Policy information sourced from the Richmond Upon Thames Local Plan

Policy 49 Social and Community Infrastructure (Strategic Policy)

A. The Council will work with service providers and developers to ensure the adequate provision of community services and facilities, especially in areas where there is an identified need or shortage.

New social and community infrastructure

B. Proposals for new or extensions to existing social and community infrastructure will be supported where:

  1. it provides for an identified need;
  2. is of a high quality and inclusive design providing access for all; and
  3. where practicable is provided in multi-use, flexible and adaptable buildings or co-located with other social infrastructure uses which increases public access; and
  4. is in accordance with Policy 1 ‘Living Locally and the 20-minute neighbourhood (Strategic Policy)’.

Loss of social or community infrastructure

C. Loss of social or community infrastructure will be resisted. Proposals involving the loss of such infrastructure will need to demonstrate clearly:

  1. that there is no longer an identified community need for the facilities or they no longer meet the needs of users and cannot be adapted; or
  2. that the existing facilities are being adequately re-provided in a different way or elsewhere in a convenient alternative location accessible to the current community it supports, or that there are sufficient suitable alternative facilities in the locality; and
  3. the potential of re-using or redeveloping the existing site for the same or an alternative social infrastructure use for which there is a local need has been fully assessed. This should include evidence of completion of a full and proper marketing exercise of the site for a period of at least 18 months in line with the requirements set out in Appendix 2.

D. Where the Council is satisfied that the above evidence has been provided and the change of use away from social and community infrastructure use has been justified, redevelopment for other employment generating uses should be considered.

E. Where a scheme proposes 100% genuinely affordable housing and meets the requirements of Policy 11 ‘Affordable Housing (Strategic Policy) ’ in terms of mix, tenure and affordability, the proposal will not be required to satisfy parts C.3 and D of this policy as above.

Impacts on existing infrastructure

F. Development proposals for 10 or more residential units should assess the potential impacts on existing social and community infrastructure in order to demonstrate to the Council that there is sufficient capacity within the existing infrastructure to accommodate the needs arising from the new development. Development proposals need to fulfil the requirements of Policy 51 ‘Health and Wellbeing (Strategic Policy)’ Section B (1) in relation to the provision of Health Impact Assessments.

For more information please see the Richmond Upon Thames Local Plan