Policy information sourced from the Richmond Upon Thames Local Plan

Policy 37 Public Open Space, Play, Sport and Recreation

A. 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.

B. Existing open space, play space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields, should not be built on unless:

  1. an assessment has been undertaken which has clearly shown the facility, open space, buildings or land to be surplus to requirements; or
  2. the loss resulting from the proposed development would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location; or
  3. the development is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use.

C. 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. In addition, green open spaces are especially important for biodiversity and the improvement of wildlife or ecological corridors as well as contribute in reducing the likely effects of climate change. Furthermore, the provision of new open spaces and actively encouraging new users and visitors to utilise these spaces will alleviate recreational pressures on sites designated for biodiversity.

Impacts on existing provision and requiring new provision

D. 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

1. 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.

2. Major developments will be required to provide new on-site open space in areas of Public Open Space deficiency, as shown in the Policies Map. This will be required in addition to any external amenity space.

3. Major developments outside of areas designated as Public Open Space deficient will need to provide on-site open space where feasible. Should such provision not be feasible, a payment in lieu will be sought as a planning obligation to enable the provision of new off-site open space, or improvements to the accessibility or quality of existing Public Open Space in the vicinity of the development. Planning obligations will also be sought towards management and maintenance of new or improved off-site open space.

4. Any new Public Open Space provided as a result of new development should deliver multi-functional benefits, including for nature conservation and biodiversity value as well as for the health and wellbeing of future occupants and surrounding local communities.

Play space

5. 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 GLA’s child yield calculator as advised 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 areas and neighbourhoods. Therefore, new dedicated on-site play space should be made publicly accessible by all.

6. New play space should be well located within a site, away from sources of pollution; be of sustainable construction; and cater for a range of different ages and abilities.The local community and particularly local children should be engaged in the design of the play space.

Playing fields and sport facilities

7. Applicants should assess the need and feasibility for on-site provision of new playing fields, artificial grass pitches (AGP), and ancillary sport facilities in line with the borough’s Playing Pitch Strategy.

8. Where on-site provision of 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.To address impacts arising, a Community Use Agreement will be required to secure wider community access, where relevant. 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 Richmond Upon Thames Local Plan