Sport England will retain its statutory consultee role for planning following a Government review.
The consultation began in November last year, following the publication of the Government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill earlier in 2025.
The Bill proposed the removing of Sport England's statutory consultee role on any planning application affecting playing fields and community sport but, following the consultation, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have decided it will retain this role, with some amendments.
Sport England’s Chair Chris Boardman welcomed the Government’s decision to retain Sport England’s role as a statutory consultee on the most significant planning applications affecting playing fields and community sport.
“The places where we play, move and come together shape the health of our nation,” he explained.
“At a time when inactivity contributes to one in six deaths, and more than 20% of children leave primary school obese, protecting opportunities to be active has never been more important.
“Once a playing field is lost, it is rarely replaced, which is why independent expert advice on the biggest planning decisions remains vital.
“We’ve always supported the Government’s ambition to deliver more homes and boost economic growth.
“These changes ensure our expertise is focused where it can make the greatest difference, for healthy communities today and for the generations that follow.”
Sport England’s role as a consultee sees it give expert advice to help ensure opportunities to be active are protected alongside development.
Under the changes announced by Government, it will continue to be consulted on the most significant planning applications affecting playing fields and community sport, while the range of applications referred to it will be narrowed so that the organisation’s expertise is focused where it adds the greatest value.
The revised arrangements are intended to focus Sport England’s involvement on the highest-impact cases while supporting a more efficient planning system.
Sport England will continue to work closely with Government, local authorities and developers to help create places that support both housing growth and opportunities for sport and physical activity.
