing fields. Land off Clevedon Road, Welton is allocated under Policy SR.2 and will improve provision. Land is also set aside at Foxhills, Radstock for informal public open space as part of a comprehensive redevelopment of the former railway and wagon works (Policy GDS.1). Outdoor recreational provision is also part of the scheme proposed on land south of Charlton Park, Midsomer Norton as set out in Policy GDS.1.

Policy SR.2 (relocated between Paras B4.41 and B4.42)

578/B54

PM Inset 19

SR.2/C

578/B44, 578/B54

B4.34

B4.34/A

Editorial change

Play is crucial for all aspects of a child’s development. This is recognised in the Council’s Play Policy and Strategy. The Council has an important role in providing opportunities for children ‘to explore, manipulate, experience and affect their environment within challenging but secure settings’ (B&NES Bath & North East Somerset Play Policy – 2000).

B4.35

B4.35/A

Editorial

In accordance with the NPFA standards children’s playing space should be accessible by foot without having to cross busy roads and within a recommended walking distance from home. The three categories of playing space are Local Area for Play (LAP), Local Equipped Area for Play (LEAP) and Neighbourhood Equipped Area for Play (NEAP), see ‘Schedule to Policy SR.3 for Minimum Standard for Children’s Play Provision’.

B4.36

In Bath there are opportunities for play in parks and many other open spaces including equipped play areas. When assessed against the NPFA standards (see Quick Guide 9) there is only a small overall shortfall of existing children’s playing space provision City-wide. However there is a need for further LEAPs in a number of areas including Upper Weston, Lower Weston/Locksbrook Road, Upper Oldfield Park, Combe Down, Lansdown and the City centre where accessible play areas would meet not only the needs of local residents but those visitors with children.

B4.38

B4.38/A

Keynsham currently has 7 LEAPs and one NEAP (Memorial Park). But assessing this provision against the NPFA standards there is a need to provide further LEAPs. Although no sites have been identified, the areas in need are in the vicinity of the Lays Drive Estate, south of Coronation Road, the Hawthorne Close area, and west of Chandag Road near Keynsham Cricket Ground. The existing LEAPs at Manor Road and Kelston Road could also be upgraded to provide two more NEAPs for the town. The proposed urban extension at South West Keynsham will also generate a need for further children’s playspace provision which is one of the site requirements under Policy GDS.1.

B4.40

B4.40/A

Changes arising from results of Playing Field Assessment

Children’s playing space provision in the villages appears inadequate if assessed strictly against the NPFA minimum standard. However provision also needs to take account of accessibility, the availability of recreation grounds for casual play and opportunities for informal play in the surrounding countryside. There is a need for new LEAPs in Peasedown St John, Paulton, the northern part of High Littleton, Pensford, Compton Martin, Ubley, Temple Cloud, Chew Magna and Saltford.

B4.41

B4.41/A

The Local pPlan can contribute to achieving opportunities for play by ensuring that existing outdoor play space is retained and, where development takes place, new play areas are provided. Where a suitable site has been identified to help meet the shortfalls in both formal and informal recreational provision in particular areas of the District land is allocated under Policy SR.2.

B4.42

B4.42/B

Editorial

(First sentence moved to end of para B4.41) During the Plan period new areas of equipped children’s playing space will be required to be provided as part of new housing development proposed under Policy GDS.1, as well as in association with windfall sites and from the renewal of planning permissions for residential development. The level of provision will be based on the NPFA recommended minimum standard as set out in Quick Guide 9 above.

B4.43

Editorial changes (In such cases…)

Depending on the size of the site it may not always be appropriate to make provision on site or to justify the provision of full play facilities. In such cases it may be more appropriate to provide accessible alternatives or make a financial contribution to the provision or enhancement of suitabley located alternative sites. In some circumstances, because of the type of occupier a proposed development caters for, e.g. accommodation for the elderly, it may not be appropriate to seek provision of children’s playing space and such cases will be considered on their merits.

Policy SR.3

Proposals for Residential development which generates a need for children’s playing space will only be permitted be expected to provide land for such use where safely accessible and suitable provision in accordance with the standard set out in the Schedule to the Policy of 0.8 ha children’s playing space per 1000 population is provided and secured on site.

Schedule to policy SR.3

SR.3/C

578/B87

3261/B4

Policy SR.4

SR.4/A

1427/B47, 3257/B4

Policy SR.5

SR.5/B

5010/B268

New buildings will only be permitted where the re-use or adaptation of existing buildings is not practical or viable, and they are of a scale appropriate to the location and recreational use.

Policy SR.6

SR.6/A

Schedule to Policy SR.6

SR.6/C

3261/B4

Policy SR.7

SR.7/A

578/B56, 686/B83, 721/B22, 2965/B7

Proposals outside these areas will only be permitted if it can be demonstrated that there is a need for the development which cannot be met within or on the edge of urban centres and the site is well served by public transport.

B4.57

B4.57/A

3260/B1

Government guidance advises that local planning authorities give sympathetic consideration to development proposals for all-seater stadia particularly where existing facilities are substandard or a club is seeking relocation. This is in line with JRSP Policy 44 which supports the provision of a stadium in Bath to accommodate approximately 20,000 spectators. There are two existing stadia in Bath: at the Recreation Ground, currently home to Bath Rugby Plc, with a capacity of approximately 8,500 8,200 and the Bath City's Football Club ground at Twerton Park, with a capacity of approximately 9,000. Both clubs are investigating the possibility of new facilities or stadia including the option of with a view to sharing facilities. The National Facilities Strategy for Rugby Union in England published in 2001 indicates that the minimum capacity for Premiership rugby clubs stadiums should be 10,000 during the season 2003/4. In the light of this, the environmental constraints of the City and the current levels of patronage it is considered that a more realistic capacity is a stadium of about 15,000. This would also be adequate to accommodate the football club's needs.

Policy SR.8

SR.8/B

B4.60

B4.60/A

574/B16

The Local Plan seeks to increase opportunities for and access to a diversity of informal recreational uses in the countryside, whilst conserving and enhancing its natural beauty and amenities. This includes improving links from the City, towns and villages to informal recreational activities on the urban fringes and to the open countryside beyond. The identification of ‘green routes’ between residential and employment areas and town/suburban centres and the improvement of access/links to open spaces and parks and other off-road routes will contribute towards access through and beyond the urban areas and offers an alternative and more sustainable method of travelling. This is exemplified by the Community Forest Walk Path through the Forest of Avon in the North West of the District (see also Policy NE.5).

B4.62

B4.62/A

246/B15

One of the Countryside Agency’s objectives is that all PROWs in England are legally defined, properly maintained and well publicised with the support of Highways Authorities, landowners and other interested bodies. It is also promoting the establishment of Greenways and ‘Quiet Roads’. With the aid of Lottery funds, the charity Sustrans is also developing such routes as part of a National Cycle Network which also incorporates disused railway lines, riversides and previously developed land.

B4.64

B4.64/B

5001/B106

Where a recreational route follows the line of a Some of the former railway, lines are also safeguarded as cycle routes under Policy T.7 and there may be opportunities for other complementary recreational uses e.g. walking. its course is protected as a sustainable transport route under Policy T.9 as designated on the Proposals Map. This applies to parts of routes 1 and 3 in Policy SR.9. The presence of the Avon Valley Railway alongside the Bath and Bristol Railway Path just over the district’s northern boundary at Bitton demonstrates that these uses can coexist.

Policy SR.9

12. Riverside Walk, Bath: Pulteney Bridge to Cleveland Bridge.

PM Inset East

SR.9/C

745/B16, 578/B57

Delete Recreational Route from former railway line between Shoscombe & Midford where it overlaps with new Sustainable Transport Route.

PM Inset Central

SR.9/D

578/B57

PM Inset 10

SR.9/E

578/B57

Delete Recreational Route from former railway line north Whitchurch village where it overlaps with new Sustainable Transport Route.

PM Inset 11

SR.9/F

578/B57

Delete Recreational Route from former railway (Bath-Bitton) where it overlaps with new Sustainable Transport Route.

PM Inset 11b

SR.9/G

578/B57

PM Inset 12

SR.9/H

578/B57

PM Inset 15

SR.9/I

578/B57

PM Inset 16

SR.9/J

578/B57

PM Inset 19

SR.9/K

578/B57

PM Inset 19a

SR.9/L

578/B57

PM Inset 19b

SR.9/M

578/B57

Delete Recreational Route from former railway line north of Tom Huyton Memorial Park

PM Inset 27

SR.9/N

578/B57

Delete Recreational Route west of the Brow

PM Inset 31

SR.9/O

2956/B3

PM Insets 31 & 31a

SR.9/P

2956/B3

Show route of the Cotswold Way north & south of Victoria Park & through the City Centre, Bath

B4.80

B4.80/D

Editorial

Development proposals need to be carefully controlled to avoid the gradual erosion of the inherent character of the River, Canal and Lakes and their immediate environment (see Para B7.121 on residential moorings). The Waterside Recreational Activity Areas (WRAAs) listed in Policy SR.10 are either within the Green Belt and/or AONB. Therefore proposals for additional facilities will need to be considered carefully, particularly in the context of Policies GB.1 and NE.2 as well as Policy SR.4, taking into account of the impact of traffic and parking on these sensitive environmental locations.

Policy SR.10

SR.10/A