Decision details

To release £7,076 of s106 open spaces and recreation funding to improve the accessibility of Sandhurst Footpath 15. This is used as an urban cut-through route between Branksome Hill Road and College Road.

That £7,076 of S106 contributions are allocated to fund improvements to Sandhurst Footpath 15.

1.     To use s106 funding located within 400 metres of Sandhurst Footpath 15, to improve its surface and facilitate year-round access for residents. See 5.2 for further information.

2.     The two developer contributions proposed for this project have been collected through S106 agreements to support providing, expanding, or improving open space, and/or outdoor recreational facilities within 3 kilometres of the development sites.

3.     S106 funding is secured in accordance with adopted planning policy. Of significance is Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) (2015) (ref. section 5.11 Open Space of Public Value and the ‘Plus One’ Principle whereby works are prioritised towards improving quality of existing open spaces over time.

4.     The justification for requiring developers to supporting the improvement of open space and outdoor recreational facilities is given in The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF):

‘8. Promoting healthy and safe communities

100. Planning policies and decisions should protect and enhance public rights of way and access, including taking opportunities to provide better facilities for users, for example by adding links to existing rights of way networks including National Trails.

5.     The improvements will help to deliver key policies in the Bracknell Forest Rights of Way Improvement Plan (RoWIP2):

Policy RoWIP 1 Rights of Way for All

1.2 Increase the availability of Rights of Way to all users.

Policy RoWIP 7 Sustainable Benefits

7.3 Improve and enhance the traffic free Rights of Way network around urban areas to increase the use of sustainable transport for accessing work, schools and services.

1.     Not utilising funding to deliver these improvements:

·       could result in a failure to mitigate the impact of the development

·       might lead to funds being returned to the developers if no other qualifying scheme was located through which to deliver enhancements in time

·       would be a missed opportunity to provide improved access to this footpath, and bring value to the local community

2.     These are the most suitable development contributions for this project, out of the s106 open space development monies that are still unallocated. They are within distance constraints and ‘applied for the purpose’ date where it is specified in one of the s106 agreements.

3.     As a Highway Authority, BFC has a duty to maintain the surface of rights of way. The scale of work required to improve accessibility to this public footpath is outside what can be achieved, as part of routine maintenance carried out by the rights of way team.

None