Policy information sourced from Camden Local Plan

C2 Community Facilities

The Council will work with its partners to ensure that community facilities and services are developed and modernised to meet the changing needs of our community and reflect new approaches to the delivery of services.

The Council will:

  • seek planning obligations to secure new and improved community facilities and services to mitigate the impact of developments. The Council may also fund improvements to community facilities using receipts from the Community Infrastructure Levy where this is identified on the Council’s CIL funding list;
  • expect a developer proposing additional floorspace in community use, or a new community facility, to reach agreement with the Council on its continuing maintenance and other future funding requirements;
  • ensure that facilities provide access to a service on foot and by sustainable modes of travel;
  • facilitate multi-purpose community facilities and the secure sharing or extended use of facilities that can be accessed by the wider community, except for facilities occupied by the emergency services due to their distinct operating needs;
  • support the investment plans of educational, health, scientific and research bodies to expand and enhance their operations, taking into account the social and economic benefits they generate for Camden, London and the UK. In assessing proposals, the Council will also balance the impact proposals may have on residential amenity and transport infrastructure;
  • seek the inclusion of measures which address the needs of community groups and foster community integration;
  • ensure existing community facilities are retained recognising their benefit to the community, including protected groups, unless one of the following tests is met:
    • a replacement facility of a similar nature is provided that meets the needs of the local population or its current, or intended, users;
    • the existing premises are no longer required or viable in their existing use and there is no alternative community use capable of meeting the needs of the local area. Where it has been demonstrated to the Council’s satisfaction there is no reasonable prospect of a community use, then our preferred alternative will be the maximum viable amount of affordable housing;
  • take into account listing or nomination of ‘Assets of Community Value’ as a material planning consideration and encourage communities to nominate Assets of Community Value.

For more information please see the Local Plan