< Previous | Next >

7. Local infrastructure

7.1 Objective This chapter is framed around the following objective:

Objective 4: To provide and enhance facilities that maintain and develop the health and well-being of the community.

7.2 It presents policies and projects in respect of important local services and facilities.

Services and facilities

7.3 The provision of social and community infrastructure in the Parish is critical to sustaining and meeting the day-to-day needs of local residents, providing access to essential services and facilities, supporting community cohesion, and helping to maintain a high quality of life. Such facilities, which include schools, healthcare, churches, and sports and community halls, also have an important role in strengthening social networks, sense of community, and identity.

7.4 Within the Local Plan, Cookham Rise and Cookham Village benefit from defined local centres and are locations where shops and other services are found. The RBWM retail study notes that these are small in scale (relative to the main centres in the borough) and comprise a limited range of retail and service uses that principally service local convenience-based shopping and service needs. The report does, however, note that in such centres, community-based facilities (such as post offices and healthcare) are vital services and act as ‘important attractors’. It notes that, where possible, these should be afforded protection. Facilities of importance in the Parish are set out in Box 7.

7.5 Through consultation on the Neighbourhood Plan, concern was expressed regarding the scale of new development on allocated housing sites in Cookham Rise and the additional pressure this might place on community infrastructure.

7.6 In particular, concern was expressed as to the future of the Medical Centre. The RBWM Infrastructure Delivery Plan does not specifically refer to a need for additional healthcare provision in the Parish but suggests that if new facilities are needed in the borough, these could be provided through more efficient use of existing buildings and land. If appropriate, CIL and S106 funding might be used to help provide such facilities.

INFORMATION BOX 7: Important local community facilities in the Parish

  • Schools: Cookham Rise, Holy Trinity, Cookham Dean, Herries
  • Cookham Nursery School and Park House Nursery
  • Playground – Alfred Major
  • WI Hall Cookham Dean
  • Cookham Library and Parish Centre
  • Railway Station
  • Pinder Hall
  • Elizabeth House
  • Post Office
  • Cookham Medical Centre
  • Dentists – Rodricks and St Anne’s
  • Cricket Club
  • Sailing Club
  • Churches: Holy Trinity, St John’s, Methodist Church, St Elizabeths
  • Halls and community rooms: Wesley Hall, Jubilee Vestry, Cookham Dean Village Hall
  • Stanley Spencer Gallery
  • Football Pavilion Long Lane
  • Scout Hut
  • Social Club

Policy C-LI1: Local centres

1. Within the local centres of Cookham Rise and Cookham Village, as defined in the RBWM Local Plan, proposals will be supported which provide active ground floor uses that contribute to the diversity of the centre, including shops (Use Class E(a)), and community facilities (Use Class E(e), E(f), F1, F2).

2. Development should respond positively to the scale and grain of the existing built form, having regard to the Cookham Design Guidance and Codes. Development should:

  1. Create a strong and consistent building line that relates well to adjacent buildings.
  2. Design ground floors with flexibility, providing scope for adaptation to reflect the changing needs of users over time.
  3. Be generally consistent with the prevailing heights of adjacent buildings.
  4. Include ground floor uses that create an active frontage to the street, with main entrances located along and opening onto this.

3. Proposals for new shopfronts should respond positively to the established streetscape, be in proportion to development, avoid visual clutter and, as appropriate to the building, incorporate traditional shopfront elements (See Design Codes).

4. Proposals should provide car parking space, having regard to the standards set out in Appendix 7.

Policy C-LI2: Community facilities

1. Proposals for new or improved community facilities that provide for the needs of residents of the Parish, including healthcare facilities, will be supported. New facilities should be easily accessible, respond positively to local character and maximise opportunities to reduce energy consumption and make use of carbon-free sources of energy. The following will also be supported:

  1. The provision of flexible space that can be used for a variety of community uses;
  2. The provision of facilities to promote active travel;
  3. The provision of charging points and cabling for electric vehicles.

< Previous | ^ Top | Next >