Issues and Options Document

Sport England understands the need for housing provision for the next 20 years and would encourage the inclusion of a design policy which encourages developments to
be designed to promote active lifestyles through sport and physical activity such as walkable communities and connected footpath and cycle routes in accordance with the Essex Design Guide https://www.essexdesignguide.co.uk/ which has embedded and promotes the use of Sport England's and Public Health England's established Active Design guidance
(http://www.sportengland.org/facilities-planning/planning-for-sport/planning-tools-and-guidance/active-design/)

SP.4.2, SP 4.3 & SP.4.4
Sport England seeks to ensure that a planned approach to the provision of facilities and opportunities for sport and recreation is taken by planning authorities. We are pleased that it is the council's intention to ensure policies provide adequate sport and recreation facilities as part of new developments. However, the level of provision should be determined locally and should be informed by the emerging Playing Pitch Strategy and Built Facilities Strategy, these documents audit and assess existing provision and identify needs and opportunities in accordance with established guidance. This provides the evidence base for informing relevant local plan policies and allocations. Sport England's aims and objectives are to ensure positive planning for sport, enabling the right facilities to be provided in the right places, based on robust and up-to-date assessments of need for all levels of sport and all sectors of the community. More information on the role can be found within our aims and objectives
https://www.sportengland.org/facilities-planning/planning-for-sport/aims-and-objectives/
and Forward Planning sections of our website
https://www.sportengland.org/facilities-planning/planning-for-sport/forward-planning/
Therefore, Sport England expects the Council to use the evidence base to set out proposals in the plan for protecting, enhancing and providing sport and leisure facilities in response to identified needs. Including the allocation of sites to address any deficiencies, in suitable locations which are informed by the evidence base.

Sport England would suggest that Green Belt policies take a positive approach to the principle of changing the use of land to outdoor sport where an identified need exists for new or enhanced community sports facilities. This would help community bodies such as local sports clubs that are seeking to provide new and enhanced facilities to meet local needs identified in the Council's evidence base as current Green Belt policy requires exceptional circumstances to be made to justify change of use to outdoor sport in the Green Belt.

Sport England supports high quality design and is encouraged that the council recognises the role it plays in good planning and making places better for people. Sport England's and Public Health England's established Active Design guidance encourages developments to be designed to promote active lifestyles through sport and physical activity. (http://www.sportengland.org/facilities-planning/planning-for-sport/planning-tools-and-guidance/active-design/). We would recommend the inclusion of a design policy which includes the principle of designing to promote active lifestyles as a consideration in the list of considerations that the Council's design approach is guided by.

Thank you for consulting Sport England on the Rochford Local Plan Issues and Options. Sport England would be willing to provide further advice to the Council about local plan policy preparation in relation to sport and that we would be willing to discuss the comments made in response to the questions or provide comments on any draft policy wording in advance of formal consultation.