Linden Homes and Miller Homes support the provision of new open space and sports facilities to help create active communities that benefit from a high quality of life. The masterplan for the West of Chichester site already includes significant areas of public open space and sports facilities, including two country parks, a new sports facility, play space and allotments, much of which is planned for delivery relatively early in the site's overall development. This will help meet not only the needs of new residents, but also help meet deficiencies outside of the site.

The aims of Policy DM34 are therefore supported. However, it is recommended that the policy also better recognises the opportunities that can arise from relocating open space, and particularly sports facilities, particularly where that can result in improved access to facilities to a wider section of the community or facilitate quantitative or qualitative improvements to the provision in the area. Additionally, it is suggested that the policy, or its supporting text, give recognition to the benefits of sharing of sports facility space in particular between different users, for example local schools and wider community and clubs, which makes better use of space and provide opportunities for new social interactions.

Finally, it is appreciated that new development will need to provide new open space, however, the policy is not, and nor are the tables 7.1-7.3 to which it refers, clear in regards how very local need will be considered when requiring new open space or sports provision to be provided. It is also unclear how the 'Priority Sites and Projects' set out in the Sports Strategy (2018) link to any area specific requirements for increased provision. Simple adherence to the tables therefore does not seem flexible or robust enough to ensure new provision is effective at meeting specific local needs.