Richmond Upon Thames - LP31 Public Open Space, Play Space, Sport and Recreation

Policy information sourced from Richmond Upon Thames Local Plan

LP 31 Public Open Space, Play Space, Sport and Recreation

Public Open Space, children’s and young people’s play facilities as well as formal and informal sports grounds and playing fields will be protected, and where possible enhanced. Improvements of existing facilities and spaces, including their openness and character and their accessibility and linkages, will be encouraged.

New open spaces, play facilities and formal and informal land for sport and recreation should be linked to the wider Green Infrastructure network as they play an important role in creating social cohesion, encouraging and promoting healthier and more active lifestyles.

Impacts on existing provision

The Council will require all major development proposals in the borough to meet the Public Open Space, play space, and playing fields and ancillary sport facilities needs arising out of the development by requiring the following:

Public Open Space: applicants should provide an analysis of existing open space provision in line with the Council’s accessibility standards for travel to open spaces. Where there is inadequate existing provision and limited access to such facilities, publicly accessible facilities will be expected on site to mitigate the impacts of the new development on existing provision.
Play space: applicants should provide a play and child occupancy assessment to determine whether the proposal will lead to an estimated child occupancy of ten children or more, by using the Council’s child yield calculator as set out in the Planning Obligations SPD. In addition, an assessment of existing play facilities within the surrounding area will be required. Where the assessment demonstrates an estimated child occupancy of ten children or more, the development proposal should make appropriate and adequate provision of dedicated on-site play space by following the London Plan benchmark standard of 10sqm per child. The Council will seek to integrate new major development within existing village areas and neighbourhoods. Therefore, new dedicated on-site play space should be made publicly accessible.
Playing fields and sport facilities: applicants should assess the need and feasibility for on-site provision of new playing fields and ancillary sport facilities in line with the borough’s Playing Pitch Strategy.
Where on-site provision of Public Open Space, play space or new playing fields and ancillary facilities is not feasible or practicable, the Council will expect existing surrounding facilities and spaces to be improved and made more accessible to the users and occupiers of the new development through, for example, improved walking and cycling links or enhancements of play space or existing playing fields and associated sport facilities. Financial contributions will be required to either fund off-site provision, or improvements and enhancements of existing facilities, including access arrangements, to mitigate the impacts of new development.

For more information please see the Local Plan