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APPENDIX 1 - PROVISION FOR PLAY IN NEW HOUSING
     
  Introduction
1. Policy R11 of the Lancaster District Local Plan requires developers of new housing to provide open space and children's play areas in line with the standards set out in this appendix. The City Council will work with developers to ensure that play facilities are considered as an integral part of the design of new housing areas. In particular, it will look to ensure that open space is located in areas convenient to new family dwellings and is of a size which makes it suitable for as wide a range of games as possible. In general, the Council prefers open space to be located in a small number of larger manageable areas rather than distributed in small numbers throughout a development.
2. Developers should consult the Chief Planning Officer and the Chief Leisure Officer on matters of distribution, design and choice of equipment at an early stage. As a general guide, the City Council will expect developers to meet the minimum standards set out below. This guidance applies to all private housing developments containing 20 or more family dwellings. A family dwelling is defined as a dwelling comprising of two or more bedrooms which are not designed specifically for elderly people or 1/2 person households.
3. In exceptional circumstances the Council may accept a commuted sum to enable it to meet the recreational needs of a development off the site where;
 
  • such a sum is equivalent to the cost of on site provision and maintenance, and
  • such provision is within reasonable walking distance, and
  • where any site upgraded in this way is of sufficient size and quality to meet the needs both of its existing catchment and those generated by proposed new dwellings.
  Children's Play Areas
4. The precise size and location of play areas within housing layouts will be determined in agreement with the Head of Planning and Building Control Services and Head of Leisure Services in accordance with the following guidelines.
5. The City Council will require all developments of 20 or more family dwellings to contain at least 15 square metres of useable open space per family dwelling. Space provided in this way should be conveniently located, reasonably level, well drained and generally suitable for children's play. Within this area, developers will be required to provide at least 4 square metres of surfaced play space per family dwelling designed to cater for the needs of pre-school age children. The remaining areas should be grassed and maintained as informal open space.
6. Children's play areas should:
 
  • be conveniently located in relation to surrounding dwellings and main pedestrian routes;
  • be designed to minimise potential danger from nearby roads; and
  • be located to allow maximum visibility from surrounding dwellings and public areas.
7. The surfaced areas should:
 
  • be not less than 80 square metres in area;
  • consist of at least 4 items of play equipment;
8. Developments which include 40 or more family dwellings should also include play equipment which caters for children up to the age of 11.
   
  Kickabout Areas
9. On schemes containing 40 or more family dwellings, the City Council will normally require the 11 square metres of open space per family dwelling to be laid out in the form of a grassed kickabout area(s). These area(s) should be designed and constructed to allow all year round use and located in areas where they will cause least disturbance to residents.
   
  Information for Prospective Householders
10. Developers will be required to install and maintain signs at the location of proposed play and kickabout areas indicating clearly the future use of these areas, the type of equipment that will be installed and the timescale for providing the facilities.
   
  Specification for Play Areas
11. This detailed guidance has been prepared to assist developers who are preparing details of playspace and children's play areas. All equipment and surfacing should comply with the current British or European Union Standard, whichever is the higher. Further information and guidance on specific proposals is available from the City Council's Head of Leisure Services.
   
  Fencing
12. Equipped play areas should be fenced and fitted with self closing gates designed to exclude dogs. Fences in urban areas should normally be metal with galvanised iron railings being preferred. Fences in rural areas may be acceptable in stained timber palisading. Standard details of metal and wooden fencing acceptable to the City Council can be obtained on request.
   
  Surfacing
13. The surfacing of equipped play areas shall normally be bitumen macadam, edged with concrete or stone with wet pour safety surfacing under play equipment. In rural areas durable grade tree bark may be acceptable.
   
  Litter Bins
14. Should be of the rootfast type.
   
  Seating
15. Each children's play area should include at least one bench to allow adult supervision. These should be of strong construction and design appropriate to the immediate environment.
   
  Play Equipment
16. All play equipment should be constructed of metal or substantial wooden construction. In urban areas, galvanised metal is preferred. If the equipment is made of wood, metal ground fixings should be used. Multi-activity units with a number of play items affixed may be used in lieu of separate items of equipment. Swings or similar moving items may be incorporated but not as part of a multi-activity unit.
   
  Miscellaneous
17. Solid side or roof panels should not normally be incorporated. Vertical steps or ladders should not normally be included. Rope ladders or nets must be of a reinforced construction. All equipment shall be made and installed to current British or European standards, whichever is the higher. Appropriate safety surfaces, fences and gates and litter bins will normally be required for all equipped play areas.
18. The City Council will negotiate with developers to ensure, through a S106 agreement, that new residential developments make reasonable provision for recreational open space provision and maintenance. Such agreements will normally address the following elements;
 
  • Definition of the areas to be covered by the agreement including areas of amenity space outside play areas;
  • Provision for the defined areas to be managed and maintained as public open space for active play and to be available for such use at all times;
  • Provision for the regular inspection and maintenance of the areas and the repair or replacement of defective equipment as necessary;
  • Establishment of a programme for the implementation of play areas and open spaces relative to the development as a whole together with dates for completion/handing over;
  • A commuted sum (to be index linked) to be paid by the developer to the Council in the event of the open space being offered to the Council for adoption and future maintenance; and
  • In the event of the open space not being offered to the Council, define an appropriate maintenance regime to ensure the long-term availability of the open space.
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