Carlisle District Local Plan.indd - Carlisle City Council

Carlisle District Local Plan 2001 - 2016 Revised Redeposit drafttransport are being promoted instead of car use. The “Walking your way to health” nationalinitiative aims to improve the health of more than a million people, especially those whodo little exercise, by organising regular, short led walks through local parks and amenityspaces. Carlisle’s Doorsteps Walks programme has this initiative in mind.8.7 It is important that all land and buildings identified as a Primary Leisure Area are protectedfrom inappropriate development. Inappropriate proposals include non-leisure developmentand changes of use from leisure. Where there is evidence that an existing area of landor a building is no longer needed for leisure purposes, consideration will be given to anappropriate alternative use.8.8 In the urban area there is a total of 128 hectares of outdoor recreational facilities providing1.86 hectares per 1,000 population of play space and play area. This figure however,does not takes into consideration the dual use of playing fields which are under schoolownership, many of which the community can use as a recreational facility outside schoolhours. In addition there is 3.6 hectares per 1000 population of amenity greenspace, parksand gardens and semi-natural greenspace. These standards are based on the audit ofexisting open space, sports and recreational facilities that the Council has undertaken inline with the requirements of PPG 17: Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation. Thetechnical data and background document forming this audit are available from the Council.They will form the basis for establishing an effective strategy for open space, sport andrecreation at the local level, and will be linked to the Community Strategy.8.9 It is recognised that not all open space, sport and recreational buildings and land areof equal merit, and some may be available for alternative uses. Developers will need toconsult the local community and demonstrate that their proposals are widely supported bythem.POLICY LC3 Amenity Open SpacePermission will not be granted for development that would result in the loss of amenityopen spaces within settlements.8.10 This Policy recognises the need to retain open spaces which contribute to the character ofsettlements, whether or not there is public access. Planning Policy Guidance, contained inPPG 3: Housing, and PPG 17: Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation, identifiesthe need to retain valuable amenity open space which can include village greens andcommon land, as well as incidental areas of amenity greenspace which are both physicallyand visually important.8.11 Land subject to this policy is shown on the Proposals Map as Amenity Open Space. It hasbeen selected on the basis that the land is of public visual amenity value, and thereforevisible from a public place, including roads and footpaths. The areas are considered to beprominent in the street scene and make a positive contribution to the visual amenity of thearea. In residential areas, such open spaces are considered to enhance the outlook andenjoyment of nearby properties. The contribution of trees, shrubs, grassland, water or otherlandscape features has been taken into account in designating amenity open space.8.12 Within the smaller settlements of Brampton, Longtown, Dalston and the many villages withinCarlisle District, amenity open spaces often provide important views within villages or fromvillages to the open countryside. They provide visual and physical contrasts with the builtSeptember 2006 129