B6.1.1 Outdoor amenities

New employment developments must provide dedicated outdoor amenity space (separate to designated smoking areas) to enhance employee well-being, encourage social interaction, relaxation, and physical activity.

This space must:

• be designed so that the size, proportion, and type of amenity available reflects the number of employees on site

• be accessible to all users

• provide seating, lighting, litter bins

• incorporate trees and/or planting

• integrate shade and shelter to protect employees from adverse weather

• ensure that litter bins are not located directly adjacent to seating areas to minimise potential nuisance from wasps, or unpleasant odours

Outdoor amenity spaces for employment developments should be designed to provide an attractive and welcoming environment for employees to enjoy. Outdoor amenity areas should be positioned away from vehicular routes, parking areas, and waste and storage yards, to enhance their appeal and usage.

Proposed outdoor amenity spaces for employment developments must be located within easy walking or wheeling distance of building entrances (within 100 metres) and must be connected by safe, accessible, and dedicated routes.

Exception: Where the existing site layout or the provision of shared amenity spaces between employment units makes this impractical, a greater distance may be permitted, provided that the spaces remain safely accessible and are clearly signposted.

Where outdoor amenity spaces for employment developments form part of a key pedestrian or cycle route, adequate lighting must be installed to ensure safe use after dark. Any lighting must primarily support safety and security without causing obtrusive light spill or nuisance. Lighting design must comply with Guidance Note 1 for the reduction of obtrusive light (Institute of Lighting Professionals, 2021).

Outdoor amenity spaces for employment development should be positioned to maximise sunlight exposure during periods of low sunlight and avoid predominantly north-facing locations.

New employment development should integrate informal exercise opportunities into the design of the external landscape. Examples include simple trim trails, marked walking or jogging loops, or level grassed areas for other recreational activities. Providing such features encourages employees to be active during breaks, supporting health and wellbeing.