Heathlands Garden Settlement SPD

Comment

Representation ID: 272

Received: 05/12/2025

Respondent: Sport England

Consideration should be given on how the country park could be used for formal and informal sporting and physical activity. i.e. Orienteering, mountain bike and BMX tracks, park runs.

Comment noted.
The actual scope and detailed design of the Country Park will need to be set out as part of the formulation and consideration of future planning applications.

Comment

Representation ID: 273

Received: 05/12/2025

Respondent: Sport England

Sport England would advise using our Active Design Guidance to creating an active community: https://www.sportengland.org/guidance-and-support/facilities-and-planning/design-and-cost-guidance/active-design

By applying Active Design’s 10 principles to our built and natural environments, we can create active environments that encourage people to be active through their everyday lives.

With a shared belief and commitment to the great value that well designed places can have on health and wellbeing, we've worked with Active Travel England (ATE) and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) to produce this updated version of the Active Design guide.

Comment Noted.
The SPD at Paragraph 6.9.3 states that proposals must take account of the healthy new towns principles, the developing integrated neighbourhood model of working, as well as Sport England's Active Design principles.
The principles in relation to 'Health, Sports and Community Facilities' at Chapter 6.9 also states that sports facilities (including built facilities) must be provided aligned with new open space and playing pitch requirements and as per the most up to date policies and standards produced by Sport England (or equivalent).

Comment

Representation ID: 274

Received: 05/12/2025

Respondent: Sport England

Be inclusive and have a robust evidence base!

Comment noted.
Officers consider that the SPD is backed by a proportionate and robust evidence base, together with the matters that were evidenced and considered previously via the Local Plan Review.

Comment

Representation ID: 275

Received: 05/12/2025

Respondent: Sport England

Sport can also be an employer, two gymnastics clubs Earls Gymnastics Club, (Sandwell), and Revolution Gymnastics (Birmingham) when located within an industrial areas, were one of the biggest employers on the parks where they were located.

Comment noted.
Chapter 6.10 of the SPD recognises at paragraph 6.10.2 that jobs will be created across the Garden Settlement from a variety of activities, including the on site retail, leisure and community facilities.

Comment

Representation ID: 276

Received: 05/12/2025

Respondent: Sport England

We would advise on the following additional measures to be considered:

1. The use of opens space and playing fields as a source of ground source heat pumps for district heating systems
2. Rainwater harvesting should be considered.
3. By covering car parks with open structures, one can integrate photovoltaic with the roof structure creating an additional source of power.

We would cation against having deciduous trees and plants adjacent to playing fields, multi-use games areas and artificial grass pitches, due the increased maintenance costs.

Comment noted.
The SPD does not go into the detail of all potential measures and solutions enabling flexibility for proposals to reflect advances in technologies and changes in user behaviours over time
Officers agree that a reference should be added to promote rainwater harvesting as part of the principle related to managing water.