Developer Contributions Towards Meeting Open Space, Sport and Recreation Facilities SPD

Appendix 5 Worked Example

Example 2, assessment of Open Space, Sport and Recreation Requirements – Open Space required on site

The proposal is for a hypothetical development of 80 two bedroomed apartments and 310 three bedroomed houses and 120 four bedroomed houses at a site at Wakefield Road, Halifax.

Stage 1 Does the housing development create a need for new open space, sport and recreation facilities?

Step A – Calculate the number of residents in the proposed development

80 two bedroomed apartments

310 three bedroomed houses

120 four bedroomed houses

Total number of residents is (80 x 2) + (310 x 3) + (120 x 4) = 1570

Step B - Assess if there are adequate open space, sport and recreation facilities.

Buffers of 240m, 400m, 600m and 1200m have been drawn round the development site to indicate the accessibility distances for the different open space typologies. These are shown on Map 5.1 Worked Example 2. Table 5.3 Provision analysis Example 2 summarises the sites within these buffers and also the requirement for the typologies with a quantity standard.

Step C – Assess whether the developer is required to provide a new open space, sport or recreation facility.

Table 5.3 Provision analysis Example 2 shows that there are a number of gaps in provision. The development is large enough to require some on-site facilities.

Parks and Gardens -  A small park/garden is required of a minimum size of 0.04 ha

Amenity Greenspace – An amenity green space is required of a minimum size of 0.04ha

Provision for children and young people – A LEAP is required on site.

Outdoor recreation – Some provision is required on site, for example a multi-use-games area (MUGA)

Stage 2 – Does the development create a need to enhance existing provision in the local area?

The on site provision listed in Step C are the minimum requirements. There is also a need to enhance existing facilities for which there is to be no on site provision.  Table 5.4 Commuted sum requirement Example 2 shows the proportion of the provision which is to be on site and the commuted sum required.

For example a small local park is to be provided on site but there is no larger local park within the catchment area and there is a need to enhance an existing district park. A third of the Parks and Gardens requirement is to be provided on site therefore the commuted sum is two thirds of that required if all the Parks and Gardens needs of the development were to be met by enhancing existing provision. 

Additional open space, sport and recreation facilities may be provided on site in which case the commuted sum required would decrease. This would be agreed with the developer.