5 How are developer contributions for off-site open space calculated?

5.1 The level of developer contribution for open space, sport and recreation facilities will always depend on whether it includes the cost of land acquisition. Draft costs based on developer contributions per residential unit for each type of open space are shown below in  Table 5.1.

5.2 The following figures give the commuted sum rates for enhancing existing open spaces and providing new open spaces. They are based on 2007 rates (updated annually) for laying out a new open space, as appropriate by category and are calculated by multiplying the ‘provision rate per person’ (based on the accessibility/quantity standards) by the ‘cost of laying out per hectare’. The new provision rates include a rule of thumb land value of £10,000 per acre (£24,711 per hectare) as an additional cost for laying out the facility, but are otherwise identical to the enhancement calculation.

5.3 These tables will provide guidance for the calculation of commuted payments by developers for the provision or enhancement of open space. They provide a starting point for negotiations between the Council and developers.



Table 5.1 To illustrate the Calculation of Financial where Recreation Space Provision is below the minimum guideline (i.e new provision needed) showing new and enhanced provision.
Dwelling Type Elderly persons 1 Bedroom Family homes
2 bedroom 3 bedroom 4+ bedroom 5+ bedroom
Provision type - Enhanced (E) or New (N) E N E N E N E N E N E N
Open Space Type  
Parks & Gardens Formal open space 97 104 97 104 194 209 292 313 389 417 486 522
Allotments & Community Gardens 14 21 14 21 29 43 43 64 57 86 72 107
Cemeteries 45 52 45 52 91 105 136 157 182 210 227 262
Civic Spaces 64   64   128   192   256   320  
Amenity greenspace Informal open space 8 14 8 14 16 29 24 43 32 58 40 72
Natural/ semi-natural and green corridors 16 23 16 23 32 45 49 68 65 90 81 113
Outdoor sports facilities Formal sports facilities 151 911 151 911 302 1822 453 2732 604 3643 755 4554
Indoor sports facilities 35   35   71   106   141   176  
Provision for children and young people         180 215 269 323 359 430 449 538
Maximum Total Contribution £431   £431   £1043   £1564   £2085   £2606  

Note 1. The cost of providing new civic spaces has not been calculated as it expected normally that an existing area will be enhanced. However this does not preclude the provision of new civic space as an alternative to other formal open space.

Note 2. The cost of providing new indoor sports facilities has not been calculated as it is expected that normally these facilities will not be provided on site.

Note 3: The contributions for typologies will sometimes be combined within their categories for effectiveness of provision of open space, sport and recreation facilities.

Note 4 : New employment uses over 50 equivalent full-time employees would generate a need for civic spaces, parks and gardens, natural and semi-natural outdoor space and outdoor and indoor sports facilities. Such details would be negotiated at the application stage.

Maintenance

5.4 For new on-site provision long term maintenance will be arranged through one of two options:

  1. Developers will establish a mechanism for maintenance e.g. through a management company for which residents would pay annual service charge.
  2. When a developer hands over title and responsibility for on-site provision to a local authority or a third party such as a parish council or trust, the long term maintenance would be the responsibility of the body in whom the facility is vested.

5.5 The calculation which the Council uses to determine commuted sums for maintaining on-site open space in perpetuity is based on a multiplier of 41 years. It is a complex formula and is not shown in this SPD. Using the formula, it is possible to calculate the level of commuted sum that a developer will be required to pay for each type open space. These levels are reproduced below. The commuted sums are shown per hectare (ha) for everything except Provision for Children and Young People, which are shown as a cost per play area i.e. Locally Equipped Area for Play (LEAP)( See Appendix 6 for definitions). The figures show the annual maintenance cost and also the total cost per hectare/per play area after the multiplier has been applied. All of the costs are based on the layout of the open space and use current contract rates or 2006/07 budget papers as the basis for calculation.


Table 5.2 New Provision Off-site
Typology

Maintenance cost/ha
Cost p/a Total Cost
Parks and Gardens £11,726 £480,757
Allotments £260 £10,658
Cemeteries £2,622 £107,486
Civic Spaces £0 £0
Amenity Green Space £235 £9,651
Natural/semi-natural Green Space £227 £9,322
Outdoor Sports £3,416 £130,287
Indoor facilities * *
Children and Young People £1,884 £77,246

*No maintenance cost have been calculated for indoor facilities as it is expected that these facilities will not normally be provided on site. Such instances will be negotiated at the time.