The Good Practice Guide was produced in 2001. It replaces our 1993 advice in Planning Obligations for Sport and Recreation – a Guide for Negotiation and Action.

The guide is aimed at planners, sports development and leisure officers, developers and others involved in the housing development process. It gives advice on how sport and recreation provision can successfully be achieved in conjunction with new housing.

The guide sets out a six stage process for local authorities. These stages are:

• Stage 1 - Assessing local needs and requirements
  
• Stage 2 - Assessing costs and financial contributions
  
• Stage 3 - Policies in development plans and supplementary planning guidance
  
• Stage 4 - A team approach to negotiation
  
• Stage 5 - Checklist approach
  
• Stage 6 - Accountability and transparency

Many local planning and leisure departments have yet to take full advantage of the powers and guidance available to create effective patterns of sports provision in conjunction with new development.

This guide seeks to help local authorities take full advantage of these benefits from new developments, and in doing so, help provide for the sporting needs of these new communities in their areas.

The kitbag complements the guide by providing new and up-to date tools, techniques and information.

To view the complete Good Practice Guide,  click here

To view an extract of the guide showing the six stage process, click here