Planning Policy Wales - Brecon Beacons National Park

• facilities can best be retained and enhanced through the redevelopment of a small part of
the site;
• alternative provision of equivalent community benefit is made available; or
• there is an excess of such provision in the area.
11.1.13 Local authorities should seek to protect and enhance the rights of way network as a
recreational and environmental resource. They are also encouraged to promote the national cycle
network, long distance footpaths, bridleways, canals, and the use of inland waters and disused
railways as greenways for sustainable recreation 8 9 . (And see 8.1.4, 8.2.2 and 8.5.6)
11.2 Development plans and tourism, sport and recreation
11.2.1 Development plans should establish a strategic framework for the provision and
enhancement of well designed tourism, sport, recreation and leisure facilities in the areas they cover.
They should consider the scale and broad distribution of existing facilities and activities and provide
for the accommodation and management of future needs in ways which limit negative environmental
impacts (including the consequences of climate change), protecting the landscape, biodiversity,
the coast, the historic environment and areas of special interest, and the interests of local
communities. They should take into account the environmental, economic and social implications
of likely future changes in the provision of these facilities and have regard to objectives for urban
regeneration and rural diversification.
11.2.2 The development plan should contain clear policies for the provision, protection and
enhancement of tourism, sport, recreation and leisure facilities. They should set standards of
provision, so that local deficiencies can be identified and met through the planning process, and set
out policies to avoid or resolve conflict between different pursuits.
11.2.3 The development plan should protect from development playing fields and open space
that has significant amenity or recreational value to local communities. It should indicate the ways
in which previously developed or disused land and water bodies will be considered for tourism,
sport and recreation uses, particularly in relation to urban regeneration.
11.2.4 The development plan should locate facilities which may generate high levels of travel
demand in or close to town centres where possible. It should provide guidance for access to the
countryside and coast for tourism, sport and recreational uses, ensuring that access can be provided
by a choice of modes of travel, but particularly on foot and by cycle and public transport.
11.2.5 The development plan should consider the scope to use disused land and routes as parks,
linear parks or greenways in urban areas. It should encourage the provision of safe cycle routes and
footpaths. Where recreational use of redundant railway lines or spaces alongside canals or rivers
is proposed, the plan should ensure that there is no detriment to adjoining users, wildlife or flood
defences.
157
Planning Policy Wales Edition 2 - June 2010 - Chapter 11 Tourism, Sport and Recreation