Policy information sourced from the East Herts District Plan

CFLR1 Open Space, Sport and Recreation

Residential developments will be expected to provide open spaces, indoor and outdoor sport and recreation facilities to provide for the needs arising from the development. Provision of Accessible Natural Greenspace (ANG) will be expected to meet Natural England’s ANG Standards. Local areas for play, informal and formal open spaces should be provided for on-site, while contributions towards off-site provision or the enhancement of existing facilities may be more appropriate for other types of provision. Facilities should be provided in accordance with the Council’s latest evidence and in consultation with Sport England and the Council’s Leisure and Environment Team. Where provision is made on-site as part of a development, applicants should detail how it will be maintained in the long term.

Commercial developments will be expected to provide adequate amenity space in addition to landscape and setting features.

Proposals for new open space, indoor and outdoor sport and recreation facilities which meet identified needs will be encouraged in suitable locations, served by a choice of sustainable travel options. The proposal and all ancillary facilities such as changing rooms and car parking should be fit for purpose and of an appropriate scale and design. Measures should be taken to integrate such facilities into the landscape, including the creation of features which provide net benefits to biodiversity.

Proposals should aim to provide for the dual or multiple-use of facilities for wider community access. The use of Community Use Agreements will be expected where appropriate.

Proposals that retain or enhance the provision, quality and accessibility of existing open space, or indoor or outdoor sport and recreation facilities will be supported in principle, where they do not conflict with other policies within this Plan.

Proposals that result in the loss or reduction of open space, indoor or outdoor sport and recreation facilities, including playing fields, (as defined on the Policies Map), will be refused unless:

  • An assessment has been undertaken which has clearly shown that the facility is no longer needed in its current form; or
  • The loss resulting from the proposed development would be replaced by enhanced provision in terms of quantity and/or quality in a suitable location prior to the commencement of development (in the case of school playing fields, the timing of delivery will be negotiated on a case by case basis in accordance with Policy CFLR10); or
  • The development is for an alternative open space, sport and recreation facility, the need for which clearly outweigh the loss.

For more information please see the District Plan