Open Space Assessment On behalf of: Sir D S Wills Site: Land at Stag Hill, Chilton Foliat, Wiltshire (Sites A and B) Proposal: Site A – Erection of 9 no. dwellings with garaging, car parking, access and associated landscaping; with public open space including equipped children’s play area Site B – Change of use of agricultural land to recreation ground, including formation of playing pitch, 2 no. multi-use games areas, erection of changing rooms, reconfiguration of car park; and erection of 6 no. dwellings with access, Fowler Architecture & Planning Limited 19 High Street, Pewsey, Wiltshire SN9 5AF www.faap.co.uk [email protected] 01672 569444 130520 | Chilton Foliat – Open Space Assessment Fowler Architecture and Planning Ltd Contents 1. Introduction 2. Context 3. Policy and Strategy Review 4. Qualitative Review 5. Open Space Assessment 6. Impact of Proposals 7. Conclusions Appendix A – Chilton Foliat Open Space Audit Appendix B – Chilton Foliat Open Space Survey September 2013 Site: Land at Stag Hill, Chilton Foliat, Wiltshire Report For: Sir D S Wills Document Revisions: No. Details Checked By Date 130520/P7A Submission to WC MP 03.06.2014 Copyright – The contents of this document must not be reproduced in whole or in part within the written consent of Fowler Architecture and Planning 2 130520 | Chilton Foliat – Open Space Assessment Fowler Architecture and Planning Ltd 1. Introduction 1.1 This Open Space Assessment has been prepared by Fowler Architecture and Planning Ltd (FAAP) on behalf of Sir D S Wills in support of the submission of two concurrent Full Planning Applications in the village of Chilton Foliat, Wiltshire. 1.2 Application A covers a 1.1 hectare area of land at the Recreation Ground, Stag Hill (referred to as Site A) and is for “Erection of 9 no. dwellings with garaging, car parking, access and associated landscaping; with public open space including equipped children’s play area”. 1.3 Application B covers a 1.34 hectare area of land to the north of Chilton Foliat CE VA Primary School (referred to as Site B) and is for “Change of use of agricultural land to recreation ground, including formation of playing pitch, 2 no. multi-use games areas, erection of changing rooms, reconfiguration of car park; and erection of 6 no. dwellings with access, parking and associated landscaping”. 1.4 The purpose of the study is to explore the current open space provision for Chilton Foliat with the aim of understanding the level of local provision and need in accordance with paragraphs 73, 74 and 171 of the National Planning Policy Framework. As a result, the study seeks to identify the demand for open space in the locality and to demonstrate how the proposals for the two sites on Stag Hill and the new open space provision within the development will cater for this. 1.5 This study has been informed by “Assessing needs and Opportunities: a Companion Guide to PPG17” (DCLG, 2001) and the “Assessing Needs and Opportunities Guide for Indoor and Outdoor Sports Facilities: How to undertake and apply Needs Assessments for Sport” draft for consultation published by Sport England (2013). 3 130520 | Chilton Foliat – Open Space Assessment Fowler Architecture and Planning Ltd 2. Context 2.1 Chilton Foliat is located 2.4km to the north west of Hungerford, 4.4km east of Ramsbury and 12.8km east of Marlborough. The population of Chilton Foliat parish is 363 (Census 2011 ONS). Left – Access to existing recreation ground (Site A) from Stag Hill to the west Right – View across recreation ground looking north 2.2 Site A is located in the centre of the village and comprises a predominately grassed recreation ground with limited equipment to the eastern boundary adjacent to a small copse of trees. The site is owned by the Applicant and has been in used for recreation purposes for at least 49 years. The Parish Council has photographs of the land being used for recreation dating back to the early 1900s. The first formal arrangement with the Parish Council to use this land as a recreation ground was agreed in 1964 when a 40 year lease was signed. Upon the expiry of this long-term lease the Parish Council secured a 7 year extension until 2011 and subsequently the land has been used with the owner’s permission with a rolling yearly agreement. Left – Skateboard park on Site A consisting of two ramps and a rail Right – Existing children’s play equipment on Site A 4 130520 | Chilton Foliat – Open Space Assessment Fowler Architecture and Planning Ltd 2.3 A pavilion was previously sited in the south east corner of the recreation ground, first appearing on the 1980/81 OS Map, however this last appears on the 1994 OS Map. The present children’s play equipment consisting of a pair of swings and a roundabout were installed in approximately 1995. The skateboard park was installed in around 2000. The goalposts were moved away from the northern boundary to their current position in 1998. Part of the recreation ground was regularly used for the Village Fete until 2009. The village held a Jubilee Fete on the ground in 2012. 2.4 Site B is located to the north of the village and adjacent to the Primary School. The distance between the junction of the B4192 and B4001 at the centre of the village to the site is approximately 390 metres. The site is situated on higher ground, with the B4192 at 110AOD and Site B at 130AOD. Footways are provided along both sides of the B4001. The western footway commences 80 metres north of the B4192 junction and continues to a point at the former entrance to the Primary School. The eastern footway exists for only a short length between 15 Stag Hill and Glebe Place. Footways are proposed to be extended as part of the proposals to better link the site to the village. This site benefited from Planning Permission in 2003 under LPA reference K/44815 for the change of use of land from agricultural to a recreation ground. Left – View over Site B adjacent to Primary Looking from north west corner Right – View along western boundary of Site B 2.5 The development proposals at Chilton Foliat will seek to provide a range of improved high quality open space, activities and recreation provision over the two sites. 2.6 Equipped play space and the primary casual open space element will be retained on Site A through a ‘village green’. There is presently no formal sports pitch in the village and this will be provided, along with replacement casual open space comprising the relocated skateboard park and 2 no. multi-use games areas, on Site B adjacent to the Primary School. 5 130520 | Chilton Foliat – Open Space Assessment Fowler Architecture and Planning Ltd 3. Policy & Strategy Review 3.1 The starting point for this assessment is to identify and review the local and national planning policy framework and their evidence based to understand how this applies to any proposed development. 3.2 The documents subject to this review are: • Kennet Local Plan 2011 (KLP) adopted April 2004 • Kennet Community Benefits from Planning SPG adopted March 2005 • Wiltshire Council Standard Specification for Equipped Play Space June 2012 • Draft Wiltshire Core Strategy including Proposed Modifications November 2013 • Wiltshire Green Infrastructure Strategy Update January 2012 • Wiltshire Core Strategy Topic Paper 11: Green Infrastructure January 2012 • Wiltshire Rural Facilities Survey 2012 • Joint Strategic Assessment (JSA) for Wiltshire 2012/13 • National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published March 2012 Kennet Local Plan 3.3 The KLP was adopted in April 2004. Chapter 7 provides the policies for sport and recreation, however as of 2007 only Policies TR17 ‘Existing Outdoor Sport and Recreation Facilities’ and TR20 ‘Protection of Allotments’ were saved. The application sites are not shown designated under TR17 on the Proposals Map. Policy TR17 states: Development of existing outdoor sport and recreational space for other uses within the Limits of Development of towns and villages, as identified on the Inset Maps, will only be permitted where it can be demonstrated that:- a) the development of a small part of the existing facility provides improvements to the remaining facilities and provides for their greater use; or b) a suitable alternative site, of comparable size and facilities, is provided in an acceptable location; or c) the proposal is for an alternative recreational or community use of benefit to local residents. In this case the overall recreational value of the open space available to local residents must be maintained. 6 130520 | Chilton Foliat – Open Space Assessment Fowler Architecture and Planning Ltd 3.4 With regards to open space provision, the KLP was informed by – now of-of-date - surveys undertaken in 1992 and 1998 to inform the Playing Pitch Strategy. At the time of its adoption, public and private recreational space for adults and children within Kennet failed to meet the total requirement using the National Playing Fields Association (NPFA) Six Acre Standard (6 acres per 1,000 population) for formal sports areas for adults and informal play space for children. 3.5 This minimum standard was adopted by the KLP as a target, expressed in Policies HC34 ‘Recreation Provision on Large Housing Sites’ and HC35 ‘Recreation Provision on Small Housing Sites’ are the requirements for new residential developments. 3.6 Policy HC34 states the full requirement for meeting recreation provision should be provided on larger sites of 20 of more dwelling units on the basis of 2.43 hectares per 1,000 population, comprising: • Equipped Play Space – 0.31 hectare per 1,000 population • Casual Play Space – 0.41 hectare per 1,000 population • Formal sports / pitches – 1.71 hectares per 1,000 population 3.7 There is no standard for allotments in the KLP.