The Borough of Basingstoke and Deane Leisure and Recreation Needs Assessment Final Report: September 2008 The Borough of Basingstoke and Deane Leisure and Recreation Needs Assessment Contents 1: Introduction and Methodology 7 Introduction 7 Open Space, Sport and Recreation Provision 8 The Context for the Assessment 10 The Content of the Assessment 10 Structure of the Report 13 Acknowledgements 17 2: Summary 19 The Policy Context 19 The Future for Leisure in Basingstoke 19 Local Views, Local Needs 20 Significant Trends 20 Current Provision 23 Spatial Objectives 30 Key Issues 34 Planning Policy 35 3: The Policy Context 38 Introduction 38 The Policy Context 38 The Borough’s Population 40 Conclusions 40 4: The Future for Leisure in Basingstoke 42 Introduction 42 The Key Drivers of Change 42 Strategic Recommendations 45 Implications for the PPG17 Assessment 46 5: Local Views, Local Needs 50 Introduction 50 Survey of Borough Council Members 50 Survey of Town and Parish Councils 54 Review of Quantitative Market Research 61 Review of Qualitative Market Research 64 Basingstoke Town 64 Deficiencies in Provision 66 Policy Implications 67 Kit Campbell Associates, Edinburgh: Basingstoke and Deane Leisure and Recreation Needs Assessment 1 6: Distance Thresholds 72 Introduction 72 The Nature of Distance Thresholds 72 Government Guidance 75 National Agency Guidance 76 Local Authority Research 79 Other PPG17 Assessments 80 Summary 81 Proposed Distance Thresholds 82 7: Quality Standards 84 Introduction 84 8: Allotments 86 Introduction 86 The Quality of Provision 86 Accessibility 87 The Quantity of Provision 88 Local Views 88 Trends 89 Potential Trends 90 The Implications of Likely Trends 90 Quantity Standard 91 Summary of Provision Standards 91 Spatial Objectives 91 Implementation 92 9: Artificial Turf Pitches 94 Introduction 94 Quality and Value 94 Accessibility 94 Quantity 94 The Wider Value of Grass Pitches 99 Quantity Standard 99 The Impact of Population Change 100 Spatial Objective 100 Implementation 100 10: Athletics Facilities 103 Introduction 103 Existing Provision 103 Nearby Provision 103 The Potential to Attract Events 104 A Community Stadium 104 Spatial Objective 104 Implementation 104 11: Outdoor Bowling Greens 105 Introduction 105 Existing Provision 105 Supply and Demand 105 Accessibility 106 Local Views 106 Trends 106 Spatial Objective 106 Implementation 107 Kit Campbell Associates, Edinburgh: Basingstoke and Deane Leisure and Recreation Needs Assessment 2 12: Provision for Children and Young People 109 Introduction 109 Existing Provision 111 Accessibility 112 Local Views 113 A Suggested New Policy Approach to Play 116 Quantity Standard 117 Spatial Objectives 120 Implementation 120 13: Golf Courses 121 Introduction 121 Existing Provision 121 Demand and Supply 121 Accessibility 122 Trends 122 Quantity Standard 122 Spatial Objectives 123 Implementation 123 14: Sports Pitches 125 Introduction 125 The Sports England Playing Pitch Model 125 Quality and Value 128 Local Views 128 Accessibility 131 Supply and Demand 132 The Impact of Population Change 134 Spatial Objectives 135 Implementation 135 15: The Green Network within Settlements 138 Introduction 138 Existing Provision 138 Quality and Value 139 Local Views 143 Trends 143 Quantity Standard 144 Spatial Objectives 145 Implementation 146 16: Tennis Courts 148 Introduction 148 Current Provision 148 Accessibility 148 Local Views 148 Trends 149 The Quantity of Provision 149 Spatial Objectives 150 Implementation 150 17: Countryside Recreation and Access 152 Introduction 152 Current Provision 152 Demand for the Access Network 153 Key Issues Relating to Countryside Access 154 Kit Campbell Associates, Edinburgh: Basingstoke and Deane Leisure and Recreation Needs Assessment 3 A Country Park for Basingstoke and Deane? 155 Spatial Objectives 156 Implementation 156 18: Indoor Sports and Exercise Facilities 158 Introduction 158 Fitness Facilities 158 Ice Rinks 161 Indoor Bowls 161 Indoor Tennis 161 Sports Halls 162 Swimming Pools 163 Spatial Objectives 165 Implementation 165 19: Community Halls 166 Introduction 166 Existing Provision 166 Accessibility 166 Local Views 167 Trends 168 Quantity 168 Quantity Standard 168 Spatial Objective 168 Implementation 169 20: Issues and Options 170 Introduction 170 Strategic and Policy Issues 170 Facility-Specific Issues 172 21: Planning Policy 179 Introduction 179 Summary of Proposed Quantity Standards 179 Current Local Plan Policy 179 Suggested Broad Approach to Policy 180 Management and Maintenance Issues 183 Related Supplementary Planning Documents 185 Planning for New Residential Developments 185 Spare Capacity 185 Appendices (bound separately) A The National and Regional Policy Context B County and Borough-wide Plans and Strategies C Quality Standards D Ward Councillors Survey E Town and Parish Councils Survey F Allotments G Playing Pitch Model H Equipped Play Areas Quantity Analysis I Indoor Sports Facilities Supply-demand Model J Accessibility Assessment K Survey of Pitch Sport Clubs L Team Generation Rates M Tennis Courts N Major Sports Facilities Listing Kit Campbell Associates, Edinburgh: Basingstoke and Deane Leisure and Recreation Needs Assessment 4 O MFGS Audit P MFGS Analysis Q Community Halls Maps (bound separately) Basingstoke and Deane Parishes 3.1 Density of Development – Borough 3.2 Density of development – Basingstoke Town 8.1 Allotments – Borough 9.1 ATPs – Borough – Existing 9.2 ATPs – Borough – Proposed 10.1 Athletics Tracks 11.1 Bowls – Borough 11.2 Bowls – Basingstoke Town 12.1 Toddlers’ Play Areas - Borough 12.2 Junior Play Areas - Borough 12.3 Teenage Facilities - Borough 12.4 Junior Play Areas – Basingstoke Town 12.5 Strategic Play Areas – Basingstoke Town 13.1 Golf Courses – Borough 13.2 Golf Ranges– Borough 14.1 Centres for Sport - Borough 15.1 Multi-functional Greenspaces - Borough 15.2 Multifunctional Greenspaces – Basingstoke Town 15.3 Amenity Greenspaces - Borough 15.4 Natural Greenspaces - Borough 16.1 Tennis – Borough 16.2 Tennis – Basingstoke Town 18.1 Fitness – Borough 18.2 Fitness – Basingstoke town 18.3 Fitness – Borough – Equipment Range 18.4 Ice rinks – Borough 18.5 Indoor Bowls 18.6 Indoor Tennis – Borough 18.7 Sports Halls – borough 18.8 Sports Halls – Basingstoke Town 18.9 Pools – Borough 18.10 Pools – Basingstoke Town 19.1 Community halls - Borough 19.2 Community halls – Wheelchair Access 19.3 Community halls – Badminton Courts Kit Campbell Associates Open Space, Sport and Recreation Consultants Chuckie Pend 24A Morrison Street Edinburgh EH3 8BJ 30 September 2008 Kit Campbell Associates, Edinburgh: Basingstoke and Deane Leisure and Recreation Needs Assessment 5 Kit Campbell Associates, Edinburgh: Basingstoke and Deane Leisure and Recreation Needs Assessment 6 1: Introduction and Methodology Introduction The importance of open space, sport and recreation planning has become increasingly apparent in the past few years in response to the Government’s “Cleaner, Greener, Safer” agenda, the clear need to promote higher level of physical activity and the growing pressures for new housing developments in most parts of the country. Planning Policy Statement 17, Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation (issued by the then Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, now the Department for Communities and Local Government, in July 2002) makes clear that the Government regards well designed and implemented planning policies for open space, sport and recreation provision as fundamental to delivering its broader planning objectives. The specific national objectives that accessible, high quality open space, sport and recreation provision supports are identified in PPG17 as: • Supporting an urban renaissance • Supporting a rural renewal • Promoting social inclusion and community cohesion • Promoting health and wellbeing • Promoting sustainable development PPG17 therefore requires English planning authorities to undertake assessments of needs and opportunities and advises that they should include: • Robust assessments of the existing and future needs of their communities for open space, sports and recreation facilities (paragraph 1) • The differing and distinctive needs of the population for open space and built sports and recreational facilities (as outlined in the annex). The needs of those working in and visiting areas, as well as residents should also be included (paragraph 2) • Audits of existing open space, sports and recreational facilities, the use made of existing facilities, access in terms of location and costs and opportunities for new open space and facilities … Audits should consider both the quantitative and qualitative elements of open Kit Campbell Associates, Edinburgh: Basingstoke and Deane Leisure and Recreation Needs Assessment 7 space, sports and recreation facilities (paragraph 3) PPG17 goes on to say that “assessments and audits will allow local authorities to identify specific needs and quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses of open space, sports and recreational facilities in their areas. They form the starting point for establishing an effective strategy for open space, sport and recreation at the local level (tied to the local authority’s Community Strategy) and for effective planning though the development of appropriate policies in plans” (paragraph 4). In terms of provision standards, PPG17 makes clear that open space standards are best set locally as “national standards cannot cater for local circumstances, such as differing demographic profiles and the extent of built development in an