Member

As I explained at our meeting and in previous debates, the NPPF sets out that planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the need for open space, sport and recreation facilities and opportunities for new provision. This includes formal and informal places for children’s play, including playing fields and pitches. The framework also sets out strong protections for existing playing fields, where they may be threatened by development, and the policy is very clear: playing fields can be built upon only if they are no longer needed by the community, if equivalent or better provision will be delivered elsewhere, or if the development proposed is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use. While existing policy protections are strong, we are considering what more we can do in this area as we prepare a new set of national planning policies for decision-making, on which we intend to consult this year.