The ‘Assessing Needs and Opportunities Guide for Indoor and Outdoor Sports Facilities’ provides users with a recommended approach for undertaking a robust assessment of the needs for indoor and outdoor sports facilities in their local area.
While primarily aimed at local authorities, the guide can be used by sports governing bodies, clubs, schools, facility providers, and developers, who may be looking to undertake an assessment of need for a particular purpose - for example, to inform an investment decision or the development of a planning application.
The approach outlined in the guide will help local authorities and other users understand the current and future needs of sports facilities in an area and the adequacy of current provision to meet these needs. It will take into account the range of providers, the importance of education, private and voluntary sector provision and, under the duty to co-operate, cross boundary supply and demand issues.
Sport England Property Director, Charles Johnston, said: “We believe that providing the right facilities in the right places is key to maintaining and getting more people playing sport. The new guide will help give a clear understanding of what facilities are needed in an area and ensure those responsible for the development and investment in sports facilities have sound information on which to base their decision.”
The new guide, in part, replaces the previous guidance ‘Assessing needs and opportunities: a companion guide to PPG17’ for sport and recreation, and reflects the requirements of paragraph 73 in the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework.
It has been developed so it can be applied to a range of sports facilities and complements Sport England’s playing pitch strategy guidance, forming part of the wider guidance available to those assessing needs of local sports provision.
Sport England is keen to ensure the guide evolves and is improved upon through regular reviews and updates. To aid this process, feedback on its use is welcomed. Feedback, including good practice, lessons learnt and suggested improvements can be sent to [email protected].
To download a copy of the guide, click here.