Core Strategy Preferred Options document - Amazon Web Services

Strategies, Activities and Actions – Community Infrastructure, Leisure
and Tourism
reciprocal reliance from these areas on Rochford to provide open space
and recreational opportunities.
The District has the potential to accommodate playing pitches as they are
considered an appropriate form of development within the Green Belt.
However, playing pitches will not always be considered appropriate in all
Green Belt locations. Playing pitches require maintenance and, in many
cases, the provision of ancillary buildings and, as such, have a very
different impact on the landscape to more informal open spaces. They
are also subject to frequent visits. Issues such as accessibility, impact on
biodiversity, character and openness of the Green Belt, and amenity of
neighbouring residents.
Opportunities to accommodate playing pitches outside of the Green Belt
are welcomed, as this will often provide facilities in more accessible
locations, particularly if pitches are accompanying other visitor-generating
activities. In this respect, we believe there is an opportunity to
accommodate additional playing pitches to the rear of Rayleigh Leisure
Centre. When considering proposals for playing pitches outside of the
Green Belt, many of the same issues (e.g. accessibility, residential
amenity etc) will still apply.
Sport England has published detailed guidance for the provision of
essential built facilities to accompany playing pitches within Design
Guidance Notes: Pavilions and Club Houses. Within the Green Belt, we
will expect any accompanying facilities not to exceed the minimum size
as recommended within such guidance.
We will produce a Supplementary Planning Document on playing pitch
provision which will include an analysis of the supply and demand of
pitches, together with a quantitative and qualitative assessment of future
need.
99
Nearly 20% of
residents in Rochford
District regularly
participate in moderate
intensity sport and
active recreation, 3
days a week for 30
minutes, according to
Sport England.
The Playing Pitch
Strategy carried out in
2002 (which is
currently being
updated) found that
football was the most
popular team sport
pursued within the
District.
Five playing fields in
the Rochford District
have been protected
by Fields in Trust (FIT)
which replaced the
National Playing Field
Association.