6.1. The facilities considered within this chapter include those provided for organised sport, informal recreation, the arts and entertainment, together with community facilities such as medical centres, schools and places of worship. In general, demand for an expanding range and higher quality of provision has grown steadily in recent years as a result of factors such as increased leisure time and affluence, improved mobility and a perception in the community of the benefits of health and fitness. Despite current economic difficulties it is anticipated that this demand will continue to grow in due course.
6.2. The Borough Council recognises the importance of such facilities to the quality of life and the vitality of communities. It also recognises, however, the economic constraints upon providers in the public, private and voluntary sectors and has attempted, by the policies in this chapter, to achieve improved but attainable standards where appropriate.
CHANGE OF USE OF PUBLIC HALLS, PLACES OF WORSHIP, PRIMARY SCHOOLS, DOCTORS' SURGERIES AND OTHER SUCH SMALL SCALE BUILT COMMUNITY FACILITIES TO NON-COMMUNITY-RELATED FUNCTIONS WILL NOT NORMALLY BE PERMITTED. PERMISSION MAY EXCEPTIONALLY BE GRANTED, HOWEVER, WHERE THE EXISTING FACILITY IS CAUSING UNDUE PARKING PROBLEMS OR ENVIRONMENTAL NUISANCE WHICH CANNOT BE REASONABLY OVERCOME AND THE FACILITY IS TO BE RELOCATED TO A SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE SITE NEARBY.
6.3. In view of their relatively localised catchment areas, small-scale community facilities such as community centres, primary schools, doctors' surgeries, places of worship and the village libraries, are particularly valuable to the less-mobile such as the elderly, the disabled and those without a car. Accordingly, community facilities of this type should be retained in situ except where the use of particular premises creates parking problems or environmental nuisance.
6.4. The larger-scale community facilities, such as secondary schools and the Wellingborough central library, are considered further under the section "Built Leisure and Large Scale Community Facilities".
PROPOSALS FOR SMALL-SCALE BUILT COMMUNITY FACILITIES WILL BE GRANTED PLANNING PERMISSION IN WELLINGBOROUGH TOWN WHERE THEY ARE DESIGNED PRIMARILY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS IN THE IMMEDIATE LOCALITY, OR IN A VILLAGE PROVIDED SITES LIE WITHIN IT OR ON ITS EDGE AND THE FACILITIES ARE DESIGNED PRIMARILY TO MEET THAT VILLAGE'S NEEDS.
6.5. It is intended to encourage the provision of new small scale community facilities in the existing built-up areas of the town and the villages, provided proposals meet the requirements of Policy G1. Facilities should be limited to a size appropriate to service provision in the immediate vicinity, as wider catchments would be likely to create undue local environmental and traffic nuisance.
6.6. Built recreational/community facilities, as indicated in paragraph 3, above, to serve new housing development, are expected to be provided by developers through appropriate Section 106 legal agreements. New development areas of more than 350 dwellings, for example, should normally incorporate small scale multi-purpose meeting/sports halls for local requirements. These halls would cater for a variety of local community needs, including neighbourhood group meetings, educational meetings and limited facilities for physical recreation such as badminton and table tennis. The individual development areas which will be required to incorporate a range of built recreational/community facilities are discussed in Chapter 9.
CHANGES OF USE FROM PURPOSE-BUILT LEISURE AND LARGE-SCALE COMMUNITY FACILITIES WILL NOT NORMALLY BE PERMITTED, UNLESS THERE IS INSUFFICIENT LONG-TERM NEED.
6.7. Existing leisure-related uses, included in Class D2 of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987, such as the Redwell and Weavers Leisure Centres, Croyland Road swimming pool, the Palace Cinema, the Hollywood Bowl and Overstone Solarium, offer high-quality indoor multi-sport and entertainment provision. These sorts of purpose-built facilities, together with the large-scale community facilities included in Class D1 of the Use Classes Order, such as secondary schools, medical centres and Wellingborough central library, are valuable assets which are difficult to replace. Pressure for change from an existing D1 use and from an existing D2 use, including interchangeability between D1 and D2 uses themselves, will therefore generally be resisted. Permission will usually be granted, however, where it can be demonstrated that there is no substantive long-term need for a particular facility.
NEW BUILT LEISURE FACILITIES SERVING THE BOROUGH AS A WHOLE WILL ONLY BE PERMITTED WITHIN THE TOWN AND ON APPROPRIATE SITES IN CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITH THE TOWN.
6.8. New built leisure facilities serving the Borough as a whole should normally be located within the urban area in accordance with the general strategy. Appropriate sites should be easily accessible for the majority of users and be separate from residential areas to minimise disturbance.
6.9. Accordingly the town centre is considered to be a key location. Detailed policies are set out in Chapter 10, including reference to the recently constructed theatre and arts centre ("The Castle") on land adjacent to the multi-storey car park.
6.10. Other new recreational and leisure development requiring large site areas may not be readily accommodated in the town centre. Land is allocated, therefore, for large-scale recreational facilities as part of the proposals for Land to the East Wellingborough East to allow for these activities close to the town with easy access to the strategic transport network. This is discussed in detail in Chapter 9. Additionally, certain edge-of-town sites such as the Sywell Road Sports Ground, which has been provided as a replacement for the Old Grammarians Sports Ground off Sanders Road, can usefully contribute towards meeting the needs of the Borough.
PLANNING PERMISSION WILL NOT BE GRANTED FOR PROPOSALS WHICH WOULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF AN IMPORTANT AMENITY AREA. EXCEPTIONS MAY BE PERMITTED:
ON SITES WHICH ARE NOT IDENTIFIED AS ENVIRONMENTALLY IMPORTANT OPEN SPACE, PROVIDED THAT IT CAN BE ESTABLISHED THAT EITHER:
THERE IS INSUFFICIENT LONG TERM DEMAND FOR THE FACILITIES, OR
PROVISION IS TO BE MADE ON AN ALTERNATIVE AND APPROPRIATE SITE WHICH IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE AND PROVIDES EQUIVALENT COMMUNITY BENEFIT; AND
IN THE CASE OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF A SMALL PART OF AN IMPORTANT AMENITY AREA, WHERE THIS IS AGREED AS REPRESENTING THE BEST MEANS OF RETAINING SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
6.11. Existing recreational open space in the Borough, comprising recreational/sports grounds (including school sports grounds), playing fields, the town linear park system, formal town parks, pocket parks, allotments, informal open space and children's play areas in close association with housing developments, are defined as Important Amenity Areas (I.A.A.s). The Borough Council will generally support their retention by resisting alternative forms of development. Additional recreational sites provided during the Plan period will also be regarded as IAAs for the purpose of the Plan.
6.12. A survey recently carried out by the Council to assess the provision of recreational open space showed that all playing pitches within the town inset and village policy lines available to the public or to private clubs and organisations were actively used by local sports teams. These pitches clearly meet a specific public demand for sport and other physical recreation and as such are considered to be justified for inclusion as Important Amenity Areas. Full details of the playing pitch survey is available in Supplementary Planning Guidance.
6.13. Additionally, as the linear park constitutes a significant proportion of the informal recreation space in Wellingborough town and, as an integral system, (refer to Chapter 2) is indivisible, special designation as IAA is considered to be of particular importance.
6.14. Major open space areas in the town and all open space in the village policy lines are identified as IAAs on the Proposals Map. No IAAs are shown outside the village policy lines because this area is protected by open countryside restraint policies.
6.15. Proposals to use IAAs for alternative purposes will generally be resisted. Permission may be forthcoming, however, where strong evidence of insufficient existing and long-term community demand is presented, and the applicant has fully explored the suitability of utilising the site for other forms of recreation. the loss of an IAA may also exceptionally be allowed if provision is to be made elsewhere for suitable alternative facilities offering an equivalent or improved community benefit. These requirements are applicable to all proposals involving the loss of IAAs,regardless of whether or not the public currently has access to them. The site location, the quality of playing surface, ancillary facilities and security of future use will be important factors in considering acceptability.
6.16. Current demand can also be satisfied by making better use of existing facilities. Dual use of school playing fields is therefore encouraged and the suggestion in PPG 17 that local education authorities should not dispose of such facilities unless they have established that they will not be required in the longer term for school or community use, is supported. Similarly, the needs of the wider community may be served by the dual use of privately-owned sports grounds.
6.17. Certain sections of the town linear park system are not at present owned by the Borough Council, namely:-
land off Senwick Road,
land off Hardwick Road,
land r/o Stanwell Way,
land at Northampton Road, east of the Wilby Way roundabout.
(See Figure 6.1)
In order to achieve comprehensive accessibility within the existing urban system, therefore, the Borough Council proposes to bring the areas of land as shown on Figure 6.1 into public ownership or to negotiate public access across them, as appropriate.
PLANNING PERMISSION FOR THE MAJOR NEW DEVELOPMENT AREAS ON THE PERIPHERY OF THE TOWN WILL BE CONDITIONAL UPON THE PROVISION, WHERE APPROPRIATE, OF EXTENSIONS TO THE ADJOINING TOWN LINEAR PARK AND RURAL RIGHTS OF WAY SYSTEM.
6.18. The major new development areas on the periphery of the town, as discussed in Chapter 9, are intended to be planned in parallel with extensions to the town linear park open space system, based upon the river valleys and ridge lines. These extensions will be excluded from development areas. As IAAs, the extended linear park will enhance the amenity of the expanding urban population by providing relatively extensive areas for walking and other informal recreational activities. It is also intended that the new peripheral development areas should, wherever possible, be linked to the rural public rights of way system.
PLANNING PERMISSION FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT INVOLVING TEN OR MORE DWELLINGS WILL NOT BE GRANTED UNLESS ADEQUATE PROVISION FOR NEW RECREATIONAL OPEN SPACE, TO INCLUDE PLAYING PITCHES, INFORMAL AMENITY SPACE AND CHILDREN'S PLAY SPACE, IS INTENDED.
REQUIREMENTS, TO A MINIMUM STANDARD OF 0.35 HECTARES PER 50 DWELLINGS (PRO-RATA), ARE AS FOLLOWS:
YOUTH/ADULT USE, COVERING BOTH
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR,
INCLUDING PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE
SCHOOL FACILITIES ............... 0.22 HECTARES/50 DWELLINGS(1)
CHILDREN'S USE : OUTDOOR EQUIPPED
PLAYGROUNDS, ADVENTURE PLAYGROUNDS,
INFORMAL PLAY SPACE ............. 0.09 HECTARES/50 DWELLINGS(1)
AMENITY OPEN SPACE
(INFORMAL USE) .................. 0.04 HECTARES/50 DWELLINGS(1)
TOTAL :0.35 HECTARES/50 DWELLINGS
PROVIDED THAT:
NO DEVELOPMENT SITE SHALL HAVE A RESULTANT RECREATIONAL SPACE OF LESS THAN 0.04 HECTARES;
NO DWELLING IS LOCATED MORE THAN 250 METRES FROM AN AREA OF OPEN SPACE; AND
ON DEVELOPMENT SITES OF LESS THAN 50 DWELLINGS THE DEVELOPER WILL MAKE PRO-RATA COMMUTED SUM PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF OPEN SPACE PROVISION FOR YOUTH AND ADULT USE.
(1) based on the National Playing Fields Association "6 acre standard" and assuming a household size of 2.58 persons.
6.19. Provision of additional open space is a fundamental requirement of new planned development. Developers will, therefore, be expected to provide public open space within housing developments in accordance with the standards set out in Policy L7. Areas such as unusable landscape strips and small incidental pieces of land within housing estates will not normally be counted towards public open space requirements. Additionally, wherever possible, all dwellings should be located within 250 metres of a piece of recreational open space and, in the town, in reasonable proximity to the linear park system. Some flexibility in applying the breakdown of open space may be desirable in certain circumstances, especially with specialised housing schemes, for example it would not be necessary to provide equipped children's playgrounds in sheltered accommodation for the elderly.
6.20. Existing allocated open space at the Redhill Farm development site is unsuited to organised sports use because of the sloping nature of the land. Accordingly, to serve the needs of this development area, it is proposed to allocate a more suitable area of land to the east for playing pitches, etc., comprising some 3.8ha within the existing public open space north of Hemmingwell.
THE LOCAL PLANNING AUTHORITY WILL SEEK TO ENTER INTO A LEGAL AGREEMENT WITH DEVELOPERS UNDER SECTION 106 OF THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 FOR PUBLIC MAINTENANCE OF SMALL AREAS OF OPEN SPACE OR LANDSCAPING AGREED FOR ADOPTION WHICH ARE OF BENEFIT TO THE DEVELOPMENT ITSELF RATHER THAN TO THE WIDER PUBLIC. THE DEVELOPER'S PAYMENT SHOULD BE IN THE FORM OF A COMMUTED SUM SUFFICIENT TO COVER ON-GOING COSTS IN PERPETUITY.
6.21. The type of public open space covered by Policy L8, above, is small areas of open space or landscaping of benefit to the development itself rather than to the wider public. It is intended that such areas should remain in permanent use for these purposes, in accordance with Plan objectives, by providing for its formal adoption and maintenance. The adoption of prospective areas of public open space will be considered following the successful completion of a twelve months maintenance period commencing on substantial completion of all works. An extended liability period of five years for all planting through death, disease or damage will also be imposed upon the developer. On transfer to the Borough Council provision should be made for the maintenance of the public open space. This will normally be in the form of a commuted sum sufficient to cover on-going costs in perpetuity.
PROPOSALS FOR OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO ALLOW WIDER ACCESS TO AND ENJOYMENT OF THE COUNTRYSIDE WILL BE PERMITTED PROVIDED THAT THEY WILL NOT RESULT IN AN ADVERSE IMPACT UPON THE INTRINSIC CHARACTER OF THE OPEN COUNTRYSIDE.
6.22. The Borough Council considers that the local countryside constitutes a valuable recreational resource in its own right and that, accordingly, recreation and leisure related initiatives in the rural area outside the village policy lines are best evolved from its existing intrinsic character rather than being artificially imposed. In general, development which can only be accommodated outside the urban area and village policy lines will be considered for siting in the open countryside.
6.23. It is intended to promote the quiet informal enjoyment of the landscape and nature conservation interest of the countryside, although not to the exclusion of uses which have a fundamental need for such a location. Proposals consistent with this aim, such as country and pocket parks, which allow public access to properly managed areas of countryside, will be supported. The siting of such facilities will, however, need to be carefully considered in relation to the capacity of and access from the road network.
PROPOSALS FOR THE CONVERSION OF RURAL BUILDINGS FOR RECREATIONAL OR LEISURE USE ANCILLARY TO ACTIVITIES, EITHER EXISTING OR AS REFERRED TO IN POLICY L9 ABOVE, WILL BE PERMITTED WHERE THE CONVERSION SCHEME COMPLIES WITH POLICY G10.
6.24. Where possible, it is sought to ensure that built development in the open countryside is kept to a minimum and to avoid the introduction of sporadic development. Utilisation of rural buildings for recreational-related purposes will normally be acceptable where appropriately located and where there is a genuine need for some form of ancillary accommodation.
PROPOSALS FOR BUILDINGS ASSOCIATED WITH OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN THE OPEN COUNTRYSIDE WILL BE PERMITTED ONLY WHERE:
THEY ARE SMALL SCALE, AND DIRECTLY RELATED TO A RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY WHICH ITSELF NECESSITATES A COUNTRYSIDE LOCATION; AND
THE CONVERSION OF EXISTING BUILDINGS IS NOT POSSIBLE AS AN ALTERNATIVE.
6.25. The Plan's General Strategy includes the protection of the character of the open countryside, and to this end it is desired to carefully control new built development located therein. However, in the absence of any suitable existing redundant buildings, certain modest built facilities may be justified in association with a particular activity. Any such buildings, or extensions to existing buildings, used for these purposes should be located in close proximity to the particular facility being served. Restrictions will be imposed on planning permissions granted for leisure and recreational facilities incorporating additional buildings such as bars, restaurants and shops, to ensure that they remain ancillary to the primary use and cannot subsequently function separately.
PLANNING PERMISSION FOR MOTORISED, SHOOTING AND AERIAL SPORTS WILL BE GRANTED PROVIDED THAT:
THE PROPOSAL WOULD NOT AFFECT THE AMENITIES OF NEARBY RESIDENTS IN TERMS OF NOISE, TRAFFIC, DUST, FUMES OR GENERAL DISTURBANCE;
MEASURES ARE PROVIDED TO REDUCE NOISE AND VISUAL IMPACT ON THE SURROUNDING AREA TO A LEVEL COMPATIBLE WITH THE USE OF THAT AREA;
THE PROPOSAL WOULD NOT BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC'S ENJOYMENT OF ANY NEARBY RECREATIONAL FACILITY;
NO HARM WOULD BE CAUSED TO ANY SITE OF LANDSCAPE, ECOLOGICAL OR ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTEREST; AND
THE SITE IS ACCESSIBLE BY A RANGE OF TRANSPORT MODES.
6.26. Proposals for such activities as war games, motor, gun and aerial sports will generally be supported provided that the activity is properly managed and it complies with other policies of the Plan relating to amenity, nature conservation and the protection of the character of the countryside. When considering applications relating to SSSIs the sensitivity of the site and the possibility of providing mitigating measures will be taken into account. Where residential occupiers, or sites such as SNCVs are likely to be detrimentally affected, consideration will be given to removing existing Permitted Development rights to use land for a limited number of days. Suitable locations will be where disturbance can be minimised and which are accessible. Sites in close proximity to the town but away from residential areas will therefore be preferable. Where sites are more isolated they should wherever possible also be accessible by a variety of transport modes.
NATURE CONSERVATION, FISHING AND WATER-BASED RECREATIONAL USES WILL BE PERMITTED IN THE NENE VALLEY ON SPECIFIC SITES CURRENTLY IDENTIFIED FOR EACH USE AS SHOWN ON THE PROPOSALS MAP, AND ON FUTURE SITES AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.
6.27. Provision of water recreation facilities is particularly important in the County as a whole because of the inland location and the recognised value of water areas as an amenity for both locals and tourists. In view of the long history of mineral extraction in the Nene Valley some ex-gravel workings have achieved a high nature conservation value. More recent workings, however, give scope for after-uses which may include conservation and/or water sports, and the utilisation of sites for these purposes in the future is seen as an on-going process.
6.28. The Nene Valley Management Plan identifies broad recreational zones; the part within the Borough is shown as suitable for "recreational activities of a quiet nature with more intensive water recreation where appropriate". Water areas are at present being identified that are suitable for a variety of uses such as fishing, boating, water-skiing and nature conservation, and a detailed planning brief was produced in November 1989 for the conservation and development of the Earls Barton to Wellingborough section. Further briefs covering the sections from Wellingborough to Rushden and Northampton to Earls Barton are currently in preparation.
PLANNING PERMISSION FOR DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS WILL BE CONDITIONAL UPON THE PROTECTION OF EXISTING PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY. ADDITIONALLY, IN APPROPRIATE CASES, NEGOTIATIONS WILL BE INSTIGATED WITH A VIEW TO INTRODUCING NEW PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY.
6.29. The Borough Council will seek to retain public rights of way. Where the diversion of an existing route is considered appropriate in order to enable development to proceed, the Borough Council must be satisfied that a new line for the route, generally acceptable to the public, can be provided. The use of estate roads for the purpose should, wherever possible, be avoided with preference given to paths through landscaped or open space areas away from vehicular traffic.
6.30. In an endeavour to increase general accessibility in the Plan area, the Borough Council wishes to encourage the protection and greater use of the existing public rights of way system and to promote the introduction of new rights of way, particularly in the countryside, and to accommodate the reasonable needs of all potential users. To this end, the possibility of introducing circular walks will be considered, to include routes associated with the Nene Way County Path and the network of footpaths in the town linear park system.
6.31. Particular regard will be paid to the protection and enhancement of the stretch of the Nene Way in the Plan area which runs along the Nene Valley from Weedon to the Northamptonshire/Cambridgeshire border and constitutes an important leisure resource. In addition, the proposed Nene Valley cycle-way, comprising a cycle route through the Nene Valley which avoids main roads, is supported; this is to be supplemented by a series of separate circular routes in the Valley area. Cycle-ways in Wellingborough Town are covered in Chapter 7, (Figure 7.1) and proposed routes are shown on the Proposals Map.
DEVELOPMENT RELATED TO EQUESTRIAN ACTIVITIES WILL BE PERMITTED IN AREAS CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE TOWN, WITHIN THE LIMITED DEVELOPMENT AND RESTRICTED INFILL VILLAGE POLICY LINES, OR WHERE INTEGRATED WITH AN EXISTING COMPLEX OF FARM BUILDINGS OR INVOLVING THE RE-USE OF RURAL BUILDINGS IN ACCORDANCE WITH POLICY G10.
NEW DWELLINGS ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH DEVELOPMENTS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED IN RESTRAINT VILLAGES OR THE OPEN COUNTRYSIDE.
6.32. Equestrian activities, including riding schools, livery stables and stud farms, can provide new employment and diversification opportunities for the use of agricultural land. Proposals may be acceptable in locations where they will not have an adverse impact upon the visual environment, wildlife habitats, neighbouring residents or the local road network. When considering the grant of planning permission where there are possible amenity or highway-related problems, restrictions in the number of horses on a site may be sought. Poorly constructed stables and shelters, and the presence of unsightly unscreened exercise areas, should be avoided. Proposals should not be likely to lead to a demand for additional buildings.
PLANNING PERMISSION WILL BE GRANTED FOR GOLF COURSES:
IN AREAS IN CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITH THE TOWN PROVIDED THAT THIS DOES NOT RESULT IN A DISPROPORTIONATE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LAND ASSOCIATED WITH THE TOWN FOR GOLF COURSES AT THE EXPENSE OF ACCOMMODATING OTHER OPEN SPACE USES;
ELSEWHERE IN THE OPEN COUNTRYSIDE PROVIDED THAT THE LOCAL PLANNING AUTHORITY IS SATISFIED THAT APPROPRIATE SITES CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE TOWN ARE UNLIKELY TO BE AVAILABLE DURING THE PLAN PERIOD;
AND IN ALL CASES PROVIDED THAT:
NO MAJOR EARTHWORKS ARE UNDERTAKEN, AND IN THE CASE OF THE BEST AND MOST VERSATILE LAND, THE LAND REMAINS CAPABLE OF A RETURN TO AGRICULTURAL USE AT ITS ORIGINAL QUALITY; AND
THE PROPOSAL MAKES A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TO NATURE CONSERVATION AND, WHERE POSSIBLE, TO INCREASED PUBLIC ACCESS.
6.33. Demand for golf has increased considerably in recent years; 'pay as you play' facilities are particularly significant in providing access for a wider range of players. Typically an 18 hole course will require 50 to 60 hectares of land and, therefore, open countryside locations will be necessary. In recognition of the need to reduce car travel, preferred locations will be on land closely associated with the town. This will also be advantageous in creating a buffer between the town and the countryside beyond. If, however, it appears that land in close association with the town is unlikely to be brought forward to satisfy the demand, other open countryside locations should be considered.
6.34. Golf courses can present a discordant element in the open countryside in view of the 'man-made' appearance of land forms, such as bunkers and tees, and associated buildings for a clubhouse and maintenance equipment. Irrespective of whether the course is on the edge of the town or elsewhere in the open countryside, careful consideration needs to be given to location and design to ensure harmony with the surrounding countryside and to conserve the natural environment. As well as the need to retain existing rights of way, it will be required that additional public access should be provided wherever possible. Similarly, to mitigate the impact of the development, the opportunity to make contributions to nature conservation should be taken. Major earthworks should normally be avoided - in particular to preclude the irreversible loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land, as referred to in Policy G1. In order that the local planning authority can make an informed judgement of such matters, planning applications should include full details of the site and of the impact of the development proposed.
6.35. Proposals for associated but not directly ancillary development, such as hotels or restaurants, will be judged separately under relevant policies and will not normally be justifiable in an open countryside location. Additionally on the edge of the town, new built development should not take place in Areas of Restraint (Policy G3). Accordingly golf courses will not be acceptable in Areas of Restraint, although peripheral landscaping may be included. In order that golf course development does not proliferate in the areas in close association to the town at the expense of accommodating other open space uses which require to be in close proximity to potential users, it may be necessary to exercise additional control in accordance with Criterion 1 of Policy L16, and to direct further courses to appropriate sites elsewhere in the open countryside.
PLANNING PERMISSION FOR SPORTS-RELATED FLOODLIGHTING WILL BE CONDITIONAL UPON LIMITATIONS OF HOURS OF USE AND LIGHT INTENSITY.
6.36. Floodlighting is often required for evening usage of sports pitches, tennis courts and practice areas for team sports and golf, to extend available playing time. In order to promote energy efficiency and control light pollution, floodlights should be designed to angle downwards. Conditions will normally also be attached to floodlighting approvals to control light intensity and hours of use. Additionally, care must be taken to ensure installations do not represent a risk to highway safety.
PLANNING PERMISSION WILL BE GRANTED FOR MAJOR HOTELS WHERE SITED IN THE TOWN AND IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE STRATEGIC TRANSPORT NETWORK.
6.37. In accordance with the general strategy, the building of new major hotels (containing at least 30 bedrooms) should normally be limited to the town.
6.38. Whilst at present there are no major tourist attractions in the Borough it is hoped that a nationally important Heritage Park at Chester Farm, north of Irchester, will be opened within the Plan period. Although in the meantime, therefore, the area is not expected to become subject to significant tourist pressures, the Borough Council acknowledges the economic and social benefits associated with the tourist industry and wishes to encourage the provision of facilities for the accommodation of tourists either passing through the area or visiting its existing attractions.
PLANNING PERMISSION WILL BE GRANTED FOR PROPOSALS FOR SMALL SCALE HOTELS, GUEST HOUSES, FARM HOLIDAYS, FARM-BASED ACCOMMODATION AND SELF-CATERING ACCOMMODATION IN THE RURAL AREA, PROVIDED THAT:
THE DEVELOPMENT IS SMALL SCALE;
IN ALL CASES PROPOSALS WITHIN THE OPEN COUNTRYSIDE, THE VILLAGE POLICY LINES OF GREAT HARROWDEN AND HARDWICK, AND THE VILLAGES OF EASTON MAUDIT, STRIXTON AND SYWELL OLD VILLAGE DO NOT INVOLVE ANY NEW BUILDING; AND
IN THE CASE OF CONVERSION OF BUILDINGS, PROPOSALS COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF POLICY G10.
6.39. In order to promote rural enterprise whilst protecting the character of the open countryside, proposals for accommodation for tourists in the rural area should normally be limited to small scale guest houses and self-catering accommodation, including conversion of suitable agricultural buildings. Development should respect and, if possible, enhance the rural character of the open countryside and will be expected to comply with high locational and design standards, relate satisfactorily to existing development and avoid undue environmental disturbance. Farm tourism, including "farm holidays" on working holdings, is now nationally a popular activity which the Borough Council wishes to encourage, particularly in view of the current emphasis on farm diversification.
PLANNING PERMISSION FOR TOURING CARAVANS AND CAMPING WILL ONLY BE GRANTED ON SITES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO TOURIST OR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
PLANNING PERMISSION WILL NOT BE GIVEN FOR STATIC RECREATIONAL CARAVANS AND CHALETS.
6.40. The importance of existing touring caravans and camping sites in meeting the need for local tourist accommodation is appreciated by the Borough Council. However, in order to protect the rural area, provision should be sensitively sited, properly related to existing facilities or attractions and readily accessible from the strategic road network.
6.41. There is already a significant number of static recreational caravans and chalets sited in the plan area and, unlike seasonally used touring caravans, these usually constitute a permanent land use, irrespective of the period of time over which the units are occupied. As this permanence inevitably tends to be visually intrusive and have a detrimental impact upon the environment, either on the basis of individual units or cumulatively on multiple sites, the introduction of new sites for static recreational caravans and chalets is felt to be inappropriate in the Plan area. Use of static caravans and chalets for permanent residential purposes is considered in Chapter 3.