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| CORE POLICIES & PROPOSALS & SUPPORTING TEXT | |||
| 5 - PROVIDING FOR COMMUNITY NEEDS | |||
| See also paragraph 1.38 of the Plan Statement | |||
| Policy C1 | Community Facilities | ||
| Policy C2 | Community Facilities | ||
| Policy C3 | Leisure Facilities and Hotels | ||
| Policy C4 | Leisure Facilities and Hotels | ||
| Policy C5 | Sports Facilities within Settlements | ||
| Policy C6 | Sports and Recreational Facilities in the Countryside | ||
| Policy C7 | Golf Courses | ||
| Policy C8 | Open Space and Urban Parks | ||
| Policy C9 | Public Open Space | ||
| Policy C10 | Allotments | ||
| Policy C11 | School and College Grounds | ||
| Policy C12 | Footpaths/Cycleways/Bridleways | ||
| COMMUNITY FACILITIES | |||
| Policy C1 | Proposals for new or improved community and/or leisure facilities will be supported by Fife Council where there is a demonstrable need for that facility. | ||
| Justification: At a time of limited financial resources, Fife Council's programme of proposals for community and leisure facilities is restricted, and unlikely to meet the full range of demands. Considerable emphasis is therefore placed on attracting national agencies and private enterprise to contribute to meeting future needs in the Plan area. Fife Council will seek to take advantage of grants to improve recreational provision, and encourage landowners and local groups to do likewise. | |||
| Policy C2 | Where major new developments directly create additional needs for community and/or leisure facilities, Fife Council will seek the provision of such facilities, or a contribution towards them, by the developer in the form of land or other appropriate means. Any form of provision must: - | ||
| (a) | be of benefit to any residents of the proposed new development; and | ||
| (b) | be of overall benefit to the local community; and | ||
| (c) | relate to the immediate area; and | ||
| (d) | relate in scale to the proposed new development. | ||
| Justification:
Policy C2 refers where there is a direct linkage between development
and the creation of demonstrable need for enhanced community/leisure
facilities. Implementation would be dependent upon the Council resolving
revenue-funding issues which arise. The terms of policy S2 will also
apply. See also policy S2. |
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| LEISURE FACILITIES AND HOTELS | |||
| Policy C3 | Major indoor leisure facilities, serving the Plan area and attracting large numbers of people, should be located within town centres. New hotels should be located where they can complement other visitor attractions and take advantage of public transport links. | ||
| Justification: Proposals within this category are regarded as key town centre uses, and are subject to the sequential approach to site selection from NPPG8. | |||
| Policy C4 | The development of leisure facilities will be supported where: - | ||
| (a) | they will satisfy an identified demand for the facility; or | ||
| (b) | they are located within a town and local centre or edge of town centre; or | ||
| (c) | it can be demonstrated that no suitable sites or premises exist within a town and local centre or edge of town centre, | ||
| and they: | |||
| (i) | do not on their own or cumulatively adversely affect the vitality and viability of town and local centres in the Local Plan area or of centres elsewhere in Fife; and | ||
| (ii) | they are easily accessible by and can be served by a choice of means of transport during their hours of operation; and | ||
| (iii) | they are compatible with neighbouring uses. | ||
| Justification: These policies confirm the applicability of the sequential approach, particularly for indoor facilities. Outdoor Class 11 uses within built-up areas tend not to be located in, or be appropriate for, town centres. Suitable proposals could be linked with open space, educational, or 'green corridor' land, subject to the Local Plan policy position relevant to these areas. | |||
| SPORTS FACILITIES WITHIN SETTLEMENTS | |||
| Policy C5 | New sports facilities within settlements will be supported in principle where they are compatible with adjacent land uses. Development which would result in the loss of existing sports facilities will not be permitted except where: | ||
| (a) | existing facilities can best be retained and enhanced by redevelopment of part of the site which would not affect its sporting potential and its amenity value; or | ||
| (b) | a long term excess of such provision can be clearly identified; or | ||
| (c) | alternative facilities of at least equal quality and value (for example in terms of size, accessibility and suitability) are provided in a suitable location in the local area. | ||
| Justification: Sport and physical recreation are recognised as being key elements in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The provision of such facilities can contribute to the health and well-being of the community and enhanced quality of life. To support town centres such facilities should ideally be placed here, thereafter the sequential approach applies. | |||
| SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN THE COUNTRYSIDE | |||
| Policy C6 | Fife Council will encourage proposals for the provision of formal sports and recreational facilities in the countryside and will assess the proposals against the following criteria: - | ||
| (a) | the proposal must be of a scale, nature and design appropriate to its setting; and | ||
| (b) | it must not have a material adverse impact on, landscape, nature conservation or archaeological interests; and | ||
| (c) | the traffic generated must not have a material adverse impact on landscape, nature conservation or archaeological interests; and | ||
| (d) | there is a locational justification for the development; and | ||
| (e) | the proposal would not compromise public safety in the locality; and | ||
| (f) | the developer has demonstrated that the use/re-use of vacant or derelict land and buildings and land previously affected by mineral development or forestry schemes has been first considered. | ||
| Justification:
The countryside may have potential to accommodate a range of formal
sports and recreational facilities. These can range from golf courses
and driving ranges to more noisy and potentially intrusive sports
facilities such as those for water/jet skiing, motor sports, clay
target shooting, flying and paint/war games. Activities such as these
can introduce a level of use which may be alien to the surrounding
area. Careful attention must therefore be given to ensuring that uses
such as these can be accommodated on sites where the potential risk
of damage or disturbance can be managed within an acceptable level.
The re-use of previously developed sites should therefore be considered.
Attention will be given to the detailed guidance contained in National
Planning Policy Guideline 11 - Sport, Physical Recreation and Open
Space (NPPG11) when dealing with individual applications. See also policy C7. |
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| GOLF COURSES | |||
| Policy C7 | New golf courses or extensions to existing courses will be supported provided they: | ||
| (a) | are required to meet identified unmet demand; and | ||
| (b) | demonstrate that the demand cannot be met on an existing course in the area; or | ||
| (c) | are constructed substantially on brownfield land. | ||
| New player/visitor facilities will be supported provided they are of an appropriate scale (to both landscape and the enterprise) and design, reuse existing redundant buildings where available, secure economic and employment benefits and remain in perpetuity as part of the golfing enterprise. Appropriate planning agreements will be used to ensure pay and play facilities remain as such and that ancillary player/visitor facilities remain as part of the enterprise. | |||
| Justification:
Fife is a destination of international renown for golf tourism which
makes a significant contribution to the economy. It is essential that
visitors and residents can access courses and enjoy other associated
facilities that will encourage return visits. There is, however, limited
need for new courses. Policy C7 seeks to meet the needs of visitors
and Fife residents and to improve the quality of golf visits, whilst
balancing this with other competing land uses and protecting the built
and natural environment. Proposals for new golf courses will also
be considered in relation to Fife Council's Guidelines for Golf Courses
and Associated Development and relevant aspects of any published guidance
from Visit Scotland on golf tourism compatible with Policy C6. See also policy C6. |
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| OPEN SPACE AND URBAN PARKS | |||
| Policy C8 | Existing or proposed open spaces which are identified on the Proposals Map, or others which in the view of Fife Council serve a valuable amenity, wildlife or recreational purpose, will be protected from development. | ||
| Justification:
Open space is both a major urban land use and an essential part of
the townscape. It provides land for leisure, play, and relaxation
through parks, playing fields and children's play areas. It can act
as an amenity buffer between developments and between housing and
traffic. In built-up settings, open space can provide an attractive
landscaped backcloth and allow views of surrounding buildings, and
its enhancement can help towards achieving the objectives of the Fife
Local Biodiversity Action Plan. Given the importance of amenity and
recreational open space, existing areas will be safeguarded. Development
ancillary to the use of land as open space will be considered acceptable.
This includes provision of changing facilities and extensions to existing
facilities. The Proposals Map shows the main parks, playing fields
and amenity space in each community. Other, smaller areas of public
open space will also be protected where they serve a valuable amenity
or recreational purpose. See also policies E5 and C9. |
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| PUBLIC OPEN SPACE | |||
| Policy C9 | The change of use of public open space to private garden ground will not be supported, where it results in any of the following: - | ||
| (a) | a loss of visual amenity; or | ||
| (b) | a reduction in the amount of space available for recreational purposes; or | ||
| (c) | a reduction in open space which has amenity value; or | ||
| (d) | the creation of difficulties in maintaining the remaining open space; or | ||
| (e) | a detrimental impact upon the ecological or nature conservation interest and integrity of the open space. | ||
| Where the area affected contains trees, these should be retained. | |||
| Justification: The incremental loss of small amounts of open space, often in areas which may be less well-used or poorly maintained, can individually or collectively lead to significant reductions in open space which are to the detriment of local amenity. Commonly, such losses are as a result of changes of use or a reduction in the ease and efficiency with which the remaining open space can be maintained. Such changes of use will be resisted where any of these impacts are likely to occur. | |||
| Where open space is provided as part of a private development, the developer will generally wish the Council to thereafter maintain the open space. In deciding whether to adopt the open space, the Council will need to be satisfied that the standards of open space and landscaping have been met as set out in the planning permission. Only 'soft' landscaping will be adopted and this must benefit the public at large. To help towards the running costs of the open space and any associated landscaping, the developer will also be required to pay a sum equivalent to ten years maintenance. Alternatively, a factoring arrangement will be required by condition of planning permission. | |||
| In determining
open space requirements for housing developments, consideration will
be given to the existing localised provision, the need for open space
in the vicinity, and the type of facilities required. Developers should
have regard to open space standards as outlined in Policy E5. See also policies E5 and C8. |
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| ALLOTMENTS | |||
| Policy C10 | The change of use of allotments to other purposes will not be supported where the allotments remain in use or there is a demonstrable demand for their use, unless appropriate alternative provision is made. | ||
| Justification: Allotments can also be considered as a private land use. Alternative uses will not be supported which result in the loss of allotments which are still being cultivated or there is a local demand which could be met by the site. | |||
| SCHOOL AND COLLEGE GROUNDS | |||
| Policy C11 | School (and college) grounds will be protected from non-educational developments. | ||
| Justification:
School grounds make a significant contribution to the provision of
recreational open space. A number of schools are also designated as
Community Schools and their grounds are available for wider use. A
Fife "Grounds for Learning Scheme" supports the creation of wildlife
areas and environmental improvements within school grounds as part
of the school curriculum. The Proposals Map identifies boundaries
of primary and secondary schools, and the development of school grounds
for non-education purposes will be resisted unless it can be demonstrated
that they will not be required in future by the school or wider community.
See also paragraph 1.54 of the Plan Statement |
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| FOOTPATHS / CYCLEWAYS / BRIDLEWAYS | |||
| Policy C12 | Existing rights of way and established footpaths, cycleways and bridleways will be safeguarded and kept open and free from obstruction. Where development affecting such routes is deemed appropriate, suitable re-routing must be provided before the development commences; or before the existing route is removed from use. The Council will seek to maintain and extend the network, where appropriate, for multi-use including walkers, cyclists, horseriders and those with special needs and will support new development that contributes to this end. | ||
| Justification: There are many paths in the towns, villages and countryside which provide important connections and recreational routes. The Council recognises the value of these paths as safe, convenient and attractive facilities for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. It continuously seeks to identify and signpost established paths in consultation with landowners. As funds permit, a programme of upgrading works will be undertaken to improve the path network. Location plans indicating known routes are available for inspection at Development Services offices, and from the Council's Countryside Ranger Service. Fife Council will be preparing a Core Path Plan for Fife as required under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. | |||
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