Northern Area Plan 2016
Strategic Plan Framework: Open Space, Sport and Outdoor Recreation Major Areas of Existing Open Space

Major areas of existing open space are shown on the relevant Settlement Maps, and are protected from development by PPS 8: Open Space, Sport and Outdoor Recreation.. Any areas of open space not identified on a plan are, however, also protected by the policies of PPS 8.

The Department has carried out an assessment of the existing public open space in the Plan area, and details are contained in the Open Space, Sport and Outdoor Recreation Technical Supplement. In general terms, the Plan area meets the minimum standards promotedby the National Playing Fields Association (NPFA), although the quality of open space is variable, and the distribution of some categories of sites is less than ideal, making accessibility by the local population difficult. Relevant Councils in the Plan area have promoted new recreation sites and, accordingly, the Plan designates new Open Space zonings in a number of settlements, as identified in Volumes 2 of the Plan, and shown on the relevant Settlement Maps. New residential development will also be required to accord with PPS 8 with regard to public open space provision.