Objective CER2

To provide facilities which ensure that all people have an opportunity to take part in sport and recreation and improve their quality of life.

CER2.1 Recreation Land, Playing Fields and Open Space Designations

Land has been identified for recreation playing fields and amenity open spaces within settlements where there is considered to be a need for further provision (see Inset Maps).

Reasons for Policy CER2.1

The provision of adequate recreation playing fields and amenity open space areas is important. The National Playing Fields Association (NPFA) recommends a minimum standard of 2.4 hectares (6 acres) per 1000 population known as the 6 acre standard. Within this 6 acres approx 4 acres should be allocated for pitches, courts etc and 2 acres to children’s playgrounds. The government recommends, but does not prescribe a national standard. The difficulty in applying the 6 acre standard in a rural area is recognised due to the dispersed settlement pattern, therefore, while it is a useful guide for urban areas, the extent to which it is acceptable for rural areas is a matter for the local authority to determine, having regard to local circumstances.

The identification of land for recreational open space in Ceredigion, in the Proposals Schedule, is based on individual consultation responses to the 1998 deposit version of the Local Plan, consultation with community councils, and a regard to the size of a community and its likely future growth rather than a quantitative analysis based on the 6 acre standard. It is important to identify and protect land for recreation to prevent the most suitable, centrally located sites from being developed for other purposes. It is important that sites are safe and overlooked and well integrated with footpath and cycle networks. The provision of recreational land in the centre of a community can be very important in improving the amenity value and quality of life of residents and engendering community interaction. Sports pitches can double up as village greens or form part of urban pocket parks providing places for community gatherings and local events e.g. Alban Square, Aberaeron. Local Nature Reserves are also important for providing recreational areas for walking and picnicing.

Grants are available from various bodies including National Lottery Funding (SPORTLOT) and the Sports Council for Wales. The County Council has also been active in providing grants and assistance to sports clubs, organisations and local communities to establish new or to improve recreation facilities.

The sites allocated for open space or recreation playgrounds vary in character and will need careful layout, design and landscaping treatment in keeping with the locality and the amenity interests of neighbouring land uses.

CER2.2 Play Areas and Open Space Provision in New Development

Proposals for residential development should include adequate provision for amenity open space and play areas. On larger sites this should be provided as part of an overall scheme, where smaller developments are proposed, developers will be required to contribute a financial contribution in lieu of on site provision.

Reasons for Policy CER2.2

It is important that residential developments provide safe and convenient play areas and open space areas for residents and their children. The provision of amenity areas enhances the character and the appeal of the neighbourhood as an attractive place to live. The need to provide an element of affordable housing or a higher density of housing is not sufficient justification to override the requirement to include open space and play areas. The facilities should be within safe walking distance of home. If insufficient land is set aside, then the likelihood is that demand will seldom be capable of being met locally. The level of provision will vary according to the nature of the development (i.e. population profile), the characteristics of the site and its proximity to neighbouring amenity facilities.

The National Playing Fields Association (NPFA) set out recommendations for open space provision in housing developments. These standards however are less easy to apply in rural areas where smaller, lower density developments are likely to occur. Where larger housing development (around 10 units in the main towns and 5 units elsewhere) is proposed, the Council will negotiate with developers for the inclusion of play and/or amenity provision as part of the overall scheme. In general this should be provided on site but may in some circumstances be provided off site through extensions or improvements to existing facilities in the settlement.

Adequate planning conditions or obligations will be used to ensure that provision is agreed at the outline stage of a planning application. Where a number of smaller sites are being developed, or expected to be developed in the Plan period, then a contribution towards a centrally located amenity area will be negotiated.

Supplementary guidance will be produced setting out the level of developer contribution required to create amenity areas and provide for their ongoing maintenance.

Planning agreements are important and TAN 16 entitled “Sport and Recreation” advises “sport and recreation facilities and open space should form an important component of major developments with commuted sums for maintenance.”

Where sites are identified in the Proposal Schedule a reference will be made to the need to provide amenity space within the development.'

CER2.3 New Sports Facilities

Proposals for the development of sports facilities in the County will be permitted provided the facility:

1. Is well located in terms of its catchment area;
2. Maximises public, visitor and educational use;
3. Where appropriate is accessible by public transport and from the local footpath and cycle network;
4. Is located within or adjacent to a settlement, unless a countryside location can be proven to be essential to the activity.

Reasons for Policy CER2.3

The Council has built new sports halls in Aberystwyth, Cardigan, Lampeter Tregaron and Aberaeron as part of its 10 Year Sports Development Strategy. Improved community facilities at Llandysul school are now also nearing completion.

The Facilities Planning Model (FPM) is a mathematical model which compares supply of sports facilities with demand from the public. The Sports Council for Wales uses the model to identify priority areas.

Ceredigion has been identified as being well provided for in terms of swimming pools and golf courses but demand for artificial multi-purpose pitches, indoor bowling rinks and athletic tracks is high and unmet. Ceredigion as both a provider and enabler of sport through leisure and education departments has prepared a Sport and Recreation Strategy for the area. The main recommendations are:

1. An artificial turf pitch should be located in Cardigan, with the second in Lampeter
2. The provision of an athletics track in the County (location to be determined)
3. An indoor bowling rink to be located in Aberaeron.

Sites for these proposals have not yet been identified but will be expected to meet the criteria of the policy.

The strategy recognises that in choosing locations for new facilities there are cross boundary issues to consider:

The Strategy recognises the importance of supporting events of national and international status e.g., Ian Rush tournament, Celtic Challenge, and trotting in Tregaron.

CER2.4 Dual Use of Existing Sporting Facilities

Proposals for the wider use of school, college and private recreational and sporting facilities by the wider community will be favourably considered.

Reasons for Policy CER2.4

The wider use of school playing fields and sports facilities by the local community can usefully extend the range of facilities available locally. Similarly facilities provided on holiday parks can provide an important dual community function.

The new Penweddig School is physically linked to Plascrug Leisure Centre to make the sharing of facilities easier out of school hours. The Universities at Aberystwyth and Lampeter are also encouraging more public use of their sporting facilities.

Where practicable, further dual use of recreational and sports facilities will continue to be encouraged.

CER2.5 Loss of Existing Playing Fields and Open Space

Proposals which involve the loss of existing recreation playing fields or amenity open space will only be permitted where:

1. The development of the site gives rise to enhanced provision of sports or open space facilities; or
2. Alternative provision of equivalent community benefit is made available; or
3. The loss of a field still leaves an excess of provision in the area.

Reasons for Policy CER2.5

The existing playing fields and amenity open spaces within the towns and villages represent a valuable recreation and general amenity resource for the community.

The facilities offer safe play areas for children, and are green lungs or corridors in otherwise built up areas. As pressure for development grows it becomes increasingly more important to protect existing playing fields and open spaces.

These areas include parks, public gardens, play areas, playing fields whether owned by private or voluntary organisations, and green wedges or corridors within or adjacent to the built environment. These are the open spaces, which, if lost, would be difficult to replace.

CER2.6 Allotments

Proposals which result in the loss of existing allotment gardens will only be permitted where equivalent or better replacement allotments in useable condition are provided in the locality prior to the commencement of development.

Reason for Policy CER2.6

Allotments are considered to provide a valuable resource for both formal and informal recreation. They also provide an important area of open space within settlements.

The development of allotments will generally be considered to be unacceptable.

However, a development proposal for community purposes, considered to be of greater community benefit than allotment retention may be acceptable if no other suitable sites are available. In such exceptional circumstances prior provision of allotment facilities should be made in the locality. Alternative allotment provision should be equivalent or better in both land area and quality, and be in a useable condition.

CER2.7 Flood Lighting

Flood lighting for sporting facilities will be permitted where there would be no significant adverse impact on the character and amenity and wildlife of the surrounding area.

Reason for Policy CER2.7

Flood lit sports facilities may greatly increase the benefits to a number of sports and make a facility viable. Where there are concerns about the impact on amenity and the environment, the permission granted may need to be subject to conditions, for example restricting lighting levels, limiting the hours during which the lights may be switched on, the requirement of some form of shielding and height restriction.

CER2.8 Major Leisure Development

Proposals for major leisure facilities will be permitted in town centre and edge of town centre locations. Proposals at other locations will only be permitted where:

1. No suitable town centre or edge of town centre site is available;
2. The site is well related to major roads and accessible to public transport;
3. The proposal is in scale and character with the area and will not adversely affect the Welsh language, landscape, environment and wildlife.

Reasons for Policy CER2.8

Leisure facilities such as theatres, cinemas, art centres, bowling alleys can serve as important tourist attractions as well as making an important contribution to the social life of the community. Such facilities should be located in places where they are accessible to the community and tourists. They should not be sited where they would have an unacceptably detrimental effect on residential amenities or the character of the area. Developments should not be of a nature which would have a harmful affect on the wellbeing of the Welsh language in the local community.

CER2.9 Golf Courses

Proposals for golf courses and golf driving ranges will be permitted provided:

1. New buildings and associated facilities are located on land within or adjoining an existing settlement or form part of a farm complex;
2. Proposals do not affect the character of the landscape, especially the special landscape areas;
3. The development should not have any unacceptable adverse impacts on the surrounding environment and amenity of the area;
4. Proposals do not adversely affect conservation and wildlife interests especially in or adjacent to sites of special scientific interest;
5. Proposals do not affect sites of archaeological interest;
6. Proposals do not result in the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land;
7. Vehicular access, the approach roads and parking provision are adequate
8. Do not adversely affect public rights of way;
9. The proposal is not likely to lead to an overprovision of golf courses in the area.

Reasons for Policy CER2.9

There has been a significant increase in the popularity of golf as a sport in recent years. The development of a new golf course could provide an economic boost for a local community especially in more rural areas, away from the coast. Existing buildings should be adapted to provide facilities usually associated with golf courses e.g. clubhouses and changing rooms. If a new building has to be erected the location, design and materials should be in keeping with the character of the area. There will be a strong presumption against the floodlighting of golf courses