6.4

irement per person of:

• Formal (e.g. football pitches) 18sq. metres
• Children's (e.g. play grounds) 6sq. metres
• Amenity (e.g. Nature conservation areas/Glens) 8sq. metres

A.6.4.1 In order that the open space requirement is related in scale and kind to the proposed development the open space needed is based on:

1. The potential occupancy of the dwelling; and
2. Who the dwelling is likely to be occupied by

A.6.4.2 Table 1 is used to judge the occupancy of dwellings and the subsequent open space requirement in square metres.

Table 1

No. of Bedrooms	Occupancy Level	Formal Open Space	Children's Play Space	Amenity Space	Total (sq.m.)
1	1.5	27	9	12	48
2	2	36	12	16	64
3 or more	3	54	18	24	96

Where numbers and type of dwellings are unknown e.g. applications for approval in principle, the requirement for open space provision will be reserved so that it can be resolved when a detailed application is made.

A.6.4.3 The following are two examples of the method of provision in line with the Department's standards:

Example 1

Development of 25 houses all 3 bedrooms

A.6.5 Total occupancy = 25 x 3 = 75
(No. of houses x occupancy level)

Open space requirement = 2400sq m.
(1 No. 3 bed house would result in a requirement for 96sq.m of open space therefore 25 x 96 =2400sq.m)

Formal open space required = 75 x 18sq.m = 1350
Children's Play Space Required = 75 x 6sq.m =450
Amenity Space Required =75 x 8sq.m =600

Total space required =2400sq.m

Example 2

Development of 14 houses: 8 houses all 2 bedrooms, 6 apartments all 1 bedroom

Part 1

Total occupancy = 8 x 2 = 16
(No. of houses x occupancy level)

Open space requirement = 512 sq m
(1 No. 2 bed house would result in a requirement for 64 sq m of open space therefore 8 x 64 = 512 sq m)

Formal open space required = 16x 18 sq m = 288
Children's Play Space Required = 16 x 6 = 96
Amenity Space Required = 16 x 8 sq m = 128
Total space required = 512 sq m

Part 2

Total occupancy = 6 x 1.5 = 9
(No. of apartments x occupancy level)

Open space requirement = 288 sq m
(1 No. 1 bed apartment would result in a requirement for 48 sq m of open space therefore 6 x 48 = 288 sq m)

Formal open space required = 9x 18 sq m = 102
Children's Play Space Required = 9 x 6 = 54
Amenity Space Required = 9 x 8 sq m = 72

Total space required = 288 sq m

Overall Total (Part 1 + Part 2) = 800 sq m

How should the open space be provided?

A.6.6 Once the open space requirement has been established it is then necessary to determine how the open space will be provided. There are three possibilities:

1. Provided on site
2. Provide off site but adjacent or close to the development
3. Provided by payment of a commuted sum to enable the Local Authority to provide the open space on behalf of the developer.

A.6.6.1 Where possible, open space should be provided in the first instance on-site or off-site where this would improve the quality of the development and the open space provided. Where the first two options are not practical then commuted sums will be considered.

A.6.6.2 Commuted sums can be an important option because it is recognised that for a small development it can be impractical to provide the open space required on or off site as the amounts involved would not create usable areas of open space.

A.6.6.3 Children's play space requirements will be assessed using the National Playing Fields Association guidelines, which consider the type of play space required and the levels of accessibility. Generally speaking, developments over 20 houses would have to provide children's play space on-site as well as an appropriate level of amenity open space on-site.

How much will it cost?

A.6.7 The cost of providing the public open space will be calculated as a percentage figure of the overall cost of providing open space within the development. For example, where no public open space is being provided on site that would be required by the standards, the developer will be required to provide 100% of the cost of the provision elsewhere. Where the off site provision is addressing a shortfall in the overall provision on site, in that areas of open space are to be included within the development, but the full requirement of the standards cannot be accommodated, the applicant will be required to provide the remaining percentage cost. The payment of commuted sums will be the subject of legal agreements under Section 13 of the 1999 Act.

How will funds generated by commuted sums be used?

A.6.8 Funds can be used to lay out new open space or to improve existing open space. Money generated from commuted sums will be held in an interest earning account and will be used in the same Parish as the development. Exceptions to this may occur where a development borders a neighbouring authority or where open space serves the needs of a wider area e.g. sports pitches.

Design of public open space

A.6.9 Both formal and informal open space should be designed as an int