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NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

This Planning Policy Statement, PPS 8 'Open Space, Sport and Outdoor Recreation', sets out the Department's planning policies for the protection of open space, the provision of new areas of open space

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

The PPS is of direct relevance to the public and those whose actions have a direct physical impact upon the natural or man-made environment. These include landowners, developers, government department

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

The policies of this Statement supersede the following provisions of the Planning Strategy for Rural Northern Ireland: REC 1 - Recreational Open Space, REC 2 - Outdoor Recreation

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

Where the above policies are referred to elsewhere in the Planning Strategy, the policies of this Statement take precedence. It should be noted, however, that Planning Policy Statement 8 does not supe

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

Open space, sport and outdoor recreation are important components of life. They provide many cultural, social, economic and environmental benefits and contribute positively to physical and mental heal

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

Open space, for the purposes of this Statement, is defined as all open space of public value. The definition includes not just outdoor sports facilities, parks and gardens, amenity green space and chi

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

Open space can serve different needs depending on its size, location, accessibility, landscape design and facilities. For example, it is often the case that larger open spaces in urban areas successfu

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

Open space, whether or not there is public access to it, is important for its contribution to the quality of urban life by providing important green lungs, visual breaks and wildlife habitats in built

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

For all these reasons, the Government attaches great importance to the retention of our existing open spaces, the creation of attractive new spaces and the promotion of more opportunities to participa

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

The use being made of the countryside for a range of sporting and outdoor recreational activities, particularly where these are associated with farm diversification, can contribute to the process of r

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

The Programme for Government 2002–2005 promotes sustainable living to ensure that our society and economy develop in ways that meet our current needs, while ensuring that future generations can also m

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

The importance of open space, sport and outdoor recreation to health and the environment is acknowledged in the Regional Development Strategy for Northern Ireland 2025 (RDS). The RDS seeks to create h

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

A number of specific measures are highlighted and these include: - • encouraging the protection and enhancement of open spaces and playing facilities for the long-term benefit of the whole community (

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

providing opportunities for more active lifestyles by maintaining and enhancing sporting facilities in the Region, creating networks of community greenways in cities and towns, developing cycle and pe

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

promoting sustainable access to the countryside taking account of the Northern Ireland Countryside Recreation Strategy and continuing to develop the network of public open spaces including country par

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

In formulating the policies contained in this Statement, consideration has been given to a number of other Government strategies. These include 'Investing for Health' published by the Department of He

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

The main objectives of this Planning Policy Statement are: • to safeguard existing open space and sites identified for future such provision; • to ensure that areas of open space are provided as an in

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

The preparation of a development plan provides the opportunity to assess existing open space provision within the plan area and to identify, where necessary, suitable locations for future open space d

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

The primary responsibility for the provision of public open space facilities such as playing fields, parks and children's play areas rests with district councils. Accordingly, in assessing open space

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

The assessment of provision will commence with a survey of existing open spaces, both public and private, identifying the different needs they serve. This survey will generally focus on open spaces wi

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

Based on the survey information, the Department will then assess provision against the National Playing Fields Association (NPFA) recommended minimum standard of 2.4 hectares of 'outdoor playing space

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

While it is recognised that provision of open space facilities can vary greatly from one area to another, the NPFA standard is intended to reflect a minimum level of provision of 'outdoor playing spac

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

The assessment of open space will be carried out for all large settlements and where appropriate assessments may also extend to include the entire plan area.

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

Based on the assessment of open space provision, land may be zoned for future open space purposes in the development plan to help meet the needs of local communities. The amount and location of land t

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

In considering the location of land to be zoned, the Department will take into account: • accessibility to and from existing and proposed housing areas, with particular attention being paid to the acc

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

Development plans will, where appropriate, contain key site requirements for zoned residential land which should include guidance on the provision of areas of public open space required as an integral

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

The Department will identify major areas of existing open space on development plan maps for information purposes. Within settlements these may include parks, playing fields and other sports and outdo

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

Areas of existing open space within or adjoining settlements may also be designated as landscape wedges, in particular those larger areas which perform a strategic function (see Annex A). In addition,

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

In exercise of its responsibility for planning control in Northern Ireland, the Department assesses development proposals against all planning policies and other material considerations that are relev

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

The Department will not permit development that would result in the loss of existing open space or land zoned for the provision of open space. The presumption against the loss of existing open space w

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

In recent years there has been growing public concern at the loss of open space to alternative uses. The use of land as open space, however, is no less important than other uses. It is a valuable reso

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

The protection of open space is particularly important in urban areas where competing development pressures are greatest. Indeed, its retention and enhancement is now all the more important in support

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

The protection and enhancement of sporting and outdoor recreational facilities in urban areas may also reduce the demand for such activities in the countryside. This can sometimes help provide relief

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

The Department will permit an exception to the presumption against loss of open space where development would produce such community benefit that this would decisively outweigh its loss. In such cases

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

It is also recognised that development can on occasion provide an opportunity to recreate open space or outdoor recreational facilities in an alternative location to substitute for the loss of an exis

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

Where an exchange is acceptable in principle the Department will secure this through use of planning conditions or, where appropriate, a Planning Agreement under Article 40 of the Planning (NI) Order

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

In relation to playing fields and sports pitches in urban areas, there may be exceptional circumstances where it is demonstrated that the retention and enhancement of the facility can only be achieved

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

The above exception will be applied only once to guard against the piecemeal erosion of playing fields and sports pitches by a succession of small developments, possibly over a long period of time. In

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

All proposals for the alternative use of open space will be assessed with regard to their effect on the amenity, character and biodiversity of the area and the wider locality and taking into account t

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

The Department will only permit proposals for new residential development of 25 or more units, or on sites of one hectare or more, where public open space is provided as an integral part of the develo

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

Where the provision of public open space is required under this policy, the precise amount, location, type and design of such provision will be negotiated with applicants taking account of the specifi

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

For residential development of 100 units or more, or for development sites of 5 hectares or more, an equipped children's play area will be required as an

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

Providing public open space as an integral part of a housing scheme contributes to the creation of a sustainable and quality residential environment. It has both recreational and social value, and hel

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

Through the Quality Initiative, it is the Department's stated objective to secure a high quality of design, layout and landscaping in new housing developments. It is considered essential, therefore, t

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

Public open space can be provided in a variety of forms ranging from village greens, kickabout areas and small parks through to equipped play areas and sport pitches. In addition, the creation or rete

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

A particularly important consideration in determining the layout of new housing developments is the provision of safe opportunities for children's play. The main place where young children play is adj

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

A legal agreement transferring ownership and responsibility for the open space to a properly constituted residents' association with associated management arrangements. In this case, the ownership of

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

If an applicant wishes to follow an alternative approach to those outlined above, it will have to be demonstrated how such an approach can meet the Department's policy requirement for the open space t

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

To ensure that planning applications are dealt with expediently and therefore avoid delays, the Department will expect full information on which of the above approaches that an applicant intends to fo

NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation

The Department will also attach appropriate planning conditions to address the following matters: the laying out and landscaping of the open space; the timing of its implementation; and the permanent