Iconic Facilities

World-leading facilities are not simply the most attractive in terms of design, nor the most advanced in terms of equipment - they are sustainable in their operations and focused on their users.

Sport England's Iconic Facilities fund draws on the inspirational pull of London 2012 to create local beacons for grassroots sport. We are investing £30m over the next three years in innovative, large-scale, multi-sport facilities' projects that are regionally significant for at least two sports and can demonstrate long-term financial viability.

Places People Play

The Iconic Facilities fund is part of the £135m Places People Play initative which will deliver an Olympic and Paralympic legacy of increased sports participation by bringing the magic of a home Games into the heart of local communities. It is being delivered by Sport England in partnership with the British Olympic Association, the British Paralympic Association, with the backing of The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

Iconic Facilities is one of the three Places programmes which will transform the places where people play sport, in cities, towns and villages across the country.

The facilities supported through these programmes will be the only ones to carry the London 2012 Inspire mark, a permanent celebration of their role in the legacy of the Games.

In this way, Iconic Facilities will use the inspirational pull of London 2012 to enchance a successful existing funding programme, previously known as the Sustainable Facilities fund.

Find out more about Places People Play

About the fund

The Iconic Facilities fund will direct capital investment into a small number of strategic facility projects that will significantly contribute to an increase in mass participation in sport across England. These facilities will be promoted as best practice and will provide a network of regional sports facilities delivering mass participation across a number of sports.

Key features which applications must demonstrate are a robust needs and evidence base which supports the need for the project and the proposed facility mix; strong partnerships which will last beyond the initial development of the project and underpin the long-term sustainability of the facility; multi-sport provision and activity that demonstrates delivery against two or more NGB strategic priorities and a capital development completion programme with achievable milestones and timescales.

Iconic Facilities will prioritise funding to projects that provide:

• Strategic facilities in England for at least two National Governing Bodies of Sport
• Large scale capital developments resulting in facilities of regional significance for two sports or more; but also demonstrating local delivery
• Multi-sport facilities, but with a focus on sporting activities that will drive high participant numbers
• A mix of facility provision to encourage regular & sustained use by a large number of people
• Indoor and/or outdoor facilities
• An enhancement, through modernisation, to existing provision and/or new build
• Confidence in their ability to deliver with detailed designs and planning permission secured
• A strong project team, led ideally by a Local Authority (providing capital funding)
• A long-term sustainable business plan attracting public and private investment
• Quality in design, but are fit for purpose to serve the community need
• Operating models, which may include an emphasis on community ownership (e.g. social enterprises, trusts)