Policy information sourced from the Braintree District Council Local Plan 2013-2033.

LPP 50: Provision for Open Space, Sport, and Recreation.

All developments will be expected to provide new open spaces in line with the requirements set out in the Open Spaces Supplementary Planning Document 2009 or successor document.

Where the Council has identified, in an up-to-date and robust evidence base and strategy, a surplus in one type of open space or sports and recreational facility but a deficit or qualitative issues in another type, planning conditions or obligations may be used to secure part of the development site for the type of open space or sports and recreational facility that is in deficit or needs quality improvements to increase capacity. The Council will also consider where development may also provide the opportunity to exchange the use of one site for another to substitute for any loss of open space, or sports or recreational facility. Such replacement provision should be equivalent or better in terms of quality and quantity and be in a suitable location.

For small sites where on-site provision is impractical, consideration will be given to opportunities for off-site provision or improvements within the ward or an adjacent ward.

Open space, sports and recreational land and buildings that are identified as needed in the Council’s Open Space Study and/or are of particular value to a local community, will be protected by the Council. Areas of particular quality may include:

  • Small areas of open space in urban areas that provide an important local amenity and offer recreational and play opportunities;
  • Areas of open space that provide a community resource and can be used for informal or formal events such as community, religious and cultural festivals;
  • Areas of open space that particularly benefit wildlife and biodiversity;
  • Areas identified as visually important on the Proposals Map Play areas, and sport and recreation grounds and associated facilities.

Existing open space, sports and recreational buildings shall not be built on unless a robust and up to date assessment has been undertaken which has clearly demonstrated that they are surplus to requirements or the proposed development is otherwise compliant with this policy as a whole. For open space, ‘surplus to requirements’ should include consideration of all the functions that open space can perform. Not all open space, sport and recreational land and buildings are of equal merit and some may be available for alternative uses. Developers will need to consult the local community and demonstrate that any proposals are widely supported by them.

In considering planning applications which could impact on open space, the Council shall weigh any benefits being offered to the community against the loss of open space that will occur. The Council will seek to ensure that all proposed development takes account of, and is sensitive to, the local context. In this regard, the Council shall consider applications with the intention of:

  • Avoiding any erosion of recreational function and maintaining or enhancing the character of open spaces;
  • Ensuring that open spaces do not suffer from increased overlooking, traffic flows or other encroachment;
  • Protecting and enhancing those parts of the rights of way network that may benefit open space and access to the wider countryside;
  • Mitigating the impact of any development on biodiversity and nature conservation.

For more information, please visit Braintree District Council’s Local Plan here.