17. Communities

Social, cultural and community facilities are an integral part of developing inclusive and cohesive communities.

One of the core principles of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is to take account of and support local strategies to support health, social and cultural wellbeing for all, and deliver sufficient community and cultural facilities to meet local needs.

The NPPF also states that planning policies and decisions should plan positively for the provision and use of shared space, community facilities and other local services, and to guard against the unnecessary loss of such facilities. It states that planning policy should promote the retention and development of local services and community facilities in villages. Further guidance and advice on the design of new facilities is set out in the Sport England Active Design guidance as referenced in paragraph 13.13

The NPPF affords protection to existing open space, sports and recreational buildings and land (including playing fields) stating that they should not be built on unless the land is surplus to requirements, or the development will result in better provision of open space or sports and recreational provision.

Community facilities are defined in this Plan as local and village shops, meeting places, sports venues, nurseries, cultural buildings, public houses, places of worship, public rights of way, other local services including those for education and medical purposes, which enhance the sustainability of communities and residential environments. It also includes, vacant land that was last lawfully used as a community facility or previously occupied by a building whose last lawful use was for a community facility.

The provision of new facilities can be important in promoting sustainable development by reducing the need to travel and providing a service for those who do not have access to transport.

To be all inclusive, new community facilities should be designed in accordance with the Changing Places specification set out in Kent County Council's Kent Adult Social Services Glossary document dated October 2008 or any successor document or as modified by legislation or best practice or otherwise agreed which complies with the Disability Discrimination Act.

Paragraph 42 of NPPF recognises the vital role that high-speed broad band technologies and other communication networks play in enhancing the provision of local community services and facilities. Local authorities and other public sector providers are increasingly reliant on digital infrastructure to provide services and to interact with their customers. It is therefore becoming increasingly important for community facilities to also have this access as this will safeguard their future use making them more viable and adaptable for a range of uses. This will enable them to adapt to the changing demands thereby safeguarding their viability as a commercial concern. The Council will expect proposals for new community facilities to include the provision of high speed broadband to help facilitate the creation of a community hub thereby making the facility more viable in the long term.

Community facilities including local shops, services and public houses play a vital economic and social role in both urban and rural areas and their retention can assist in meeting the needs of the local community and reducing the need to travel. The Council recognises that there is a risk that such facilities may be lost to more financially profitable uses, and that such facilities are often difficult to replace. It is therefore considered that the loss of existing facilities should be resisted where they provide for a current or future local need.

Such facilities that are important to the community should be retained unless genuine but unsuccessful attempts have been made to retain the premises in a community use. To assess applications for the change of use or redevelopment of existing community facilities, the Council will require a thorough analysis of the existing operation and attempts made to secure the future viability of the community use. In all cases, the applicant must demonstrate that:

• the need for the existing or alternative community facilities has been researched and that there is insufficient viable demand;
• opportunities to support the facility by the introduction of other services have been explored, where the dual use of premises for a number of community functions may help support the viability of facilities;
• efforts have been undertaken to secure the viability of the facility through applications for grant aid, business advice and discussions with community groups, parish Councils, Thanet District Council, Kent County Council and other national or local bodies with a direct interest in service provision; and
• the site has been actively marketed for its existing use and alternative community uses, at a realistic price and for a reasonable period of time of at least a year, proportionate to the type and scale of the facility.

The following policy seeks to ensure that existing community facilities are protected where there is a need for them.

Margate Cemetery is nearing capacity and a need has been identified for its expansion. A site of approximately 4.2 ha has been identified to the east of the existing cemetery to accommodate the additional land requirement.