Play, Open Space and Sports Study for Bracknell Forest (2016-2036) August 2017 1 Contents Chapter Title Page number Number 1 Background and context 3 2 Prepare and tailor the approach 12 3 Overall Supply and Demand 20 4 Typology A – Parks and Gardens 51 5 Typologies B and C (Semi-Natural Greenspace, Urban 66 Woodlands and Green Corridors) 6 Typology D – (Childrens Play) 91 7 Typologies E and F (Sports Facilities and School Playing 110 Fields) 8 Typology G (Allotments) 125 9 Typologies H, I, J and K (Civic spaces / Cemeteries and 133 Churchyards / Amenity greenspace, landscape buffer, incidental verge / Drainage, Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), Ponds. 10 Policy, guidance and standards recommendations 140 2 CHAPTER 1 – Background and Context Introduction 1.1 Bracknell Forest Council has undertaken a study of play provision, open space and indoor and outdoor sport and recreational facilities. This will provide a clear vision and priorities for the future, based on local need. The study runs from 2016 to 2036 to align with the emerging Comprehensive Local Plan period. This study has been prepared in parallel with the Playing Pitch Strategy. This study follows the 1 methodology as set out in the Sport England’s guidance (see paragraph 1.9). 1.2 The study embraces one of the main ambitions of the Borough Council to plan positively, creatively and effectively to ensure that there is adequate provision of accessible, high quality green spaces, civic spaces and sports and recreation facilities that meet the needs and aspirations of local people and visitors. 1.3 This report has been prepared with a number of objectives which are fully set out in paragraph 2.3 but which review; the amount of provision, its quality, availability and accessibility. It reviews likely demand up to 2036 and makes strategy, policy and implementation recommendations. 1.4 There provision of high quality play, open space and sports facilities provide many tangible benefits as summarised below: Table 1a - POSS Benefits Who Benefits Benefits Residents and • Provides areas for play and recreation for all ages visitors • Widespread availability encourages equality and diversity • Provides local access close to where people live, visit or work • Provides community safety opportunities Environment • Provides a counterbalance to the hard landscape of urban areas. • Improves biodiversity • Provides habitat for wildlife • Important education resource • Provides sustainable drainage opportunities • Combats climate change • Provides safe and attractive routes for walkers, cyclists and horse riders • Provides local access to residents • Creates a pleasant visual amenity Social • Improves physical health • Contributes to physical and mental health and wellbeing • Fosters community spirit and activity • Fosters a sense of identity and pride of place Economic • Increases land values and house prices • Can help influence where business and its employees locate • Encourages visitors and their spending 1 Assessing needs and opportunities guide for indoor and outdoor sports facilities, Sport England (July 2014) 3 • Allows new residential development to proceed • Attracts development and local investment opportunities • Improves the image of the borough 1.5 This study comprises 10 chapters with Chapter 3 providing an overall assessment of POSS provision and Chapter 10 providing recommendations for policies and standards. The individual open space typologies are considered in Chapters 4-9. Summary of Findings 1.6 The findings from the Play, Open Space and Sports study can be summarised as follows: • 11 Open Space Typologies have been identified and reviewed. • 350 open space shave been identified with a total area of 2969.11 hectares. • Bracknell Town Council area owns and manages the greatest number of spaces (162) with all other parishes having around 30 to 40 each. • The average ratings for quality of the open spaces were very good and excellent. • The demand for open space is high and likely to increase due to population growth. • Sport participation is high and continuing to increase in comparison with local authority places. • Local residents consistently state that open space and recreation provision are the highest valued assets of the borough. • Funding for open space provision is increasingly challenging, with a continuing financial pressures predicted within local government. • Costs of open space are hard to predict because its ongoing management is likely to vary significantly according to future design and layout. The development of projects will include consideration of costs including maintenance. • There are many benefits to the health and well being of communities derived from having good access to open space. It is essential that public health benefits form an integral POSS provision as part of sustainable development if the rising costs to the council of ill health are to be minimised. • To manage the costs of maintaining open space, all designs will be required to maximise the integration of natural features to provide security and recreation, whilst minimising ongoing maintenance costs. • Other delivery mechanisms (particularly focusing on quality improvements) include funding via financial contributions (s106 or CIL –including the proportion paid to Town and Parish Councils). Also potentially through the BFC capital programme, though the reduction in Government Grants to Local Authorities will have a significant impact on the availability of capital. • Another potential income stream could be external grants e.g. the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), which can be used to restore and enhance existing key sites where they meet specific criteria and funding priorities. These grant schemes are very competitive and so opportunities are limited. • It will be important to identify revenue funding to improve the quality of provision and their day to day maintenance. This is likely to be the biggest restriction to providing and enhancing open space in the future. • In the face of increased use, where on-site provision of open space cannot be secured through development, s106 contributions should to be used to enhance and then maintain existing open space. • Income streams from open spaces should also be explored for example, raising hire charges and providing refreshment facilities. 4 Summary of Policy Recommendations 1.7 It is recommended that a set of robust policies is included in the Comprehensive Local Plan (CLP). The detailed policy recommendations are set out in Chapter 10; these are summarised below. • Define Open Space of Public Value (OSPV) (see Chapter 10, paragraph 10.3) • Protect, enhance and provide new OSPV and built sports facilities (Chapter 10, paragraph 10.4). • Over time, more flexibility to adapt and change the function of OSPV if necessary e.g. adapting open space to meet changing needs such as formalising an amenity area to a sports pitch. • Provide for new or enhanced sports facilities including more football pitches, cricket pitches and Artificial Grass Pitches in appropriate locations (to be identified). • Set quantity standards for OSPV provision for new development. The standard is recommended to remain at 4.3 hectares (ha) per 1000 persons (comprising 2 ha/1000 Active OSPV and 2.3 ha/1000 Passive OSPV). However, the way the standard is applied should be changed when SANG provision is required (see paragraph 10.7). • Seek in-kind or financial contributions towards recreational facilities where appropriate which relate to capacity improvement projects in the IDP (Table 10a). • Set quality standards which include a revised ‘Plus One Principle’ for the continuous improvement of all OSPV. • Reduce the ongoing maintenance obligations falling to the land owner through a focus on s106 projects and financial contributions towards the maintenance of existing OSPV which will in turn increase capacity. • Set accessibility standards. • Align the provision of play open space and sports facilities with other strategies/policies including the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area, Green Infrastructure and Public Rights of Way network. • Support new recreational facilities for visitor accommodation within defined settlement boundaries subject to consideration of their environmental, transport and other planning impacts. • Promote the dual use of facilities such as schools for community recreational purposes. • Promote development which improves access to recreational activity in the countryside subject to consideration of the impact on function/character/openness. Scope of the Study 1.8 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) guidance requires local authorities to undertake an assessment of provision of open space, indoor facilities and outdoor sports provision. The Council has also reviewed existing strategies. NPPF paragraph 73 states: “Access to high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and recreation can make an important contribution to the health and well-being of communities. Planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the needs for open space, sports and recreation facilities and opportunities for new provision. The assessments should identify specific needs and quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses of open space, sports and recreational facilities in the local area. Information gained from the assessments should be used to determine what open space, sports and recreational provision is required.” 5 1.9 This study updates the previous study in 2006 which was produced following