Policy information sourced from Barking and Dagenham Adopted Core Strategy

POLICY CC2: SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS

To maintain and improve community wellbeing, support will be given to proposals and activities that protect, retain or enhance existing community facilities, or lead to the provision of additional community facilities.

The loss of community facilities will only be allowed in exceptional circumstances.

Community facilities should be sustainable and accessible. For example they should:

  • Be located where they can be accessed on foot, bicycle or public transport, rather than only by car.
  • Be located in premises that comply with the access requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005.
  • Where possible, be developed as part of mixed-use developments so that facilities are better linked to housing, jobs, shopping, leisure and other local services, in order to minimise travel distances.
  • Where possible, be located in close proximity to the community that the facility will serve.

Where appropriate, the dual-use of premises for a range of community uses will be encouraged. Appropriate locations may include underused existing community facilities or vacant premises within retail parades in designated town centres, subject to the provisions of town centre retail policy.

Wherever possible, school buildings and facilities should be expanded to make them available for a range of community uses (e.g. provision for adult education, health care and sports facilities). The facilities at the Jo Richardson Community School provide a model of how this can be achieved.

Major new developments in Barking and Dagenham should provide or contribute towards any additional need for community facilities arising from them. Such provision (either through on or off site provision or developer contributions towards funding) should be phased to ensure that the provision of additional community facilities can be provided at the same time as new developments become occupied.

For more information please see the Barking and Dagenham Adopted Core Strategy