THE LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY AUGUST 2015 Integrity, Innovation, Inspiration 1-2 Frecheville Court off Knowsley Street Bury BL9 0UF T 0161 764 7040 F 0161 764 7490 E [email protected] www.kkp.co.uk LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY CONTENTS PART 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 3 PART 2: VISION ............................................................................................................... 6 PART 3: OBJECTIVES ..................................................................................................... 6 PART 4: STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................. 7 PART 5: LBRUT SPORTS SUMMARY AND KEY ISSUES ............................................ 20 PART 6: SPORT SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................... 25 PART 7: ACTION PLAN ................................................................................................. 27 PART 8: CONCLUSION ................................................................................................. 46 PART 9: DELIVER THE STRATEGY AND KEEP IT ROBUST AND UP TO DATE......... 47 APPENDIX ONE: SITE LOCATIONS.............................................................................. 51 APPENDIX TWO: STRATEGIC CONTEXT .................................................................... 57 APPENDIX THREE: FUNDING PLAN ............................................................................ 63 APPENDIX FOUR: DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICIES .................................. 65 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY PART 1: INTRODUCTION This is the Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS) prepared by Knight Kavanagh & Page (KKP) for the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (LBRuT). Building upon the preceding Assessment Report it provides a clear, strategic framework for the maintenance and improvement of existing outdoor sports pitches and ancillary facilities between 2015 and 2020. This study replaces a previous set of reports, referred to as the Sport, Open Space and Recreation Study 2008. The PPS covers the following playing pitches and outdoor pitch sports: Football pitches Cricket pitches Rugby pitches Hockey Tennis courts Bowling greens Artificial Grass Pitches (AGPs) The Strategy is capable of: Providing adequate planning guidance to assess development proposals affecting playing fields; Informing land use decisions in respect of future use of existing outdoor sports areas and playing fields (capable of accommodating pitches) across the Borough; Providing a strategic framework for the provision and management of outdoor sports across the Borough; Supporting external funding bids and maximise support for outdoor sports facilities; Providing the basis for on-going monitoring and review of the use, distribution, function, quality and accessibility of outdoor sport. 1.1: Structure The Strategy has been developed from research and analysis of playing pitch provision and usage within LBRuT to provide: A vision for the future improvement and prioritisation of playing pitches (including ancillary facilities). A series of strategic recommendations which provide a strategic framework for the improvement, maintenance, development and, as appropriate, rationalisation of the playing pitch stock. A series of sport by sport recommendations which provide a strategic framework for sport led improvements to provision. A prioritised area-by-area action plan to address key issues. The Strategy and Action Plan recommends a number of priority projects, which should be implemented from 2015 to 2025. It is outlined to provide a framework for improvement and, although resources may not currently be in place to implement it, potential partners and possible sources of external funding will be identified. The recommendations that come out of this strategy should be translated into local plan policy so there is a policy mechanism to support delivery and secure provision/investment where opportunities arise. August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 3 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY There is a need to build key partnerships between the Council, National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs), Sport England, schools, further education providers, community clubs and private landowners to maintain and improve playing pitch provision. In these instances, the potential for the Council to take a strategic lead is more limited (except in terms of Section 106 Agreements). This document will provide clarity about the way forward, and allow key organisations to focus on the key issues that they can directly influence and achieve. There are also a handful of sites and clubs technically outside of the LBRuT but which are within close proximity that have been included within the study. This is in order to recognise their role and use by clubs/people from the LBRuT area; as local authority boundaries are not often a significant concern of the general public. However, the level of administrative and planning control the Council has on such sites is restricted. 1.2 Context The Strategy forms part of a wider Open Space, Sport and Recreation Needs and Opportunities Assessment for the Council including the open space and indoor built sports provision. This will form part of the evidence base for the Council’s Site Allocations Plan DPD (Publication and Submission) and any subsequent Local Plan updates (e.g. review of the adopted Core Strategy). It will also act as the evidence base for any other individual site proposals (such as the Richmond upon Thames College site), where there could potentially be a loss of a playing field space. In addition, the Study is also likely to be used to inform the commissioning process of the Council’s Sport & Fitness services (anticipated for 2016). The document therefore looks to: Inform planning policy relating to the National Planning Policy Framework and provide an evidence base for responding to planning applications affecting playing fields. Act as an evidence base for the Councils Site Allocation Plan and any subsequent Local Plan updates. Where possible to help inform redevelopment of existing education sites such as Richmond upon Thames College and any other individual sites (particularly schools) where there could potentially be a loss of playing field space. Establish a clear strategic pathway for improvement, investment and protection of playing pitches. Have robust evidence base upon which to be able to apply for external funding such as Sport England’s Protecting Playing Fields Fund. LBRuT Sports and Fitness Strategic Principles The strategic principles monitor the general level of participation and trends particularly indoor built sports facilities. It sets out that the Council has adopted the following strategic principles for the service: Provide more opportunities for adults to take part in sport. Provide more opportunities for young people to take part in sport. Widen participation by targeting provision at low participant groups and villages. Develop more opportunities for people to learn new skills through sport and fitness, both as participants and volunteers. Support competitive sport and work with locally based clubs to identify and develop effective pathways to support talented sports people. August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 4 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Increase opportunities for Sport and Fitness Services to improve the health and emotional well-being of participants and volunteers. Retain and improve existing sports facilities and develop new facilities where there is need. Ensure there is legacy benefit from major events such as the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Improve the quality of services, develop the quality of the workforce and volunteers and achieve external quality accreditation. Enhance partnership working and consultation to improve the delivery and effectiveness of sport and fitness services August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 5 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY PART 2: VISION 2.1 Vision This study has been developed on the basis of the above strategic drivers in order to ensure that it reflects the Council’s wider ambitions. A vision has been set out followed by objectives to provide a clear focus with desired outcomes for the borough: “Produce a robust and comprehensive Strategy which will provide the essential evidence base for informing decisions on planning and investment in order to provide appropriate opportunities to provision for everyone.” PART 3: OBJECTIVES The following overarching objectives are based on the key issues emerging from the Assessment Report (summarised in Part 5). It is recommended that the following are adopted by the Council and its partners to enable it to achieve the overall vision of the Strategy and Sport England planning objectives: OBJECTIVE 1 Seek to protect playing pitches and ancillary facilities from loss as a result of redevelopment OBJECTIVE 2 To enhance existing playing pitches and ancillary facilities through improving their quality, accessibility and management OBJECTIVE 3 To provide new playing pitches and ancillary facilities that are fit for purpose to meet demands for participation now and in the future. Figure 1: Sport England themes Source: Sport England 2015 August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 6 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY PART 4: STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS The recommendations for the Strategy have been developed via the combination of information gathered during consultation, site visits and analysis which culminated in the production of an assessment report, as well as key drivers identified for the Strategy. Implementation must be considered in the context of financial implications and the need for some proposals to also meet planning considerations. OBJECTIVE 1 Seek to protect playing pitches and ancillary facilities from loss as a result of redevelopment Recommendations: a. Ensure, through the use of the Playing Pitch Strategy, that sports facilities are protected through the implementation of local policy. b. Secure tenure and access to sites for high quality, development minded clubs, through a range of solutions and partnership agreements. c. Maximise community use of outdoor sports facilities where there is a need to do so. Recommendation (a) – Ensure, through the use of the Playing Pitch Strategy, that sports facilities are protected through the implementation of local policy. This is based on the outcomes of the playing pitch strategy, the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF paragraph 73) and Sport England’s statutory consultee role on planning applications that affect playing field land. A number of Development Management policies are already in place which set out the protection and provision of open space (including playing pitches) and therefore help with compliancy with paragraph 73 and 74 of the NPPF. Spatial Policy CP10 Open Land and Parks as well as Policy DM OS 2, 3 and 8 set out the precedent for the protection of sites. These reference a number of other land designations which relate specifically to existing playing pitch provision. Expanded versions of the policies can be found in the Appendix. For further information regarding the considerations when assessing applications involving development on playing fields please refer to Sport England’s Playing Fields Policy - ‘A Sporting Future for the Playing Fields of England’ Policy Exceptions E4 and E5; found at: http://www.sportengland.org/media/123579/policy-exception-4.pdf http://www.sportengland.org/media/123588/policy-exception-5.pdf In terms of mitigation it is important this takes place to an equivalent or better quality, equivalent or greater quantity, in a suitable location and is subject to equivalent or better management arrangements. This is to avoid a scenario where playing fields may be lost and/or replaced to a lesser/unsuitable quantity, quality, location or management term. August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 7 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Policy Exception E5 is if the proposed development is for sports, which would be of sufficient benefit to the development of sport as to outweigh the detriment caused by the loss, or prejudice to the use, of the playing field in question. Furthermore, it is worth recognising that (if) any school sites become redundant over the lifetime of the Strategy they may offer potential for meeting community needs on a localised basis (if required). There are currently no dormant school sites within LBRuT. Given the likely demand for future school places identified in the LBRuT School Place Planning Strategy it is unlikely that any schools will be closed during the lifespan of this Strategy. If, although highly unlikely, any schools do close the following should be considered when assessing the suitability of conversion of former school playing fields for community use: Location and willingness of the Council or a club (or other party) to take on ownership/lease/maintenance Size Quality Physical accessibility History of community access Availability of ancillary facilities School Place Planning Strategy 2014 The document sets out the Councils approach to providing additional school places within the borough up to 2024. A initial phase has already been approved which will see three free schools open and one primary school approved for permanent expansion: Sheen Mount Primary - permanent expansion Richmond Bridge Primary (to open September 2015) Twickenham Primary (to open September 2015) Richmond upon Thames College free school (to open September 2017) More places will be required to meet longer term forecast demand, particularly at primary places. The report therefore considers when secondary phase places will be required and how such demand could be met. None of the sites identified are highlighted as currently having any marked playing pitch provision other than the Richmond upon Thames College site; scenario testing is provided later in the document for this site. Furthermore, only two sites (Sheen Mount and Meadlands) are identified as having outdoor grassed areas. The potential expansion of existing primary schools may provide opportunities to invest in the current offsite stock of playing pitches or creation of additional pitch provision on the sites identified; if there is a need or intention to use such pitch provision for curriculum and/or extra curriculum uses. Schools identified in the SPPS as having the potential to offer expanded school places are set out below alongside the pitch sites located nearby which may have the ability to be utilised by the school if needed and subject to any investment/improvements required. Any requirement for their potential curriculum and extra-curriculum use in the future needs to be established and monitored. August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 8 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Schools sites identified for creation or expansion School Phase one Sheen Mount Primary Richmond Bridge Primary Analysis area Potential sites for use Richmond Richmond Twickenham Primary Twickenham Richmond upon Thames College free school Phase two St Marys CoE Primary (Hampton) Barnes Primary Twickenham Richmond Park Old Deer Park, North Sheen Recreation Ground Twickenham Green open space, Kneller Gardens, Craneford Recreation Ground Craneford Recreation Ground The Russell Primary Meadlands Primary Richmond Richmond Hampton & Teddington Richmond Orleans Park School, Craneford Recreation Ground, Marble Hill Park Barnes Common, Vine Road Recreation open space King Georges Field, Ham Common Ham Common, King Georges Field Recommendation (b) – Secure tenure and access to sites for high quality, development minded clubs and/or organisations through a range of solutions and partnership agreements Local sports clubs should be supported by partners including the Council and NGBs to continue to achieve sustainability across a range of areas including management, membership, funding, facilities, volunteers and partnership working. For example, supporting club development and encourage clubs to develop evidence of business and sports development plans to generate an income through their facilities. All clubs could be encouraged to look at different management models such as registering as Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASC). Clubs should also be encouraged to work with partners locally, such as volunteer support agencies or linking with local businesses. As well as ensuring the quality of local authority sites, there are a number of sites which have poor quality (or no) ancillary facilities. Consideration should be given to granting security of tenure (minimum 25 years as recommended by Sport England and NGBs) to the clubs playing on these sites, if not already in place, so the clubs are in a position to apply for external funding to improve the ancillary facilities. Sites where poor changing facilities may be restricting use include Old Deer Park, Marble Hill Park and Heathfield Recreation Ground; only the latter is Council owned and managed. There are also examples of clubs on the border of the borough, such as Richmond HC, Twickenham RFC and some teams at Barnes HC, using provision just outside of the borough. Despite being outside the clubs service a number of LBRuT residents and have therefore been included. The need to work closely with such clubs, NGBs and neighbouring Local Authorities is recognised to ensure they do not fall between the gaps of administrative boundaries. In instances where long term leases might be put into place for the continued use of a site, clubs should be required to meet service and/or strategic objectives. However, an additional set of criteria should be considered, which takes into account the quality of the club, aligned to its long term development objectives and sustainability. August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 9 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY In the context of the Comprehensive Spending Review, which announced public spending cuts, it is increasingly important for councils to work with other sector organisations in order that they may be able to take greater levels of responsibility and support the wider development and maintenance of facilities. Where appropriate the Council should therefore support and enable clubs to generate sufficient funds to allow this. Recommended criteria for lease of sport sites to clubs/organisations: Club Site Clubs should have Clubmark/FA Charter Standard or equivalent accreditation. Clubs commit to meeting demonstrable local demand and show pro-active commitment to developing school-club links (if appropriate). Clubs are sustainable, both financially and via their internal management structures in relation to recruitment and retention policy for both players and volunteers. Ideally, clubs should have already identified (and received an agreement in principle) any match funding required for initial capital investment or have a credible funding plan endorsed by an NGB. Councils should seek to partner capital project prior to executing terms to help lever external investment. Clubs have processes in place to ensure capacity to maintain sites to the existing, or better, standards. Sites should be those identified as ‘Club Sites’ (recommendation d) for new clubs (i.e. not those with a Borough wide significance) but which offer development potential. For established clubs which have proven success in terms of selfmanagement ‘Key Centres’ are also appropriate. As a priority, sites should acquire capital investment to improve (which can be attributed to the presence of a Clubmark/Charter Standard club). Sites should be leased with the intention that investment can be sourced to contribute towards improvement. An NGB/Council representative should sit on a management committee for each site leased to a club. Council should not execute the legal terms until a sustainable solution has been agreed and achieved. The Council can further recognise the value of Clubmark/Charter Standard by adopting a policy of prioritising the clubs that are to have access to these better quality facilities. This could be achieved by inviting clubs to apply for an initial trial lease on a particular site before committing to a longer term arrangement. Club outcomes for lease agreements The Council should establish a series of core outcomes to derive from clubs taking on a lease arrangement to ensure that the most appropriate clubs are assigned to sites. As an example outcomes may include: Increasing participation. Supporting the development of coaches and volunteers. Commitment to quality standards. Improvements (where required) to facilities, or as a minimum retaining existing standards. In addition, clubs should be made fully aware of the associated responsibilities/liabilities when considering leases of multi-use public playing fields. August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 10 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY The council should also devise a transfer process that is the most effective way of realising a sites potential whilst protecting and safeguarding the clubs and community interest. Early engagement with NGB’s and Sport England to identify the priorities should be adopted to ensure strategic priorities are aligned. Recommendation (c) Maximise community use of outdoor sports facilities Education sites In order to maximise community use of educational facilities it is recommended to establish a coherent, structured relationship with schools, regardless of ownership, i.e. academies, independent schools, etc. The ability to access good facilities within the local community is important to any sports organisation, yet accessing schools for match play but also for training can sometimes be difficult. In LBRuT, physical access and resistance from schools, especially academies, can be a barrier to accessing provision. A number of sporting facilities are located on education sites and ensuring the availability to sports clubs can offer significant benefits to both the school/college and the local clubs. The Council and other key partners must work with schools and colleges to develop an understanding of the issues that restrict or affect community access. Support should be provided, where appropriate, to address any underlying problems. Education sites with the need or potential for greater community use are set out in the Action Plan. It can be common for school pitch stock to not be fully maximised for community use. Even on established community use sites, access to outdoor sports facilities to the community may be limited. Consultation identified several issues relating to the use of school facilities: Schools report that pitches cannot be accessed by the community due to being unable to staff the opening/closing of facilities. Many school sites do not have dedicated marked pitches due to limited space and/or a need for flexibility of use. Some schools report limiting community use in order to try and allow some respite and recovery time of provision; due to heavy use for curriculum activities. There are management issues inherent in developing, implementing and managing community use agreements. Advice and guidance can be obtained from Sport England’s Schools toolkit and Sports organisations toolkit. (www.sportengland.org/facilities-planning Where appropriate, it will be important for schools to negotiate and sign formal and long-term agreements that secure community use. This needs to be examined against the following: The analysis provides a clear indication of the future pitch requirements and provides a basis for partners to negotiate. Community use should not impact on the needs of schools to deliver curricular and extracurricular activities. Sport England has also produced guidance, online resources and toolkits to help open up and retain school sites for community use and can be found at: http://www.sportengland.org/facilities-planning/accessing-schools/ August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 11 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Housing growth often leads to an increase in school places. These places usually result in an extension to a school, sometimes on playing fields. Where applicable this should be identified early in the process and embraced in policy that any replacement of playing fields, due to school expansion, should be negotiated. This is particularly pertinent in LBRuT with the possibility for a number of school expansions and a new school as part of the Richmond upon Thames College site redevelopment. It is recommended that any future decisions regarding the strategic direction in relation to the increase/better use of school facilities is undertaken with regard to the continuing LBRuT School Place Planning Strategy. August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 12 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY OBJECTIVE 2 To enhance existing playing pitches and ancillary facilities through improving their quality, accessibility and management Recommendations: d. Improve pitch quality and changing facilities. e. Adopt a structured approach to the management and improvement of sites. f. Work in partnership with stakeholders to secure funding g. Secure developer contributions. Recommendation (d) – Improve pitch quality and changing facilities There are a number of ways in which it is possible to increase pitch quality, including for example, addressing overplay and improving maintenance. These are explored in more detail below. Improving quality at currently used sites improves capacity and makes the best use of existing pitches. Addressing quality issues Priority in the short term (dependent upon resources) should be directed to sites that have standard or poor quality pitches and that are over played. These sites can be seen in the table below. Sites overplayed with pitch quality issues: Sport Site Analysis Area Pitch type Football King Georges Field (Kew & Ham Sports Association) Richmond Adult Kneller Gardens Twickenham Youth 9v9 1 North Sheen Recreation Ground Richmond Youth 9v9 2 Richmond upon Thames College Twickenham Adult 1 Bushy Park Hampton Teddington Richmond Richmond Richmond Richmond & Senior 2 Senior Senior Senior Senior 1 2 6 1 Hampton Teddington & Senior 1 Rugby Union Christ’s School Old Deer Park Partnership Richmond Athletic Ground Richmond Athletic Ground (training pitch) Teddington Lock Playing Fields Number of pitches 3 For the purposes of the Quality Assessments, this Strategy will refer to pitches and ancillary facilities separately as Good, Standard or Poor quality. For example, some good quality sites have poor quality elements i.e. changing rooms or a specific pitch. August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 13 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Good quality refers to pitches that have, for example, good grass cover, an even surface, are free from vandalism, litter etc. In terms of ancillary facilities, good quality refers to access for disabled people, sufficient provision for referees, juniors/women/girls and appropriate provision of showers, toilets and car parking. Standard quality refers to pitches that have, for example, adequate grass cover, minimal signs of wear and tear, goalposts may be secure but in need of minor repair. In terms of ancillary facilities, standard quality refers to adequately sized changing rooms, storage provision and provision of toilets. Poor quality refers to pitches that have, for example, inadequate grass cover, uneven surface and damage. In terms of ancillary facilities, poor quality refers to inappropriate size of changing rooms, no showers, no running water and old dated interior. Please refer to the Sport England/NGB quality assessments. Sites played beyond capacity may require remedial action to help reduce overplay. Sites with changing facility issues: Site Old Deer Park I.D 38 King Georges Fields Heathfield Recreation Ground Marble Hill Park 28 24 32 Sheen Common 49 Sports Cricket Football Rugby Union Football Football Football Rugby Union Cricket Analysis Area Richmond Richmond Twickenham Twickenham Richmond Without appropriate, fit for purpose ancillary facilities pitches, including good quality pitches, may be underutilised. Changing facilities for some sports can form the most essential part of this offer and therefore sites such as those in the table should be given priority for improvement where possible. Addressing overplay In order to improve the overall quality of the playing pitches stock; it is necessary to ensure that pitches are not overplayed beyond recommended weekly carrying capacity. This is determined by assessing pitch quality (via a non-technical site assessment) and allocating a weekly match limit to each. Each NGB recommends a number of matches that a good quality pitch should take: Sport Football Rugby union* August 2015 Pitch type Adult pitches Youth pitches Mini pitches Pipe and Slit Drained and a good level of maintenance (D3/M2) Pipe drained and a good level of maintenance (D2/M2) Natural (adequate) drainage and a good level of maintenance (D1/M2) Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page No. of matches 3 per week 4 per week 6 per week 3.5 per week 3.25 per week 3 per week 14 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Sport Cricket Pitch type One grass wicket One synthetic wicket No. of matches 5 per season 60 per season * Please note that RFU guidance bases the calculation of pitch capacity upon an assessment of the drainage system and maintenance programme afforded to a site. There are also sites that are poor quality but are not overplayed. These sites should not be overlooked as often poor quality sites have less demand than other sites; however demand could increase if the quality was to also increase. Improving pitch quality should not be considered in isolation from maintenance regimes. Whilst it works both ways, in so much as, poor pitch condition is a symptom of pitches being over played, potential improvements may make sites more attractive and, therefore, more popular; which in the long run can lead again to poor quality pitches if they are not maintained properly. There is also a need to balance pitch improvements alongside the transfer of play to alternative pitch sites. Therefore, in some instances it may be possible to work with clubs to ensure that sites are not played beyond their capacity and encourage play, where feasible, to be transferred to alternative venues which are not operating at capacity. Increasing pitch maintenance Standard or poor grass pitch quality may not just be a result of poor drainage. In some instances ensuring there is an appropriate maintenance for the level/standard of play can help to improve quality and therefore increase pitch capacity. Each NGB can provide assistance with reviewing pitch maintenance regimes. For example, the FA has introduced a Pitch Advisor Scheme and has been working in partnership with Institute of Groundmanship (IOG) to develop a Grass Pitch Maintenance service that can be utilised by grassroots football clubs with the simple aim of improving the quality of grass pitches. The key aim behind the service is to provide football clubs with advice/practical solutions on a number of areas, with the simple aim of improving the club’s playing surface. In relation to cricket, maintaining high pitch quality is the most important aspect of cricket. If the wicket is poor, it can affect the quality of the game and can, in some instances, become dangerous. The ECB recommends full technical assessments of wickets and pitches available through a Performance Quality Standard Assessment (PQS). The PQS assesses a cricket square to ascertain whether it meets the Performance Quality Standards that are benchmarked by the Institute of Groundsmanship. Please note that PQS assessments are also available for other sports. Recommendation (e) – Adopt a structured approach to the management and improvement of sites To allow for facility developments to be programmed within a phased approach the Council should consider an organised approach to the management and improvement of playing pitch sites and associated facilities. Please refer to Part 7: Action Plan for the proposed approach. August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 15 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Recommendation (f) – Work in partnership with stakeholders to secure funding Partners, led by the Council, should ensure that appropriate funding secured for improved sports provision are directed to areas of need, underpinned by a robust strategy for improvement in playing pitch facilities. In order to address the community’s needs, to target priority areas and to reduce duplication of provision, there should be a coordinated approach to strategic investment. In delivering this recommendation the Council should maintain a regular dialogue with NGBs and local partners through the Playing Pitch Steering Group. Some investment in new provision will not be made by the Council directly, it is important, however, that the Council seeks to direct and lead a strategic and co-ordinated approach to facility development by education sites, NGBs, sports clubs and the commercial sector to address community needs whilst avoiding duplication of provision. Please refer to Appendix Two for further funding information which includes details of the current opportunities, likely funding requirements and indicative project costs. London Sport, the CSP, is also a source of advice, guidance and ‘critical friend’ for clubs and organisations seeking funding. Recommendation (g) –Secure developer contributions It is important this strategy informs planning policies and subsequent Local Plan updates. The guidance may also help form the basis for negotiation with developers to secure contributions to provision and/or enhancement of appropriate playing fields and its maintenance. Developer contributions (e.g. Section 106 contributions or Community Infrastructure Levy) could be used to improve the condition and maintenance regimes of the pitches in order to increase pitch capacity to accommodate more matches. To enable this: Planning consent should include appropriate conditions and/or be subject to specific planning obligations. Where developer contributions are applicable, a Section 106 Agreement or equivalent must be completed specifying the amount which will be linked to Sport England’s Building Cost Information Service from the date of the Planning Committee, and timing of the Contribution(s) to be paid. Contributions should also be secured towards the first ten years of maintenance on new pitches. NGBs/ Sport England can provide up to date information on such costs. External funding should be sought/secured to achieve maximum benefit from the investment into appropriate playing pitch facility enhancement and its maintenance. Where new multiple pitches are provided, appropriate changing rooms and associated car parking should be located on site. All new or improved playing pitches on school sites should be subject to community use agreements. For further guidance please refer to Sport England: http://www.sportengland.org/facilities-planning/planning-for-sport/planning-tools-andguidance/community-use-agreements/ August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 16 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY OBJECTIVE 3 To provide new playing pitches and ancillary facilities that are fit for purpose to meet demands for participation now and in the future. Recommendations: h. Rectify quantitative shortfalls in the current pitch stock. i. Identify opportunities to add to the overall stock to accommodate both current and future demand. Recommendation (h) - Rectify quantitative shortfalls in the current pitch stock The Council and its partners should work to rectify identified inadequacies and meet identified shortfalls as outlined in the Assessment Report and the sport by sport specific recommendations (Part 6). For instance, in terms of football there is not enough provision to meet current and future demand in LBRuT across all formats of the game unless current levels are protected. It is essential that the current levels of pitch provision (grass and artificial) are protected, maintained and enhanced to secure provision now and in the future. Key to this is for all provision to be retained. For most sports the future demand for provision identified in the borough can be overcome through maximising use of existing pitches through a combination of: Improving pitch quality in order to improve the capacity of pitches to accommodate more matches. The re-designation of pitches for which there is an oversupply. Working with partners and clubs to address any inadequacies with ancillary provision such as changing facilities and/or access to training provision. Where possible securing long term community use at school sites. There is a requirement to protect adult football pitches as they provide the flexibility to provide adult, youth or mini pitches (through different line markings/coning areas of the pitch). Furthermore, relying solely on the re-designation of adult pitches that are not currently used may lead to a deficiency of adult pitches in the medium to longer term as younger players move up the ages. Any changes to unmet demand, participation and trends, and proposed housing growth should be recognised and factored into future facility planning. Assuming additional future increases in participation and housing growth occurs, it will impact on the future need for certain types of sports facilities. The following table highlights the main development trends in each sport and their likely impact on facilities. However, it is important to note that these may be subject to change. In addition, retaining an amount of spare capacity allows some pitches to be rested to protect overall pitch quality in the long term. Therefore, whilst in some instances it may be appropriate to re-designate a senior pitch where there is low demand identified a holistic approach should be taken to re-designation for the reasons cited above. The site-by-site action planning will seek to provide further clarification on where re-designation is suitable. Retaining spare capacity should be considered in the context of secured community use, in August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 17 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY that spare capacity which is retained for future growth, pitch improvements, etc. should be established at existing or potentially any new sites/facilities that are provided for use. Likely future sport-by-sport demand trends Sport Future development trend Possible Strategy impact Football Demand for adult football is likely to be sustained with the FA focusing on retention. There is likely to also be some movement towards small sided football for adults as well as mid-week 11 aside matches. Additional need for 3G pitches that meet the performance standards and listed on the FA 3G register. http://3g.thefa.me.uk/?sort=countyfa Demand for youth football is likely to increase based on TGRs A need for more youth pitches and/or exploration of utilising 3G facilities to help accommodate mini and youth formats. An increase in women and girls football following £2.4m investment over the two years (2014-2016) from Sport England to increase the number of women and girls taking part in football sessions. A potential need to provide self contained ancillary facilities. Increase in disability programmes, in particular those led by pro clubs. A need to ensure facilities that are DDA compliant. Women’s and girls’ cricket is a national priority. Target is to establish two girls’ and one women’s team in every local authority. LBRuT already meets target. Continued support to ensure access to appropriate changing and toilet provision and access to good quality cricket pitches. Expansion of Last Man Stands (LMS) in the Borough. Additional need for non-turf wickets. Establishing a disability section within LBRuT within the next five years. Need for appropriate match and ancillary facilities. The Rugby World Cup (2015) is predicted to see a further increase in the demand for rugby provision. Clubs likely to field more teams in the future, and therefore have demand for more pitches and floodlit training provision. Important, therefore, to work with clubs to maintain the current pitch stock and to support facility development where appropriate. Cricket Rugby union Strong junior sections. AGPs Demand for 3G pitches for football exists and will likely continue to increase as currently there is only one full size pitch in the LBRuT. It is likely that future demand for the use of 3G pitches, especially for training, will increase. Provision of 3G pitches which are IRB compliant will help to reduce overplay as a result of training on rugby pitches. Requirement for new 3G pitches to be provided and a need for community use agreements to be in place for any new pitches. Utilise Sport England/NGB guidance on choosing the correct surface: Hockey Continued potential to increase participation. Requirement to retain existing hockey provision in use where there is clear evidence of demand. Tennis It is likely that future demand for access to tennis courts in LBRuT will remain reasonably static. Provision of tennis courts in LBRuT is considered able to accommodate current and future demand. Clubs should be supported to ensure courts are well maintained. August 2015 http://www.sportengland.org/media/30651/Selectin g-the-right-artificial-surface-Rev2-2010.pdf http://www.thefa.com/my-football/footballvolunteers/runningaclub/yourfacilities/~/media/8D5 FAB86576549B8BAAEA37DC6037C68.ashx Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 18 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Sport Future development trend Possible Strategy impact Bowls General trend of demand for bowling greens remaining static or slightly decreasing. Likely to result in the need for less outdoor bowling greens. However, at this moment in time, given dispersed nature of provision it is not appropriate to suggest disposal. Recommendation (i) - Identify opportunities to add to the overall pitch stock to accommodate both current and future demand The Council should use, and regularly update, the Action Plan within this Strategy for improvements to its own pitches whilst recognising the need to support partners. The Action Plan lists improvements to be made to each site focused upon both qualitative and quantitative improvements as appropriate for each area. August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 19 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY PART 5: LBRUT SPORTS SUMMARY AND KEY ISSUES As identified in the Assessment Report, below are the key issues and summaries on a sport by sport basis: 5.1 Football The audit identifies a total of 110 football pitches in LBRuT. Of these, 107 are available, at some level, for community use Most football pitches available for community use are assessed as being of good quality (74%) followed by standard quality (25%); less than 1% are assessed as poor. 314 teams are identified as playing on pitches within LBRuT. A small amount of matches take place on FA certified AGP pitches. Demand for better quality changing facilities is noted at some sites. There is unmet demand1 from some clubs for additional training provision; often referenced as being for floodlit 3G surface facilities. Displaced demand2 is highlighted by three teams. Latent demand3 is also expressed for five adult teams and four teams in the 7v7 pitch format. Future demand based on TGRs is most significantly noted for the youth formats of the game (11v11 and 9v9) with a total of an additional 40 teams predicted to be generated. There is a total of 76 match sessions of actual spare capacity across the LBRuT, of which 36 are on adult pitches. There are nine sites within LBRuT that are available for community use but are unused (this includes school sites) Seven sites are overplayed by a total of 19 match sessions per week, most of which is on adult pitches (16 match sessions). This is a result of nearly all youth 11v11 matches taking place on adult pitches. There is a shortfall of one match equivalent session to accommodate current demand for youth 11v11; this increases to 14 match equivalent sessions in the future (based on TGRs and club plans), In addition, increases in future demand would cause a shortfall at the youth 9v9 format (equivalent to 0.5 match equivalent sessions). Overall, there is a need to rebalance sites overplayed and future demand for youth 11v11 with sites showing spare capacity. 5.2 Cricket There are 40 cricket squares in LBRuT located across 28 sites, all of which are available for community use, although two school sites are currently unused due cost of hire or lack of interest. The audit of squares identifies 14 to be good quality and 24 to be standard quality and the remaining two to be poor. There are a total of 131 teams playing within LBRuT; 65 senior and 66 junior. Within this number there are one women’s and three girls’ teams. Five clubs report an increase in senior teams and six clubs report an increase in junior teams over the previous three years. One club report a decrease in senior teams and one club report a decrease in junior teams. Team generation rates suggest that a further one senior and 17 junior teams will be created in the future. Eight clubs expressed plans to increase their number of teams. 1 Unmet demand is existing demand that cannot access pitches. Displaced demand refers to LBRuT registered teams that are currently accessing pitches outside of the LBRuT for their home fixtures but would prefer to play within LBRuT. 3 Latent demand is defined as the number of additional teams that could be fielded if access to a sufficient number of pitches (and ancillary facilities) was available. 2 August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 20 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY One club, Bushy Park Girls CC, express latent demand due to a lack of available pitches. A lack of training facilities and coaches are other factors limiting membership growth within clubs. Last Man Stands expects to continue to grow in LBRuT in the future. There is actual spare capacity equating to four squares for grass wicket sites during peak time (includes Old Deer Park square assessed as poor quality). This is reduced to two squares due to latent demand and aggregated future demand. In the Analysis Area summaries the aggregated future demand does not show but is accounted for in the commentary. If quality of the square at Old Deer Park cannot be improved it could become discounted; further reducing spare capacity. Subsequently sites with spare capacity should look to be retained. Five clubs/sites are at or close to capacity; Kew CC, Barnes CC, Sheen Park CC, Richmond CC and Twickenham CC. However, Richmond CC is developing a second ground at Christ’s School. There are currently several squares with standalone non turf wickets that are available for community use but with spare capacity. These squares have the capacity to accommodate future demand for junior cricket (up to the age of 13) and increased participation in Last Man Stands. Overall, the current number of squares can accommodate demand for senior and junior cricket. However, preventing some pitches from becoming overplayed is required (e.g. ensuring adequate training provision and increasing use of non-turf wickets particularly for junior cricket). 5.3 Rugby Union There are 15 clubs in LBRuT; only three of these identify having a lease or licence agreement in place for their home ground. All other clubs rent pitches. Richmond RFC with London Scottish RFC and Richmond Athletic Association identify aspirations to submit a planning application to redevelop the Richmond Athletic Ground. The pitch at Richmond upon Thames College may be replaced by an all-weather surface pitch as part of the college sites redevelopment. Demand for improved or increased training facilities is common with several clubs signalling a need for greater midweek floodlit provision off match pitches. A number of clubs utilise designated training pitches and these are all heavily used. In total, 42 rugby union pitches are located across 20 sites in LBRuT. Of these, 14 pitches are located at educational sites for community use. All are available for community use. To reflect curriculum/extra curriculum usage at schools the carrying capacity has been adjusted at these sites. The majority of pitches in LBRuT are assessed as standard (30 pitches) quality. Three pitches are assessed as poor quality and nine as good. There is spare capacity at eight sites in LBRuT. Four of these are considered to have genuine spare capacity in the peak period (equivalent to 11 match sessions per week). This can help to meet current demand shown by the five sites identified as being overplayed (equivalent to 6.75 match sessions per week). The Imperial College, Richmond upon Thames College and Orleans Park School sites are not currently in use. Scenario testing has been used to determine recommendations. Supply and demand analysis shows if these sites were not available, overall in LBRuT there would be a shortage of match equivalent sessions in the future. Therefore there is a need to retain identified spare capacity at the Imperial College, Orleans Park School and Richmond upon Thames College sites (including football pitch). An opportunity to August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 21 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY replace the rugby pitch at the latter (as part of the college redevelopment) with a rugby compliant AGP could help to better meet club training demand. For clubs the biggest demand is in accessing midweek floodlit training provision. Overall, there is a need to address shortfalls and issues of overplay through retention of sites with spare capacity and addressing access to midweek training provision. 5.4 Hockey There are six AGPs suitable for hockey within LBRuT (i.e. sand based). However, only five are suitable for competitive hockey play. There are four hockey clubs within the LBRuT. In addition, St Mary’s University also fields three senior teams which currently play in the midweek BUCS leagues. Richmond HC is based outside of the LBRuT and plays all its matches at the Quentin Hogg Memorial Ground in Hounslow. Similarly, Barnes HC also has teams playing outside of the LBRuT in Hounslow at the Dukes Meadow site. Both clubs prefer access to water based surfaces for their higher ranked teams. Barnes HC highlights a desire for all teams to play within the LBRuT if appropriate AGP provision was available. All clubs report increasing membership levels over the previous three years. In particular, Richmond HC identifies being at capacity in terms of junior levels on Sundays. AGP provision is generally viewed as standard to good quality. However, the carpet on the AGP at Shene Sports & Fitness Centre is reaching the end of its lifespan. Spare capacity is identified at Hampton Sports & Fitness Centre and on Sundays at Shene Sports & Fitness Centre. Overall, provision meets current club demand. The continuing use of existing sites for hockey should be ensured. 5.5 Artificial Grass Pitches (AGPs) There are seven full size AGPs in LBRuT made up of one 3G surface and six sand based. There is one AGP compliant to IRB 22 standard in the borough (Whitton Sports). However, funding agreements mean it is only available for 1-2 hours per week for rugby training. In the main, availability of provision in the peak period is generally good with the exception at Orleans Park School which has no floodlighting Two of the seven pitches in LBRuT are assessed as good quality, both at Teddington Sports Centre Edge. The remaining sites are assessed as standard quality, with no poor quality pitches. The carpet of an AGP usually lasts for approximately 10 years. AGPs at Shene Sports & Fitness Centre and Orleans Park School are approaching the end of their remaining lifespan. The AGP at Hampton Sports & Fitness Centre was resurfaced in 2001 and will need replacing by end of 2016. The FA model4 estimates that one full size AGP can service 56 teams. On the basis there are 310 teams playing competitive football in LBRuT, there is a recommended 4 The FA standard is calculated by using the latest Sport England research "AGPs State of the Nation March 2012" assuming that 51% of AGP usage is by sports clubs when factoring in the number of training slots available per pitch type per hour from 5pm-10pm Mon-Fri and 9am-5pm Saturday & Sundays. It is estimated that one full size AGP can service 56 teams. August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 22 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY need for five full size 3G pitches to cater for football demand, currently there is one. Also, FPM Unmet Demand shows 22% of the demand from LBRuT residents to use an AGP is not being met. This equates to 1.2 full size floodlit pitches. Almost a third (30%) of football clubs which submitted views express additional demand for training facilities; with 3G pitches specified as desirable. The existing 3G AGP at Whitton Sports & Fitness Centre is identified as operating at capacity. There are four hockey clubs in the area; although Richmond HC and several teams from Barnes HC play matches outside of the borough. St Mary’s University also fields three teams which play midweek. Richmond upon Thames College and St Richard Reynolds Catholic College highlight aspirations to create an additional AGP provision. The latter specifically cites looking at the possibility of a 3G facility. Both are at a very early stage of exploring possible options. In summary, supply and demand analysis (including FPM findings) highlights that the LBRuT is currently under served for 3G pitches. FPM suggests Unmet Demand equivalent to an additional 1.2 pitches whilst The FA Model supports the suggestion for additional AGP provision (i.e. an additional four AGPs as one already exists). 5.6 Tennis There are a total of 168 tennis courts provided in LBRuT across a range of sites including private sports clubs, parks and schools, all of which are available to the community. Of provision, 131 courts (78%) are assessed as good quality and 22 courts (13%) assessed as standard quality. The remaining 15 courts (9%) are assessed as poor quality. Christ’s School, Barnes Tennis Club, Richmond Lawn Tennis Club and Pensford Tennis Club all have plans to resurface and/or redevelop their courts. Will to Win report that most courts under their control have quality issues and believe that an investment programme for court resurfacing is necessary. Floodlighting to maximise winter play should be explored at appropriate locations only and in accordance with development management policies. There are 11 tennis clubs located in Richmond, nine of which were consulted and assess their courts as either good (6) or standard (3). One club, Teddington Lawn Tennis Club report an increase in senior membership over the last five years whilst Pensford Tennis Club reports a decrease. All clubs report an increase in junior membership with the exception of Priory Park Tennis Club and Sheen Lawn Tennis & Squash Club, which report no change. All courts available for pay & play purposes are deemed to be under-utilised and plenty of spare capacity exists. Recording of casual usage is difficult to gauge with the only form of measurement being from the 50 courts managed by Will to Win. As no unmet or latent demand is identified within LBRuT, it would appear that there are enough courts available for community use to accommodate both the current and future demand. The focus is on ensuring a sufficient standard of public courts. 5.7 Bowls There are ten flat green bowling greens in LBRuT servicing ten bowling clubs. Of these, four greens are provided by the Council. There are disused bowling greens at Barnes Sports Club and Vine Road. In general the quality of bowling greens in LBRuT is considered good with 55% of clubs reporting that the quality of their home green has improved from the previous season. August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 23 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Two clubs state that the quality of their green has worsened recently, mainly due to poor maintenance. Analysis of club membership shows that demand has general decreased or remained static over the previous three years. A third of clubs report declining membership and such a decline is threatening the existence of NPL Ladies Bowling Club. Four clubs are operating below the average club/green membership and have capacity to increase green usage. It is likely that Carlisle Park Bowling Club and Cambridge Bowling Club are both operating at capacity although neither club reports enough demand for additional outdoor greens to be provided. Therefore it would appear that there are enough greens available for community use to accommodate both the current and future demand. August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 24 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY PART 6: SPORT SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS The following recommendations look to address the issues identified from the summaries in Part 5. Site specific actions falling out of the sport by sport recommendations outlined below are detailed within the action plan. FOOTBALL RECOMMENDATION Seek to address current overplay and future demand at sites, including improvement of changing facilities and explore creation of new 3G AGPs. Grass pitches Ensure the protection of existing provision is maintained. Where pitches are assessed as standard or poor quality, review maintenance regimes to ensure it is of an appropriate standard to sustain/improve pitch quality and therefore increase carrying capacity. Consider reconfiguration of some adult pitches to youth pitches in order to meet current but in particular future demand for youth 11v11. Retain all spare capacity in Hampton & Teddington and Twickenham to help meet shortfalls identified across LBRuT and particularly in Richmond. Seek to provide a sufficient quality of changing provision at sites where necessary. Look to transfer play on sites which are played to capacity or overplayed to alternative venues which are not operating at capacity. Work with clubs to accommodate latent and future demand on sites which are not operating at capacity. 3G pitches Opportunities to provide 3G AGPs to meet identified needs should be explored; FA modelling suggests a need for a total of five facilities (i.e. an additional four facilities as one already exists) with Unmet Demand from the FPM an equivalent to 1.2 floodlit pitches. Ensure such provision is fully utilised and available for community use at peak times, including weekends. All new pitches should be FIFA tested and on FA 3G register. Ensure that sinking funds are in place to maintain any new 3G pitches in the long term. Partner accredited football clubs should have priority access at peak times and partner rates, where they can demonstrate growing the game and access for all players. CRICKET RECOMMENDATION Ensure access of existing provision is maintained and work with partners to provide appropriate range of ancillary facilities Monitor future demands of growing Last Man Stands programme. Support clubs to develop and improve ‘off pitch’ practice facilities to meet demand for training facilities. Retain sites with spare capacity in order to meet latent and future aggregated demand. Ensure that any facilities developed support opportunities for women’s and girl’s competitive cricket. August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 25 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY RUGBY RECOMMENDATION Work towards meeting identified current and future deficiencies and increase the quality of pitches and ancillary facilities as required. Need to address overplay of training pitches at club sites. Look to improve the quality of pitches (and therefore capacity) in order to address overplay of pitches at sites and to meet future demand. Need to retain the spare capacity identified to help meet future shortfalls. Ensure all clubs have access to training areas which are either dedicated floodlit grassed areas or through access of an International Rugby Board (IRB) AGP. Support appropriate improvements to ancillary facilities at club sites where there is a need to do so. HOCKEY RECOMMENDATION Ensure access of existing provision is maintained and work with partners to accommodate current and future need where demand is evidenced. Work with England Hockey to ensure priority hockey sites are protected and quality is sustained or where necessary improved. Liaise with clubs, NGBs and neighbouring boroughs of Hounslow to create a structured facilities development plan. Ensure that sinking funds are in place to maintain AGPs quality in the long term. OTHER SPORTS RECOMMENDATION Ensure access to existing provision is maintained and look to improve quality when opportunities arise. Tennis As a minimum ensure court quality is maintained and that users can access the appropriate standard of courts to allow for play. Explore possibility of floodlighting courts provision in appropriate locations only and which comply with Development Management policies. Consider option of outsourcing management of sites on long term basis in order for court improvements and investment to potentially be secured. This may also help to monitor casual usage levels. Bowls Maximise the availability of bowling greens for pay and play in order to raise the profile of the game, increase levels of membership and the revenue generated by sites. Where demand exists, ensure that quality is sustained. Current need to retain existing greens. Long term if membership levels continue to decrease on council sites, re-evaluation of provision may be required. This should form part of future review of the Playing Pitch Strategy (with all Steering group members invited). August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 26 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY PART 7: ACTION PLAN 7.1 Introduction The site-by-site action plan seeks to address key issues identified in the accompanying Assessment Report. It provides recommendations based on current levels of usage, quality and future demand, as well as the potential of each site for enhancement. The action plan is for all stakeholders and is a document that should be delivered in partnership and not by one organisation alone. It should be reviewed in the light of staff and financial resources in order to prioritise support for strategically significant provision and provision that other providers are less likely to supply. Below 7.2 explains the approach to implementing the actions on the list. 7.2 Adopt a structured approach to the management and improvement of sites To allow for facility developments to be programmed within a phased approach the Council should consider a structured approach to the management and improvement of playing pitch sites and associated facilities. The borough has a number of ‘key centres’, which are sites that are considered to be the most popular and used. They therefore need to be of a high standard in order to accommodate a sufficient number of matches per week. This applies mostly to football pitch hire but also includes a number of multi-sport sites. This provision model is extended to recognise the supply and demand issues identified throughout the Assessment Report (i.e. current levels of overplay) and any potential investment necessary to improve sites based on current levels of usage. The designation of sites is based on their ability and evidence of use in a Borough-wide context i.e. they accommodate a large amounts of play. In the context of developing a structured model approach to the improvement of sports facilities there are a number of sites which are owned and maintained by clubs or other providers. These sites are recognised as the ‘home ground’ of some clubs with the management responsibility, in terms of maintenance and allocating teams to pitches, transferred to the individual club or provider. Such sites are fundamentally different from those which can be hired on a regular basis by a club (from the Council) but which do not carry a responsibility in terms of allocating or maintaining pitches. August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 27 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Proposed site structure criteria Criteria Strategic sites Key centres Club or education sites Reserve sites Site location Strategically located within analysis area. Accommodates two or more grass pitches. Services the local community. Site layout Strategically located in the Borough. Priority site for NGB. Accommodates three or more grass pitches, may include AGP provision. Potential to service the local community. Likely to be single-pitch site. Type of sport Multi-sport provision. Single or multisport provision. Management Management control remains within the local authority/other provider or with an appropriate lease arrangement. Management control remains within the local authority or with an appropriate provider on a lease arrangement. Maintenance regime Maintenance regime aligns with NGB guidelines. Maintenance regime aligns with NGB guidelines. Ancillary facilities Good quality ancillary facility on site, with sufficient changing rooms to serve the number of pitches. Good quality ancillary facility on site, with sufficient changing rooms to serve the site. Accommodates more than one pitch. Likely to include other income streams in terms of viability. Single or multi-sport provision. Club either has longterm lease/hires the pitch for the entire season or owns the site. Education owned or management control may remain with the local authority/other provider. Standard maintenance regime either by the club or in house maintenance contract. Appropriate access to changing for both senior and junior use concurrently (if required). Supports informal demand and/ or training etc. Management control remains with the Council or existing management body. Basic level of maintenance i.e. grass cutting and line marking as required. No requirement for access to changing accommodation. Strategic sites are of borough wide importance, where users are willing to travel to access the range and quality of facilities offered which are likely to be multi-sport. These have been identified on the basis of the current role and impact that the site will have on addressing the issues identified in the assessment. The financial, social and sporting benefits which can be achieved through development of strategic sites (also known as hub sites) are significant. Sport England provides further guidance on the development of community sports hubs at: http://www.sportengland.org/facilities__planning/planning_tools_and_guidance/sports_hubs. aspx August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 28 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Key centres. Although these sites may be more community focused and cater to alternative non-sporting needs (i.e. wider recreational uses), some are still likely to service a whole analysis area (or even further afield). There may also be more of a focus on a specific sport. From a football perspective, these sites already seek to accommodate the growing emphasis on football venues catering for youth and mini-soccer football matches. The conditions recommended for mini and youth football are becoming more stringent. This should be reflected in the provision of a unique set of pitches for mini and youth football that can ensure player safety, as well as being maintained efficiently. Such sites will need to continue to reach a certain standard and may require investment in order to do so. The Action Plan identifies any sites of this kind. Additionally, it is considered that some financial investment will be necessary to improve the ancillary facilities at both Strategic sites and Key Centre sites to complement the pitches in terms of access, flexibility (i.e. single-sex changing if necessary), quality and that they meet the rules and regulations of local competitions. Club/Education sites refer to those sites which are hired to clubs for a season, or are sites which have been leased or secured on a long-term basis. Primarily they are sites with more than one pitch. It is important to recognise that such sites provide an important role to the area and local communities. It is possible that sites could be included in this which are not currently hired or leased to a club, but have the potential to be leased to a suitable club. Consideration should be given, on a site-by-site basis, to the feasibility of a club taking a long-term lease on the site (if not already present), in order that external funding can be sought and achieve the required site improvements. Such sites often require some level of investment, either to the pitches or ancillary facilities. The Council should consider a partnership approach based on sports development outcomes as opposed to restrictive property leases that condition leases to unrealistic requirements. Instead the Council could consider providing support (e.g. project managers/grant funding), small grants for feasibility/professional fees, competitive rent; procure capital works and capital investment as a lever for external investment. Invest to save whilst also reducing the risk to the club will likely achieve a longer term saving to the Council and be attractive to external funding partners. Reserve sites could be used as overspill for neighbouring sites and/or for summer matches/competitions, training or informal play. They are most likely to be single-pitch sites with no ancillary facilities. 7.3 Management and development The following issues should be considered when undertaking sports related site development or enhancement: Strategic priorities and policies influencing the site Assessment of current use and anchor tenants Financial viability. Security of tenure. Planning permission requirements and any foreseen difficulties in securing permission. Community consultation August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 29 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Site conditions, building surveys, security, insurance and any restrictive covenants (i.e. rights of way or rights of access) Adequacy of existing finances to maintain existing sites. Business Plan/Master plan – including financial package for creation of new provision where need has been identified. Analysis of the possibility of shared site management opportunities. The availability of opportunities to lease sites to an external, fit for purpose, organisation. Options to assist community groups to gain funding to enhance existing provision. Negotiation with landowners to increase access to private strategic sites. Football investment programme development in line with the strategic priorities of The FA and other strategic bodies. 7.4 Action plan Timescales The action plan has been created to be delivered over a ten year period. The information within the Assessment Report, Strategy and Action Plan will require updating as developments occur. The timescales relate to delivery times and are not priority based. Timescales: (S) -Short (1-2 years); (M) - Medium (3-5 years); (L) - Long (6+ years). Partners The column indicating partners refers to the main organisation(s) that the Council will liaise with in helping to deliver the actions. The next stage in the implementation of the action plan is for the council and NGBs to agree a Lead Partner to help deliver the actions. Level Column shows the ‘level’ of a site in terms of the criteria set out in the site structure table on p28. For partner guidance the column also indicates any sites considered as being of particular high priority. LBRuT are keen to stress that all sites are of priority and importance. Aim In order to ensure that the actions are delivering one of the three strategy aims of Protect, Enhance, Provide the final column relates each action back to one or more of the aims. The action plan is broken down by sport in each analysis area within the LBRuT. For a summary of needs and issues on a borough level by each sport please refer to Part 5. Maps showing the location of sites and those being overplayed are set out in Appendix One. August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 30 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY HAMPTON & TEDDINGTON AREA Football Summary of pitches required to meet current and future demand Pitch type Actual spare 5 capacity Overplay Demand (match equivalent sessions) Latent Current Future Total demand total demand -14 -14 0.5 +7 6 +1 -1 3 -4 Adult pitches Youth pitches 11v11 18 - 3.5 1 Youth pitches 9v9 4 - Mini pitches 7v7 16 - - -16 0.5 -15.5 Mini pitches 5v5 5 - - -5 0.5 -4.5 Current and future demand is being met on all pitch types with the exception of youth 11v11 pitches. The demand is most significant for future provision of this kind due to population increase; seven match equivalents (equal to four pitches). There is actual spare capacity on most other forms of provision in particular adult pitches. This should be retained, as strategic reserve, in order to accommodate future demand for Youth 11v11 as well as shortfalls from across LBRuT but particularly from analysis areas such as Richmond. Overplay of adult provision (equivalent to two pitches) is attributed to a single site (Teddington Lock Playing Fields). Teddington Athletic FC and Hearts of Teddlothians FC are significant providers of teams in analysis area; both signal trend of growing membership levels. Consider creation of an additional 3G pitch as a way to reduce shortfalls and demand. Conversion of the existing AGP at Hampton Sports & Fitness Centre should be explored Scenario – Exclusion of Imperial College: Scenario does not include the pitches located at Imperial College (two adult and two mini 7v7 pitches) to reflect any uncertainty over availability and genuine spare capacity. Pitch type Actual spare 6 capacity Overplay Demand (match equivalent sessions) Latent/ Current Future Total unmet total demand demand -10.5 -10.5 1.0 +7 6 +1 Adult pitches Youth pitches 11v11 15 - 3.5 1 Youth pitches 9v9 4 - - -4 3 -1 Mini pitches 7v7 12 - - -12 0.5 -11.5 Mini pitches 5v5 5 - - -5 0.5 -4.5 Current and future demand can still be met on all pitch types with the exception of youth 11v11 pitches. 5 6 In match equivalent sessions In match equivalent sessions August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 31 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY However, spare capacity should still be retained, as strategic reserve, in order to accommodate future demand for Youth 11v11 as well as shortfalls from across LBRuT particularly from Richmond analysis area. Cricket Actual spare capacity (pitches) 2 Overplay - Demand (pitches) Latent demand Future demand 1 - Total -1 Spare capacity on cricket pitches should be retained to accommodate demand (expressed as latent demand) in Hampton & Teddington Analysis Area as well as aggregated forms of future demand (equivalent to one pitch) across LBRuT. Bushy Park Girls CC nomadic club with no secured home venue. Clubs such as Hampton Wick Royal CC, Teddington Town CC and Twickenham CC highlight desire for better net training facilities. Scenario – Exclusion of Imperial College: Scenario does not include the pitch located at Imperial College (one pitch) to reflect any uncertainty over availability and genuine spare capacity. Actual spare capacity (pitches) 1 Overplay - Demand (pitches) Latent demand Future demand 1 - Total - Scenario highlights need for spare capacity on cricket pitches to be retained to accommodate demand (expressed as latent demand) in Hampton & Teddington Analysis Area as well as aggregated forms of future demand (equivalent to one pitch) across LBRuT. Rugby union Actual spare 7 capacity Overplay 6 3.25 Demand (match equivalent sessions) Current Latent Future demand demand demand 1 1.5 -2.75 Total -0.25 Spare capacity should be retained as it is able to accommodate current overplay and expressed latent and future demand (as well as low total figure). Resolving demand for training, such as the heavy use of the floodlit training pitch at Twickenham RFC, may also help to free some capacity of pitches in order to also help meet future demand. Additional lighting is being installed. Overplay could be satisfied by improving pitch quality at Bushy Park and Teddington Lock Playing Field sites. Potential for rugby use at Imperial College site should be retained due to low total figure as well as in order to meet any additional demand and/or in case of difficulties in improving quality of existing sites. 7 In match equivalent sessions August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 32 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Scenario – Exclusion of Imperial College: Scenario does not include the pitches located at Imperial College (two pitches) to reflect any uncertainty over availability and genuine spare capacity for rugby. Actual spare capacity Overplay 2 3.25 Demand (match equivalent sessions) Current Latent Future demand demand demand 1.25 1 1.5 Total 3.75 Scenario highlights importance of retaining site in order to meet any additional future demand and/or in case of difficulties in improving quality of existing sites. There is also a need to retain spare capacity at sites with a view to the impact of the Rugby World Cup 2015. Hockey Four full size sand based AGPs in the area. Three used for competitive hockey should continue to be retained for future. Teddington Lock site is used by St Mary’s University teams and NPL HC; Teddington Sports Centre home to Teddington HC. 3G pitches Based on the FA model there is a need for two full size 3G pitches in the Area. Potential for resurfacing of sand based AGP to 3G at Hampton Sport & Fitness Centre. Consider World Rugby compliant surface; could help to meet demand for rugby as well as football training in analysis area but also for wider LBRuT. Tennis There are 10 courts across three sites assessed as poor quality. One site containing four poor quality courts is council owned; Carlisle Park Bowls No significant issues to address regarding bowls in Hampton & Teddington Area. However, NPL Sports Club identifies continuing decrease in membership. August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 33 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY ID Site Sport Management 6 Broom Road Recreation Ground Cricket Council Football 8 Bushy Park Cricket Club/ Royal Parks Football Royal Parks Rugby 10 Carlisle Park Cricket Council Football 12 Clarendon School 18 Hampton and Richmond Borough FC Hampton Rangers Junior FC Hampton School 19 21 Tennis Football School Football Council Football Council Cricket School Rugby Hampton Sport & Fitness Centre 26 Imperial College (Teddington Sports Ground) AGP Council/ Education Cricket University Football Rugby Recommended actions Standard quality. Twickenham CC rent as home ground. Club has desire for permanent training net facilities. Rented by Hearts of Teddlothians FC predominantly. Club reports demand for additional pitches. Site has genuine spare capacity to three match equivalents. Teddington Town CC lease on an annual basis. Club has desire for permanent non-turf training net facilities. Used by Teddington Athletic. Club reports growing demand for additional pitches Explore option of club securing a long term lease agreement for site. Could help club in securing funding for creation of dedicated training provision. Ensure site quality is maintained. Work with club to fully utilise spare capacity. Explore option of club securing a long term lease. Teddington RFC has licence agreement for use of site. Club notes issues with other site uses (i.e. dog foul/litter). Is seeking installation of drainage on second pitch. Used for friendly matches by Woodlawn CC and as overspill for Hampton Hill CC. Rented by Hearts of Teddlothians FC. Club reports growing demand for additional pitches. Football 22 Current status Four poor quality courts. Adult pitch not currently used but available. Club leases site from LBRuT. Training occurs on dedicated pitch but considered poor due to drainage and maintenance. Club leases site from LBRuT. Standard quality of adult and 9v9 pitches due to uneven surfaces. No club use identified. Old Hamptonians predominantly use. Spare capacity identified in peak time for the four adult pitches marked on site. Used for friendly matches by Teddington RFC Vets. Sand based floodlit AGP. Used predominantly for football training, little hockey usage. Council considering resurfacing with 3G. Used predominantly by Richmond CC. Spare capacity identified. Spare capacity identified in peak time on two adult pitches. No club use identified. Support exploration of club securing a long term lease with a view to creating training facility on site. Alternative option may be to access provision off site. Ensure site quality is maintained. Opportunities to relocate any future growth to sites such as Teddington Sports Ground should be explored. Improve pitch quality and therefore increase capacity through drainage installation. However, recognise this may be difficult given pitches set within Royal Park. Quality should be maintained. Site may help to meet latent demand expressed by Bushy Park Girls CC. Ongoing capacity should be checked. Ensure site quality is maintained. Secured use of Broom Road (site ID 6) should be explored. Explore opportunities for court improvement. Work with the School to explore possibilities of increasing community use. May help to meet club demand and/or some future demand for youth 11v11. Explore opportunities for club to access better training provision within area such as 3G AGP at Hampton Sport & Fitness Centre. Explore ways to increase pitch quality and maintenance. Retain site; may be able help to meet any changes in future demand for cricket. Work with school and interested clubs in site helping to meet future demand for youth 11v11. Site may help to meet any changes in future demand for rugby. Resurfacing to 3G would help meet demands for training. World Rugby compliant surface should be considered as would help meet demands for rugby and football whilst also working towards FA Model. Potential improvements should be explored in order to increase site quality. Explore potential creation and/or re-designation of pitches to meet current demand expressed by clubs and future population demand particularly for youth 11v11 pitches. Potential for site to be used for rugby in the future should be retained as a reserve option. Partners Club, Council, ECB Level/ priority (if high) Club Council Timescales Objective M Protect, Enhance S Protect, Provide M-L Club, ECB, Royal Parks Club M Protect, Enhance Club, Council, Royal Parks Key Centre M-L Enhance, Provide Club, RFU, Royal Parks Club S Enhance Club, Council, ECB Key Centre S Provide S M-L Provide Club, Council Council Council, School Education M M-L Enhance Protect, Provide Club, Council Club M Provide Club, Council Club S Enhance Council, School Education L Provide M-L Protect, Provide L Protect, Provide Protect, Provide, Enhance Council, Education Key Centre (High priority) S Club Strategic (High priority) L Council, FA, RFU, University S S M August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page Protect, Enhance Protect, Provide, Enhance Protect, Provide, Enhance 34 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY ID Site Sport Management 37 NPL Sports Club Bowls Club Cricket Football 58 Teddington Lock Playing Fields AGP University Cricket Football Rugby Union 59 67 Teddington Sports Centre AGP Current status Recommended actions Decreasing membership which club reports is leading to uncertainty in long term. Club reports no issues with current capacity. Overplay on youth 11v11 by 1 match equivalent. Club aspirations for a 3G AGP on site to help meet expanding number of teams. Ensure site quality is maintained. Ensure site quality is maintained. Current overplay considered able to be absorbed by existing site quality. A priority site for the FA as it is a Charter Standard Community Club. If demand continues to grow may need to accommodate additional sites to accommodate increased demand. Ensure site quality is maintained. Sand based floodlit AGP predominantly used by NPL HC and University. Good quality ground used by St Mary’s University. Club use after 2015 uncertain. Changing facilities has no showers. Overplay on three adult pitches by 3.5 match equivalents. Quality should be maintained. Site may help to meet latent demand expressed by Bushy Park Girls CC. Ongoing use/capacity should be checked. Opportunities to relocate some matches to existing sites such as Teddington Sports Ground should be explored. Two pitches of standard quality; currently overplayed. St Marys University home site but also used by Harlequin ARFC teams for training purposes. Council Look to improve pitch quality and therefore increase capacity. Provision of a World Rugby 3G AGP in area would release pressure from training for use of site. Continue to support club/facility arrangement. Addition of floodlights on second pitch should be explored for any growing hockey demand. Two sand based AGPs (one floodlit). Home of Teddington HC. Partners Club Level/ priority (if high) Club Club Club, FA, Royal Parks Timescales Objective L Protect L S Protect Protect, Provide M University L Protect University S Protect, Provide Council, University S-M Protect, Enhance Club, Council, RFU, University S Protect, Enhance, Provide Club, Council Strategic (High priority) M Key Centre S-L L L Protect, Enhance, Provide Football Council Site contains a 5v5 pitch of good quality. Retain for informal use and as strategic reserve. Council Reserve 68 Holly Road Recreation Ground Langdon Park Football Council Provide Cricket Council Reserve/ potential Club Key Centre S The King’s Field Explore reconfiguring 7v7 to youth 11v11 to meet overplay and future demand. Opportunities to improve site quality should be explored. Ongoing capacity should be checked. Support any expansion of changing room provision. Also site ID 80. Ensure site quality is maintained. Work with club to fully utilise spare capacity. Site quality should be maintained. Council 69 Standard quality 7v7 pitch not in use (equivalent to two matches). Poor quality. Hampton Wick CC use as overspill home ground. M Enhance Protect Club, ECB, Royal Parks Club S L L Club, ECB, Royal Parks Club L Protect Club, Council, ECB, Royal Parks Club, Council, RFU Club M Protect, Provide Club S Protect, Enhance, Provide Football Good quality site with variety of pitches; used by Hampton YFC. 77 Bushy Park – Hampton Hill CC Cricket Royal Parks Main home ground for Hampton Hill CC. Secured long term lease. 78 Bushy Park – Teddington CC Cricket Royal Parks Main home ground for Teddington CC. Long term lease secured. Site quality should be maintained. 80 Bushy Park Hampton Wick Royal CC Twickenham RFC Cricket Royal Parks Rugby Union Club (located in LB of Hounslow) Main home ground of Hampton Wick Royal CC. Three practice nets on site considered poor. Club only has a rolling contract for use. Overplay of provision on site from matches and demand for (floodlit) training. Additional floodlighting is being installed in time for 2015 season. Explore option of club securing a long term lease agreement for site. Could help club in securing funding for creation of dedicated training provision. Consideration to relocating some matches to Imperial College should be explored. Provision of a World Rugby 3G AGP could release pressure for match use on site and free other sites for different uses (i.e. football at Imperial College). Explore opportunities for greater club uses to meet overplay or youth 11v11 demand. Ways to increase pitch quality should also be explored: as well as consideration to long term lease. 85 89 Hampton Common August 2015 Football Council Standard quality with spare capacity of two match equivalents. Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page Club, Council Protect Protect L Council Potential Club M Protect, Enhance 35 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY RICHMOND AREA Football Summary of pitches required to meet current and future demand Analysis area Actual spare 8 capacity Demand (match equivalent sessions) Overplay Latent Current Future Total demand total demand +7 12 1.5 +5.5 1.5 +6 6 0 Adult pitches Youth pitches 11v11 8 - Youth pitches 9v9 6 1 - -5 7 +2 Mini pitches 7v7 - - 1 +1 2.5 +3.5 Mini pitches 5v5 4 - - -4 2.5 -1.5 There is a current and future shortfall for adult pitches. Current shortfall is of 5.5 match equivalents (equal to three pitches). In the future demand is further noted with a shortfall of 7 match equivalents (equal to four pitches) Furthermore, there is a future shortfall for nearly all other pitch types with the exception of mini 5v5. For youth 11v11 the shortfall is 6 match equivalents (equal to three pitches), youth 9v9 its 2 match equivalents (equal to one pitch) and at mini 7v7 the future shortfall is 3.5 match equivalents (equal to two pitches). Overplay of 9v9 pitches can be satisfied by improving quality. Similarly so can future demand for mini 7v7. Overplay on adult pitches (Barn Elms, King Georges, North Sheen Rec) can be addressed through a combination of relocating some matches (e.g. North Sheen Rec) and improving/ensuring quality (e.g. King Georges, Barn Elms) through ensuring evenness of surfaces and sufficient maintenance regimes. Future demand for Youth 11v11 may need to be met by sites outside of analysis area such as Orleans Park School in Twickenham. Poor changing facilities at King Georges and Old Deer Park Cricket Actual spare capacity (pitches) 2 Overplay - Demand (pitches) Latent demand Future demand - Total -2 Spare capacity should be retained in order to accommodate any future changes for cricket in Richmond Analysis Area and aggregated forms of future demand (equivalent to one pitch) across LBRuT. Current provision should be retained to its existing quality as a minimum. Clubs such as Barnes CC, Kew CC and Ham & Petersham CC highlight desire for better dedicated training facilities. Difference in management and club direction is highlighted at Barnes CC and its umbrella organisation at Barnes Sports Club. 8 In match equivalent sessions August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 36 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Rugby union Actual spare 9 capacity Overplay 5 3.5 Demand (match equivalent sessions) Current Latent Future demand demand demand 1 4 -1.5 Total 3.5 Spare capacity is able to accommodate current overplay. However, latent demand expressed and future demand results in a potential future shortfall. Overplay could be satisfied by improving pitch quality at sites currently overplayed such as Christ’s School, Old Deer Park Partnership and Richmond Athletic Ground. Training on match pitches (Old Deer Park Partnership) and need for greater off site training (Richmond Athletic) should be a priority for area. Resolving demand for training may also help to free some capacity of match pitches in order to meet future demand. Richmond RFC and London Scottish RFC have ambitions to improve ancillary facilities (including changing accommodation) at Richmond Athletic Ground. Hockey One full size sand based AGPs in the area at Sheen Sports & Fitness Centre should be retained. Used for competitive hockey by Barnes HC. 3G pitches Based on the FA model there is a need for three full size 3G pitches in the Area. Currently no forms of provision exist. Potential for any future new provision in analysis area is limited. However, potential resurfacing of sand based AGP to 3G at Hampton Sport & Fitness Centre (in Hampton & Teddington Analysis Area). In addition to the potential of creating new AGP provision at two sites in Twickenham would help meet need for training. World Rugby compliant surfaces should be considered as could help to meet demand for rugby as well as football training in wider LBRuT. Tennis Only one court, located at Palewell Common, is assessed as poor quality. Courts at Old Deer Park are a main focus of provision for WtW. Bowls Total of five bowling greens within analysis area. Includes disused green at Barnes Sports Club which cricket club is interested in using as training provision. No significant issues to address regarding bowls in Richmond Area. 9 In match equivalent sessions August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 37 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY ID Site Sport Management Current status Recommended actions Partners 1 Barn Elms Playing Fields Cricket Trust Good quality ground; currently used as second site by Barnes CC. Five adult pitches on site are overplayed by 3.5 match equivalents. BEST cite desire to provide additional changing facilities in order to allow greater use for play. Council, Trust Used by Barnes Common CC. Spare capacity highlighted. Main home ground for Barnes CC. Club is looking at potential to create training facility on abandoned bowling green on site. Ensure maximum usage of site by clubs. Ongoing capacity should be checked. Quality should be maintained as current amount of overplay appears to be able to be absorbed by quality and maintenance of existing provision. Additional changing facilities should only be considered if pitches can accommodate matches. Site quality should be retained. May help to meet latent demand expressed by clubs. Quality of site should be maintained in order to help meet overplay. Site may also help meet any increases in curriculum use from Barnes Primary School. Site quality and spare capacity should be retained in order to meet any future changes in demand. Opportunity to provide dedicated training provision should be encouraged as long as long term use of facility for cricket club can be secured. Richmond CC has established a wicket on site for use in 2016. Wicket is in place and ready for use in 2016. Club will undertake future maintenance. Football A standard adult pitch. No community use; school considers at capacity due to curriculum use. Work with school to explore opportunities to improve pitch quality and therefore increase capacity. Rugby Poor quality senior pitch used by London Welsh RFC and for curriculum use. A standard adult pitch. No community use; school considers at capacity due to curriculum use. Standard senior pitch available but not in use. Standard quality ground. Club rents from Crown Estates. Club has desire for permanent training net facilities. Two standard quality adult pitches. Overplayed in terms of capacity. Site also has pitches for each smaller sided format of game. Work with school to explore opportunities to improve pitch quality and therefore increase capacity. Work with school to explore opportunities to improve pitch quality and therefore increase capacity to help meet future demand. Long term lease agreement with club may help. Used by Richmond CC juniors. Teams will relocate to Christ’s school in 2016. Standard quality adult pitch. Played at capacity. Overplayed by three match equivalents. Changing facilities viewed as dated. Football Rugby 3 Barnes Common 1 Football Council 4 Barnes Common 2 Cricket Council 5 Barnes Sports Club Bowls Private Cricket 11 Christ’s School Cricket School 15 Grey Court School Football School 27 Kew Cricket Club Rugby Cricket Club 28 Kew & Ham Sports Association Football Trust 91 King Georges Field Cricket Council Football 36 North Sheen Recreation Ground August 2015 Football Council Two good quality senior pitches. Spare capacity on Sunday PM identified. Adult pitch of good quality. Leased by Fulham Compton FC. Spare capacity identified. Site contains one good quality adult pitch and a 5v5 pitch. Also 2x 9v9 and 2x 7v7 pitches of standard quality. Adult and 9v9 are overplayed. Leased to Kew Park Rangers FC Level/ priority (if high) Strategic (High priority) Objective M Protect, Provide Protect, Enhance, Provide S L Council Club L Protect L Protect L Council Club/ Reserve L Protect Club, ECB Club M Protect, Provide Club, Council, School Education/ Club S Protect, Enhance, Provide M L Council, School Education/ Club Explore option of club securing a long term lease agreement for site. Could help club in securing funding for creation of dedicated training provision. Quality should look to be improved to increase capacity and further reduce impact of overplay. Club, Crown Estates Trust Club Site should be retained in order to meet any future changes in demand for cricket. Quality should look to be improved to increase capacity and prevent overplay. Consider relocating single team clubs to sites such as Old Deer Park to reduce overplay. Long term site may help meet any increases in curriculum use from Russell and Meadlands Primary Schools. Monitor condition of changing facilities. Consider option of relocating some matches for instance to Sheen Common (ID 49) to resolve overplay. Look to improve quality of 9v9 pitches to rectify overplay. Club Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page Timescales S-M L M Protect, Enhance, Provide Protect, Enhance Club (High priority) S Protect, Enhance, Club (High priority) M Protect S Protect, Enhance, Provide Club, Council M L L Club, Council Club (High priority) S S Protect, Enhance, Provide 38 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY ID Site Sport Management 38 Old Deer Park Cricket Council Football Rugby 39 Old Deer Park Partnership Tennis Cricket Club Rugby 44 Palewell Common Cricket Council Football 45 Richmond Athletic Ground 46 Richmond Park 48 Rocks Lane Multi Sports Centre Sheen Common 49 Tennis Rugby Shene Sports & Fitness Centre 57 St Richards with St Andrews Primary School August 2015 Recommended actions Poor quality ground with turf and non-turf wickets. Usage is only identified on non-turf wicket. Spare capacity noted but quality of pitch & changing facilities considered to be deterring clubs Two good quality adult pitches with spare capacity identified. Consists of two standard quality senior pitches. Changing facilities also viewed as poor. Site quality needs to be to an improved standard. Key site for tennis in area. Total of 11 courts. Richmond CC has a lease until 2016. Club in process of extending agreement. Site also used by Middlesex County Cricket. Two standard quality senior pitches and a midi. Home of London Welsh RFC. Senior pitches overplayed. Good quality ground used as second site by Sheen Park CC. Club is looking to establish a second pitch on site. Site contains 3x adult, 1x 9v9 and 4x 7v7 pitches. Good quality. Rented by Sheen Lions FC. Four courts on site; one is poor condition. 6x standard quality senior pitches plus a dedicated floodlit training pitch. Overplay occurs; training pitch is used particularly heavily. Demand for further floodlit training facility is likely to grow. Clubs have ambitions to improve ancillary facilities Rugby Royal Parks AGP Private Cricket Council Football 50 Current status Four standard quality pitches used by junior and mini teams from Rosslyn Park RFC. 3x 5v5 3G floodlit AGP Home ground of Sheen Park CC. At capacity. Changing facilities on site viewed as poor. Standard adult pitch not in use but available. Partners Club, Council Level/ priority (if high) Strategic (High priority) Timescales Objective S Protect, Enhance, Provide Clubs at site with overplay should be encouraged to relocate to pitches. May also help meet any increases in curriculum use from Richmond Bridge Primary School. S Opportunities to improve the quality of changing facilities on site should be explored. This may increase clubs willingness to use the site. Site quality should be maintained to a good standard. Long term lease agreement for club should be supported; this may help in securing future funding opportunities. M Relocating training off match pitches will help reduce overplay. Explore opportunities to improve quality of pitches to address overplay. Site quality should be maintained. Creation of second pitch on site should be encouraged. Explore option of club securing a long term lease agreement for site. Spare capacity should be retained to accommodate future demand from population growth. Site quality should be maintained to a good standard. Opportunities to improve pitch quality should be explored as this will help to address overplay. Need for additional floodlit training provision is needed and could also help alleviate pressure on match pitches. Any plans should be in context of capacity of pitches. Site quality should be maintained. Club Club L S Club, RFU Club S Council Club Club, Council S M Protect M Protect, Enhance L Key Centre (High priority) Royal Parks Private Work with club about exploring options of improving carrying capacity and changing facilities. Explore option of relocating some matches from North Sheen Rec (ID 36) in order to address issues of overplay. Quality should look to be improved if possible. Club, Council Club, Council M S M Protect, Enhance, Provide Club L Protect Club L Protect Club (High priority) M Protect, Enhance, Provide S AGP Council Full sized sand dressed AGP with floodlights. Used by Barnes HC. Monitor need to upgrade surface in 2-3 years based on annual investigations. Council Key Centre M S Football School Site has an unused poor quality mini 7v7 pitch. Retain site as reserve. May help to meet future demand if quality can be improved. Council Reserve L Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page Protect, Enhance M Council Club, Council, RFU No action required. Protect Protect, Enhance Protect 39 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY ID Site Sport Management 72 Ham Common Cricket Council 73 Richmond Green Cricket Council 76 Suffolk Recreation Ground Cricket Council Current status Recommended actions Partners Leased by Ham & Petersham CC. Club has demand for non-turf practice wicket. Establishing a long term lease agreement may assist club in exploring options of developing dedicated training wicket. Site may also help meet any increases in curriculum use from Russell and Meadlands Primary Schools. Quality of site should be retained. Spare capacity could help meet any future changes in demand for cricket. Retain site as reserve. Explore potential for site to be marked out with adult pitch and/or 7v7 to meet demand in future. Club, Council, ECB Standard quality turf wicket site used by single team clubs. Non-turf artificial wicket used by Barnes CC. Club interested in long term lease for site. Level/ priority (if high) Club Timescales Objective M Protect, Enhance L Council Club/ Reserve L Protect Council Reserve S Protect, Provide Barn Elms PF 2 Cricket Trust Standard quality ground with non-turf and turf wickets. Used by Barnes CC, schools and LMS. Ensure site quality is maintained. 82 Barn Elms PF (nonturf) Cricket Trust Ensure site quality is maintained. L Protect 83 Barn Elms PF 4 (non-turf) Cricket Trust Good quality standalone non-turf wicket. Limited adult use due to boundary size but accommodates school usage. Spare capacity noted. A standalone non-turf wicket of good quality. Accommodates LMS and school use. Spare capacity noted. Ensure site quality is maintained. Should be able to accommodate any future expansion of LMS. M Protect, Provide Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page Strategic (High priority) Protect 81 August 2015 Trust L L 40 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY TWICKENHAM AREA Football Summary of pitches required to meet current and future demand Analysis area Actual spare 10 capacity Demand (match equivalent sessions) Overplay Latent Current Future Total demand total demand -9 0.5 0.5 -9 +1 1 0 Adult pitches Youth pitches 11v11 10 - Youth pitches 9v9 3 1 - -2 1.5 -0.5 Mini pitches 7v7 1 - 1 0 0.5 +0.5 Mini pitches 5v5 2 - - -2 - -2 Current and future demand is being met on all pitch types with the exception of youth 11v11 and mini 7v7 pitches. There is actual spare capacity on most other forms of provision in particular adult pitches. This should be retained in order to accommodate current overplay and future demand. May also help meet shortfalls across LBRuT but particularly future demand from other analysis areas such as Richmond. Prominent clubs in the analysis area such as Twickenham Tigers FC express demand for additional training provision. Poor quality changing facilities at Heathfield Recreation Ground deter site usage. Scenario – Exclusion of Orleans Park School and Richmond upon Thames College: To reflect any uncertainty over availability and genuine spare capacity scenario does not include the pitches located at Orleans Park School (two adult pitches not in use) or single adult pitch at Richmond upon Thames College (accounts for 2.5 match equivalent sessions of which 0.5 was attributed to overplay. Play taking place at site has been included in the displaced column. Analysis area Adult pitches Youth pitches 11v11 Actual Demand (match equivalent sessions) spare Overplay Displaced Latent Current Future Total 11 capacity demand total demand -3 6 2.5 0.5 -3 +1 1 0 Youth pitches 9v9 3 1 - - -2 1.5 -0.5 Mini pitches 7v7 1 - - 1 0 0.5 +0.5 Mini pitches 5v5 2 - - - -2 - -2 Current and future demand can still be met on all pitch types with the exception of youth 11v11 and mini 7v7 pitches. However, spare capacity should still be retained, as strategic reserve, in order to accommodate future demand as well as shortfalls from across LBRuT; particularly from Richmond analysis area. Therefore both scenario sites should be retained. 10 11 In match equivalent sessions In match equivalent sessions August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 41 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Cricket Actual spare capacity (pitches) - Overplay - Demand (pitches) Latent demand Future demand - Total - No spare capacity or overplay is identified for cricket in Twickenham Analysis Area. Current provision should be retained to its existing quality as a minimum. Twickenham CC highlights desire for better dedicated training facilities. Rugby union Actual spare 12 capacity Overplay 12 - Demand (match equivalent sessions) Current Latent Future demand demand demand -12 Total -12 No current overplay or expressed latent and future demand is identified. Spare capacity should be retained in order to meet shortfalls in the Richmond Analysis Area and/or as strategic reserve (including for other sports such as football). However, scenario testing shows that due to spare capacity at Richmond upon Thames College, one rugby pitch at the site could be converted to a rugby compliant AGP to better meet training demand. Scenario – Exclusion of Orleans Park School and Richmond upon Thames College: Scenario does not include the pitches located at Orleans Park School (three pitches) and Richmond upon Thames College (one pitch) to reflect any uncertainty over availability and genuine spare capacity for rugby. Actual spare capacity Overplay 4 - Demand (match equivalent sessions) Current Latent Future demand demand demand -4 - Total -4 Highlights that some spare capacity is still available in a worst case scenario. Whilst scenario testing demonstrates some spare capacity within the Twickenham area, it is recommended that provision at Orleans Park School and Richmond upon Thames College are retained as strategic reserve for the whole of the LBRuT. There is also a need to retain spare capacity at sites with a view to the impact of the Rugby World Cup 2015. Opportunity for the rugby pitch at Richmond upon Thames College to be replaced by a rugby compliant AGP (as part of College redevelopment and expansion). Football pitch on site should be retained. Replacement of rugby pitch (currently not used by clubs) with a rugby compliant AGP could importantly help to meet some demand for additional training facilities across LBRuT. 12 In match equivalent sessions August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 42 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Hockey No hockey clubs based in analysis area; in addition the two AGPs in the area not being ideally suitable for hockey use. Two AGPs; Orleans Park School is narrow and not suitable for competitive hockey use and Whitton Sports & Fitness Centre has 3G surface. 3G pitches Based on the FA model. There is a need for one full size 3G pitches in the Area. This is being met by Whitton Sports & Fitness Centre. Opportunity to provide further AGP provision at Richmond upon Thames College and St Richard Reynolds Catholic College; both should be explored to meet wider LBRuT need and demand particularly for training purposes. Tennis There are six courts across two sites assessed as poor quality; Moormead Recreation Ground and Whitton Park Sports Association. Moormead Recreation Ground contains four poor quality courts. Site is council owned and highlighted as a focus site for Will to Win (WtW). Bowls No issues to address regarding bowls in Twickenham Analysis Area. August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 43 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY ID Site 24 Heathfield Recreation Ground 29 32 Kneller Gardens Marble Hill Park Sport Management Football Council Football Tennis Cricket Council English Heritage Football Moormead Recreation Ground 43 Orleans Park School St Marys University 62 The Royal Military School of Music Twickenham Cricket Club 64 August 2015 Partners Consider options for improving site quality, including changing facilities. If quality cannot be improved retain as reserve site. Long term exploration of a long term lease for a club should be given. Pitch quality should look to be improved. Explore option of club securing a long term lease agreement for site. Could help club in securing funding for improving pitch quality. Explore opportunities for court improvement. Quality should be maintained. Site may help to meet any growth in demand expressed by LMS. Council Ensure site quality is maintained. Explore option of converting adult pitch to Youth 11v11 to meet demand. Retain site and quality should be maintained. Opportunities to improve changing facilities may need to be explored if demand for football or rugby grows. Club, Council Council Council, ECB, English Heritage Council, English Heritage Council Council AGP Council Limited community use as facility is narrow with no floodlights. Site has one non-turf wicket; no community use. Two good quality adult pitches not currently in use due to recent management change. Three standard quality pitches; two of which hare over marked with football. Adult pitch of standard quality. Overplayed by 0.5 match equivalents. Site is due to undergo major redevelopment and expansion with addition of a school. Creation of an AGP has been suggested. Standard senior pitch with no community use. Site should be retained as reserve. Narrow width of facility means floodlighting is not a priority. Work with school to explore opportunities to establish community use in the future. Could specifically help to meet future demand for Youth 11v11 pitches from Richmond Analysis Area and any increases in curriculum use from St Marys CoE Primary School. Council Explore ways to increase pitch quality and therefore capacity of football pitch to resolve overplay. Expansion of educational element of site will create more demand and use of existing provision. In addition, along with scenario testing, there is therefore a need to retain provision. Furthermore, opportunities to replace rugby pitch with a floodlit rugby compliant AGP on site should be considered. Would help meet curriculum demand (including nearby primary schools) as well as wider community use. Site quality should be maintained. Council Rugby University Football School Cricket Club Good quality senior pitch including training area. Used by University and Harlequins ARFC. Standard quality adult pitch. Minimal spare capacity. Good quality. Twickenham CC rent as home ground from LBRuT. Club has desire for permanent training net facilities. Site quality should be maintained. Explore option of club securing a long term lease agreement for site. Could help club in securing funding for creation of dedicated training provision. Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page Objective S Protect, Enhance, Provide potential Club S Protect, Enhance Key Centre (High priority) M L Protect, Enhance, Provide S M-L S Retain site as reserve in order to meet future demand. Explore opportunities for court improvement. Consider long term lease agreement with operator. College Timescales M Mini 7v7 pitch not currently used but available. Four poor quality courts located on site. Football Level/ priority (if high) Reserve M-L Council Rugby 55 Contains four average quality courts. Standard quality non-turf wicket. Used by LMS. Recommended actions Football Tennis Rugby Richmond upon Thames College Standard quality 9v9. Rented by Teddington Tigers FC. Overplayed by one match equivalent. Two standard quality senior pitches. Spare capacity noted. Changing facilities poor. Cricket Football 47 Not currently in use. Single adult pitch viewed as poor quality due to informal use. Changing facilities on site also poor. Four adult pitches and a Youth 9v9 of standard quality. Spare capacity highlighted. Rugby 34 Current status Reserve (High priority) Education/ Reserve L L S-M S L Education S Protect Enhance Protect, Enhance, Provide M Protect, Enhance, Provide Council, University Education L Protect Council, School Club, Council Education L Protect Club M Protect, Enhance 44 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY ID Site 66 Whitton Sports & Fitness Centre 70 81 82 90 New Whitton Park Sports Association Cambridge Gardens York House Gardens Chase Bridge Primary School St Richard Reynolds Catholic College August 2015 Sport Management AGP Football Council Cricket Trust Current status Recommended actions Full size floodlit 3G AGP. Well used; minimal spare usage available. Adult pitch of good quality. Minimal spare capacity identified. Home of Chiswick & Whitton CC. Standard quality. Football Youth 9v9 and two mini pitches on site. Rugby Union Tennis Council Two senior pitches of standard quality; over marked with football. Spare capacity identified. Four courts on site of average condition. Tennis Council Football AGP Partners Ensure site quality is maintained. Council Site quality should be maintained. Club, Trust Level/ priority (if high) Key Centre (High priority) Timescales Objective L Protect Club L Protect Provision should be retained in order to meet any future changes in demand. Site quality should be maintained. L L Quality should look to be maintained to a good standard. Council - L Four courts on site of average condition. Quality should look to be maintained to a good standard. Council - L Council Youth 9v9 pitch of poor quality with no community use but is available. Council Education L School Relatively new school with new Years being introduced annually. Will create more demand and school has suggested future creation of an AGP. Retain site as reserve in order to meet any future demand. Work with school to establish community use if required whilst exploring ways of improving quality. Consideration to the requirement of a floodlit AGP on site is needed. Would help meet curriculum need as well as growing demand for additional training facilities across LBRuT (particularly for rugby). Council, FA, RFU School Education M-L Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page Protect, Enhance, Protect, Enhance, Protect, Provide Protect, Enhance, Provide 45 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY PART 8: CONCLUSION Overall the current stock of playing pitch and ancillary facility provision in the LBRuT is to a good standard. In most instances there is a sufficient amount of provision to an acceptable level of quality in order to meet current demand and, at the time of writing, predicted future demand. However, some examples and actions are required to help address certain trends and site specific issues. One of the common themes across all sports is the need for greater access to floodlit training facilities. Training is a key factor for many clubs. A lack of access to such provision can impact on the development and practices of clubs as well as the participation of individuals to sports. Within the area there are also a number of sites currently underused which offer potential opportunities for greater usage if, for example, concerns regarding pitch or ancillary facility quality can be addressed. Such sites can also help to address any instances of overplay at other sites identified in the borough as well as meeting instances of future demand. Cases of spare capacity are needed to be retained in order, for example, to meet future demand and demand from other analysis areas. Therefore the key message from this strategy and action plan is for current levels of pitch provision (grass and artificial) to be protected, maintained and enhanced to ensure a sufficient level of pitch and ancillary facilities both in terms of quality, capacity and accessibility. August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 46 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY PART 9: DELIVER THE STRATEGY AND KEEP IT ROBUST AND UP TO DATE Delivery The Playing Pitch Strategy seeks to provide guidance for maintenance/management decisions and investment made across the borough. By addressing the issues identified in the Assessment Report and using the strategic framework presented in this Strategy, the current and future sporting and recreational needs of th borough can be satisfied. The Strategy identifies where there is a deficiency in provision and identifies how best to resolve this in the future. It is important that this document is used in a practical manner, is engaged with partners and encourages partnerships to be developed, to ensure that outdoor sports facilities are regarded as a vital aspect of community life and which contribute to the achievement of Council priorities. The production of this Strategy should be regarded as the beginning of the process. The success of this Strategy and the benefits that are gained are dependent upon regular engagement between all partners involved and the adoption of a strategic approach. Members of the steering group should take the lead to ensure the PPS is used and applied appropriately within their area of work and influence. The role of the steering group should not end with the completion of the PPS document. In addition to this new partnerships should be formed. It would be beneficial to approach education colleagues and look to set up dialogue for delivery of key education actions such as access to schools and universities. To help ensure the PPS is well used it should be regarded as the key document within the study area guiding the improvement and protection of playing pitch provision. It needs to be the document people regularly turn to for information on how the current demand is met and what actions are required to improve the situation and meet future demand. In order for this to be achieved the steering group need to have a clear understanding of how the PPS can be applied and therefore delivered. Key uses for the PPS include evidence for supporting funding bids, guidance to inform planning decisions and planning applications and decision making for capital investment. The process of developing the PPS will hopefully have already resulted in a number of benefits that will help with its application and delivery. These may include enhanced partnership working across different agendas and organisations, pooling of resources along with strengthening relationships and understanding between different stakeholders and between members of the steering group and the sporting community. The drivers behind the PPS and the work to develop the recommendations and action plan will have also highlighted, and helped the steering group to understand, the key areas to which it can be applied and how it can be delivered. August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 47 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Monitoring and updating It is important that there is regular annual monitoring and review against the actions identified in the Strategy. This monitoring should be led by the local authority and supported by all members of, and reported back to, the steering group. Understanding and learning lessons from how the PPS has been applied should also form a key component of monitoring its delivery. This should form an on-going role of the steering group. It is possible that in the interim between annual reviews the steering group could operate as a ‘virtual’ group; prepared to comment on suggestions and updates electronically when relevant. It is agreed that the Council will be responsible for keeping the database and background supply and demand information up to date in order that area by area action plans can also be updated. Partnership working is essential in enabling the Council to keep the supply and demand data up to date. This should be carried out in consultation with the NGBs, particularly around affiliation time when information is updated. As a guide, if no review and subsequent update has been carried out within three years of the PPS being signed off by the steering group, then Sport England and the NGBs would consider the PPS and the information on which it is based to be out of date. The nature of the supply and in particular the demand for playing pitches is likely to have changed over the three years. Therefore, without any form of review and update within this time period it would be difficult to make the case that the supply and demand information and assessment work is sufficiently robust. Ideally the PPS could be reviewed on an annual basis from the date it is formally signed off by the steering group. This will help to maintain the momentum and commitment that has been built up when developing the PPS. Taking into account the time to develop the PPS this should also help to ensure that the original supply and demand information is no more than two years old without being reviewed. An annual review should not be regarded as a particularly resource intensive task. However, it should highlight: How the delivery of the recommendations and action plan has progressed and any changes required to the priority afforded to each action (e.g. the priority of some may increase following the delivery of others) How the PPS has been applied and the lessons learnt Any changes to particularly important sites and/or clubs in the area (e.g. the most used or high quality sites for a particular sport) and other supply and demand information, what this may mean for the overall assessment work and the key findings and issues Any development of a specific sport or particular format of a sport Any new or emerging issues and opportunities. Once the PPS is complete the role of the steering group should evolve so that it: Acts as a focal point for promoting the value and importance of the PPS and playing pitch provision in the area Monitors, evaluates and reviews progress with the delivery of the recommendations and action plan Shares lessons learnt from how the PPS has been used and how it has been applied to a variety of circumstances August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 48 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Ensures the PPS is used effectively to input into any new opportunities to secure improved provision and influence relevant programmes and initiatives Maintains links between all relevant parties with an interest in playing pitch provision in the area; Reviews the need to update the PPS along with the supply and demand information and assessment work on which it is based. Further to review the group should either: Provide a short annual progress and update paper; Provide a partial review focussing on particular sport, pitch type and/or sub area; or Lead a full review and update of the PPS document (including the supply and demand information and assessment details). Alongside regular steering group meetings a good way to keep the strategy up to date and maintain relationships may be to hold annual sport specific meetings with the pitch sport NGBs and other relevant parties. These meetings could look to update the key supply and demand information, if necessary amend the assessment work, track progress with implementing the recommendations and action plan and highlight any new issues and opportunities. These meetings could be timed to fit with the annual affiliation process undertaken by the NGBs which would help to capture any changes in the number and nature of sports clubs in the area. Other information that is already collected on a regular basis such as pitch booking records for local authority and other sites could be fed into these meetings. The NGBs will also be able to indicate any further performance quality assessments that have been undertaken within the study area. Discussion with the league secretaries may also indicate annual league meetings which it may be useful to attend to pick up any specific issues and/or enable a review of the relevant club details to be undertaken. The steering group should regularly review and refresh area by area plans taking account of any improvements in pitch quality (and hence increases in pitch capacity) and also any new negotiations for community use of education sites in the future. It is important that the Council maintains the data contained with the accompanying Playing Pitch Database. This will enable it to refresh and update area by area plans on a regular basis. The accompanying databases are intended to be refreshed on a season by season basis and it is important that there is cross-departmental working, including for example, grounds maintenance and sports development departments, to ensure that this is achieved and that results are used to inform subsequent annual sports facility development plans. Results should be shared with partners via a consultative mechanism. August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 49 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Checklist To help ensure the PPS is delivered and is kept robust and up to date, the steering group can refer to the new methodology Stage E Checklist: Deliver the strategy and keep it robust and up to date: http://www.sportengland.org/facilities-planning/planning-for-sport/planning-tools-andguidance/playing-pitch-strategy-guidance/ Tick Stage E: Deliver the strategy and keep it robust and up to date Yes Requires Attention Step 9: Apply & deliver the strategy 1. Are steering group members clear on how the PPS can be applied across a range of relevant areas? 2. Is each member of the steering group committed to taking the lead to help ensure the PPS is used and applied appropriately within their area of work and influence? 3. Has a process been put in place to ensure regular monitoring of how the recommendations and action plan are being delivered and the PPS is being applied? Step 10: Keep the strategy robust & up to date 1. Has a process been put in place to ensure the PPS is kept robust and up to date? 2. Does the process involve an annual update of the PPS? 3. Is the steering group to be maintained and is it clear of its on-going role? 4. Is regular liaison with the NGBs and other parties planned? 5. Has all the supply and demand information been collated and presented in a format (i.e. single document that can be filtered accordingly) that will help people to review it and highlight any changes? 6. Have any changes made to the Active Places Power data been fed back to Sport England? August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 50 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY APPENDIX ONE: SITE LOCATIONS Football August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 51 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Cricket August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 52 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Rugby August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 53 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY AGPs August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 54 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Tennis August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 55 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Bowls August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 56 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY APPENDIX TWO: STRATEGIC CONTEXT The recommendations within this Strategy have been developed via the combination of information gathered during consultation, site visits and analysis. They reflect key areas to be addressed over its lifetime. However, implementation must be considered in the context of financial implications and the need for some proposals to also meet planning considerations. National context The provision of high quality and accessible community outdoor sports facilities at a local level is a key requirement for achieving the targets set out by the Government and Sport England. It is vital that this strategy is cognisant of and works towards these targets in addition to local priorities and plans. Sport England: A Sporting Habit for Life (2012-2017) In 2017, five years after the Olympic Games, Sport England aspires to transforming sport in England so that it is a habit for life for more people and a regular choice for the majority. Launched in January 2012 the strategy sets out how Sport England will invest over one billion pounds of National Lottery and Exchequer funding during the five year plan period. The investment will be used to create a lasting community sport legacy by growing sports participation at the grassroots level following the 2012 London Olympics. The strategy will: See more people starting and keeping a sporting habit for life Create more opportunities for young people Nurture and develop talent Provide the right facilities in the right places Support local authorities and unlock local funding Ensure real opportunities for communities The vision is for England to be a world leading sporting nation where many more people choose to play sport. There are five strategic themes including: Maximise value from current NGB investment Places, People, Play Strategic direction and market intelligence Set criteria and support system for NGB 2013-17 investment Market development The aim by 2017 is to ensure that playing sport is a lifelong habit for more people and a regular choice for the majority. A specific target is to increase the number of 14 to 25 year olds playing sport. To accomplish these aims the strategy sets out a number of outcomes: 4,000 secondary schools in England will be offered a community sport club on its site with a direct link to one or more NGBs, depending on the local clubs in a school’s area. County sports partnerships will be given new resources to create effective links locally between schools and sport in the community. All secondary schools that wish to do so, will be supported to open up, or keep open, their sports facilities for local community use and at least a third of these will receive additional funding to make this happen. At least 150 further educational colleagues will benefit from a full time sports professional who will act as a College Sport Maker. August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 57 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Three quarters of university students aged 18-24 will get the chance to take up a new sport or continue playing a sport they played at school or college. A thousand of our most disadvantaged local communities will get a Door Step Club. Two thousand young people on the margins of society will be supported by the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust into sport and to gain new life skills. Building on the success of the Places People Play, a further £100 million will be invested in facilities for the most popular sports. A minimum of 30 sports will have enhanced England Talent Pathways to ensure young people and others fulfil their potential. National Planning Policy Framework The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out planning policies for England. It details how these changes are expected to be applied to the planning system. It also provides a framework for local people and their councils to produce distinct local and neighbourhood plans, reflecting the needs and priorities of local communities. The NPPF states the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. It identifies that the planning system needs to focus on three themes of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental. A presumption in favour of sustainable development is a key aspect for any plan-making and decision-taking processes. In relation to plan-making the NPPF sets out that Local Plans should meet objectively assessed needs. Under paragraph 73 of the NPPF, it is set out that planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the needs for open space, sports and recreation facilities and opportunities for new provision. Specific needs and quantitative and qualitative deficiencies and surpluses in local areas should also be identified. This information should be used to inform what provision is required in an area. As a prerequisite paragraph 74 of the NPPF states existing open space, sports and recreation sites, including playing fields, should not be built on unless: An assessment has been undertaken, which has clearly shown that the open space, buildings or land is surplus to requirements. The loss resulting from the proposed development would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location. The development is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the needs for which clearly outweigh the loss. In order for planning policies to be ‘sound’ local authorities are required to carry out a robust assessment of need for open space, sport and recreation facilities. The FA National Game Strategy (2011 – 2015) The Football Association’s (FA) National Game Strategy provides a strategic framework that sets out key priorities, expenditure proposals and targets for the national game (i.e., football) over a four year period. The main issues facing grassroots football are identified as: Growth and retention (young and adult players) Raising standards and behaviour Better players Running the game August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 58 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Workforce Facilities ‘The National Game Strategy’ reinforces the urgent need to provide affordable, new and improved facilities in schools, clubs and on local authority sites. Over 75% of football is played on public sector facilities. The leisure budgets of most local authorities have been reduced over recent years, resulting in decaying facilities that do not serve the community and act as a disincentive to play football. The loss of playing fields has also been well documented and adds to the pressure on the remaining facilities to cope with the demand, especially in inner city and urban areas. The growth of the commercial sector in developing custom built five-a-side facilities has changed the overall environment. High quality, modern facilities provided by Powerleague, Goals and playfootball.net for example, have added new opportunities to participate and prompted a significant growth in the number of five-a-side teams in recent years. The FA National Facilities Strategy (2013 – 2015) The recently launched National Facilities Strategy sets out the FA’s long term vision for development of facilities to support the National Game. It aims to address and reflect the facility needs of football within the National Game. The National Game is defined as all nonprofessional football from Steps 1-7 of the National League System down to recreational football played on open public space. The role of facilities will be crucial in developing the game in England. One of the biggest issues raised from ‘the Big Grassroots Football Survey’ by that of 84% respondents, was ‘poor facilities’. The FA’s vision for the future of facilities in England is to build, protect and enhance sustainable football facilities to improve the experience of the nation’s favourite game. It aims to do this by: Building - Provide new facilities and pitches in key locations to FA standards in order to sustain existing participation and support new participation. Protecting -Ensure that playing pitches and facilities are protected for the benefit of current and future participants. Enhancing - Invest in existing facilities and pitches, ensuring that participation in the game is sustained as well as expanded. The Strategy commits to delivering in excess of £150m (through Football Foundation) into facility improvements across the National Game in line with identified priorities: Natural grass pitches improved – target: 100 A network of new AGPs built – target 100 A network of refurbished AGPs – target 150 On selected sites, new and improved changing facilities and toilets Continue a small grants programme designed to address modest facility needs of clubs Ongoing support with the purchase and replacement of goalposts It also commits to: Direct other sources of investment into FA facility priorities Communicate priorities for investment across the grassroots game on a regular basis Work closely with Sport England, the Premier League and other partners to ensure that investment is co-ordinated and targeted August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 59 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Champion Counties Strategic Plan 2014 – 2017 The England and Wales Cricket Board unveiled a new strategic plan in 2013 which seeks to deliver successful England teams at all levels, to produce a vibrant domestic game as well as increasing participation during the period 2014-17. It builds on the 2005 plan, Building Partnerships and the subsequent 2009 initiative, Grounds to Play. The plan will take advantage of local partnerships developed in earlier plans and support local delivery of priorities through the County network. It targets operational excellence to make maximum use of scarce resources and facilities during a time of economic austerity. Among the targets set under the four pillars of Effective Governance, Vibrant Domestic Game, Enthusing Participation and Successful England teams, which are relevant to the playing pitch strategy, are: An increase in participation as measured by Sport England’s Active People Survey from 183,400 to 197,500 Expand the number of clubs participating in NatWest CricketForce from 2,000 to 2,200 Increase the number of cricket’s volunteers to 80,000 by 2017 Expand the number of participants in women’s and disabilities cricket by 10% by 2017 To increase the number of TwelfthMan members from 220,000 to 250,000 by 2017 Complete an approved Community Engagement programme with all 18 First Class Counties and MCC For each £1 provided in facility grants through the ‘Sport England Whole Sport Plan Grant Programme’ ensure a multiplier of three with other funding partners Provide a fund of £8.1m of capital investment to enhance floodlights, sightscreens, replay screens, power sub-stations and broadcasting facilities at First Class County venues Provide an interest-free loan fund to community clubs of £10 million Qualify and engage 50 Level 4 coaches to support the development of professional cricketers Expand the number of coaches who have received teacher level 1, 2 or 3 qualifications to 50,000 Provide a fund of £2 million for community clubs to combat the impact of climate change Introduce a youth T20 competition engaging 500 teams by 2017 The following actions executed during the duration of Building Partnerships provide a strong base for this plan. Actions include: Streamlining ECB governance Building participation by more than 20% per annum (as measured through ECB focus clubs and County Cricket Boards) Developing women’s cricket Attracting volunteers Expanding cricket’s spectator base Introducing grants and loans to clubs Developing disabilities cricket This plan therefore influences ‘Grounds to Play’ in the areas of facilities and coaches, which is where ECB investment will be focussed. Partnership funding and support will play a key role in the delivery of actions and maintaining the strength of the pillars. August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 60 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY The Rugby Football Union National Facilities Strategy (2013-2017) The RFU National Facility Strategy 2013-2017 provides a framework for development of high-quality, well-managed facilities that will help to strengthen member clubs and grow the game in communities around them. In conjunction with partners, this strategy will assist and support clubs and other organisations, so that they can continue to provide quality opportunities for all sections of the community to enjoy the game. It sets out the broad facility needs of the sport and identifies investment priorities to the game and its key partners. It identifies that with 1.5 million players there is a continuing need to invest in community club facilities in order to: Create a platform for growth in club rugby participation and membership, especially with a view to exploiting the opportunities afforded by RWC 2015. Ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of rugby clubs, through supporting not only their playing activity but also their capacity to generate revenue through a diverse range of activities and partnerships. In summary the priorities for investment which have met the needs of the game for the Previous period remain valid: Increase the provision of changing rooms and clubhouses that can sustain concurrent adult and junior male and female activity at clubs Improve the quality and quantity of natural turf pitches and floodlighting Increase the provision of artificial grass pitches that deliver wider game development It is also a high priority for the RFU to target investment in the following: Upgrade and transform social, community and catering facilities, which can support the generation of additional revenues Facility upgrades, which result in an increase in energy-efficiency, in order to reduce the running costs of clubs Pitch furniture, including rugby posts and pads, pitch side spectator rails and grounds maintenance equipment England Hockey (EH) - A Nation Where Hockey Matters (2013-2017) EH have a clear vision, a powerful philosophy and five core objectives that all those who have a role in advancing Hockey can unite behind. With UK Sport and Sport England’s investment, and growing commercial revenues, EH are ambitious about how they can take the sport forward in Olympic cycles and beyond. “The vision is for England to be a ‘Nation Where Hockey Matters’. A nation where hockey is talked about at dinner tables, playgrounds and public houses, up and down the country. A nation where the sport is on the back pages of our newspapers, where children dream of scoring a goal for England’s senior hockey team, and where the performance stirs up emotion amongst the many, not the few” England Hockey aspires to deepen the passion of those who play, deliver and follow sport by providing the best possible environments and the best possible experiences. Whilst reaching out to new audiences by making the sport more visible, available and relevant and through the many advocates of hockey. August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 61 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Underpinning all this is the infrastructure which makes the sport function. EH understand the importance of volunteers, coaches, officials, clubs and facilities. The more inspirational people can be, the more progressive Hockey can be and the more befitting the facilities can be, the more EH will achieve. The core objectives are as follows: Grow our Participation Deliver International Success Increase our Visibility Enhance our Infrastructure Be a strong and respected Governing Body England Hockey has a Capital Investment Programme (CIP) that is planned to lever £5.6 million investment into hockey facilities over the next four years, underpinned by £2m million from the National Governing Body. With over 500 pitches due for refurbishment in the next 4-8 years, there will be a large focus placed on these projects through this funding stream. The current level of pitches available for hockey is believed to be sufficient for the medium term needs, however in some areas, pitches may not be in the right places in order to maximize playing opportunities ‘The right pitches in the right places13’ In 2012, EH released its facility guidance which is intended to assist organisations wishing to build or protect hockey pitches for hockey. It identifies that many existing hockey AGPs are nearing the end of their useful life as a result of the installation boom of the 90’s. Significant investment is needed to update the playing stock and protect the sport against inappropriate surfaces for hockey as a result of the rising popularity of AGPs for a number of sports. EH is seeking to invest in, and endorse clubs and hockey providers which have a sound understanding of the following: Single System – clubs and providers which have a good understanding of the Single System and its principles and are appropriately places to support the delivery. ClubsFirst accreditation – clubs with the accreditation are recognised as producing a safe effective and child friendly hockey environment Sustainability – hockey providers and clubs will have an approved development plan in place showing their commitment to developing hockey, retaining members and providing an insight into longer term goals. They will also need to have secured appropriate tenure. 13 http://englandhockey.co.uk/page.asp?section=1143§ionTitle=The+Right+Pitches+in+the+Right+ Places August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 62 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY APPENDIX THREE: FUNDING PLAN Funding opportunities In order to deliver much of the Action Plan it is recognised that external partner funding may need to be sought. Although seeking developer contributions and other local funding schemes could go some way towards meeting deficiencies and/or improving provision, other potential/match sources of funding should be investigated. Below is a list of funding sources that are relevant for community improvement projects involving sports facilities. Awarding body Big Lottery Fund http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/ Sport England : Improvement Fund Sportsmatch Small Grants Protecting Playing Fields Inspired Facilities Strategic Facilities Fund http://www.sportengland.org/funding.aspx http://www.sportengland.org/funding/ourdifferent-funds/strategic-facilities/ Football Foundation http://www.footballfoundation.org.uk/ Rugby Football Foundation - The Grant Match Scheme www.rugbyfootballfoundation.org EU Life Fund http://ec.europa.eu/environment/funding/in tro_en.htm EH Capital Investment Programme (CIP) National Hockey Foundation http://www.thenationalhockeyfoundation.c om/ Community Tennis Fund August 2015 Description Big invests in community groups and to projects that improve health, education and the environment Sport England is keen to marry funding with other organisations that provide financial support to create and strengthen the best sports projects. Applicants are encouraged to maximise the levels of other sources of funding, and projects that secure higher levels of partnership funding are more likely to be successful. This trust provides financial help for football at all levels, from national stadia and FA Premier League clubs down to grass-roots local development. The Grant Match Scheme provides easy-to-access grant funding for playing projects that contribute to the recruitment and retention of community rugby players. Grants are available on a ‘match funding’ 50:50 basis to support a proposed project. Projects eligible for funding include: 1. Pitch Facilities – Playing surface improvement, pitch improvement, rugby posts, floodlights. 2. Club House Facilities – Changing rooms, shower facilities, washroom/lavatory, and measures to facilitate segregation (e.g. women, juniors). 3. Equipment – Large capital equipment, pitch maintenance capital equipment (e.g. mowers). LIFE is the EU’s financial instrument supporting environmental and nature conservation projects throughout the EU. The CIP fund is for the provision of new pitches and resurfacing of old AGPs. It forms part of EH’s 4 year Whole Sport’s Plan. The Foundation primarily makes grants to a wide range of organisations that meet one of our chosen areas of focus: Young people and hockey. Enabling the development of hockey at youth or community level. Smaller Charities. Made up largely of Exchequer Funding, and will be allocated to projects that grow community tennis, i.e. park projects and outreach programmes from clubs Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 63 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Awarding body Club Facility Fund August 2015 Description £3m per annum is available in a Club Facility Fund, £2.25m loan and £750k grant. £1.5m of this is in Easy Access Loan Funding. Once completed applications receive a decision within 4 weeks (NB a completed application is likely to require planning permission and tendered costs). For this, membership levels to be retained as a minimum but expect with most projects, the participation rates will increase.. Clubs can apply for a maximum of £100k but any request has to be match funded 50/50. £1.5m of the Club Facility funding is allocated via fund called Growing the Game and this fund is split £750k grant, £750k loan. For this fund the projects that best demonstrate a robust business plan that will grow participation will be supported. This will be allocated in 2 equal funding rounds, open for 6 weeks April-mid May and Septembermid October. Decisions will be made in May and October. At each funding round The funding for outdoor projects is capped at £150k and the applicant must provide a minimum of 25% partnership funding. Decisions will either be approved, declined or declined but with a suggestion to reapply in the next round. Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 64 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY APPENDIX FOUR: DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICIES A number of Development Management policies are already in place which set out the protection and provision of open space (including playing pitches) and therefore help with compliancy with paragraph 73 and 74 of the NPPF. Spatial Policy CP10 Open Land and Parks as well as Policy DM OS 2, 3 and 8 set out the precedent for the protection of sites. These reference a number of other land designations which relate specifically to existing playing pitch provision. Policy DM OS 2 Metropolitan Open Land The borough’s Metropolitan Open Land will be protected and retained in predominately open use. Appropriate uses include public and private open spaces and playing fields, open recreation and sport, biodiversity including rivers and bodies of water and open community uses including allotments and cemeteries. It will be recognised that there may be exceptional cases where appropriate development such as small scale structures is acceptable, but only if it: 1. Does not harm the character and openness of the metropolitan open land; and 2. Is linked to the functional use of the Metropolitan Open Land or supports outdoor open space uses; or 3. Is for essential utility infrastructure and facilities, for which it needs to be demonstrated that no alternative locations are available and that they do not have any adverse impacts on the character and openness of the metropolitan open land. Improvement and enhancement of the openness and character of the Metropolitan Open Land and measures to reduce visual impacts will be encouraged where appropriate. When considering developments on sites outside Metropolitan Open Land, any possible visual impacts on the character and openness of the Metropolitan Open Land will be taken into account. August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 65 LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY Policy DM OS 3 Other Open Land of Townscape Importance Other open areas that are of townscape importance will be protected and enhanced in open use. It will be recognised that there may be exceptional cases where appropriate development is acceptable. The following criteria must be taken into account when assessing appropriate development: 1. It must be linked to the functional use of the Other Open Land of Townscape Importance; or 2. It can only be a replacement or minor extension of existing built facilities; 3. In addition to 1. or 2., it does not harm the character and openness of the open land. Improvement and enhancement of the openness and character of other open land and measures to open up views into and out of designated other open land will be encouraged where appropriate. When considering developments on sites outside designated other open land, any possible visual impacts on the character and openness of the designated other open land will be taken into account. Policy DM OS 8 Sport and Recreation Facilities Public and private sports grounds including playing fields and recreational areas, courts and greens as well as private open space in recreational use will be protected and enhanced. Owners of private facilities will be encouraged to make them available for public access and use. August 2015 Strategy: Knight Kavanagh & Page 66
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