4.0 Types of Open Space

4.1 Developers should ensure that a variety of types of play space are provided depending on the scale of the development proposed. Generally, the Borough Council will seek to ensure that each development provides a mix of open space as suggested by the NPFA i.e. 13% equipped children's play areas, 22% casual/informal play areas and 65% as youth/adult space

4.2  This will usually take the form of playing fields, greens, courts etc. However, due to the need to provide useable adult/youth playing areas it is anticipated that such facilities will generally only be provided as part of larger developments of more than 200 dwellings. In such cases developers would be expected to provide a minimum of 0.85ha to provide a playing field and other facilities to meet the needs of older children and adults.

4.3 In developments of less than 200 dwellings the open space provision will be split evenly between equipped children's play areas (37%) and casual/informal play space (63%).

4.4 37% of children's play space should be laid out as equipped play areas, to provide for the needs of children of different ages and abilities. The NPFA sets out 3 types of equipped children's play space to be provided within developments and the standards for their provision are set out below:

(Toddlers Play Area)

1 per 20 dwellings.

(Junior Play Area)

1 per 55 dwellings

(Senior Play Area)

1 per 140 dwellings

• Local Areas for Play (LAP)  (Toddlers Play Area)

4.5 Developers of all residential developments covered by Policy TLR9 will be expected to provide Local Areas for Play (LAP). These toddlers play areas should take the form of small areas of unsupervised open space that should be within 1 minute walk of home i.e. no more than 100m. These areas should be suitably fenced and surfaced with floor games/spring rocker equipment for young children (i.e. 4-6 year olds). Design should discourage use by older age groups, possibly by limiting the size of equipment and reducing opportunities for activities for older children. It is not considered appropriate that such areas form part of a larger area. Whilst the activity space should be no less than 100m², the need to provide seating for carers and to protect adjacent houses from disturbance should mean that these areas are at least 200m² (there should be at least 5 metres between the play area and the windows of the nearest dwelling).

• Local Equipped Areas for Play (LEAP)  (Junior Play Area)

4.6 Developers will also be expected to provide facilities for unsupervised play within 5 minutes walking distance of home i.e. 400m. These Local Equipped Areas for Play (LEAP) should generally take the form of an activity area of 400 m² ensuring that there is a suitable buffer zone (approx. 20m) between the active play area and the nearest dwelling in order to reduce the impact of noise on residential amenity. The area should be suitably fenced and surfaced, with about 5 types of equipment appropriate for use by 6 -9 year old children and a small games area. A seating area should also be provided for accompanying adults. If housing surrounds the site on all sides the total area may need to be as large as 3600m² .

• Neighbourhood Equipped Areas for Play (NEAP) (Senior Play Space)

4.7  Developers of larger residential estates (more than 140 dwellings) will be expected to provide a Neighbourhood Equipped Area for Play (NEAP) within 15 minutes walk of home (i.e. maximum 1km). These spaces should be designed to cater mainly for unaccompanied and unsupervised children of between 8 and 14 years of age. As these areas are likely to result in noise, a buffer zone (approx. 30m) should be provided between the play area and the nearest dwelling. Ideally areas should be at least 1,000m² (excluding buffer zone) suitably fenced and surfaced, providing about 8 types of equipment appropriate for children aged between 8-14 years, a kickabout area and ideally opportunities for using bicycles. As there are only a limited number of developments likely to occur at this scale, the Borough Council will seek to encourage joint provision by developers within the same area. In addition, where there is an existing NEAP in the locality i.e. within 15 minutes walk of all dwellings on the site, the Council may accept a contribution towards the improvement of the existing Senior Play Area in lieu of new on site provision.

4.8  Casual/informal children's play space is also important within residential areas. These areas should be for unrestricted use of children at play i.e. for casual play and informal activities and need to be easily accessible, as they should be able to meet the need for play in the ten minutes or so before tea.

4.9  In providing these areas of informal open space, developers should seek to utilise existing features on the site to provide interesting and varied open space throughout the site. In particular retaining trees and hedges.

4.10 The availability of open space is considered essential for the healthy development of children and as one of the greatest users of the outdoor environment, the needs of children must be respected. Generally, children's use of play space is constrained by distance and hence the place where children normally play will be adjacent to their home where they can be appropriately supervised. In larger developments, it is envisaged that a number of such areas would be provided across the development to ensure that all children have easy access to open space from their home.

Example: Provision of open space Development of 80 dwellings:

0.48 hectares of open space required

• equipped children's play space

  37% or 1776 m²

• i.e. 4 LAPs (approx. 800 m²)

  1 LEAP (approx. 900 m²)

• Casual children's play space

  63% or 3024 m²