An open letter led by the Fields in Trust’s President Jill Scott MBE, with signatures from 88 leading sporting figures and organisations – including Sir Mo Farah CBE, Ed Clancy OBE and Tessa Sanderson CBE - has been released calling on the Government to continue to protect playing fields.
At present, Sport England is a statutory consultee when planning applications impact playing fields, acting as a crucial safeguard in the planning system and providing vital oversight.
However, the government is looking to remove them from this position as part of proposed planning reforms.
Playing fields are a lifeline for many communities, boosting both physical health and mental wellbeing, and providing somewhere for children and young people to practise sport and play together.
The recent Fields in Trust Green Space Index data found that almost half of people in Great Britain live more than a ten-minute walk from their nearest playing field. If more playing fields are lost and this access worsens, it could have negative consequences for the wellbeing of many communities across Britain.
“While we support the government's growth agenda and the need for new housing, it must not be at the expense of the spaces that make communities liveable, healthy and cohesive,” said the Trust.
“Permanent legal protection of these spaces has never been so important; we must ensure they are not lost forever.”
