Policy SC1
Social and community infrastructure
The council will work with strategic partners to provide borough-wide high quality accessible and inclusive facilities and services for the community by:
- Seeking to ensure high quality health care and the retention and enhancement of existing healthcare facilities by:
a) assisting in securing sites and buildings for future healthcare provision or reorganisation of provision, including local hubs for a wide range of health services in the north, centre and south of the borough, including new provision in the regeneration areas.
b) supporting improvement of existing GP premises and other healthcare facilities where required.
- Supporting the improvement of educational facilities to meet identified need/borough changing needs and reduce inequalities, including:
a) Improvement and/or expansion of primary and secondary schools.
b) Supporting the provision of pre-school, childcare nurseries and other education facilities meeting the Council's aspiration to generate opportunity pathways for young people as per Upstream Pathway Bond -H&F Industrial Strategy.
c) Safeguarding land and buildings in educational use.
d) Securing land for new school provision in Regeneration Areas based on the need arising from any proposed major development in those areas, and in areas of identified need.
e) Supporting the provision of schools and facilities for those with special needs.
f) Working with and supporting the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation in the provision of school facilities to meet the need arising from proposed development in the OPDC area.
- Improving and enhancing leisure, recreation sports, arts, cultural and entertainment facilities in the main town centres in accordance with Policy E13 (Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Indoor Leisure).
- Supporting the continued presence of the major public sports venues for football, athletics and tennis, subject to the local impact of the venues being managed without added detriment to local residents.
- Enhancing sport, leisure and cultural provision for schools and public use in suitable local parks.
- Encouraging and supporting new and improved space for recreation and sport facilities within school sites for pupils' health and physical development.
- Protecting all existing community facilities and services throughout the borough unless there is clear evidence that there is no longer an identified need for a particular facility or service, or where that facility or service can be appropriately replaced or provided elsewhere in the locality.
- Requiring developments that increase the demand for community facilities and services to make contributions towards, or provide for, new or improved facilities.
7.0 Social and community infrastructure covers a wide range of services and facilities provided by the public, private and voluntary sectors. This includes, and it is not limited to, health provision, education, leisure, recreation and sports facilities, places of worship, policing and other criminal justice or community safety facilities, children and young people's play and informal recreation facilities, it may also embrace public houses where they provide a valued community asset (see glossary for full definition). Community facilities and services play an important part in supporting inclusive neighbourhoods and communities along with enabling healthy lifestyles, providing vulnerable people with support and care, and giving children and young people the best start in life. These are located across the borough in numerous buildings and spaces of varying quality. Although these uses are a valuable resource, they often do not work in a joined up and focused way to meet the needs of vulnerable households. that meet local and strategic needs and contribute to a better quality of life, making communities more inclusive and sustainable.
7.1 The council will work with strategic partners to ensure that community infrastructure is safeguarded where there is an identified need for it, keep aware of needs, assist with the implementation of agreed programmes by securing sites for specific uses. It is also important that opportunities are taken to improve or replace existing infrastructure in order to ensure that facilities within the Borough are maintained at a good modern standard. The Council is preparing an Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) with service providers and delivery partners which will inform the policy. The plan will set out the infrastructure required to support Hammersmith and Fulham's growth and local needs for new or improved community infrastructure. The IDP will be regularly updated over the plan period to ensure that it reflects an up-to-date information on needs, delivery and funding.
7.2 It is important that community facilities are well located, so that they have maximum accessibility for their potential users. Community facilities should be easily accessible by walking, cycling and public transport. Development proposals are encouraged to give priority to town centres in the site selection process, particularly large-scale community facilities such as arts, cultural and entertainment facilities that are likely to attract people from a large area should be in main town centre locations and in identified sites within Regeneration Areas. These locations generally benefit from higher Public Transport Access Levels. This enables the enhancement and successful operation of community facilities and their contribution to the vitality, viability and evening economy by encouraging visitors and linked trips. Other locations may be appropriate depending on the catchment area and scale of development. Small scale/local facilities may be more appropriate to be located close to the communities they serve. However, all proposals must demonstrate that the site location is appropriate having regard to local need for the intended use, accessibility and compatibility with neighbouring land uses.