Policy information sourced from the Epping Forest District Local Plan 2011-2033

D4 Community, Leisure and Cultural Facilities

  • Development proposals will be permitted where they:
    1. retain and maintain existing facilities that are valued by the community; or
    2. improve the quality and capacity of facilities valued by the community.
  • Proposed developments should contribute to the provision of new or improved community, leisure and cultural facilities in a way that is proportionate to the scale of the proposed development and in accordance with the standards in the Infrastructure Delivery Plans and Essex County Council’s Developers’ Guide to Infrastructure Contributions.
  • Developers will be expected to provide on-site provision where possible, or where appropriate, a financial contribution towards either off-site provision, or the enhancement of existing off-site facilities. This will be determined on a site-by-site basis.
  • Financial contributions will be sought for the ongoing maintenance of community facilities, where appropriate.
  • The provision of new facilities will be appropriately phased to meet the needs of the community they are provided for.
  • Where opportunities exist, the Council will support the co-location of community, leisure and cultural facilities and other local services.
  • Proposals that would result in the loss of valued facilities currently or last used for the provision of community, leisure and cultural activities will only be permitted if it is demonstrated that:
    1. the facility is no longer needed for any of the functions that it can perform; or
    2. it is demonstrated that it is no longer practical, desirable or viable to retain them and the applicant can demonstrate through evidence, including marketing of the site, that there is no longer a reasonable prospect of the site being used for the existing community use; or
    3. any proposed replacement or improved facilities will be equivalent or better in terms of quality, quantity and accessibility and there will be no overall reduction in the level of facilities in the area in which the existing development is located; or
    4. the proposal will clearly provide sufficient community benefit to outweigh the loss of the existing facility, meeting evidence of a local need.
  • The Council will work positively with national governing bodies and communities, including local voluntary organisations, and support proposals to develop, retain, improve or re-use community, leisure or cultural facilities, along with the appropriate supporting development which may make such provision economically viable. These include those set out in Neighbourhood Plans or Development Orders including Community Right to Build Orders.

For more information please see the Epping Forest District Local Plan 2011-2033