Bridgend Council’s Cabinet is set to approve new guidance from planning officers concerning outdoor recreation areas on new housing developments (pdf).
Over the last few years, I’ve noticed that one of the most common concerns raised during planning committee meetings is a lack of playgrounds or open spaces in new developments.
BCBC’s minimum standards – based on Fields in Trust guidance – cover five different types of open space:
- Playing pitches (1.2 hectares per 1,000 people) – Open space dedicated to sport, such as a football, rugby or cricket pitch.
- Other sports pitches (1.6 hectares per 1,000 people) – Hard surface and outdoor sports facilities like tennis courts and bowling greens.
- Equipped playgrounds (0.25 hectares per 1,000 people).
- Other outdoor facilities (0.3 hectares per 1,000 people) – Anything that doesn’t fit into the above, such as multi-use games areas and skate parks.
- Allotments (0.2 hectares per 1,000 people).
For each new housing development of over 11 homes or more, these requirements will be converted to square metres. This will then be used by planning officers to decide if enough space is being provided.
If facilities can’t be provided on-site, the council may seek money (Section 106 agreement) to cover the cost of improving or providing the open space on alternative sites nearby.
The range of facilities and financial contributions depends on the size of a proposed development. A development of 11-50 homes will only be expected to provide an unequipped play area; developments of 500+ homes would need to provide everything on-site (one way or another).
Additional guidance is provided on how recreational open spaces and playgrounds should be designed. This guidance covers protecting and improving wildlife habitats, improving drainage and ensuring open spaces are accessible to all.
