Outdoor Playing Space Scheme

Suffolk Coastal operates a scheme whereby local needs for outdoor recreation may be met as planning permission for new housing is issued and implemented. This is a policy of the Local Plan (AP103) and it works on a parish by parish basis. The amount of recreation provision sought depends on the number and size of dwellings proposed and is based on the standard of 2.4 hectares of recreational land for every 1,000 residents. This standard is divided into two types of land:

• Children’s playing space - 0.7 hectares per 1,000 population.
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• Sports grounds for adult and youth use - 1.7 hectares per 1,000 population.

The Outdoor Playing Space Scheme provides a means of calculating the amount of playing space required by each planning application for new dwellings. Where this space for children's play and sports grounds cannot be fully provided for on the housing site, and there is a deficiency in that type of space locally, then the scheme provides the means whereby an applicant can provide appropriate provision on land nearby, or make a financial contribution for improvements to be undertaken to facilities in the locality. Contributions from a number of small housing sites will be grouped together to provide or enhance a facility, benefiting the new residents of the parish.

Supplementary Planning Guidance 15 - Outdoor playing space

Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) 15 explains how applicants should seek to provide playing space within a housing site, and how it will be assessed by the Council. Where provision of both/either children’s play or/and sports grounds need to be provided separately from the housing site, the SPG explains how this is to be achieved and how any financial contributions may be made.

• SPG 15 - Outdoor playing space (new window PDF 2.75MB)

To accompany the SPG the Council has prepared the Parish Schedule which looks at the existing provision of children’s play and sports grounds on a parish by parish basis and sets out detailed proposals for improvements to such facilities:

• Introduction to the SPG 15 Parish Schedule (new window PDF 922KB)

Parish Schedule entries for:

• Aldeburgh to Culpho (right click to download PDF 3.54MB)
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• Dallinghoo to Huntingfield (right click to download PDF 4.67MB)
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• Iken to Parham (right click to download PDF 5.32MB)
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• Peasenhall to Tunstall (right click to download PDF 4.65MB)
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• Ubbeston to Yoxford (right click to download PDF 4.23MB)

Please note that these are quite large files. We recommend that you download them to your computer rather than try to view them in your web browser. Follow this link for help with downloading and opening PDF files.

Financial contributions

It will not usually be realistic for developers of less than 15 residential units to provide playing space on site, but larger housing developments would be expected to begin to make such provision. Developers of small sites (including single dwellings, conversion of redundant farm buildings) will be able to participate in the scheme by making a financial contribution. This is further explained in the SPG, but an indication of the current level of contribution scales is shown in the table below.

The level of contribution likely to be sought is dependent upon the location of the proposal. Contribution levels, listed by parish, for both children’s playing space and sports grounds can be seen below:

• Contribution levels for children’s playing space (new window PDF 21KB)
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• Contribution levels for sports grounds for adult and youth use (new window PDF 20KB)

Follow this link for help with downloading and opening PDF files.

Indicative contribution scales 2009/10

These scales will be applied to all relevant planning applications received on or after 1 April 2009. The figures below represent full contribution levels which will be adjusted proportionately to take account of any appropriate on-site provision.

The contribution scales will be reviewed and revised if necessary on 1 April 2010.