1. Publication Draft North East Derbyshire Local Plan 2024 - 2044 (Reg 19)

8 Infrastructure & Delivery Comment

8.1 Introduction Comment

This section of the Plan addresses infrastructure needed to support the development identified in the Plan and considers the mechanisms through which this will be funded. In order to achieve sustainable development, it is essential that new development is supported by the necessary infrastructure it needs to function, and that it does not place undue strain on the district’s existing infrastructure, services and facilities.

The term infrastructure is broadly used for planning purposes to define all the requirements that are needed to make places function efficiently and in a way that creates sustainable communities. Infrastructure can be physical (such as transport and water supply), social (such as education and community buildings) and green (such as public open space and wildlife habitats). The focus at the Local Plan level is on these three categories. Minerals and waste infrastructure is dealt with by Derbyshire County Council in its Minerals and Waste Local Plans.

In general, infrastructure requirements relate to strategic and local need. Strategic infrastructure refers to facilities or services serving a wide area that may include several communities, the whole District, or further afield. For example, improvements to the M1 Motorway, or investment in water, sewerage, and telecommunication networks. The infrastructure may be required where broader strategies are pursued to accommodate the cumulative impacts of growth, for example in a sub-region, rather than simply to accommodate the needs of the development proposals of a particular town or village.

Local infrastructure includes facilities or services that are essential to meet the day-to-day needs of specific communities, for example schools, health facilities, community facilities and local green spaces. These are often essential for a development to occur and/or are needed to mitigate the impact of development at the site or neighbourhood level and to help integration into local surroundings.

The provision of infrastructure is managed by a wide range of public and commercial organisations, not just the District Council. The Council has worked closely with statutory undertakers, utility companies and other agencies to prepare an Infrastructure Study and Delivery Plan (IDP)^[40] which will support the proposed development identified in the Local Plan. This identifies planned infrastructure to serve existing and proposed development, as well as ensuring the objectives of the Local Plan can be met. This complements the strategic work undertaken by Derbyshire County Council in the Strategic Growth and Infrastructure Framework (SGIF); which focuses on strategic infrastructure, including highways and transport, surface water flood management, waste, green infrastructure, broadband, education and social care. The SGIF provides evidence on the condition of and investment in existing strategic infrastructure and services in the County. It also sets out strategic priority projects across the County, including identifying specific needs in North East Derbyshire, delivery schedules for future investment and potential sources of funding. The Local Plan, supported by infrastructure planning, will play a key role in securing private sector involvement in infrastructure delivery, and in aligning the programmes of various infrastructure providers.

8.2 Plan Delivery and the Role of Developer Contributions Comment

Where new development necessitates new or improved infrastructure or where mitigation is required to make a development acceptable in planning terms the Council will require developers to contribute towards any necessary site-specific infrastructure and planning obligations in line with policies ID2 to 9. Depending upon the application, this may include contributions towards infrastructure needs generated by development such as highway improvements, new open space, schools, GP facilities, or other requirements such as contributing to local employment, skills and training initiatives. Requirements for affordable housing are separate to this and are covered in Policy LC3.

Developer contributions help to fund the infrastructure that is needed to make development acceptable in planning terms. Required infrastructure or community benefits must make development sites acceptable and mitigate the impact of additional demand caused by one or more new development sites. Benefits can be provided either on-site or off-site, depending on the local circumstances, but wherever possible, provision should be made on-site for facilities required through a planning obligation. All infrastructure improvements, where appropriate, will also need to be in accordance with Policy SS1 to ensure that any potentially adverse impacts are mitigated and the goal of sustainable development is achieved.

Where justified, development proposals will be required to provide or contribute towards delivering the infrastructure needed to support the growth in the Local Plan. Such infrastructure should be provided in advance of, or alongside, the development unless it can be proven that there will be sufficient existing capacity. The appropriate phasing for the provision of infrastructure will however be determined on a case-by-case basis.

8.3 Infrastructure Study and Delivery Plan (IDP) Comment

National policy states that the Local Plan should be supported by evidence of what physical, social and green infrastructure is needed to support the overall quantum and distribution of growth proposed in the Plan. To this end, the Council has worked closely with Derbyshire County Council and other infrastructure providers to prepare an Infrastructure Study and Delivery Plan (IDP). The IDP provides a detailed assessment of the infrastructure needs of North East Derbyshire and gives an indication of the specific requirements for the different types and scales of infrastructure needed across the district, at a site-specific level. In doing so, the IDP draws heavily on other studies covering a range of infrastructure types.

Whilst the infrastructure planning work shows there are no absolute infrastructure constraints to the delivery of the development proposed in the Local Plan, key infrastructure items will be required to facilitate the development proposed.

At a strategic level, the Council will continue to work closely with neighbouring districts and Derbyshire County Council through its infrastructure planning process to effectively deliver any infrastructure projects of cross boundary significance for North East Derbyshire.

Infrastructure needs are ever evolving, and requirements may change over time as development is brought forward and new infrastructure requirements are identified. Therefore, the IDP will be regularly monitored, reviewed and updated as a ‘live’ document during the plan period.

8.4 Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Comment

The preparation of the IDP was the first step in determining whether the introduction of a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) would be appropriate for the district. Work on the IDP demonstrates that while there are some strategic infrastructure requirements, for example the transport improvements along the A61 corridor, much of the infrastructure required to facilitate the levels of growth proposed in the Local Plan is local infrastructure. Although much of this local infrastructure is essential to make the development acceptable in planning terms it is relevant at the site specific or settlement level. As such it is considered that much of the infrastructure needed to support the growth in the Local Plan is capable of successful delivery through the current S106 regime.

Alongside this infrastructure planning work, the Council has carried out a Whole Plan Viability Assessment (WPVA) to assess the viability of the Plan as a whole, and to determine whether there would be enough economic incentive to provide new development with these infrastructure requirements in place. Findings suggest that while gross development values have increased compared to the previous WPVA, production costs have as well. New requirements for development, such as those for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), have also introduced new cost implications which were not previously considered. Taking this into account, the assessment concludes that only limited additional surplus monies would be available for capture from developments as a CIL charge, and even that would be achievable only in the very highest value areas of the district.

Since the majority of the housing development proposed in the Plan lies outside of these high value areas it is not considered likely that the introduction of such a CIL charge in North East Derbyshire would contribute meaningfully towards the delivery of the necessary infrastructure to support the Plan. Given the viability assessment found relatively tight margins of development viability across significant parts of the district it is considered that the flexibility afforded through the section 106 regime is of particular benefit to the successful delivery of development in the district.

Based on the above findings the Council will continue with the use of Section 106 agreements to help fund the infrastructure required to support the Plan and that needed to make development acceptable in planning terms; rather than seek to introduce a CIL charge.

Policy ID1 (Infrastructure Delivery and Developer Contributions) sets out the Council’s policy on the use of Section 106 agreements (planning obligations) to secure contributions towards the infrastructure provision necessary to deliver the objectives of the Local Plan.

8.5 Viability and Developer Contributions Comment

The Local Plan seeks to ensure that development proposals contribute appropriately towards the infrastructure, facilities and mitigation measures required to support growth. However, it is recognised that site-specific circumstances may, on occasion, affect the ability of a development proposal to fully meet all policy requirements whilst remaining viable.

Where an applicant considers that the cost of delivering required infrastructure, mitigation measures or developer contributions would affect the viability of a development proposal, this must be demonstrated through a robust site-specific viability assessment submitted at the earliest possible stage of the planning application process. The assessment should clearly identify and quantify the factors affecting the viable delivery of the scheme.

Where viability constraints would prevent the provision of infrastructure or mitigation that is considered essential/critical to enabling development to proceed, these schemes will not be supported.

In all cases, contributions must be necessary and ensure the viability of the development is maintained. Developers will be required to provide sufficient information to allow for independent assessment of site viability if necessary.

8.6 Provision of New Transport Infrastructure Comment

Transport infrastructure improvements are a key element in delivering the Plan strategy. They will support economic growth, sustainable patterns of movement and the regeneration of previously developed land, helping to improve connectivity between North East Derbyshire, Chesterfield, Sheffield and the wider region. Funding secured through public investment programmes, developer contributions and other delivery mechanisms will support the provision of identified transport infrastructure improvements, as set out in the Infrastructure Delivery Plan, including improvements along the A61 corridor. Further transport mitigation and enhancement measures may be identified through transport assessments, transport statements and other technical work accompanying development proposals. It is expected that such interventions will be funded through developer contributions or planning conditions, in accordance with national policy and relevant legislation.

8.7 Highways Comment

The safe, efficient and sustainable movement of people and goods across the highway network is critical to achieving the Council’s ambitions for the local economy and for more sustainable communities. Proposals for improvements to highway infrastructure will be supported where it can be demonstrated to be necessary and contribute to improving the economic prosperity of the area. These works will however need to take place alongside the promotion of sustainable travel. The Council is committed to working in partnership with Derbyshire County Council and other neighbouring authorities to ensure a co-ordinated approach to transport infrastructure improvements, recognising that transport issues do not stop at administrative boundaries.

In co-operation with Chesterfield Borough Council the Council has commissioned an updated transport model. This involves use of the Sheffield City Region Transport Model (‘SCRTM’), with the area covering Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire reviewed in detail and the SCRTM updated to include any changes to infrastructure and new schemes which have occurred since the 2016 base was developed. The modelling includes scenario’s both with and without a new Local Plan, alongside a mitigation strategy. The A61 corridor between Chesterfield and Clay Cross continues to be a key transport corridor, and as such, schemes that deliver improvements to this corridor will be supported.

Along the A61, particular emphasis will be placed on addressing existing capacity constraints and unlocking development opportunities along the corridor between Chesterfield and Clay Cross. Funding for years 2026-28 has been allocated by the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) for feasibility testing of a set of potential interventions on this key strategic link. The District Council will continue to work with EMCCA, Derbyshire County Council and Chesterfield Borough Council to support and develop this work.

Where justified, through a Transport Assessment or Transport Statement, developer contributions will be sought to support the delivery of any necessary improvements in accordance with Policy ID2.

8.8 Railways Comment

National policy supports the protection of sites and routes which could be critical in developing infrastructure. The legacy of coal mining has left a number of disused rail routes throughout the District, which have the potential to be returned to beneficial use to reduce the number of journeys made by road, increase the movement of freight by rail, or increase opportunities for recreation. These routes are safeguarded for recreation purposes as Greenways through Policy ID7.

The Local Transport Plan 3 identifies potential major transport projects. Clay Cross Railway station is included as a project for further appraisal as a County Council scheme. While this is not actively being pursued, a strategic outline business case was produced in 2023 which indicated a new station could be of strategic benefit and financially viable. Therefore, there may be opportunity to realise the long-term aspirations for a station at Clay Cross if funding becomes available in the future. As such, the Plan through Policy SS6 seeks to ensure that the development at Egstow Park (the Former Biwaters Site) does not preclude the provision of rail access, should the case for the station be established in the future.

The Sheffield Transport Vision 2024 identifies the re-introduction of a passenger service on the line between Barrow Hill and Chesterfield as a key public transport project. Sheffield City Council express a preference for the line to become serviced by tram-trains, which would link the two cities together by tram and provide new stops at Beighton and Killamarsh enroute. While there is currently no set timescale for the delivery of this project, the plan recognises the opportunity for this to be developed in the future and will seek to ensure land required for the route is kept available for this development.

8.9 Sustainable Travel Comment

The rural nature of North East Derbyshire^[41], and its dispersed settlement pattern means that the majority of residents do not live, work or shop all in one place. The location of housing, employment, education, health, retail and leisure facilities can have a significant impact on patterns of travel, and accessibility, particularly for those without access to a car. The relationship between planning, transport and infrastructure is acknowledged as crucial in creating successful and sustainable places that work for everyone. Although the planning system cannot directly change people’s travel behaviour, it does have an important role in shaping patterns of growth and supporting development in locations that maximise opportunities for sustainable and active travel. It is therefore crucial that the Council, developers, and other stakeholders work together to deliver a range of sustainable transport choices.

The East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) is, the Local Highway Authority and is responsible for preparing and maintaining the Local Transport Plan (LTP), Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) and delivering strategic transport infrastructure. At present, EMCCA is in the early stages of preparing both an LTP and BSIP for the region. Until the region-wide LTP is adopted, the Derbyshire Local Transport Plan 3^[42] (LTP3), remains the most up to date strategic plan for setting the transport vision, goals and challenges, covering the period 2011 to 2026. Equally, the Derbyshire BSIP 2024^[43] remains the most up to date strategic plan for setting ambitions and proposals for bus services from 2025-2030. Whilst the District Council has only limited control over highways or transport matters, its role as the Local Planning Authority is an important one in influencing transportation in the district through policies in the Local Plan and decisions on planning applications.

Sustainable modes of travel such as walking, cycling, public transport, car sharing, and low emission vehicles can reduce congestion and emissions, improve air quality, support healthier lifestyles and enhance accessibility and connectivity. This can be achieved through good planning and design, as well as travel planning measures such as promoting car sharing and providing dedicated car share spaces within new development. The provision of infrastructure including electric vehicle charging points can further support more sustainable travel choices.

Access to sustainable forms of transport must be integrated into the design of new development. All development should be designed to prioritise walking, cycling and public, whilst maximising opportunities for access to sustainable transport choices. The Plan does however; recognise that in some smaller settlements, particularly in rural areas, there is a greater reliance on private cars. This will be recognised in the application of Local Plan policies and the assessment of development proposals.

8.10 Walking and cycling Comment

Walking and cycling are an important form of travel and are integral to many other journeys, including access to public transport, local services and parking facilities. Encouraging active travel, and both walking and cycling, as an alternative to car use contributes to healthier lifestyles, improve air quality and reduce reliance on private car use.

As key component of a sustainable transport system, walking and cycling should be prioritised in the design of new development. Development proposals should provide direct, safe, attractive and accessible routes for pedestrians and cyclists, that wherever possible connect with existing and proposed networks. Developments should therefore maximise opportunities for active travel by providing convenient links to schools, employment areas, shops, community facilities and public transport services. Which will help to reduce reliance on the use of private cars for short journeys.

Derbyshire County Council's transport strategies identify walking and cycling as integral elements of a sustainable transport network. The existing and proposed cycling and walking routes shown on the Policies Map form part of the wider strategic and local network serving North East Derbyshire.

The Council will support improvements to the connectivity, safety, accessibility and attractiveness of walking and cycling infrastructure, including the delivery of new routes and enhanced links to neighbouring authorities and Chesterfield. Opportunities should also be taken to support wider strategic active travel networks and initiatives identified through relevant transport and cycling strategies.

8.11 Public Rights of Way Comment

Public Rights of Way (PROWs) form an important part of the district's sustainable travel network, providing opportunities for walking, cycling and horse riding while linking homes, employment areas, schools, shops, community facilities and the wider countryside. The Council supports the protection, enhancement and expansion of these routes, recognising their role in promoting healthy and sustainable travel choices. Development proposals should safeguard the integrity of existing routes and, where affected, provide suitable alternative connections to maintain accessibility and network continuity.

8.12 Bus Travel Comment

Bus services are the principal form of public transport in North East Derbyshire and play an important role in connecting communities to employment, education, health care, retail and leisure opportunities. Discussions with Derbyshire County Council highlight that service provision is generally strongest along the A61 corridor and within the district’s main settlements, however, accessibility can be more limited in some rural areas. The Infrastructure Delivery Plan identifies opportunities to improve public transport accessibility and connectivity where required.

Accessibility to public transport has been an important consideration in identifying sites for growth. Development proposals should seek to maximise opportunities to access and enhance local bus services. Larger developments should, where appropriate, be designed to accommodate bus services through permeable routes and safe, convenient access to bus stops and supporting infrastructure. Where appropriate and justified through transport assessments, transport statements or other proportionate evidence, developer contributions may be sought towards improvements to bus services and associated infrastructure. The Council will continue to work with EMCCA, Derbyshire County Council, bus operators and other partners to support improvements to public transport provision across the district.

8.13 Car Parking Comment

Parking provision forms an important component of transport planning and can influence travel behaviour, accessibility and the attractiveness of sustainable transport options. In seeking to promote sustainable development, the Local Plan seeks to ensure that parking provision supports the efficient functioning of development whilst minimising adverse environmental impacts arising from transport.

Parking provision within new development should balance operational and accessibility requirements with wider objectives relating to sustainable travel, placemaking and environmental quality. Development should provide an appropriate level of parking having regard to its location, accessibility by sustainable transport modes, the nature and scale of development and relevant parking standards. Parking areas should be designed as an integral part of development layouts, minimise their visual impact on the street scene and provide appropriate provision for disabled users and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The detailed design and layout of parking should accord with the principles set out in the Delivering Streets and Places Design Guide^[44], prepared by the 6C’s Local Highway Authorities including DCC, and any successor guidance.

8.14 Electric Vehicles and Car Sharing Comment

Whilst the private car will remain an important mode of transport in many parts of the District, the Council will seek to reduce transport-related emissions by supporting the uptake of low- and zero-emission vehicles and encouraging more sustainable travel choices. This may include the provision of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, travel planning measures, car sharing schemes and other initiatives that reduce reliance on single-occupancy vehicle journeys.

Travel Plans can play an important role in encouraging sustainable travel behaviour and reducing the environmental impacts of development. Policy ID3 supports the Council’s positive approach to sustainable travel by promoting walking, cycling, public transport use, and the uptake of low-emission vehicles, whilst recognising the particular transport challenges facing rural communities.

8.15 Water Supply and Waste Water Treatment Comment

Water supply and wastewater treatment infrastructure are crucial to supporting sustainable growth, protecting environmental quality and enabling new development. North East Derbyshire is currently served by both Severn Trent Water and Yorkshire Water, and the Council will continue to work closely with infrastructure providers to ensure that sufficient capacity is available to accommodate planned growth. The Strategic Growth and Infrastructure Framework identifies known infrastructure requirements and will be updated as further information becomes available.

During the preparation of the Infrastructure Delivery Plan the Council has engaged with the relevant water companies to further investigate the infrastructure capacity of existing waste water treatment works and inform the preparation of the Plan. Where improvements to water supply, waste water treatment or sewerage infrastructure are required to support development, these are expected to be delivered through the investment and regulatory funding arrangements of the relevant infrastructure provider. As a part of the application process, development will be expected to demonstrate that adequate water and wastewater infrastructure capacity already exists or can be provided in time to serve the development. Where this is not the case, the phasing of development may be required to ensure that appropriate infrastructure is in place.

8.16 Broadband Comment

High-quality digital infrastructure is essential to supporting economic growth, home working, access to services and social wellbeing. Reliable digital connectivity is particularly important in predominately rural areas where residents and businesses may have fewer opportunities to access services and employment locally. The Council therefore supports the development, expansion and upgrading of digital communications infrastructure across the district, including the provision of full fibre broadband and next-generation 5G mobile connectivity.

Digital Derbyshire is a £27.67 million programme to delivery broadband infrastructure and services across the County. The project has identified areas of poor broadband access (many of them in North East Derbyshire) and has been allocated funding from the Government to improve the situation. The Council will continue to work with infrastructure providers, Derbyshire County Council and other partners to improve digital connectivity across the district. New development should be designed to facilitate the provision of high-quality digital infrastructure from the outset, including full fibre broadband connections and other communications infrastructure where appropriate. This will help ensure that homes and businesses are future-proofed and do not require costly retrofitting at a later date. Digital infrastructure requirements and delivery mechanisms are identified through the Infrastructure Delivery Plan and will be reviewed as technologies and service provision evolve.

8.17 Social infrastructure Comment

Sustainable development has a social role in supporting strong, vibrant and healthy communities. Providing sufficient community, cultural, recreational, health and education facilities and services to meet local needs is an important objective of National Planning Policy.

Physical facilities for different groups, individuals and communities, including leisure^[46], health, education and community facilities^[47] (local shops, meeting places, cultural buildings, public houses and places of worship), can be collectively termed ‘social infrastructure’. They include public, private and voluntary facilities and services. Such facilities are often at the heart of local communities and essential to the quality of life of the District’s residents, making a positive contribution to safe, healthy and active communities. They can provide a sense of local identity, support health and wellbeing, reduce social isolation and encourage active participation in community life. Increasingly, social infrastructure may comprise multi-functional facilities capable of accommodating a range of services within a single accessible location. It is important that facilities are available locally, are accessible to all members of the community, and are well connected by sustainable modes of transport. The Council, working with infrastructure providers and other partners, will seek to ensure adequate provision of such services and facilities.

The Settlement Hierarchy evidence base^[48] identifies the extent of existing provision of facilities and services in each settlement across the District. New facilities, and the enhancement of existing provision, will be encouraged in accessible locations, preferably within town and local centres. The loss of existing facilities can have a significant impact on communities and social infrastructure assets therefore need to be protected and enhanced, particularly in areas that are less well served by existing services and facilities. Particular regard will be given to the role such facilities play in supporting community cohesion, health and wellbeing, and the day-to-day needs of residents.

In order to help protect existing community facilities, local communities can nominate important local buildings and facilities for inclusion on the Council’s list of Assets of Community Value. This gives communities the opportunity to develop proposals and raise the necessary capital to bid for facilities that make an important contribution to community life, local identity and social wellbeing.

The improvement of skills, training and education, particularly amongst young people and the long term unemployed, is also a key aspect of social infrastructure. It contributes to social mobility, inclusion and community wellbeing, as well as supporting the district's economic prosperity and helping ensure that all sections of the community are able to benefit from economic growth. To ensure convenient and equitable access to education and training opportunities, any expansion of education or training facilities should be located in accessible locations and be served by sustainable transport options where possible. This will help ensure that new development supports improved access to education, skills and learning opportunities for local people to enable them to compete effectively in the job market.

8.18 Education Comment

Derbyshire County Council is responsible for ensuring the provision of sufficient school places across the district. Each year, the County Council prepares pupil projections using demographic information alongside planned housing growth to assess future requirements for education infrastructure. When analysing an individual school’s pupil projections, the modelling does not take account of any proposed housing development within the school’s normal area (formerly catchment area of that school). Such information has to be considered separately for individual schools on a case-by-case basis. The Council will continue to work closely with Derbyshire County Council to ensure that education capacity is planned and delivered alongside growth. Large scale population growth arising from new development can generate a need for additional education infrastructure, including new schools, extensions to existing schools and other education facilities. Derbyshire County Council may seek developer contributions towards the provision of additional primary and secondary school places through S106 Agreements. The need for such provision will be assessed on a site-by-site basis, taking account of forecast pupil numbers, existing capacity and opportunities for expansion.

The Strategic Growth and Infrastructure Framework identifies where strategic growth may require new or expanded education provision. Strategic allocations may require the delivery of new schools, extensions to existing facilities or other education infrastructure to ensure sufficient capacity is available to serve future residents. The Council will continue to work with Derbyshire County Council, education providers and other partners to identify and address capacity issues arising from planned growth and to ensure that education facilities remain accessible to the communities they serve.

8.19 Safeguarded Land for Education Facilities Comment

Derbyshire County Council has formally notified the District Council of a number of sites within the District which they wish to safeguard for either the future expansion of an existing school, or for the provision of a new school or playing field.

8.20 Green Infrastructure Comment

Green infrastructure is defined in the National Planning Policy Framework as “a network of multi-functional green and blue spaces and other natural features, urban and rural, which is capable of delivering a wide range of environmental, economic, health and wellbeing benefits for nature, climate, local and wider communities and prosperity”. Green Infrastructure includes public open spaces, parks, natural and semi-natural green spaces, wildlife sites, rivers, watercourses and canal corridors, moorland, woodlands, greenways and the public rights of way network. Collectively these assets form an interconnected network across the district, providing important environmental, social and economic benefits. Green Infrastructure should be strategically planned, protected, enhanced and actively managed, while respecting and enhancing local character and distinctiveness of the area. It also plays an important role in supporting nature recovery, climate resilience, sustainable movement and the health and wellbeing of communities.

Green Infrastructure fulfils a number of important functions, including:

• Access, recreation and active travel – by providing opportunities for walking, cycling, outdoor recreation and healthy lifestyles;
• Biodiversity, geodiversity and nature recovery – by protecting, enhancing and connecting habitats, supporting species movement and strengthening ecological networks; Health and wellbeing – by providing opportunities for physical activity, social interaction, relaxation and improved mental health;
• Economic development – by improving the setting and image of towns and villages, making them more attractive places to live, work and invest
• Landscape – by defining and linking the character of the surrounding landscape, and contributing to its local distinctiveness, visual amenity and a sense of place;
• Townscape – by providing open spaces, street trees and other green infrastructure as a crucial element in defining the character of urban areas;
• Sustainable Drainage - by helping to manage water flow and quality by holding it in times of high rainfall and releasing it slowly, reducing the likelihood of flood and drought; and can prevent pollution by filtration of surface water runoff, thereby contributing to improvements in quality of watercourses; and
• Climate change mitigation and adaptation – through carbon sequestration and urban cooling. Plants and trees absorb carbon dioxide. Trees act as windbreaks and provide shade and flood management mechanisms to reduce the impact of climate change on the local environment

The Council's Green Infrastructure evidence identifies existing Green Infrastructure assets across the district and their contribution to the wider ecological and recreational networks, and opportunities for enhancement, restoration and improved connectivity. New development can play an important role in strengthening the Green Infrastructure network by improving access to natural and recreational assets, creating new habitat, supporting biodiversity enhancement, delivering Biodiversity Net Gain and providing multifunctional green spaces that contribute towards healthy, resilient and sustainable communities. The Council will work with neighbouring authorities, infrastructure providers, landowners and environmental organisations to secure a connected and multifunctional Green Infrastructure network that benefits both existing and future residents.

8.21 Chesterfield Canal Comment

The Chesterfield Canal is a strategic green and blue infrastructure asset of national heritage significance and an important component of the District's environmental, recreational and economic infrastructure. The canal corridor provides opportunities for walking, cycling and recreation, supports biodiversity and ecological connectivity, contributes to health and wellbeing, and plays an important role in enhancing local distinctiveness and sense of place. The canal also has the potential to drive investment, tourism and regeneration across communities along its route.

The Chesterfield Canal forms part of a 46-mile waterway connecting Chesterfield with West Stockwith. Within North East Derbyshire the canal passes through Renishaw and Killamarsh and forms part of a wider cross-boundary corridor extending into South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire. The canal is managed through the Chesterfield Canal Partnership, a long-standing partnership of local authorities and other organisations committed to the protection, restoration, enhancement and long-term management of the waterway.

Restoration of the remaining sections of the canal is now supported by a comprehensive corridor masterplan and business case which identifies the canal as a catalyst for environmental improvement, active travel, tourism, recreation, business growth and place-making. The masterplan promotes a series of interconnected projects including habitat creation, improved walking and cycling routes, heritage interpretation, visitor facilities, recreational opportunities, waterside development and business investment, alongside the restoration of the canal itself. Delivering these benefits will help strengthen the District's visitor economy, improve access to green and blue infrastructure and support wider regeneration objectives.

The masterplan identifies a number of strategic opportunity areas within and adjoining North East Derbyshire, including Renishaw, Railway Mile, Killamarsh, Norwood Industrial Estate and the Rother Valley corridor. These locations have the potential to deliver a range of social, economic and environmental benefits linked to the restoration of the canal, including improved active travel connections, visitor facilities, biodiversity enhancement, leisure and recreational opportunities, waterside development, green technology businesses and tourism investment. The canal corridor also contributes to climate resilience through habitat creation, water management and opportunities for sustainable travel.

The Council, working with partners through the Chesterfield Canal Partnership, will continue to safeguard the route of the canal and land required for its restoration. The Council will also support development that contributes to the delivery of the wider Chesterfield Canal Corridor vision, recognising the canal's role as a strategic green infrastructure corridor, visitor destination, heritage asset and driver of sustainable economic growth. The safeguarding of the original route, the alternative route through Killamarsh and associated land required for restoration remains essential to the canal's long-term delivery.

8.22 Open Space, Sports and Recreation Facilities Comment

8.22.1 Existing Facilities Comment

Open space, sports and recreation facilities all contribute to the health and well-being of communities in and around North East Derbyshire. The Council has an important role to play in ensuring that there are sufficient facilities, that they are in the right location and that they are of high quality.

The Council is committed to the protection and enhancement of open space, sports and recreation facilities which contribute to creating high-quality environments and sustainable communities. The implementation of Policies ID9 and ID10 seek to both protect and enhance existing sites and facilities, and support provision of new sites and facilities to meet identified needs.

Open space, recreation sites and allotments were assessed through the Open Space, Sports and Recreation Study 2026.^[49] The study identifies the high value local residents place on existing open spaces and recreation facilities and concludes that, overall, there is no significant surplus of provision in the district when assessed against relevant national standards, including the Fields in Trust Guidelines and National Allotment Society Standards etc. The typologies of open space and recreation, which form part of Policies ID9 and ID10, are defined as follows.

Allotments are designated areas which provide opportunities for those people who wish to grow their own produce as part of the long-term promotion of sustainability, health and social inclusion. A flexible supply of allotment space should be retained in order to accommodate fluctuating demand. The Recreation Study shows that demand for and the supply of allotments varies significantly between settlements within the district and is linked to the type and tenure of housing.

Indoor Sports Facilities include mainly sports halls and swimming pools which are located in the district’s towns like Dronfield Active, Eckington Active, Killamarsh Active and Clay Cross Active. The sports halls are situated in appropriate locations, and all are available for community use. These sites were assessed by the Indoor Sports Facilities Strategy (IFS) 2016-2033. Compared to a current available supply both sports halls and swimming pools are ‘in balance’ to demand. Indoor sport facilities are also designated in the Policies Map as Formal Sport Sites.

Informal Recreational Fields are accessible to the public and are used for informal sporting activities. They also include school fields which provide areas for informal recreation to the general public, outside school hours.

Outdoor Sports Facilities include a wide range of formal outdoor facilities such as pitch sports (e.g. football, cricket, rugby, etc.), hard court sports (e.g. tennis, basketball), bowls and athletics. These sites are assessed by the Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS). The PPS is based on detailed assessment work and incorporates an Action Plan which gives guidance on how the Council’s facilities should be developed in the future. The Council is preparing an updated Playing Pitch Strategy, which is expected to be completed and published during the Plan period.

Provision for Children includes areas designed primarily for play and social interaction specifically designed as equipped play facilities for children.

Provision for Young People includes areas designed primarily for play and social interaction specifically designed as equipped play facilities for young people.

Urban Green Spaces are larger informal recreational open spaces that contribute to the form and character of the settlement, often providing a pleasant setting or view. These include parks, green corridors, churchyards and cemeteries and accessible green spaces and commons pocket parks as shown on the Policies Map. In addition to these areas, smaller informal open spaces exist but these are not shown on the Policies Map. However, the Council seeks to protect all forms of informal open space provision from inappropriate development.

Although the Council will seek to protect all existing green spaces, recreation sites, allotments and formal sports sites there may be circumstances where the loss of a site or facility is proposed. In such cases, development proposals will only be permitted where they can clearly demonstrate that the loss would accord with the criteria set out in Policy ID9, including circumstances where the site or facility is no longer required, suitable replacement provision is secured, or the proposal otherwise accords with national policy relating to open space, sports and recreational land.

8.22.2 New and Upgraded Facilities Comment

The Council is committed to not only protecting existing open space, sports and recreation facilities, but also to enhancing existing provision and securing new facilities where required.

The Council will seek opportunities to secure multifunctional open spaces and recreation provision that are accessible by sustainable modes of transport and contribute to health and wellbeing, biodiversity enhancement, climate change resilience, sustainable drainage and active travel connections between communities and services.

Where justified by identified need, new provision or developer contributions may be sought for one or more of the following open space and recreation typologies on sites of 10 dwellings or more:

• Allotments
• Indoor Sports Facilities
• Informal Recreational Fields
• Provision for Children
• Provision for Young People
• Outdoor Sports Facilities
• Urban Green Spaces

Financial contributions towards urban green space, recreation facilities, play provision and allotments will normally be sought from residential developments of 10 to 49 dwellings. Residential developments of 50 or more dwellings will normally be expected to provide on-site open space.

Employment developments providing 1,000m² or more additional floorspace should incorporate green spaces as part of the development where appropriate.

The amount and type of provision required will be determined using the Council's adopted local standards, the Open Space and Recreation Study and other relevant evidence base documents.

For playing pitches and other formal sports provision, financial contributions will be sought where development generates additional demand. Requirements for new or enhanced provision will be informed by the most up-to-date Playing Pitch Strategy and associated Action Plan. Where appropriate, Sport England's Playing Pitch Demand Calculator will be used to assist in determining demand arising from development.

8.22.3 Urban Green Space, Recreation Sites and Allotments Comment

Any residential development of 10 or more dwellings will need to provide or contribute to urban green space, recreation sites and allotments. Residential developments of 10 to 49 dwellings would usually be expected to contribute to such facilities off-site; and residential proposals of 50 or more dwellings would usually be expected to provide such facilities on-site, unless exceptions can be justified in line with the Developer Contributions Protocol.

Employment proposals for additional floorspace of 1000m² or more should incorporate appropriate green infrastructure and open space within the development, proportionate to its scale and nature.

Where these thresholds for residential developments apply, the number of new residents should be established and the additional requirements for urban green space, recreation sites and allotments calculated accordingly. The Local Quantity Standard derived from the Open Space, Sports and Recreation Study 2026 should be used to determine demand arising from new residents (Table 9.1).

Table 8.1: Local Quantity Standard

For both off-site contributions and on-site provision, the Ward position should be considered and compared to the Quantity, Quality and Accessibility standards to determine which existing site should be upgraded or extended; or what type of new provision is required. It is also advised to consult with local partners (local clubs/groups, parish/town council, local allotment societies, etc.).

The Open Space, Sports and Recreation Study shows that the quality of urban green space, recreation sites and allotments can vary considerably throughout the district. It is envisaged that the quality of a facility should score ‘Good’ or ‘Very good’. Therefore, where a facility scores only ‘average’, ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ according to the quality assessment, financial contributions should be sought to improve the site.

The location of a proposal to existing facilities will also vary from case to case. In determining which facility should be improved or extended the Accessibility Standard should be applied. Where the proposed site lies within a defined catchment area, improvements to or extension of existing facilities should be considered. The Accessibility standard is as follows:

Table 8.2: Local Accessibility Standard

Based on identified need, financial contributions should be calculated for both maintenance and provision by using tables 1 to 3 in Appendix A.

8.22.4 Formal Sport Sites Comment

Any residential development of 10 or more dwellings will need to contribute to the provision of formal sport sites.

Once the anticipated number of new residents is established Sport England’s Playing Pitch Demand Calculator should be used to calculate playing pitch requirements. The calculator identifies associated costs for providing the required pitches. For non-pitch requirements (bowling and tennis) the Playing Pitch Strategy identifies current and future demand.

In most cases, residential developments do not generate sufficient demand to justify the provision of a whole sports pitch. In such circumstances, financial contributions towards increasing the capacity of existing facilities, or towards the provision of new off-site facilities, may be more appropriate.

For off-site provision the nearest site(s) to the new development should be considered for contributions towards increasing capacity to meet likely need generated from the proposed development. This can be checked by using the Playing Pitch Strategy Assessment Report.

If financial contributions are found to be preferable, the Playing Pitch Strategy Action Plan should be used to identify existing sites for investment. The Action Plan makes suggestions how best to develop a specific facility.

In addition to providing on-site facilities or contributing to new off-site facilities, a development proposal will also be required to cover maintenance costs for both formal sport sites as well as urban green space, recreation sites and allotments.

8.22.5 Local Green Spaces Comment

National planning policy enables local communities to identify and designate Local Green Spaces through local and neighbourhood plans where they are demonstrably special to the local community and hold a particular local significance. Local Green Space designation should only be used where it is consistent with the local planning of sustainable development and where the site is local in character and not an extensive tract of land. Designated Local Green Spaces are afforded a level of protection consistent with that for Green Belt land. The Local Plan does not designate any Local Green Spaces. However, such designations may be proposed through Neighbourhood Plans where they satisfy the criteria set out in national policy.

Proposals for the designation of Local Green Spaces should be supported by proportionate evidence demonstrating the significance of the space to the local community and the justification for its designation. Where designation is proposed, consideration should also be given to the long-term stewardship, management and maintenance of the space to ensure that its environmental, recreational, landscape or community value is protected and enhanced over time.