The policy fails to mention there is a shortfall of recreation and open space facilities as is evidenced by the Council's own Open Space Study Report carried out to inform the review of the local plan (Chichester Open Space, Sports Facilities, Recreation Study and playing Field Strategy Part 1 of 2 - September 2018). Section 5.2 and Table 6 of Part of this study identifies the Parish of Bosham to only have 1.03 hectares of parks and recreation grounds open to the public. This is the Walton Lane recreation ground owned by the Parish Council and home to Bosham Football Club since 1901. This is the only public open space in the village.
Paragraph 7.2, Table 14. This details the supply (hectares) against the Chichester Local Plan Area quantity standards - identifying a deficit in some parishes. For Bosham (population in 2011, 2900) it is showing a deficit of -2.45 hectares of parks and recreation grounds. With also a minus for youth provision of -0.14. It is worth noting that within the district this is third largest and nearly twice the deficit of the City of Chichester.
The policy does not set out identifiable provision to make up this deficit. As this is the large allocation for development in the parish this site must provide for what has been identified in the study much needed parks, recreation ground and public open space. Paragraph 6.55 of the introduction to the policy makes only brief reference to the identification of new open space and no reference at all to the findings of the Open Space Study.
The policy AL7 itself in bullet point four requires "Provision of on-site public open space and play areas. This is extremely weak and again makes no reference to the current parish deficit in all types of open space to meet the community needs. The policy provides approx 13 hectares of land and a maximum of 250 houses. This will of course generate its open space requirements, approx 0.75 to 0.85 hectare based on 500/600 new residents. Therefore in total for open space and recreation grounds approx. 3.40 hectares (8.2 acres) should be provided as part of this development proposal. In addition 0.15 hectare is required for youth facilities.
The site itself on its northern and eastern boundaries is suitable, environmentally and safety-wise is well connected locally to village shops, train station and the A259 for open space, recreation and community facilities uses. If 13 hectares has been identified then its use can meet the local plan needs and give represtantion to Policy S12, S21, S32, DM7, DM23 and DM34.