Sport England
safeguards England's playing fields – helping to make sport and physical
activity accessible for all.
New figures
show that Sport England has protected or improved sports provision in 93% of
planning applications affecting playing fields.
It is a statutory
consultee for local councils on any planning application that would affect or
lead to the loss of a sports playing field.
Unless a developer
can prove their proposal will improve or protect sports provision at the site,
then Sport England objects to the plan.
For the period
between April 2016 and March 2017, 1,102 out of 1,187 planning applications
affecting playing fields resulted in improved or protected sports provision.
The figures also
showed that:
- In 41% of the cases
where we originally objected to an application, further negotiations led
to an overall improvement in sports provision.
- Of the 146 applications where
we maintained our objection, 61 were either withdrawn by the applicants or
refused planning permission.
Head of planning,
Nick Evans, said: “Playing fields are often the place where children and young
people have their first experience of sport.
"I am pleased
this year’s figures show that the places where people get active are being
protected right across the country.
"Protecting
grassroots sport provision is at the heart of what we continue to do so that
all of us have access to the right sporting facilities."
As of 10 December
2018, our Active Places data shows that across England there
are 22,155 playing field sites, containing a total of 70,381
pitches.
