Policy SC2
Enhancement and retention of social and community infrastructure
- Proposals for new or expanded social and community infrastructure will be supported where:
a) It meets an identified need and promotes community integration and inclusion.
b) It is of a high quality, safe and inclusive design providing access for all (in accordance with Policy DH11);
c) It is compatible with and minimise impact on the local environment.
d) It is supported by evidence of how impacts such as noise, traffic, parking and opening hours have been assessed, minimised and mitigated.
e) It is designed to maximise the flexibility and adaptability of space to accommodate a range of community uses.
f) It is easily accessible by public transport, walking and cycling.
g) Can demonstrate to the council that funding arrangements are secured for the future maintenance and management of the facility.
- The council will support the temporary use of vacant buildings for social and community facilities, including for performance and creative work.
- Development proposals will be supported where they safeguard and enhance community infrastructure. Development proposals that will result in the loss of an existing community facility, or land and buildings formerly in community use, will only be permitted where it is clearly demonstrated that:
a) the facility is no longer required in its current use and that it is not suitable and viable for any other forms of community uses for which there is a defined current or future need identified in the Infrastructure Delivery Plan; or
b) the facility is being adequately re-provided elsewhere, is equivalent to or better quality and it is in a convenient alternative location accessible to the current community it supports.
- In assessing need and viability, the council will:
a) take into account the role the facility plays in the provision of space for community groups and whether the loss of such space would contribute to a shortfall in local provision; and
b) require a viability report that demonstrates to the council's satisfaction that the facility or an alternative community use is not economically viable including evidence of active marketing for community uses for a minimum continuous period of 18 months as set out in Appendix 5 -Marketing Requirements.
7.3 Where new or expanded community uses are proposed, they should be designed to meet identified needs and should be of high-quality, safe and inclusive design that provide access for all. They should be affordable and adaptable, and where appropriate offer flexible accommodation that can be used for a variety of uses. Service providers and developers are encouraged to engage with each other to identify opportunities for innovative designs that enable the co-location or shared use of facilities. This can help to support the viability of community infrastructure through frequent usage and make it more adaptable to the changing needs of the community over the long term. There will be circumstances where it is not appropriate to provide new facilities as part of a development scheme, for example because the development is not large enough or because there are other schemes in the area that are liable to provide social infrastructure, it may be more appropriate to provide funding being invested in community infrastructure improvements across the borough.
Loss of community uses
7.4 The loss or a change of use of buildings and land for community uses will only be acceptable where it can clearly demonstrated that there is no longer an identified need for the facility, accompanied by evidence of an active marketing exercise covering a minimum continuous period of eighteen months to help demonstrate that the site or facility is not suitable for a similar or alternative community use. An assessment of short term and long-term need should be provided together with evidence of viability in such circumstances where the loss of community uses is proposed and where the existing use is capable of being tested for economic viability. The assessment should include how this need is currently being met and give consideration of other existing providers which contribute to meeting that need.
Assets of community value
7.5 The Localism Act's provisions allow local community groups, which meet statutory criteria, to nominate an 'asset' in their local area to be placed on a Register of Assets of Community Value '(ACV). The purpose of this is to give community groups the opportunity to identify land or property which currently, or in in the recent past, furthers the social wellbeing or cultural, recreational or sporting interests of the local community and is realistic to believe it could do so in the future. In the event the owner decides to sell a locally listed asset, a local group can trigger a six month moratorium on the sale giving them time to raise the funds to purchase it (sometimes referred to as a 'right to bid'). Owners are required to consider community bids, but are not compelled to accept them.