« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
PLANNING FOR NEW FACILITIES FOR SPORT AND RECREATION
48. Sports and recreation activities take place in a wide variety of settings, ranging from urban open space and purpose-built indoor facilities to coastal areas and mountain summits. The Land Reform Act extends access rights to inland water, and some types of water-based recreation may become more widespread in the future. Forests and woodlands are also an increasingly important element of the local and tourist recreational opportunities in some parts of Scotland.
49. Planning authorities should plan positively for new development for sports and recreation. Where a need has been identified for new indoor or outdoor facilities within an area, the development plan should identify sites where they can be appropriately located. Planning authorities should take care regarding the siting of new sports developments, particularly those which have the potential for significant impact on the local community or the environment.
Development management considerations
50. Some sports and recreation activities have the potential to adversely affect the built environment or natural heritage, particularly where formal facilities are involved. Impacts on the built and natural environment and on local communities can usually be mitigated through proper siting, design and management. However at some locations, it may be necessary to take a precautionary approach. Many outdoor sport and recreation activities depend on the quality of the environment and the planning system has a key role in safeguarding the settings where these activities take place. Planning authorities should assess proposals against development plan policies to ensure that new sports and recreation facilities are guided to appropriate locations. Where appropriate, planning authorities should consult with sportscotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and any specialist organisation for a particular sport or activity.
51. Wherever possible development should be guided to locations which can be accessed by a range of modes of transport, and do not increase dependency on private car use, while ensuring appropriate parking provision. For many forms of sport and recreation development, locations within or close to residential areas will be the most appropriate location. However accessibility must be balanced with the likely impacts on amenity including noise, light pollution, volume of traffic and disturbance.
52. Land on the edge of settlements may be the most appropriate location for certain sports and recreational activities, particularly those which require large areas of land, or which involve significant noise impacts or safety concerns. In assessing proposals for new development on the edge or out of settlements, developers and planning authorities should ensure that visual amenity and landscape considerations are fully taken into account. Some of these areas may be covered by green belt policy. One of the key objectives of green belt is to protect and give access to open space within and around towns and cities. Once designated, green belts can be managed effectively to enhance quality of life, for example, by providing a range of opportunities for outdoor recreation and tourism, and providing access to the countryside. SPP 21: Green Belts highlights the range of uses that may be appropriate in green belts, which include recreational uses that are compatible with an agricultural or natural setting.
Stadia
53. Sports stadia, by nature of their size and the number of spectators, and resulting implications for transport and health and safety, raise specific concerns for planning. Existing stadia provision and any need for improvement or new facilities should be taken into account in preparation of the development plan. Account should be taken of all normal planning considerations, including access to sustainable forms of transport, traffic generation, parking, and possible conflicts with neighbouring uses. Any proposal for mixed use development within a stadium must comply with wider development plan policies.
54. Where a new stadium is proposed, the planning authority should consult widely, including neighbouring local authorities where appropriate. Stadium developments are not considered to be appropriate uses in green belts (see paragraph 52 above).
« Previous | Contents | Next »