Acquisition of Designated Land for Recreation Purposes

Acquisition of designated land for recreation purposes

V4 – August 2017

Acquisition of designated land for recreation purposes

The purpose of this document is to draw together the corporate, planning requirements and the identified needs as a prelude to the acquisition of land which is designated for recreation provision

It sets out -  The corporate position and priorities  The planning policy background  Illustrative feasibility schemes for future layouts

December 2015/January 2016 July 2016 feasibility plans updated August 2017 policy update AJL/TWBC

Background

The Borough Council recognises that sport and active recreation has the potential to improve the quality of life for residents and communities and deliver wider social, health, economic and environmental benefits.

The wider benefits of sport and active recreation include:  providing positive activities and opportunities for young people, promoting a sense of inclusion, self-esteem and achievement,  safeguarding and improving health outcomes for those who regularly participate in healthy activities and lifestyles, reducing the burden on the NHS,  delivering economic benefits and raising the profile of local communities by attracting visitors to high quality facilities and sporting events,  developing a sense of community by pulling together local groups and organisations,  providing opportunities for residents and communities to take ownership of and make best use of their parks and open spaces, contributing to overall well-being.

The Borough Council is therefore committed to meeting the needs of its communities for sport and recreation. This position was further reflected as part of the council’s priorities for 2016/17, and for 2017/18 of its 5 year vision

CORPORATE PRIORITIES 2016/17 – YEAR 3 DELIVERY OF FIVE YEAR PLAN Enabling empowered communities - Objective 11 ‘Produce a sports (facilities) strategy that will set out a route-map for upgrading and extending existing facilities around the Borough.’

A Sports and Active Recreation Strategy 2016 -2021 has been prepared, consulted on, and adopted. Within this strategy, is the action to ‘acquire where possible, land currently allocated in the local development plan for sports pitches and outdoor recreation to enable provision of facilities in line with future needs – for example, at Hawkenbury, Rusthall and Pembury’

CORPORATE PRIORITIES 2017/18 – YEAR 4 DELIVERY OF FIVE YEAR PLAN Enabling empowered communities - Objective 13 ‘Support the health of residents by improving sport and active recreation opportunities, and contribute towards the Health Inequalities Action Plan.’

Recreation Allocations under Local Plans

Through the previous adopted local plan, planning policy allocated a number of sites for sport and recreation, which has been in place since 2006. The adopted Allocations Local Plan 2016 also maintains these allocations.

Through the subsequent collection of section 106 contributions against this policy and particularly recently, the Council has accumulated a level of funding that could initiate the acquisition of the

2 allocated sites. It is therefore now in a position to move towards the implementation of the above priority.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Local Plan March 2006

Royal Tunbridge Wells 9.33 Sites at Hawkenbury and Rusthall are identified as suitable locations for the provision of six additional sports pitches which, with an additional ATP, should meet the demand for new soccer pitches. These sites are reasonably level and adjoin existing pitch facilities. Any remodelling of the land should be minimised and new and existing boundaries and margins should be enhanced. Provision of the two sites is distributed to the west and east of Royal Tunbridge Wells allowing the opportunity to more closely serve the local catchment populations. Whilst the land identified is situated outside the defined Limits to Built Development and is within the Green Belt, its use for outdoor recreation would be consistent with countryside and Green Belt policies. Any proposed floodlighting would be required to comply with POLICY EN8. Pembury 9.43 Information supplied by Pembury Parish Council and local sports associations indicates a high level of local demand for both adult and junior football as well as tennis. The opportunity exists to extend the existing Woodside playing fields, off Henwoods Mount by a total of 3.4 hectares (8.4 acres), to provide two new football pitches. Whilst the land identified is situated outside the defined Limits to Built Development and within the Green Belt, its use for sports pitches would be consistent with countryside and Green Belt policies. The land identified is reasonably flat and has the advantage of being close to existing recreation facilities. In view of the shortcomings of the existing access to the site, and the intensification of use likely to be associated with the additional pitches, a new access suitable for cars should be created directly from Woodside Road.

POLICY R3

Land is allocated for sports pitches and other outdoor recreation facilities at the following locations, as defined on the Proposals Map:

1 Land adjacent to Hawkenbury recreation ground, Royal Tunbridge Wells;

2 Land adjacent to Rusthall recreation ground, Royal Tunbridge Wells;

3 Land west of the Ridgewaye, Southborough;

4 Land at Cranbrook Road, Goudhurst; and

5 Land adjacent to Woodside playing fields, Pembury.

New boundaries should be sympathetic to the character of the adjoining countryside. New habitats for flora and fauna should be created along the boundaries and margins of the sites.

Extract 2006 Plan – High Woods Lane, Hawkenbury

Extract 2006 Plan – Southwood Road, Rusthall

Extract 2006 Plan – Woodside Road, Pembury

Key to 2006 allocations

Tunbridge Wells Borough Allocations Local Plan July 2016

The Tunbridge Wells Borough Allocations Local Plan 2016 maintains and draws across the policies from the 2006 Plan for the creation of extensions to the existing recreation sites.

These are set out at Policy AL/RTW 30 in respect of Hawkenbury and Rusthall (Note this is subject to clarification to ensure consistency in mapping notation) the attached plans below are the modified versions.

Also, set out at Policy AL/VRA 3 for Pembury. This plan has been slightly amended from the earlier submission draft to correctly reflect the existing 2006 policy boundary with the required access from Woodside Road.

Tunbridge Wells Borough SADPD extracts-

Recreation Open Space 3.55 A number of sites across the borough were previously allocated within the 2006 Local Plan for the provision of sports pitches and other outdoor recreation facilities. This was in order to reduce any highlighted deficiencies in provision and make new provision in appropriate locations. 3.56 Additionally, a number of sites were allocated for children's playspace: more specifically, NEAPs (Neighbourhood Equipped Areas for Play); and LEAPs (Local Equipped Areas for Play). There are considerable variations in the provision of children's playspace within Royal Tunbridge Wells and the rest of the borough and allocations are made to provide new children's playspace or extend and upgrade existing facilities. 3.57 The following sites will be allocated for recreational use.

POLICY AL/RTW30

Recreation Open Space

Land is allocated for sports pitches and other outdoor recreation facilities at the following locations, as defined on the Royal Tunbridge Wells & Southborough Proposals Map:

 Land adjacent to Hawkenbury Recreation Ground, Royal Tunbridge Wells  Land adjacent to Rusthall Recreation Ground, Royal Tunbridge Wells

Extract from 2015 submissions SADPD - High Woods Lane , Hawkenbury

Extract from 2015 submissions SADPD – Southwood Road, Rusthall

Recreation Open Space 8.10 The following sites are located outside the Limits to Built Development of Pembury and are allocated for recreation and open space uses.

POLICY AL/VRA 3

Recreation Open Space

The following sites, as shown on the Villages & Rural Areas (Pembury) Proposals Map, are allocated for development as sports pitches and other outdoor recreation:

 Land to the south of Sandhurst Avenue, Pembury  Land to the east of Woodside Road, Pembury

Extract from 2015 submissions SADPD – Woodside Road, Pembury

Indicative layouts of designated sites

The following plans are intended to illustrate potential layouts of recreation sites following their acquisition. It should be noted that the final arrangements will be refined according to the detailed needs of the local community and desirable sports field provision. They are intended to illustrate the physical capacity of the sites and the potential for flexibility in layouts for various sports field facilities.

High Woods Lane, Hawkenbury

Existing provision at Hawkenbury comprises an Astro turf 5-a-side and hockey pitch, 4 Tennis courts, 1 adult cricket wicket, 1 junior wicket, which alternates with 1 adult, 1 junior & 1 mini football pitches. Also a newly built changing facility and off road parking, accessed from Hawkenbury Road.

Proposed additional provision - It is envisaged that the new provision could comprise a range of sports pitches. If configured for football there would be two senior pitches one which should be a 4G surface. A youth U15/U16, a Youth U13/U14 and a Mini Soccer pitch. Alternative/additional car parking could be accommodated on the High Woods Lane side opposite the indoor bowls club. Existing changing facilities may have to be reviewed and extended or possibly additional dedicated football changing off High Woods Lane.

As the land is gently sloping, some ground modelling will be required. Although there is a substantial tree edge to the north it is suggested that a further belt of significant tree planting should be provided to both the north and to the eastern boundaries. As part of the new provision, it is recommended that the existing redundant bowling green could provide a further Mini football pitch.

The existing combined Hockey and football is a hybrid surface, which is in need of refurbishment. It is recommended that this should be replaced with a quality surface, dedicated solely for hockey use.

Southwood Road, Rusthall

Existing provision comprises 2 adult football pitches & one 9v9 pitch. A brick built changing facility, a multiple use games area (MUGA) and off road parking

Proposed additional provision - Two senior pitches within the allocated land. There is also the potential for a Mini Soccer pitch. It is suggested that the existing pitches which are very tight with limited run off and safety area, should be reconfigured as youth U15/U16, Youth U13/U14 and Mini soccer or 9x9. The existing changing could be adequate but it is suggested it may need reviewing. Also the potential for extending the parking provision should be examined.

Woodside Road, Pembury

Existing provision comprises two senior pitches and a pavilion. There is some parking provision which is accessed along a narrow track at the end of Henwoods Mount. It is suggested that the existing southerly pitch is tight and should be reconfigured as a youth U15/16 with the northern pitch remaining as senior Proposed additional provision – The section of land to the west would lend itself to a new senior pitch. This would be adjacent to the new access road directly from Woodside Road and includes the potential for some improved parking provision. The southern section of land has the potential to be laid out as a number of configurations. The plan above illustrates a youth pitch for U13/U14 with two Mini soccer pitches. A pedestrian access onto Hastings Road should also be included. A review of the adequacy of changing facilities is probably also required.

Appendix

Site Area (ha) Notes

Hawkenbury 8.27 Nb. Part of the allocated site is designated as Ancient Woodland a Local Wildlife Site. This land is already owned by TWBC Rusthall 2.9

Pembury (n) 1.64 (Includes c 0.2 for access) Nb. Existing playing field is owned by Pembury Parish Council. Pembury (s) 2.09