BASE HEADER

No

ID sylw: 107376

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Sport England

Sport England supports the principal of Policy 44 though consider the wording of the policy should be more aligned to National Planning Policy Framework paragraph 104.
For example, the first exception for when a site can be developed is that there is no need or demand for the existing community, sport and leisure uses and land formerly used as such and adequate alternative provision is available to meet the needs of the area.
Sport England consider that the policy/the policy justification should state that to demonstrate compliance with this exception, an assessment should be undertaken which clearly shows the open space, buildings or land to be surplus to requirements. As part of this consideration should be given to current and future demand for the sports provision and the capacity of existing alternative provision to meet demand in the area. Consideration of the need of the site should also not be focused on the existing or previous pitch sport use, with the assessment covering all potential sports and leisure usage of the site. Sport England also consider that the word community should be removed from the policy as there are a number of planning appeals which state NPPF paragraph 104 applies to both community accessible and private sites (even when they are not accessible to the community). Sport England can provide the relevant appeals to the Council should this be of assistance.



In relation to the second exception of equivalent or better replacement facilities are secured on or off site that are equally accessible to the community. The wording of this policy appears to facilitate enabling development i.e. development of part of a playing field site and improvement to the remaining site which is not supported by Sport England. The reasoning for this is that it would not have been demonstrated that the playing field land proposed to be lost is surplus to requirement (to meet current and future demand). Sport England consider that policy wording should be altered to state the provision to be lost would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality that is equally accessible to the community.

Sport England also consider the scope of the policy should extend to built sport facilities and venues, in line with NPPF paragraph 104.