PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation·Page 16·5.2
General presumption against loss of open space
The Department will generally presumed against allowing open space to be lost to alternative uses, as it is a valuable community resource that once built on is almost certainly lost forever.
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 resource and the Department attaches great importance to its retention, for once built on it is almost certainly lost to the community forever. Accordingly, the Department will operate a general presumption against the loss of open space to competing land uses.
Source — /Users/richardhill/Documents/planning-arch-project/data/documents/regional/PPS 8 - Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation.pdf