New figures released today show that 95% of all planning applications affecting a sports playing field in 2008/09 resulted in the places where people play sport being improved or safeguarded.

Landowners, including councils, are required to consult Sport England on any proposed development that would affect or lead to the loss of a sports playing field. Sport England objects to all applications unless the developer can prove it will improve or safeguard sports provision.

The figures released by Sport England show:

·         1181 out of 1239 (95.3%) concluded planning applications affecting playing fields in 2008/09 resulted in improved or safeguarded sports provision

·         In two fifths (43%) of the cases where Sport England originally objected to an application, further negotiations led to an overall improvement in sports provision

·         Of the 168 applications where we sustained our objection, 78 were either withdrawn by the applicants or refused planning permission

·         Despite formal objections from Sport England, the number of applications which led to a detrimental impact on sport was 58 (4.7%).

Jennie Price, Sport England’s Chief Executive, said:

“If we’re going to create a lasting mass participation legacy from London 2012, it’s vital that the places where people play sport are protected and improved. I’m pleased that the latest figures again demonstrate that the safeguards put in place are working but that’s only the first step. We also need to make sure playing fields continue to play a key role in community sport so that generations to come can develop a life-long sporting habit.”

The Minister for Sport and the Olympics, Hugh Robertson MP, said:

“I want to increase the sporting opportunities to the maximum number of people and having good access to playing fields is crucial for this to happen. These latest figures from Sport England show that playing fields are being well protected. On top of this our ‘Places, People, Play’ strategy to drive the sporting legacy from London 2012 will upgrade playing fields up and down the country and help inspire a new generation to get involved in sport.”

To see a full breakdown of the 2008/09 figures, click here. The data covers the 12 months to 31 March 2009. Sport England will be reviewing the way we publish these statistics in advance of the release of the 2009/10 data in December 2011.

Planning applications affecting playing fields

Sport England is a statutory consultee on all planning applications affecting playing fields, including applications affecting any land that has been used as a playing field in the last five years and any replacement of a grass pitch with a synthetic surface.

The number of planning applications does not necessarily represent the overall threat to playing fields. Many of these applications are from clubs / schools / local authorities wanting to improve the quality of their sports facilities.

The figures do not include new playing pitches created outside Sport England’s consultee remit such as those built in conjunction with new housing developments.

A playing field is defined as the whole of a site that encompasses at least one playing pitch.

A pitch will now be defined as a delineated area, which together with any run off area, is of 0.2 hectares or more and which is used for football, rugby, cricket, hockey, lacrosse, rounders, baseball, softball, Gaelic football, American football, Australian rules football, shinty, hurling, polo or cycle polo. The previous definition stated that the area needed to be 0.4 hectares or more.

‘Detrimental impact’ on sport includes issues such as loss of space around the margins of a field, temporary loss of school playing field space during re-building works, or the creation of a new sporting facility which does not meet all of Sport England’s design standards.

Sport England

Andrew St Ledger
Senior Press Officer

T: 020 7273 1593