Policy information sourced from the Barking & Dagenham Local Plan
DMNE 1 Parks, open spaces and play space
1.
The Council will protect and enhance the borough’s parks, public open spaces and playing fields, working closely with a range of stakeholders to address deficiencies in quantity, quality and access. Public open spaces should be safe and easily accessible through walking, cycling, and public transport for all users, and supportive infrastructure such as crossings, cycle parking, bus stops and clear signage should be provided appropriately near the entrance of open spaces. To reduce car dominance, these should be provided in proximity to residential, commercial and social infrastructure.
2.
The Council will prevent inappropriate development within open spaces and other sites identified in the Parks and Open Space Strategy. Development should not come forward on Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) or within the Green Belt except in very special circumstances, in line with the NPPF and Policy G3 of the London Plan 2021, or where exceptional circumstances for changes to the Green Belt boundary have come forward as part of the Local Plan process (as is the case with the release of a small amount of Green Belt land to allow for future delivery of the Gypsy and Traveller site extension in Eastbrookend Country Park).
3.
Existing open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields, should not be built on unless the requirements outlined in national policy are met.
4.
Major residential development which falls within the 3 km to 6.2 km Recreational Pressure ‘Zone of Influence’ (ZoI) around the Epping Forest SAC (as shown on the Policies Map) may be required to complete a project level Habitat Regulations Assessment to address recreational impacts on the SAC , and may be required to mitigate the impacts of recreational pressure upon the SAC . Any development which would cause an adverse impact upon the integrity of Epping Forest SAC will not be supported.
5.
Development on open space not shown on the Policies Map, including amenity greens and amenity spaces with limited public access, will generally not be supported, except where proposals accord with an agreed Council regeneration strategy, or include replacement space of higher quality to the open space that would be lost.
6.
Development should not rely upon existing publicly accessible open space to contribute towards on-site communal amenity space and child play space. All major and strategic development should contribute to the delivery of sufficient new publicly accessible open space on-site which should:
- meet the needs of current and any future residents
- be of a high-quality that is accessible to all
- provide multiple benefits, including recreation, food growing, SuDS, improvements to biodiversity and links to green infrastructure, as well as any blue infrastructure, on and adjacent to the development site
- consider taking the form of new parks (including pocket parks), allotments or play space developed with regard to guidance as set out in the Parks and Open Spaces Strategy, the Green Infrastructure and Biodiversity Strategy, the Planning Obligations SPD (emerging) and any relevant park masterplans and their updated equivalents
- comply with Policy G4 of the London Plan 2021 and the Council’s guidance in the design of new open space. In exceptional circumstances, where on-site provision cannot be adequately accommodated, the Council may agree a financial contribution towards improvements to existing or new open spaces within the borough via planning obligations.
7.
Major development proposals for schemes that are likely to be used by children and young people should increase opportunities for play and informal recreation in line with Policy S4 of the London Plan 2021.
8.
Proposals for new playing fields should be developed in accordance with Policy DMS1, the Council’s Playing Pitch Strategy (or updated equivalent) and in consultation with Sport England.
For more information please see the Barking & Dagenham Local Plan