A sustainable community depends on the availability and location of education and health provision complemented by open space and leisure facilities which are available for all residents of the Borough.

Securing the future : delivering UK sustainable development strategy (2006) states that : "… Good planning is a creative, powerful tool which brings together the range of ingredients which vibrant and viable communities require: high quality education provision, health provision, cultural facilities, jobs and a decent local environment, as well as good quality homes".

The emerging South East Plan¹⁵ (Policy S3) stresses the importance of access to parks, open spaces, physical recreation activity and the use of healthier forms of transport for shaping healthy sustainable communities. Policy S4 promotes partnership with the NHS and Policy S5 promotes partnership to ensure the adequate provision of pre-school, school and community learning facilities..". Policy S8 focuses on " The mixed use of community facilities…and other measures to make effective use of resources and reduce travel and other impacts…". Within South Hampshire Policy SH9 promotes partnership to deliver ‘ skills for prosperity ’ by supporting learning centres and other employment linked training thereby contributing significantly to regeneration, for example in Leigh Park. Policy SH14 (Environmental Sustainability) requires development to be favoured around community infrastructure and joined where possible to the natural environment by accessible open spaces. These policies will provide the basis of the local Core Strategy.

 

Community facilities are a major issue for the quality of life of existing residents. There are concerns that schools and health services should not become overloaded as a result of housing growth. Some new facilities may be required as a result of this development and would be available for existing residents to use.

 

Hampshire County Council working in partnership with the Borough will ensure that there are sufficient places in schools. Surplus capacity in primary schools in the Waterlooville - Cowplain and Havant – Hayling areas is forecast up to 2011. Some parts of the Borough have significant surpluses particularly in Wecock and Hayling Island. The surplus capacity in secondary schools in Havant – Hayling is forecast to remain for the foreseeable future but needs to be kept under review.

 

Contributions from housing developers will fund new primary schools in the West of Waterlooville Major Development Area ( WOWMDA ) and additional facilities for younger children in Emsworth. In the longer term, the Government’s Building Schools for the Future (for secondary schools) and Primary Capital programmes will provide opportunities to improve school buildings. This may involve rebuilding some schools and/or major rationalisation. Where a school is no longer required, or the grounds are too large, land is likely to be proposed for development. This will provide funding for upgrading facilities and replacement open space. Alternatively, additional land may be required to allow for schools to expand for educational or community reasons. The potential for further community use needs to be assessed before the development of new centres can be justified.

 

he Borough Council does not build new health centres. But it can work with the local Primary Care Trust (PCT) to ensure that new housing development is phased with additional provision and can also seek contributions from developers.

 

Currently Leigh Park has sufficient GP capacity, Hayling Island, however, needs, three more GPs. In Emsworth there is the prospect of building a new health centre which will accommodate an additional four GPs on the former Victoria Cottage Hospital site. The massive increase in demand resulting from WOWMDA is a major issue to be addressed by the PCT in partnership with the Borough Council.

 

A community hospital on the former Oak Park School site which is close to Havant Town Centre off Petersfield Road is programmed for 2008. It will provide for outpatients, diagnostic services , beds for the elderly and day treatment and will be an important facility for existing and new residents.

 

The Ambulance and the Fire and Rescue Services are vital ancillaries to health provision. It is expected that more houses will increase the operational pressures for the Ambulance Service which will require developer contributions to build a depot at a location with good road access. Although there is no surplus capacity in the fire service in the Havant area at present. the proposed housing provides an innovative opportunity to reduce the risk of death or injury by the more widespread use of domestic sprinklers. The Fire and Rescue Service and the Borough Council can work together to seek installation of these within the new and existing communities.

 

More people are aware of exercise and the health and social benefits of sport, play and relaxation. Green spaces also contribute to a positive image for the Borough by offering openness and greenery. Havant has a variety of playing fields, parks – including the Green Flag Staunton Country Park – and an extensive coastline. Safeguarding open spaces has become firmly established and will be reaffirmed in the Core Strategy. A new park including space for sport, walking, cycling and informal games is planned for WOWMDA and leisure development is also proposed at Campdown which could become a major attraction for the Borough and the adjoining Districts. Open space is not simply about quantity, it is the quality of accessible open space that is the issue. A smaller but more useable and attractive open space, for example, is proposed on the former Purbrook Park School playing field. The need for housing driven regeneration in Leigh Park will also result in some open spaces being built on with contributions invested in improving the remaining best and accessible spaces.

 

The Open Spaces Plan (2006) provides a Borough-wide assessment on which policies can be based. It stresses the need for the Borough Council: "…to concentrate its efforts and resources on where they will have the greatest impact and to seek to work in partnership with other agencies in the public, private and voluntary sectors and its local community. " The vision underpinning the Open Spaces Plan provides a strong basis for the Core Strategy by stating that: "Havant will have a network of high quality, accessible greenspaces and sport and recreation facilities which meet local needs, are financially and environmentally sustainable and support ‘ liveability ‘, social wellbeing , health promotion , economic development and nature conservation".

 

As well as setting out objectives for provision, community involvement, management and maintenance the Open Spaces Plan identifies the Strategic Priorities as:

 

The Leisure Mapping Study (2006) assesses indoor recreation provision across the Borough and asks the question what would happen if Havant Leisure Centre which occupies a central and accessible location was to close. The report concludes that there would be a gap in the multi- sports provision should the Leisure Centre close. This loss could be overcome if facilities were to be increased at Staunton Park School and supplemented at other schools. Further research is required in partnership with HCC to determine the potential.

 

Swimming provision is satisfactory largely because of the pool at the Havant Leisure Centre. Its loss would have a serious impact for school use, lessons and swimming club activities. Currently, people without cars cannot easily access pay and play swimming in the south and east of the Borough. The development of WOWMDA is likely to put pressure on the swimming pool at the Waterlooville Leisure Centre.

 

Sports hall and health and fitness facilities are currently well provided for throughout the Borough. However, an issue is exclusion because of physical, social or cost barriers. The Council, in partnership with providers, could explore increasing access for more Borough residents.

 

For leisure to be a healthy attraction for people who do not play sports requires safe and pleasant routes for walking and cycling. This potential has been considered on the edge of Leigh Park linking Staunton Country Park, the proposed Havant Thicket Reservoir and the stream valleys. A linear park including playing space is proposed as a major part of the WOWMDA. A path around Hayling Island linking the Billy Trail with Beachlands and Chichester Harbour would be major asset for healthy outdoor exercise.

 

Large scale facilities such as cinemas, concert halls and conference centres may not be viable in Havant with the dual city focus of the Sub regional plan preferring Portsmouth and Southampton.

 

The utility companies supplying water, electricity, gas and telecommunications have not raised any insurmountable issues with supplying the levels of potential growth.