New residential developments will be required to make provision for appropriate indoor sports and leisure facilities.

On-site provision should be made, where appropriate, taking into consideration the future facility requirements, priorities and standards identified in the Leisure Facilities Strategy. When making on-site provision, the following will be required:

1. Facilities are to be designed and constructed in accordance with Sport England facility guidance, together with the facility guidance of the relevant National Governing Body for Sport (NGB); and

2. A management scheme will be provided, which details the future ownership, management and maintenance of the facilities. Where the facilities are to be transferred to the Council or the community, commuted sums are to be paid for maintenance.

Opportunities may be sought to deliver on-site indoor sports and leisure provision within a multi-use community facility.

Where appropriate and where it has been agreed by the Council that on-site provision of indoor sports and leisure facilities is not required, contributions will be sought towards the enhancement, extension or provision of existing facilities and priorities identified in the Leisure Facilities Strategy.

Any loss of existing indoor sports and leisure facilities will be resisted. Redevelopment of these sites for other purposes will only be permitted where:

3. An assessment has been undertaken which has clearly shown the open space, buildings or land to be surplus to requirements; or

4. The loss resulting from the proposed development would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable, accessible location as close as possible to the original facility; or a contribution provided for the re- provision of the facility, where land has been secured which is suitable and available for that provision; or

5. The development is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the needs for which clearly outweigh the loss.

New indoor sports and leisure facilities

Proposals for new indoor sports and leisure facilities within Settlement Envelopes will be supported where they comply with other relevant policies within the Plan.

For sites directly adjacent to the Settlement Envelopes, proposals for new indoor sports and leisure facilities will be permitted where:

6. A need for the proposed facility has been identified;

7. It can be demonstrated that no land is available within the Settlement Envelope;

and

8. If the proposal is for a main town centre use, that the proposal meets the sequential and impact requirements of Policy R1.

For more information, please visit the Central Befordshire Local Plan