Core Strategy Preferred Options (Revised October 2008)

CORE STRATEGY PREFERRED OPTIONS

Thank you for consulting Sport England on the above document. Sport England is the Government agency responsible for delivering the Government's sporting objectives. Maximising the investment into sport and recreation through the land use planning system is one of our national and regional priorities. You will also be aware that Sport England is a statutory consultee on planning applications affecting playing fields. In this context, I wish to make comments on the following aspects of the document:


Vision to Reality (p.8)
SUPPORT
Sport England welcome the identification of the role of the Core Strategy in achieving Priority 6 of the LAA: "We are committed to improving access to sporting facilities such as informal open space, playing pitches and leisure facilities where a need has been identified, as reinforced within the Core Strategy".

Option GB2: Rural Diversification and Recreational Uses
SUPPORT
Sport England welcome recognition of the sport and recreation as a legitimate Green Belt use, albeit one which demands careful guidance in terms of siting and design.

CLT5: Open Space (p.93/94)
SUPPORT WITH MODIFICATIONS
The reference to playing pitches as part of the complement of open space is welcomed. However, reference to background documents such as the emerging Playing Pitch Strategy would be helpful, as would be a cross-reference to Preferred Option CLT10 (Playing Pitches).

CLT9: Leisure Facilities (p.97/98)
SUPPORT WITH MODIFICATIONS
The spirit and broad content of this preferred option is welcomed as a robust means of their protection and enhancement throughout the District. However, there should be direct reference to a PPG17-compliant assessment of sport and recreation facilities to justify the protection and enhancement of these facilities. Is this the Retail and Leisure Study 2008? In turn, the study should be the basis for the establishment of local standards of provision and justifying developer contributions towards the provision of these facilities. A PPG17 assessment would also be expected to identify sport and recreation facility needs which may have land use allocations e.g. if the PPG17 assessment showed a need to provide new playing fields or new indoor sports facilities, reference to this should be made in the core strategy, especially if this would have implications for the related site specific allocations DPD.

While reference to Sport England's planning tools and the data used for calculating demand for sports facilities is welcomed, I am surprised that there is no reference in this section to the recently launched Essex Sports Facilities Strategy (2008) which has been prepared by Sport Essex (the county sports partnership) in conjunction with all the local authorities in the county including Rochford District Council through the Chief Leisure Officers group. The strategy builds upon the regional sports facility strategy, Creating Active Places (www.sportengland.org/east_index/east_get_resources/iyr_east-planning/creatingactiveplaces.htm) and provides more detail about strategic sports facility needs in Essex including an overview of issues and priorities in Rochford district e.g. sports hall, swimming pool etc needs and sport specific requirements. The county strategy can be downloaded from Sport Essex's website at (www.sportessex.com/publications.php). As the strategy provides an up-to-date evidence base on strategic sports facility needs in Rochford, the content of the strategy should be used to inform the preparation of the core strategy in terms of planning for the provision of community sports facilities.

The above comments are made in the context of the first examination relating to a submitted core strategy DPD in England, where the Inspector who considered the Lichfield Core Strategy DPD concluded that the document's open space policy was unsound because of a lack of a credible evidence base to support the policy relating to the provision of open space in new development. The lack of a credible evidence base was one of the two reasons why this core strategy was considered to be unsound and the DPD was subsequently withdrawn. Further details can be found in the Inspector's report (paragraphs 2.3 to 2.5 and 2.74-2.80 of the report are particularly relevant), which can be downloaded from www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/downloads/Report_on_the_Examination_into_the_Core_Strategy.pdf. I would advise that a number of other core strategies have been considered to be unsound due to the lack of a credible evidence base

In addition, reference to Sport England's document 'Active Design' would be useful to encourage clearer thinking about the role of good urban design in promoting physical activity. Taking widely accepted principles of good design (character, continuity, quality, legibility etc) as a starting point, the guidance uses three objectives to frame advice on positive design: improving accessibility; enhancing amenity; and increasing awareness. Using the three design objectives, the guidance explores in detail their application to three activity settings:

• Everyday activity destinations (shops, homes, schools workplaces)
• Informal activity and recreation (play areas, parks & gardens)
• Formal sports and leisure activities (sports pitches, swimming pools etc)

Active Design poses a number of questions for consideration by planners. The following table gives a flavour of these.

Theme
Accessibility (21 questions)

Example questions
• Are everyday activity destinations accessible to all travel modes?
• Does the design enable the most direct and safe active travel route between everyday activity destinations?
• Are everyday activity destinations co-located to offer the opportunity for linked trips?
• Are active travel routes to everyday activity destinations prioritised?
• Does the design and layout of everyday activity destinations help to prioritise pedestrian, cycle and public transport access?

Theme
Amenity(12 questions)

Example questions
• Are flexible and durable high-quality public spaces proposed?
• Does the quality, design and layout of open spaces enhance the setting of development?
• Does the design of informal sport and recreation facilities create a high quality environment?

Theme
Awareness (13 questions)

Example questions
• Are everyday activity destinations co-located with sports and leisure facilities in a manner that promotes awareness?
• Are informal sport and recreation facilities located in prominent positions?
• Is appropriate high quality provision made for all age groups within the community?
• Are formal sports and leisure facilities located in prominent positions playing a positive role as landmarks and attractions?
The full guidance is available at: www.sportengland.org/index/get_resources/planning_for_sport_front_page/planning_active_design.htm.

CLT10: Playing Pitches (p.98-100)
SUPPORT WIH MODIFICATIONS
Sport England welcome the attention paid to this aspect of the provision of sport and recreation facilities within the District. Reference to Sport England guidance is helpful, as is the commitment to produce a SPD on playing pitch provision. It is assumed that this document will set out local standards for their provision. The same comments would apply as set out in our response to preferred option CLT9 with respect to the reference to the evidence base i.e. a PPG17 compliant assessment. Sport England would therefore expect such a reference to be included to support the preferred option.

I hope that this response is a helpful contribution to the evolution of the Core Strategy. Please contact me if you have any queries about this response or would like advice on how Sport England can assist the Council to develop its LDF in relation to sport and recreation.

CORE STRATEGY PREFERRED OPTIONS

Thank you for consulting Sport England on the above document. Sport England is the Government agency responsible for delivering the Government's sporting objectives. Maximising the investment into sport and recreation through the land use planning system is one of our national and regional priorities. You will also be aware that Sport England is a statutory consultee on planning applications affecting playing fields. In this context, I wish to make comments on the following aspects of the document:


Vision to Reality (p.8)
SUPPORT
Sport England welcome the identification of the role of the Core Strategy in achieving Priority 6 of the LAA: "We are committed to improving access to sporting facilities such as informal open space, playing pitches and leisure facilities where a need has been identified, as reinforced within the Core Strategy".

Option GB2: Rural Diversification and Recreational Uses
SUPPORT
Sport England welcome recognition of the sport and recreation as a legitimate Green Belt use, albeit one which demands careful guidance in terms of siting and design.

CLT5: Open Space (p.93/94)
SUPPORT WITH MODIFICATIONS
The reference to playing pitches as part of the complement of open space is welcomed. However, reference to background documents such as the emerging Playing Pitch Strategy would be helpful, as would be a cross-reference to Preferred Option CLT10 (Playing Pitches).

CLT9: Leisure Facilities (p.97/98)
SUPPORT WITH MODIFICATIONS
The spirit and broad content of this preferred option is welcomed as a robust means of their protection and enhancement throughout the District. However, there should be direct reference to a PPG17-compliant assessment of sport and recreation facilities to justify the protection and enhancement of these facilities. Is this the Retail and Leisure Study 2008? In turn, the study should be the basis for the establishment of local standards of provision and justifying developer contributions towards the provision of these facilities. A PPG17 assessment would also be expected to identify sport and recreation facility needs which may have land use allocations e.g. if the PPG17 assessment showed a need to provide new playing fields or new indoor sports facilities, reference to this should be made in the core strategy, especially if this would have implications for the related site specific allocations DPD.

While reference to Sport England's planning tools and the data used for calculating demand for sports facilities is welcomed, I am surprised that there is no reference in this section to the recently launched Essex Sports Facilities Strategy (2008) which has been prepared by Sport Essex (the county sports partnership) in conjunction with all the local authorities in the county including Rochford District Council through the Chief Leisure Officers group. The strategy builds upon the regional sports facility strategy, Creating Active Places (www.sportengland.org/east_index/east_get_resources/iyr_east-planning/creatingactiveplaces.htm) and provides more detail about strategic sports facility needs in Essex including an overview of issues and priorities in Rochford district e.g. sports hall, swimming pool etc needs and sport specific requirements. The county strategy can be downloaded from Sport Essex's website at (www.sportessex.com/publications.php). As the strategy provides an up-to-date evidence base on strategic sports facility needs in Rochford, the content of the strategy should be used to inform the preparation of the core strategy in terms of planning for the provision of community sports facilities.

The above comments are made in the context of the first examination relating to a submitted core strategy DPD in England, where the Inspector who considered the Lichfield Core Strategy DPD concluded that the document's open space policy was unsound because of a lack of a credible evidence base to support the policy relating to the provision of open space in new development. The lack of a credible evidence base was one of the two reasons why this core strategy was considered to be unsound and the DPD was subsequently withdrawn. Further details can be found in the Inspector's report (paragraphs 2.3 to 2.5 and 2.74-2.80 of the report are particularly relevant), which can be downloaded from www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/downloads/Report_on_the_Examination_into_the_Core_Strategy.pdf. I would advise that a number of other core strategies have been considered to be unsound due to the lack of a credible evidence base

In addition, reference to Sport England's document 'Active Design' would be useful to encourage clearer thinking about the role of good urban design in promoting physical activity. Taking widely accepted principles of good design (character, continuity, quality, legibility etc) as a starting point, the guidance uses three objectives to frame advice on positive design: improving accessibility; enhancing amenity; and increasing awareness. Using the three design objectives, the guidance explores in detail their application to three activity settings:

• Everyday activity destinations (shops, homes, schools workplaces)
• Informal activity and recreation (play areas, parks & gardens)
• Formal sports and leisure activities (sports pitches, swimming pools etc)

Active Design poses a number of questions for consideration by planners. The following table gives a flavour of these.

Theme
Accessibility (21 questions)

Example questions
• Are everyday activity destinations accessible to all travel modes?
• Does the design enable the most direct and safe active travel route between everyday activity destinations?
• Are everyday activity destinations co-located to offer the opportunity for linked trips?
• Are active travel routes to everyday activity destinations prioritised?
• Does the design and layout of everyday activity destinations help to prioritise pedestrian, cycle and public transport access?

Theme
Amenity(12 questions)

Example questions
• Are flexible and durable high-quality public spaces proposed?
• Does the quality, design and layout of open spaces enhance the setting of development?
• Does the design of informal sport and recreation facilities create a high quality environment?

Theme
Awareness (13 questions)

Example questions
• Are everyday activity destinations co-located with sports and leisure facilities in a manner that promotes awareness?
• Are informal sport and recreation facilities located in prominent positions?
• Is appropriate high quality provision made for all age groups within the community?
• Are formal sports and leisure facilities located in prominent positions playing a positive role as landmarks and attractions?
The full guidance is available at: www.sportengland.org/index/get_resources/planning_for_sport_front_page/planning_active_design.htm.

CLT10: Playing Pitches (p.98-100)
SUPPORT WIH MODIFICATIONS
Sport England welcome the attention paid to this aspect of the provision of sport and recreation facilities within the District. Reference to Sport England guidance is helpful, as is the commitment to produce a SPD on playing pitch provision. It is assumed that this document will set out local standards for their provision. The same comments would apply as set out in our response to preferred option CLT9 with respect to the reference to the evidence base i.e. a PPG17 compliant assessment. Sport England would therefore expect such a reference to be included to support the preferred option.

I hope that this response is a helpful contribution to the evolution of the Core Strategy. Please contact me if you have any queries about this response or would like advice on how Sport England can assist the Council to develop its LDF in relation to sport and recreation.

CORE STRATEGY PREFERRED OPTIONS

Thank you for consulting Sport England on the above document. Sport England is the Government agency responsible for delivering the Government's sporting objectives. Maximising the investment into sport and recreation through the land use planning system is one of our national and regional priorities. You will also be aware that Sport England is a statutory consultee on planning applications affecting playing fields. In this context, I wish to make comments on the following aspects of the document:


Vision to Reality (p.8)
SUPPORT
Sport England welcome the identification of the role of the Core Strategy in achieving Priority 6 of the LAA: "We are committed to improving access to sporting facilities such as informal open space, playing pitches and leisure facilities where a need has been identified, as reinforced within the Core Strategy".

Option GB2: Rural Diversification and Recreational Uses
SUPPORT
Sport England welcome recognition of the sport and recreation as a legitimate Green Belt use, albeit one which demands careful guidance in terms of siting and design.

CLT5: Open Space (p.93/94)
SUPPORT WITH MODIFICATIONS
The reference to playing pitches as part of the complement of open space is welcomed. However, reference to background documents such as the emerging Playing Pitch Strategy would be helpful, as would be a cross-reference to Preferred Option CLT10 (Playing Pitches).

CLT9: Leisure Facilities (p.97/98)
SUPPORT WITH MODIFICATIONS
The spirit and broad content of this preferred option is welcomed as a robust means of their protection and enhancement throughout the District. However, there should be direct reference to a PPG17-compliant assessment of sport and recreation facilities to justify the protection and enhancement of these facilities. Is this the Retail and Leisure Study 2008? In turn, the study should be the basis for the establishment of local standards of provision and justifying developer contributions towards the provision of these facilities. A PPG17 assessment would also be expected to identify sport and recreation facility needs which may have land use allocations e.g. if the PPG17 assessment showed a need to provide new playing fields or new indoor sports facilities, reference to this should be made in the core strategy, especially if this would have implications for the related site specific allocations DPD.

While reference to Sport England's planning tools and the data used for calculating demand for sports facilities is welcomed, I am surprised that there is no reference in this section to the recently launched Essex Sports Facilities Strategy (2008) which has been prepared by Sport Essex (the county sports partnership) in conjunction with all the local authorities in the county including Rochford District Council through the Chief Leisure Officers group. The strategy builds upon the regional sports facility strategy, Creating Active Places (www.sportengland.org/east_index/east_get_resources/iyr_east-planning/creatingactiveplaces.htm) and provides more detail about strategic sports facility needs in Essex including an overview of issues and priorities in Rochford district e.g. sports hall, swimming pool etc needs and sport specific requirements. The county strategy can be downloaded from Sport Essex's website at (www.sportessex.com/publications.php). As the strategy provides an up-to-date evidence base on strategic sports facility needs in Rochford, the content of the strategy should be used to inform the preparation of the core strategy in terms of planning for the provision of community sports facilities.

The above comments are made in the context of the first examination relating to a submitted core strategy DPD in England, where the Inspector who considered the Lichfield Core Strategy DPD concluded that the document's open space policy was unsound because of a lack of a credible evidence base to support the policy relating to the provision of open space in new development. The lack of a credible evidence base was one of the two reasons why this core strategy was considered to be unsound and the DPD was subsequently withdrawn. Further details can be found in the Inspector's report (paragraphs 2.3 to 2.5 and 2.74-2.80 of the report are particularly relevant), which can be downloaded from www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/downloads/Report_on_the_Examination_into_the_Core_Strategy.pdf. I would advise that a number of other core strategies have been considered to be unsound due to the lack of a credible evidence base

In addition, reference to Sport England's document 'Active Design' would be useful to encourage clearer thinking about the role of good urban design in promoting physical activity. Taking widely accepted principles of good design (character, continuity, quality, legibility etc) as a starting point, the guidance uses three objectives to frame advice on positive design: improving accessibility; enhancing amenity; and increasing awareness. Using the three design objectives, the guidance explores in detail their application to three activity settings:

• Everyday activity destinations (shops, homes, schools workplaces)
• Informal activity and recreation (play areas, parks & gardens)
• Formal sports and leisure activities (sports pitches, swimming pools etc)

Active Design poses a number of questions for consideration by planners. The following table gives a flavour of these.

Theme
Accessibility (21 questions)

Example questions
• Are everyday activity destinations accessible to all travel modes?
• Does the design enable the most direct and safe active travel route between everyday activity destinations?
• Are everyday activity destinations co-located to offer the opportunity for linked trips?
• Are active travel routes to everyday activity destinations prioritised?
• Does the design and layout of everyday activity destinations help to prioritise pedestrian, cycle and public transport access?

Theme
Amenity(12 questions)

Example questions
• Are flexible and durable high-quality public spaces proposed?
• Does the quality, design and layout of open spaces enhance the setting of development?
• Does the design of informal sport and recreation facilities create a high quality environment?

Theme
Awareness (13 questions)

Example questions
• Are everyday activity destinations co-located with sports and leisure facilities in a manner that promotes awareness?
• Are informal sport and recreation facilities located in prominent positions?
• Is appropriate high quality provision made for all age groups within the community?
• Are formal sports and leisure facilities located in prominent positions playing a positive role as landmarks and attractions?
The full guidance is available at: www.sportengland.org/index/get_resources/planning_for_sport_front_page/planning_active_design.htm.

CLT10: Playing Pitches (p.98-100)
SUPPORT WIH MODIFICATIONS
Sport England welcome the attention paid to this aspect of the provision of sport and recreation facilities within the District. Reference to Sport England guidance is helpful, as is the commitment to produce a SPD on playing pitch provision. It is assumed that this document will set out local standards for their provision. The same comments would apply as set out in our response to preferred option CLT9 with respect to the reference to the evidence base i.e. a PPG17 compliant assessment. Sport England would therefore expect such a reference to be included to support the preferred option.

I hope that this response is a helpful contribution to the evolution of the Core Strategy. Please contact me if you have any queries about this response or would like advice on how Sport England can assist the Council to develop its LDF in relation to sport and recreation.

CORE STRATEGY PREFERRED OPTIONS

Thank you for consulting Sport England on the above document. Sport England is the Government agency responsible for delivering the Government's sporting objectives. Maximising the investment into sport and recreation through the land use planning system is one of our national and regional priorities. You will also be aware that Sport England is a statutory consultee on planning applications affecting playing fields. In this context, I wish to make comments on the following aspects of the document:


Vision to Reality (p.8)
SUPPORT
Sport England welcome the identification of the role of the Core Strategy in achieving Priority 6 of the LAA: "We are committed to improving access to sporting facilities such as informal open space, playing pitches and leisure facilities where a need has been identified, as reinforced within the Core Strategy".

Option GB2: Rural Diversification and Recreational Uses
SUPPORT
Sport England welcome recognition of the sport and recreation as a legitimate Green Belt use, albeit one which demands careful guidance in terms of siting and design.

CLT5: Open Space (p.93/94)
SUPPORT WITH MODIFICATIONS
The reference to playing pitches as part of the complement of open space is welcomed. However, reference to background documents such as the emerging Playing Pitch Strategy would be helpful, as would be a cross-reference to Preferred Option CLT10 (Playing Pitches).

CLT9: Leisure Facilities (p.97/98)
SUPPORT WITH MODIFICATIONS
The spirit and broad content of this preferred option is welcomed as a robust means of their protection and enhancement throughout the District. However, there should be direct reference to a PPG17-compliant assessment of sport and recreation facilities to justify the protection and enhancement of these facilities. Is this the Retail and Leisure Study 2008? In turn, the study should be the basis for the establishment of local standards of provision and justifying developer contributions towards the provision of these facilities. A PPG17 assessment would also be expected to identify sport and recreation facility needs which may have land use allocations e.g. if the PPG17 assessment showed a need to provide new playing fields or new indoor sports facilities, reference to this should be made in the core strategy, especially if this would have implications for the related site specific allocations DPD.

While reference to Sport England's planning tools and the data used for calculating demand for sports facilities is welcomed, I am surprised that there is no reference in this section to the recently launched Essex Sports Facilities Strategy (2008) which has been prepared by Sport Essex (the county sports partnership) in conjunction with all the local authorities in the county including Rochford District Council through the Chief Leisure Officers group. The strategy builds upon the regional sports facility strategy, Creating Active Places (www.sportengland.org/east_index/east_get_resources/iyr_east-planning/creatingactiveplaces.htm) and provides more detail about strategic sports facility needs in Essex including an overview of issues and priorities in Rochford district e.g. sports hall, swimming pool etc needs and sport specific requirements. The county strategy can be downloaded from Sport Essex's website at (www.sportessex.com/publications.php). As the strategy provides an up-to-date evidence base on strategic sports facility needs in Rochford, the content of the strategy should be used to inform the preparation of the core strategy in terms of planning for the provision of community sports facilities.

The above comments are made in the context of the first examination relating to a submitted core strategy DPD in England, where the Inspector who considered the Lichfield Core Strategy DPD concluded that the document's open space policy was unsound because of a lack of a credible evidence base to support the policy relating to the provision of open space in new development. The lack of a credible evidence base was one of the two reasons why this core strategy was considered to be unsound and the DPD was subsequently withdrawn. Further details can be found in the Inspector's report (paragraphs 2.3 to 2.5 and 2.74-2.80 of the report are particularly relevant), which can be downloaded from www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/downloads/Report_on_the_Examination_into_the_Core_Strategy.pdf. I would advise that a number of other core strategies have been considered to be unsound due to the lack of a credible evidence base

In addition, reference to Sport England's document 'Active Design' would be useful to encourage clearer thinking about the role of good urban design in promoting physical activity. Taking widely accepted principles of good design (character, continuity, quality, legibility etc) as a starting point, the guidance uses three objectives to frame advice on positive design: improving accessibility; enhancing amenity; and increasing awareness. Using the three design objectives, the guidance explores in detail their application to three activity settings:

• Everyday activity destinations (shops, homes, schools workplaces)
• Informal activity and recreation (play areas, parks & gardens)
• Formal sports and leisure activities (sports pitches, swimming pools etc)

Active Design poses a number of questions for consideration by planners. The following table gives a flavour of these.

Theme
Accessibility (21 questions)

Example questions
• Are everyday activity destinations accessible to all travel modes?
• Does the design enable the most direct and safe active travel route between everyday activity destinations?
• Are everyday activity destinations co-located to offer the opportunity for linked trips?
• Are active travel routes to everyday activity destinations prioritised?
• Does the design and layout of everyday activity destinations help to prioritise pedestrian, cycle and public transport access?

Theme
Amenity(12 questions)

Example questions
• Are flexible and durable high-quality public spaces proposed?
• Does the quality, design and layout of open spaces enhance the setting of development?
• Does the design of informal sport and recreation facilities create a high quality environment?

Theme
Awareness (13 questions)

Example questions
• Are everyday activity destinations co-located with sports and leisure facilities in a manner that promotes awareness?
• Are informal sport and recreation facilities located in prominent positions?
• Is appropriate high quality provision made for all age groups within the community?
• Are formal sports and leisure facilities located in prominent positions playing a positive role as landmarks and attractions?
The full guidance is available at: www.sportengland.org/index/get_resources/planning_for_sport_front_page/planning_active_design.htm.

CLT10: Playing Pitches (p.98-100)
SUPPORT WIH MODIFICATIONS
Sport England welcome the attention paid to this aspect of the provision of sport and recreation facilities within the District. Reference to Sport England guidance is helpful, as is the commitment to produce a SPD on playing pitch provision. It is assumed that this document will set out local standards for their provision. The same comments would apply as set out in our response to preferred option CLT9 with respect to the reference to the evidence base i.e. a PPG17 compliant assessment. Sport England would therefore expect such a reference to be included to support the preferred option.

I hope that this response is a helpful contribution to the evolution of the Core Strategy. Please contact me if you have any queries about this response or would like advice on how Sport England can assist the Council to develop its LDF in relation to sport and recreation.

CORE STRATEGY PREFERRED OPTIONS

Thank you for consulting Sport England on the above document. Sport England is the Government agency responsible for delivering the Government's sporting objectives. Maximising the investment into sport and recreation through the land use planning system is one of our national and regional priorities. You will also be aware that Sport England is a statutory consultee on planning applications affecting playing fields. In this context, I wish to make comments on the following aspects of the document:


Vision to Reality (p.8)
SUPPORT
Sport England welcome the identification of the role of the Core Strategy in achieving Priority 6 of the LAA: "We are committed to improving access to sporting facilities such as informal open space, playing pitches and leisure facilities where a need has been identified, as reinforced within the Core Strategy".

Option GB2: Rural Diversification and Recreational Uses
SUPPORT
Sport England welcome recognition of the sport and recreation as a legitimate Green Belt use, albeit one which demands careful guidance in terms of siting and design.

CLT5: Open Space (p.93/94)
SUPPORT WITH MODIFICATIONS
The reference to playing pitches as part of the complement of open space is welcomed. However, reference to background documents such as the emerging Playing Pitch Strategy would be helpful, as would be a cross-reference to Preferred Option CLT10 (Playing Pitches).

CLT9: Leisure Facilities (p.97/98)
SUPPORT WITH MODIFICATIONS
The spirit and broad content of this preferred option is welcomed as a robust means of their protection and enhancement throughout the District. However, there should be direct reference to a PPG17-compliant assessment of sport and recreation facilities to justify the protection and enhancement of these facilities. Is this the Retail and Leisure Study 2008? In turn, the study should be the basis for the establishment of local standards of provision and justifying developer contributions towards the provision of these facilities. A PPG17 assessment would also be expected to identify sport and recreation facility needs which may have land use allocations e.g. if the PPG17 assessment showed a need to provide new playing fields or new indoor sports facilities, reference to this should be made in the core strategy, especially if this would have implications for the related site specific allocations DPD.

While reference to Sport England's planning tools and the data used for calculating demand for sports facilities is welcomed, I am surprised that there is no reference in this section to the recently launched Essex Sports Facilities Strategy (2008) which has been prepared by Sport Essex (the county sports partnership) in conjunction with all the local authorities in the county including Rochford District Council through the Chief Leisure Officers group. The strategy builds upon the regional sports facility strategy, Creating Active Places (www.sportengland.org/east_index/east_get_resources/iyr_east-planning/creatingactiveplaces.htm) and provides more detail about strategic sports facility needs in Essex including an overview of issues and priorities in Rochford district e.g. sports hall, swimming pool etc needs and sport specific requirements. The county strategy can be downloaded from Sport Essex's website at (www.sportessex.com/publications.php). As the strategy provides an up-to-date evidence base on strategic sports facility needs in Rochford, the content of the strategy should be used to inform the preparation of the core strategy in terms of planning for the provision of community sports facilities.

The above comments are made in the context of the first examination relating to a submitted core strategy DPD in England, where the Inspector who considered the Lichfield Core Strategy DPD concluded that the document's open space policy was unsound because of a lack of a credible evidence base to support the policy relating to the provision of open space in new development. The lack of a credible evidence base was one of the two reasons why this core strategy was considered to be unsound and the DPD was subsequently withdrawn. Further details can be found in the Inspector's report (paragraphs 2.3 to 2.5 and 2.74-2.80 of the report are particularly relevant), which can be downloaded from www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/downloads/Report_on_the_Examination_into_the_Core_Strategy.pdf. I would advise that a number of other core strategies have been considered to be unsound due to the lack of a credible evidence base

In addition, reference to Sport England's document 'Active Design' would be useful to encourage clearer thinking about the role of good urban design in promoting physical activity. Taking widely accepted principles of good design (character, continuity, quality, legibility etc) as a starting point, the guidance uses three objectives to frame advice on positive design: improving accessibility; enhancing amenity; and increasing awareness. Using the three design objectives, the guidance explores in detail their application to three activity settings:

• Everyday activity destinations (shops, homes, schools workplaces)
• Informal activity and recreation (play areas, parks & gardens)
• Formal sports and leisure activities (sports pitches, swimming pools etc)

Active Design poses a number of questions for consideration by planners. The following table gives a flavour of these.

Theme
Accessibility (21 questions)

Example questions
• Are everyday activity destinations accessible to all travel modes?
• Does the design enable the most direct and safe active travel route between everyday activity destinations?
• Are everyday activity destinations co-located to offer the opportunity for linked trips?
• Are active travel routes to everyday activity destinations prioritised?
• Does the design and layout of everyday activity destinations help to prioritise pedestrian, cycle and public transport access?

Theme
Amenity(12 questions)

Example questions
• Are flexible and durable high-quality public spaces proposed?
• Does the quality, design and layout of open spaces enhance the setting of development?
• Does the design of informal sport and recreation facilities create a high quality environment?

Theme
Awareness (13 questions)

Example questions
• Are everyday activity destinations co-located with sports and leisure facilities in a manner that promotes awareness?
• Are informal sport and recreation facilities located in prominent positions?
• Is appropriate high quality provision made for all age groups within the community?
• Are formal sports and leisure facilities located in prominent positions playing a positive role as landmarks and attractions?
The full guidance is available at: www.sportengland.org/index/get_resources/planning_for_sport_front_page/planning_active_design.htm.

CLT10: Playing Pitches (p.98-100)
SUPPORT WIH MODIFICATIONS
Sport England welcome the attention paid to this aspect of the provision of sport and recreation facilities within the District. Reference to Sport England guidance is helpful, as is the commitment to produce a SPD on playing pitch provision. It is assumed that this document will set out local standards for their provision. The same comments would apply as set out in our response to preferred option CLT9 with respect to the reference to the evidence base i.e. a PPG17 compliant assessment. Sport England would therefore expect such a reference to be included to support the preferred option.

I hope that this response is a helpful contribution to the evolution of the Core Strategy. Please contact me if you have any queries about this response or would like advice on how Sport England can assist the Council to develop its LDF in relation to sport and recreation.