COMMUNITY OR RELIGIOUS PURPOSES, WHERE THE PROPOSALS WOULD NOT RESULT IN: A) UNACCEPTABLE NOISE AND DISTURBANCE
B) UNACCEPTABLE TRAFFIC, PARKING OR HIGHWAY SAFETY PROBLEMS C) A LOSS OF AMENITY AND CHARACTER IN THE SURROUNDING AREA.
Priority Areas for New Community Centre Provision
7.65. To a large extent, the essence of good provision is that it is found locally. Centres are particularly important in providing leisure activities for people who are less able to travel away from their neighbourhood such as mothers with young children and young, elderly or disabled people. The distribution of community centres throughout the town is shown in Appendix 23 and this illustrates those areas which lack a local community centre.
7.66. However, there are many other venues for community activities in the town and areas lacking a community centre may be adequately served by church halls, social clubs etc. Use of these other facilities has been taken into account in determining those existing areas which should form a priority for future community centre provision. The areas identified for particular attention are listed after paragraph 7.68. 7.67. In addition to the need for extra community facilities in certain areas, provision should also be directed
towards meeting the needs of all groups covered by the equal opportunities policy statement of the Council (1985; revised 1991). These may arise as a result of migration or population changes. For example there are a growing number of elderly people in the AfroCaribbean community, many of whom live in the central part of the town. Provision within this area, which is identified as a priority for extra community facilities, could help to cater for such specific community needs.
7.68. The Council will give priority to the provision of community centres in the following districts: North Kingsthorpe (includes Spring Park);
Far Cotton;
King ley/Racecourse area; s Duston/Upton.
Opportunities will be sought by the Council to provide community facilities in association with proposals for development in and around these districts.
Local Community Provision in New Residential Areas
7.69. New community centres are usually built only when the need has been established. However, the opportunity should be taken in large areas of new residential development to reserve land for the community and religious needs of new residents. The development of new residential areas does create an almost immediate need for a meeting place and venue for community activities such as day nursery facilities, residents group meetings and other social functions. Any proposals would need to be carefully sited and managed in order to avoid undue disturbance to the residential character of the area.
7.70. Within proposals for major new residential development, the emphasis should be on the provision of community centres which are large enough to ensure their successful operation. At the same time, centres also need to be in convenient locations for local residents and have particular regard to the needs of the less mobile sections of the population.
7.71. Libraries are important in meeting the educational and leisure needs of residents and, where appropriate, need to be close to housing areas. Additional population resulting from major new residential development will need extra library facilities. In some residential developments there may be alternative or additional needs for religious buildings or purpose built facilities for pre-school childcare or care for the elderly. Community facilities as discussed in paragraphs 7.69 - 7.71 may be sought by requiring the developer either to provide new premises or, in other cases, to make a financial contribution towards the
expansion of existing services. The scale of community and library facilities which the Council will seek is detailed in Appendix 1, Paras B.11 and B.12.
7.72. Where the Council considers that local community facilities (e.g. Community Centres, Religious Buildings, Libraries, Facilities for Pre-School Childcare or Care for the Elderly) should be provided in association with any major residential development, the Council will seek the provision of a land allocation for new premises. The Council will also seek the dedication of the land, the construction of new facilities or a contribution towards the expansion of existing services by agreement with the developer under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
7.73. The provision of new buildings should not be regarded as the only means of increasing community facilities. Existing schools and colleges, in particular, are already used for all kinds of community activities and there is potential for more use providing that this does not harm the amenity of the neighbouring area. The assessment of proposals for alternative uses of school facilities under policy L2 will help to safeguard such opportunities.
Use of Redundant Buildings
7.74. There has been a steady decline in many church congregations exacerbated by a shift of population. Against this background, a high proportion of churches need to be retained on the basis of their architectural and historical importance. Where suitable buildings are no longer required for their original purpose, their alternative use may be best directed towards cultural or community activity. This would be particularly suitable in locations where a commercial use would not be appropriate.
L15 PLANNING PERMISSION WILL BE GRANTED FOR THE CONVERSION OF REDUNDANT