8.1.1 The Borough Council has adopted the following Local Plan aims with regard to the provision of Community Infrastructure:

(i) to secure the provision of adequate open space to meet recreational needs;

(ii) to secure the provision of educational, health and social facilities to serve residents’ future needs;

(iii) to ensure that proposals of other service providers are not prejudiced by development.

8.2.1 New development must be served by an adequate level of infrastructure, including provision of services such as water, electricity and waste water treatment facilities and community facilities such as health provision, recreation facilities, and education provision. Structure Plan Policy S9 states that regard must be paid to the need for infrastructure provision in preparing local plans, and development proposals should not be permitted unless infrastructure directly required for the development can be made available. Where major development has been proposed in this Plan, detailed requirements for new infrastructure provision have been highlighted within the relevant Local Plan policies. In general terms, the following policy will apply to all new development:

POLICY P8/1

Proposals for development will be permitted where it can be demonstrated that the service and community infrastructure necessary to the development is available. Where an acknowledged deficiency in such infrastructure would result from, or be materially exacerbated by, the development proposal, the developer will be required to ensure that the provision and implementation of new or improved infrastructure is secured to meet the needs of the development proposal. In appropriate cases, planning obligations may be needed to bring forward the necessary infrastructure. In the case of proposals involving only part of a site, the cost of infrastructure will be apportioned as appropriate to the nature of the proposed development.

8.3 Open Playing Space

Provision of Open Playing Space

8.3.1 Open playing space in new developments should be satisfactorily provided, both in terms of formal sports provision and areas for children’s play. The National Playing Fields Association Standard of providing 2.43 hectares of playing space per 1000 population has been used historically in the Borough to assess the adequacy of open playing space. New open spaces have been provided to meet many of the identified deficiencies, wherever practicable.

8.3.2 For the purposes of this Local Plan, the following definitions of open playing space have been used in accordance with the National Playing Fields Association's recommendations. Open playing space comprises:

Outdoor Sport: pitches (including artificial pitches), greens, courts, athletics tracks and miscellaneous sites such as croquet lawns and training areas. This includes educational land available for public use and privately owned facilities such as company sports grounds.

Children’s Playing Space: equipped children’s playgrounds, adventure playgrounds, and areas specifically designed and available for casual or informal play.

Open Playing Space excludes indoor sports or leisure centres, golf courses, the grounds of HM services unless available for public use, ornamental parks and gardens, large areas of water, woodland, commons, and amenity areas, landscaping strips and highway verges in residential developments.

8.3.3 To assist in the application of the above standard, the Borough Council has converted this to a standard of provision per dwelling based on the average occupancy rate for the Borough. For new developments in excess of 0.4 ha, the Borough Council has, therefore, adopted the levels of provision set in the National Playing Fields Association Standard as follows:

8.3.4 Whilst the scale of open playing space provision is prescribed by the standard, the actual amount, form and nature of open playing space to be provided in association with any particular development will vary depending on the size of the development site, the character of the site, the nature of the development and amount of existing open playing space provision in the immediate area. Account will also be taken of the contribution made by all-weather facilities including covered facilities and joint-use provision. Any open playing space provided in accordance with the required standard should be of a size, and in a location, to make it useable for play of a reasonably vigorous nature without causing nuisance to adjoining properties. In this respect, a few large areas are preferred to numerous small ones. In some cases, open playing space may not be sought, for example, in schemes providing sheltered accommodation for the elderly, or where there is a surplus of sports pitches for the area as a whole.

8.3.5 Where it is considered to be impracticable or inappropriate to provide sports pitches within the development site, for example, where site characteristics make provision on site impracticable, payment may be made to the Borough Council in lieu of provision at the site. In such cases, the Borough Council will use payments received to secure the provision of additional facilities elsewhere in the vicinity, or the enhancement of existing facilities to enable more intensive use. The following policy will apply:

POLICY P8/2

1. For new residential developments in excess of 0.4 hectare, the Borough Council will require the provision of open playing space, including equipped children’s playgrounds where appropriate, at the level of 60m² per dwelling in accordance with the recommendations of the National Playing Fields Association.

2. Where it is considered to be impracticable or inappropriate to provide open playing space within or adjacent to the development site due to site characteristics or the nature of the proposal, the Borough Council will consider alternative means of provision by the developer where this is of equivalent benefit to the provision of open playing space commensurate with the above standard.

3. Where physical provision of open playing space is made by the developer, an agreement will be sought with the developer to lay out the land and provide recreational facilities, and to make adequate provision for the subsequent maintenance of the site. Design and layout of facilities should, where appropriate, be designed to facilitate use by elderly and disabled people.

8.3.6 Some locational deficiencies remain in existing built up areas since there are no practical means of addressing them. In some cases, the sites identified in Policy P8/3 represent opportunities to enhance existing provision. Others represent the only practical opportunities promoted by Parish Councils to address any remaining locational deficiencies, and the provision of private facilities in these cases will not be permitted. In granting permission for proposals at any of the sites listed below, conditions will be sought to secure public access where appropriate.

POLICY P8/3

The following sites, as identified on the Proposals Map, are considered suitable for open playing space:

(a) Hollow Lane, Snodland: in order to alleviate deficiencies in children’s playing space provision in south-west Snodland which will be aggravated by new development and to preserve a barrier between existing and proposed housing and the quarry and the employment uses it contains;

(b) Within the school grounds at Clare Park, East Malling: joint use in order to meet deficiencies in children’s playing space in the housing estates north of Chapman Way and to provide a valuable and attractive amenity area for the residents of East Malling;

(c) Additional playing fields adjacent to Potyns Recreation Ground, Paddlesworth Road, Snodland: to be provided by Snodland Town Council, in order to meet deficiencies in sports pitch provision. The site may also be used in part for new allotments;

(d) Podkin Meadow, Blue Bell Hill: to provide children’s playing space to serve Blue Bell Hill village;

(e) an extension to the existing recreation ground at Burham: to improve facilities for children’s play;

(f) Tonbridge Farm: provision of additional sports pitches;

(g) Stonehouse Field, Platt: provision of additional sports pitches;

(h) Holborough Park: to form the open playing space requirements associated with development at Holborough Quarry under the terms of Policy P5/1(a);

(i) Larkfield Bank: to form the open playing space requirements associated with residential development under the terms of Policy P5/1(H);

(j) Leybourne Grange: to meet the open playing space requirements of the Leybourne Grange development under the terms of Policy P5/1(b), and to meet deficiencies in sports pitch provision in Leybourne Parish.

Permission will not be given for the provision of private recreation facilities (including education land) in the above areas, unless such proposals would not prejudice the provision of adequate public open playing space facilities in the locality, or agreement can be reached regarding joint use of the facility by the general public.

8.3.7 The Borough Council has identified the need for additional playing fields to serve the Walderslade/Lordswood area. This area extends outside Tonbridge and Malling Borough. The Borough Council in association with adjoining authorities will, therefore, be seeking provision of additional facilities to serve this area on an appropriate site which may not be within the Borough.

8.3.8 PPG17 advises that it is appropriate for local plans to protect public and private open space of recreational value. The loss of sites of recreational value can result in an adverse impact on accessibility to facilities. Accordingly, the following policy will apply:

POLICY P8/4

Development proposals which might result in the net loss of public or private open playing spaces (including education land) will not be permitted unless the need for the proposed development is overriding, and;

(1) the open space makes no significant contribution to the quality of the local environment;

(2) there is no existing deficiency of open playing space in the vicinity; or

(3) alternative recreational provision of equivalent community benefit whether public or private is provided in the locality prior to the commencement of development.

8.4.1 The Borough Council has provided a new indoor and outdoor swimming pool at Tonbridge and significantly improved Larkfield Pool. The Borough Council has a continuing policy for the development of facilities at Larkfield Leisure Centre and it is therefore important that sufficient land is identified to facilitate any future development proposals.

POLICY P8/5

Land safeguarded for the expansion of facilities, including any enhanced car parking, at the Larkfield Leisure Centre is shown on the Proposals Map.

8.4.2 The Rural Recreation Strategy of the Sports Council has identified the desirability of providing additional sports facilities to serve Borough Green and the surrounding parishes to complement existing provision. Due to the restraint policies protecting the countryside and the need to achieve adequate access in highway terms, it has been concluded that the only practical location is in the vicinity of Wrotham School where joint use of facilities could be realised. In view of its location in the Green Belt, any proposals would be considered as a departure from this Plan. Similar opportunities may exist at other schools in other parts of the Borough.

8.5.1 Informal recreation involves use of open areas for relaxation and general enjoyment of the countryside. The Borough contains many facilities of this nature ranging from Country Parks, Picnic Sites, and woodlands to small open spaces in built up areas. There is no overall level of provision to be achieved, as much depends on where opportunities for additional provision occur. The Borough Council has established a Country Park at Haysden, and extensions to it will be considered as opportunities arise. The following site-specific opportunities have been identified:

POLICY P8/6

The following sites, as identified on the Proposals Map, are considered suitable for informal open recreation facilities and would benefit from enhancement as set out below:

(a) North of Aylesford Recreation Ground: minimal restoration of derelict land by Aylesford Parish Council to create a safe and attractive nature reserve;

(b) South end of Bailey Bridge, Aylesford: small amenity area including seating, contingent upon the satisfactory relocation or cessation of the existing private car park;

(c) Wouldham Riverside (incorporating a riverside footpath): to be provided primarily in association with development proposals under Policy P5/1(c). The site of the small commercial premises at Haymans Wharf and the small area at the south western end of the site will be incorporated if and when the existing uses cease or can otherwise be satisfactorily relocated;

(d) Riverside area of depot site and land north of the Town Lock, Tonbridge: amenity area with access via the Lock and a footbridge to Lyons Crescent;

(e) The Fosse, Tonbridge: amenity area to be laid out in association with the development of the Cattle Market site under Policy P2/10(e), having regard to the landscape and historic value of the site which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument;

(f) Land south of Forstal Road, Aylesford: Picnic site and nature conservation area to be provided by the Parish Council;

(g) Little Ryarsh Wood: public access to be provided in association with the development of Leybourne Grange under Policy P5/1(b);

(h) Leybourne Wood: negotiation to provide improved access for walkers and equestrians;

(i) Woodland adjoining Brindles Field, Tonbridge: negotiation to secure improved public access;

(j) Hartlake Bridge, Golden Green: new car park with associated picnic facilities;

(k) South-west of Lunsford Lane, Larkfield: a potentially attractive amenity area adjacent to the lake;

(l) Pinkham Island, East Peckham: amenity area. Negotiations to secure improved public access.

In the consideration of detailed proposals, the Borough Council will have regard to the character and setting of each site and its nature conservation interest.

8.5.2 Leybourne Lakes is an extensive area of former sand and gravel workings located mainly to the north of Leybourne Way and separating the built up areas of Lunsford Park and Snodland. Since mineral extraction ceased, the nature conservation value of the lakes has increased resulting in much of the area being designated as a Site of Nature Conservation Interest. Most of the lakes are used for angling and the lake east of Lunsford Lane is used for windsurfing. The area has also become increasingly important for amenity purposes being used by walkers (though official access is limited), and serving as an important open area separating Lunsford Park from Snodland, assisting in preserving their separate identities.

8.5.3 It is the Borough Council’s intention that this area be used as a Country Park for low intensity recreation uses such as angling, windsurfing, sailing and boating, walking and quiet relaxation. Parts of the lakes complex could be actively managed for the benefit of nature conservation and could possibly be developed as a local nature reserve. In these areas, public access would need to be controlled.

8.5.4 In view of the location of Leybourne Lakes within the Strategic Gap separating the Medway Gap, Medway Towns and Maidstone built-up areas (Policy P2/18) and its value as an Area of Local Landscape Importance (Policy P3/7) and for nature conservation (Policy P3/2), built development can only be exceptionally justified as an integral part of bringing forward the use of the majority of the site as a Country Park. Part of the site close to the Ham Hill roundabout will be required for the development of necessary services to support the use of the site as a Country Park, such as car parking, toilets and refreshments. In the detailed design of any scheme, it is an objective to link access within the lakes area to the public rights of way network outside the site, and to public transport facilities in order to enhance the equestrian, cycle and pedestrian route network and minimise the need to travel to the site by car.

POLICY P8/7

1. Land at Leybourne Lakes is identified as being suitable for the establishment of a Country Park incorporating:

(1) low intensity water-based recreation uses subject to there being no conflict with residential and rural amenity, or nature conservation;

(2) informal recreation use;

(3) management of any area recognised as being of nature conservation interest and investigation of designating part of the site as a Local Nature Reserve.

2. Any built development at the western end of the site will be restricted to facilities necessary to serve the recreation and nature conservation uses of the Country Park and should meet the tests of Policy P6/12.

3. Any further built development at the eastern end of the site should be no greater than that shown to be essential to ensure development of the remainder of the site as a Country Park. Any development should be of a scale which avoids any material harm to the wider landscape and does not prejudice the purposes of the Strategic Gap.

4. Access within the site should be integrated into the public rights of way network surrounding the site and with public transport facilities.

8.5.5 Any development proposals should be submitted in the context of a Master Plan for development of the site as a whole, including studies of nature conservation interests and integrated transport facilities to provide access to the site.

8.5.6 The River Medway is well used for recreational cruising, particularly the non-tidal section. As part of an overall management plan, it is an objective to encourage even greater recreational use of the upper reaches near Tonbridge in order to reduce pressure on the lower reaches between Yalding and Maidstone.

8.5.7 One way of achieving this is to encourage the provision of a small marina facility at Tonbridge to draw boats into the higher reaches of the river, whilst also offering the advantage of the facilities and attractions which the town has to offer. In this respect, there may be scope in the longer term for use of part of the Area of Search for Sand and Gravel lying north of Postern Lane once the reserve has been worked and restored. It should be located downstream of Cannon Bridge since this is too low for larger boats to pass beneath.

POLICY P8/8

Land downstream of Cannon Bridge, Tonbridge, is considered suitable for a small marina as an appropriate after-use of sand and gravel workings, subject to:

(1) satisfactory access to the A26;

(2) the amount and scale of any associated built development being kept to a minimum and being well designed and landscaped;

(3) safeguarding of nature conservation interests in the area and protection and enhancement of the rural amenities of the riverside.

Any proposals inappropriate to the Green Belt will be subject to Policy P2/16.

8.6.1 The provision of education facilities is made by the County Council, Private Schools, Higher Education establishments, like the University of Greenwich, and the Funding Agency for Schools. It is the function of the Local Plan to safeguard land for proposals notified to the Borough Council by the education providers and to ensure that adequate facilities are provided as an integral part of major new developments.

8.6.2 The University of Greenwich intends to invest in new facilities at Kings Hill which will be included in the mixed use area defined under Policy P2/2(e). In addition, new primary schools, or improvements to existing schools will need to be provided in association with, and as an integral part of, the developments proposed at Holborough Quarry, Leybourne Grange, Kings Hill and Peters Pit.

POLICY P8/9

Land, as defined on the Proposals Map, is reserved for new education facilities and will be safeguarded from any form of prejudicial development at the following sites:

(a) Rear of Foxbush, Hildenborough: new playing fields (for Hildenborough Church of England Primary School);

(b) Tudeley Lane, Tonbridge (for Weald of Kent School);

(c) Pratling Street, Aylesford: site for new primary school and playing fields;

(d) Leybourne Grange: site for new primary school and, outside the confines, associated playing fields (see Policy P5/1(b));

(e) Holborough, Snodland: site for new primary school and playing fields (see Policy P5/1(a));

(f) School Lane, Wouldham (for Wouldham Church of England Primary School) (see Policy P2/5(6));

(g) Eccles Row, Eccles (for Eccles Primary School);

(h) Kings Hill: site for new Primary School and playing fields (see Policy P2/2(c));

(i) Peters Pit, Wouldham: site for new Primary School and playing fields (see Policy P2/7(a));

(j) Upper Haysden Lane: additional playing fields (for the Judd School).

8.6.3 The growing population of the area will require the provision of additional health facilities. Additional facilities will be needed as an integral part of development proposals at Holborough, Kings Hill, and Peters Pit (see Chapter 2). Elsewhere, the following additional facilities have been identified by the relevant health service providers:

(i) extension to the branch surgery, Burham;

(ii) new surgery at Wateringbury.

The Kent and Sussex Weald NHS Trust intend to concentrate health care services on a single site.

8.6.4 These facilities are provided by the Borough Council, Parish Councils, some voluntary and religious organisations, and in association with major development proposals. Planning permission exists for a new village hall at East Peckham, for a replacement facility at Wateringbury and an extension to the village hall at Leybourne. New community halls will need to be provided in association with development proposals at Holborough, Kings Hill, Leybourne Grange, and Peters Pit.

8.6.5 A need has been identified for a new fire station in the Blue Bell Hill/Walderslade area, but no decision has been reached on a preferred site. Tonbridge Police Station has recently been rebuilt. It is proposed to close the Police Station at West Malling but the Police will still be retaining a presence in West Malling. No land-use proposals have been identified in respect of Ambulance and Social Services.

8.6.6 Insofar as the library service is concerned, the County Council would wish to provide a new static library in any new major development with a population in excess of 5000. Developer contributions in accordance with Policy P8/1 would be sought for any new facility, the scale of which would be dependant upon the size of the development and the quality/size of existing library facilities. In other circumstances, any need for enhanced library provision in the Borough will be met by the enhancement of existing facilities.

8.6.7 Allotments can provide a valuable facility which should be protected as long as demand exists. They represent an opportunity for development within urban areas but can also be important in economic terms, amenity terms (as open areas), for recreation and for nature conservation. In the urban areas allotments are well used and it is an objective to maintain or enhance allotment provision. Provision of additional facilities will be encouraged in major new developments at Holborough, Kings Hill, Leybourne Grange and Peters Pit.

POLICY P8/10

Unless there is demonstrably no demand, the redevelopment of allotment sites will not be permitted without satisfactory arrangements being made for the provision of alternative facilities before the original allotments are lost.

8.6.8 The existing cemetery in Tonbridge is slowly reaching capacity. In the light of this, the need for a new cemetery to serve the town will be kept under review. In addition, a need for further cemetery facilities has been identified to serve the villages of East Peckham and Wouldham.

8.6.9 Crematoria exist at Blue Bell Hill, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells. The grounds of the Crematorium at Blue Bell Hill are affected by proposals for the widening of the M2 motorway. As a consequence, the former Medway Crematorium Joint Committee identified the need to make additional provision to provide quiet areas. The role and responsibilities of this Committee are now held by Medway Council. The following policy will apply:

POLICY P8/11

Land at Podkin Meadow, as defined on the Proposals Map, is considered suitable for the provision of an extension to the Crematorium Gardens to be implemented by Medway Council.

8.7.1 The following site specific proposals have been identified by the providers of water services:

POLICY P8/12

The following sites, as shown on the Proposals Map, are reserved for improvements to water supply facilities and will be safeguarded from any form of prejudicial development:

(a) an extension to Burham Reservoir: to facilitate an increase in water storage capacity, for Southern Water Services;

(b) a new reservoir at Baltic Road, Tonbridge: to improve water supply, for South East Water.

8.7.2 There are no other requirements of water service providers that need to be reflected in this Plan. Water supply is generally adequate, though any development proposals in areas of insufficient infrastructure need to be referred to the relevant Water Company. Southern Water Services is the agency responsible for foul sewerage and surface water drainage throughout most of the Borough. Spare capacity for waste water treatment exists to serve the Plan area and there are no plans to extend any existing works, though Southern Water Services propose improvements to the waste water treatment works and sludge treatment facilities at Ham Hill.

8.7.3 Although minor development can usually be accommodated without undue problems, major development may require improvement to the existing foul sewerage systems. Where a development will require an extension to an existing sewerage network, in addition to the tests contained in Policy P8/1, the Borough Council will need to be satisfied that either a planning application makes the necessary provision for that extension or that a Requisition has been made under Section 71 of the Water Act 1989. Where a development, which, if connected to an existing public sewer, will overload that sewer, the Borough Council will need to be satisfied that adequate provision has been made to rectify such overload as would be attributable to that development.

8.7.4 Any proposal to discharge waste water to the ground either directly through soakaways or indirectly via septic tanks will require the specific approval of the Environment Agency. The Environment Agency has expressed a preference for new developments to be served by new or existing public foul sewerage schemes and treatment plants rather than a proliferation of small private schemes.

8.8.1 The performance of the Plan in meeting the aims with regard to service infrastructure provision as listed in para 8.1.1 will be judged against the following indicators:

(i) the number and extent of new open spaces provided in new development;

(ii) the number and range of recreation proposals which have been implemented;

(iii) the number and extent of important recreation sites lost or affected by development;

(iv) number and range of new community services provided;

(v) number and extent of developments undertaken by service providers on land safeguarded for the purpose.