Ploszajski Lynch Consulting Ltd.

Suffolk Coastal District Council

Built Facilities Assessment

November 2014

CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1

1 INTRODUCTION 9

2 THE SUFFOLK COASTAL CONTEXT 15

3 THE LOCAL STRATEGIC CONTEXT 19

5 THE WIDER STRATEGIC CONTEXT 25

6 BUILTFACILITIES DEMAND 29

7 BUILTFACILITIES SUPPLY 40

8 THE CURRENT SUPPLY-DEMAND BALANCE 72

9 THE FUTURE SUPPLY-DEMAND BALANCE 79

10 PLANNING POLICY CONSIDERATIONS 83

11 ACTION PLAN 85

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The aims of the assessment

1) The aims of the assessment are to:

To identify the built sporting and recreational infrastructure that will be required to serve existing and new development, covering both the demand for and use of existing facilities identifying areas of deficiency or surplus facilities and highlighting priority locations for future provision. To prioritise any funding for sport and recreation from local authority budgets, including from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) or Section 106. To identify the longer term sustainability of facilities, their changing and ancillary features such as car parking and on-going funding and management. To review existing local standards of both provision and accessibility and recommend prioritised solutions in the form of amendments, improvements or continued use of existing standards. To establish the potential for community use of private and educational establishment built sporting facilities.

What the assessment covers

2) The assessment covers the following built facilities in Suffolk Coastal:

Sports halls Swimming pools Health and fitness Indoor tennis Indoor bowls Squash courts Village and community halls

About Suffolk Coastal

3) Population - The current population of Suffolk Coastal is 124,600. Whilst the district as a whole has a relatively aged population structure, there are variations at a local level, with the sub-areas in the south of the district (Kesgrave, Woodbridge and Felixstowe) having a larger proportion of younger people than the northern sub-areas (Framlingham and Leiston).

4) Ethnicity - The ethnicity of 96.6% of the local population is ‘White’ and since national and regional sports participation rates in a predominantly White populations is generally lower than for Black and minority ethnic groups, the demography of Suffolk Coastal should generate below average demand.

5) Disability - An estimated 19% of the local population (around 23,000 people) is affected by some form of disability and therefore ensuring that built facilities have adequate access arrangements, equipment adaptations and activity programmes is an important consideration.

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6) Growth - The Office for National Statistics projections for Suffolk Coastal forecast that the population of the district will be 132,000 by 2027, an increase of 7,400 people, or 5.9% growth. However, the because of demographic trends, the number of people aged 50 or less will fall by 10,500 people, or 18.2%, which will mean enhanced demand for sports favoured by older people.

7) Income - The relatively buoyant local economy will boost the amount of disposable income available for discretionary spending on activities such as sport and should therefore increase demand levels.

8) Health - Good health indices locally underline the importance of ensuring access to built facilities, as part of a wider strategy to get the local population more physically active.

9) Deprivation - Although the deprivation indices for Suffolk Coastal as a whole are much better than the national average, there are some variations at a more local level. Since deprivation is associated with lower rates for participation in sport and physical activity, patterns of demand are likely to vary within the district as a whole.

Meeting local priorities

10) Business Plan - The Council’s Business Plan includes a commitment to promote active and healthy lifestyles and built facilities are an integral means of facilitating this priority.

11) Core Strategy - The Core Strategy contains positive policies on the provision and retention of playing pitches and non-pitch facilities. The ‘Settlement Hierarchy’ provides a framework for identifying levels of provision appropriate to settlements of different sizes.

12) Suffolk Facilities Strategy - The Suffolk Sports Facilities Strategy identifies a number of built facilities deficiencies in Suffolk Coastal, although these will need to be reappraised given the length of time that has elapsed since the assessment was undertaken.

Meeting wider priorities

13) Central Government - National planning policy is supportive of undertaking local assessments of need and the protection of built facilities, which provides helpful context for local planning policies in Suffolk Coastal.

14) Sport England - The target to increase participation rates will drive up demand for built facilities if it is achieved. The emphasis on developing and funding school-community club links will increase the scope for improving the dual use of education facilities.

15) Governing bodies of sport - A number of governing bodies of sport have indentified facilities objectives that could impact upon provision in Suffolk Coastal.

Local demand

16) Participation rates - Based on the ‘Active People’ survey, overall sports participation rates in Suffolk Coastal have increased since 2005/6 and at 39.7% are currently well above the regional (36.0%) and national (36.0%) averages, suggesting that local demand for pitches and non-pitch facilities will be commensurately higher.

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17) Club membership - Sports club membership rates in the district are comparatively high (27.9% compared with the regional (23.7%) and national (22.8%) figures, which underlines the important role played by voluntary sector sports clubs in delivering local opportunities.

18) Market Segmentation - The dominant market segments in Suffolk Coastal are likely to inflate local demand for swimming, health and fitness and bowls facilities.

19) Community consultation - Community consultation in each sub-area identified a number of common themes, in particular the shortage of public transport to access facilities in rural areas and the value of village and community halls in delivering local leisure opportunities.

20) Leisure centre users - 92.6% of respondents to the leisure centre users survey visit at least weekly, with 80.8% travelling for up to 20 minutes to access their favoured facility and 69.2% by car. The majority believe that levels of most types of facility provision locally are currently about right, although 30.8% feel that there are too few indoor tennis centres and 26.9% too few dance studios.

21) Sports club needs - The buoyancy of local sports clubs was emphasised by survey respondents, with more than half experiencing recent increases in membership. A key problem identified by more than 50% of clubs is access to facilities in rural areas. Whilst all can use their favoured facility, 66.7% are unable to get as much time there as they need. Most regard the overall quality of facilities as acceptable, but changing provision is frequently rated as poor.

Local supply

22) Quantity - Per capita levels of provision of sport halls in Suffolk Coastal are comparable with those for its geographic neighbouring authorities. The large halls are supported by a network of village and community halls which provide valuable, local venues. Provision of squash courts is good with only Ipswich of the comparator authorities having a higher level of provision. However, provision for swimming is considerably below these comparators. There is also a comparatively low level of health and fitness clubs. There is no indoor tennis provision in the authority area although the Ipswich David Lloyd club serves the south of the district. There is a single indoor bowls facility in Felixstowe.

23) Sub-area analysis - A sub-area examination of provision across the district shows that per capita levels of more formal facility types such as sports halls and squash courts are generally higher in the southern sub-areas than in the north. For instance, provision in Leiston is less than half that in the Kesgrave and Felixstowe sub areas. The only indoor bowling centre is in Felixstowe as is the largest swimming venue. Access to health and fitness clubs is better in the south than the north. There is a higher level of village and community halls in the north which may go some way to offset the comparative lack of more formal venues.

24) Quality - Based on the site visits and visual inspections, the quality of most playing areas and more unusually changing facilities is generally rated at least ‘average’ for all facility types. This is despite, for instance, the three public swimming pools all being somewhat ageing. Less highly rated is disabled access to some facility types. Some of the smaller health and fitness venues need improvement.

25) Disabled provision - Whilst all facilities in the district comply with the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act and are therefore capable of accommodating some sports use by disabled people, provision for people with more severe disabilities is more limited.

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26) Access - Geographical accessibility, particularly by car, is good throughout the district for most facility types. However, for those who are dependent on public transport (particularly in the rural areas) or non-vehicular transport, access is more limited.

The current balance between supply and demand

27) On the basis of the analysis of the current balance between supply and demand of built facilities in Suffolk Coastal, the following needs have been identified:

Facility type Quantity Quality Accessibility Sports halls Current levels of Improvements needed: - 120,000 people (96.3% of the district provision are adequate Woodbridge School population) are within 20 minutes to meet existing needs playing surface. drive of their nearest sports hall. Disabled changing 105,000 people (84.3% of the district improvements at all population) are within 20 minutes sites. cycle of their nearest sports hall. Information provision at 80,000 people (64.2% of the district school sites population) are within 20 minutes walk of their nearest sports hall. Swimming Current levels of Improvements needed: - 120,000 people (96.3% of the district pools provision are adequate Disabled hoists at all population) are within 20 minutes to meet all needs in the pools. drive of their nearest pool. district. Disabled changing 95,000 people (76.2% of the district improvements at all population) are within 20 minutes sites. cycle of their nearest pool. All public pools are 70,000 people (65.2% of the district ageing and will need population) are within 20 minutes walk major refurbishment or of their nearest pool. replacement in due course. Indoor tennis No provision in the The quality of the 90,000 people (72.2% of the district courts district, although needs existing courts at David population) are within 30 minutes are met by the 10-court Lloyd Ipswich is good. drive of their nearest indoor tennis facility at David Lloyd is facility. just over the Ipswich 25,000 people (20.1% of the district border. population) are within 20 minutes cycle of their nearest indoor tennis facility. 10,000 people (12.5% of the district population) are within 20 minutes walk of their nearest indoor tennis facility. Indoor bowls Current levels of All aspects of the 65,000 people (52.2% of the district provision are adequate current facility are good population) are within 30 minutes to meet existing needs quality. drive of their nearest indoor bowls Market Segmentation Disabled changing facility. data indicates that improvements needed. 35,000 people (28.1% of the district bowls demand should population) are within 20 minutes be above the national cycle of their nearest indoor bowls average. facility. An additional centre 25,000 people (20.1% of the district may desirable as long population) are within 20 minutes walk term objective. of their nearest indoor bowls facility.

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Facility type Quantity Quality Accessibility Health and Comparatively low Facilities and changing 120,000 people (96.3% of the district fitness facilities level of provision but improvements needed at: population) are within 20 minutes drive no evidence of need Lacey's Fitness of their nearest health and fitness facility. for additional facilities. Farlinghaye High School 95,000 people (76.2% of the district Support for additional Otley College population) are within 20 minutes cycle facilities to be Adaptive equipment of their nearest health and fitness facility. provided by needed for disabled users 70,000 people (65.2% of the district commercial operators. at all public facilities. population) are within 20 minutes walk of Disabled changing their nearest health and fitness facility. improvements at all sites. Squash courts High levels of provision All courts are good 120,000 people (96.3% of the district meet existing needs. quality. population) are within 20 minutes drive Disabled changing of their nearest squash court. improvements needed. 95,000 people (76.2% of the district population) are within 20 minutes cycle of their nearest squash court. 70,000 people (65.2% of the district population) are within 20 minutes walk of their nearest squash court. Village and Current levels of Facilities are very The whole district population is within 10 community provision are adequate variable in age, size and minutes drive of their nearest village or halls to meet existing needs. range of facilities. community hall. Only 67% of halls Disabled access 120,000 people (96.4% of the district meet formal or improvements needed population) are within 10 minutes cycle informal sports needs. at some sites. of their nearest village or community hall. 90,000 people (72.2% of the district population) are within 10 minutes walk of their nearest village or community hall.

The future balance between supply and demand

28) The Office for National Statistics published ‘2012-based Sub-national Population Projections for Local Authorities in England’ (2014), which contains figures on projected population change in the district to 2027. The ONS projections for Suffolk Coastal forecast that the population of the district will be 132,000 by 2027, an increase of 7,400 people, or 5.9% growth.

29) Projected future needs are calculated below, based upon locally devised standards of provision::

Facility Current Current Recommended Extra Population Extra facilities facilities provision Standard by 2027 needed by 2027 Sports halls 12 1:10,383 1: 10,000 7,400 0.74 Swimming pools 4 1:31,075 1: 30,000 7,400 0.25 Indoor bowls 1 1:124,600 1: 124,600 7,400 0 Indoor tennis 0 - 1:41,500 7,400 0 Health and fitness 10 1:12,460 1: 12,460 7,400 0.6 Squash 20 1:6,200 1: 6,200 7,400 1.2 Village/community halls 110 1:1,133 1: 1,100 7,400 6.7

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Dealing with deficiencies

30) New provision - New facilities can be provided, with funding from developer contributions and other external funding sources.

31) Upgrading and refurbishment - Improving the quality of facilities will increase their capacity for use.

32) Enhanced access - Enhanced access to facilities on school sites with limited or no existing community use is a cost effective option for increasing the effective supply of provision.

33) Reinstating former facilities - Facilities where use has recently been discontinued can be reinstated in response to changes in demand.

Delivery partners

34) Suffolk Coastal District Council: The council is likely to play the lead role in co-ordinating the development of the larger, more facility sites, in conjunction with other partners where appropriate.

35) Management contractor: The contractor appointed by the Council to run the main leisure centres in the district may be prepared to invest capital funds to improve the facilities it is managing, on the basis that improved capacity and usage will enable it to generate a commercial return on its investment.

36) Parish councils: Parish councils will continue to play a valuable role in providing and maintaining facilities in the rural parts of the district.

37) Schools: Many schools in Suffolk Coastal already provide built facilities from which local communities benefit and there will be further opportunities to extend and formalise community access to a range of provision on school sites.

38) Sports clubs: Local sports clubs are significant providers of built facilities and will continue to do so. Some clubs may wish to take on delegated management responsibilities for built facilities maintenance from the local authority.

39) Developers: The Council will seek funding that could assist with the provision of built facilities that will meet the needs of the inhabitants of new developments in the district.

40) Partnership arrangements: Partnership arrangements involving combinations of any of the above providers will help to share the costs of provision, management and maintenance of additional provision.

Action plan to meet existing needs

41) The action plan identifies the ways in which current deficiencies might be met and the partners who will have a role in providing and funding new and improved provision.

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Facility Current assessed deficiency Action plan for meeting deficiency Sports halls Current levels of provision are Support facility owners with external funding adequate to meet existing needs. applications for playing surface and lighting Playing surface improvements improvements at Woodbridge School. needed at 1 site. Support facility owners with external funding Disabled changing improvements applications for disabled changing needed at all sites. improvements at all sites. General access improvements Support facility owners with external funding needed at 2 sites. applications for general access improvements at: No accessibility deficiency. - Farlinghaye High School - Woodbridge School Swimming Current levels of provision are Support facility owners with external funding pools adequate to meet existing needs. applications for disabled pool hoists at all sites. Disabled hoists needed at all sites. Support facility owners with external funding Disabled changing improvements applications for disabled changing needed at all sites. improvements at all sites. No accessibility deficiency. Indoor tennis Current levels of provision are No action required. adequate to meet existing needs. No quality improvements needed. No accessibility deficiency. Indoor bowls Current levels of provision are Support facility operator with external funding adequate to meet existing needs. applications for disabled changing improvements Disabled changing improvements at all sites. needed. No accessibility deficiency. Health and Current levels of provision are Support facility owners with external funding fitness adequate to meet existing needs. applications for facilities improvements at: Facilities improvements needed at - Lacey’s Fitness 3 sites. - Farlinghaye High School Disabled changing improvements - Otley College needed at all sites. Support facility owners with external funding Adaptive equipment needed at all applications for disabled changing public sites. improvements at all sites. No accessibility deficiency. Support facility owners with external funding applications for adaptive equipment at: - Deben Pool - Felixstowe Leisure Centre - Leiston Sports Centre Squash courts Current levels of provision are Support facility owners with external funding adequate to meet existing needs. applications for disabled changing improvements Disabled changing improvements at all sites. needed at all sites. No accessibility deficiency.

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Facility Current assessed deficiency Action plan for meeting deficiency Village and Current levels of provision are Ensure that all new village and community community adequate to meet existing needs. halls are provided with suitable dimensions for halls Only 67% of halls meet formal or formal sports usage. informal sports needs. Support facility owners with external funding No qualitative deficiency. applications for facility improvements to No accessibility deficiency. facilitate additional formal sports usage.

Action plan to meet future needs

42) The action plan identifies the ways in which future deficiencies might be met and the partners who will have a role in providing and funding new and improved provision. The deficiencies arising from the projected growth in population of 7,400 people are expressed in terms of ‘facility equivalents’ and based upon the planning standards for each type of facility.

Facility Future assessed deficiency Action plan for meeting deficiency Sports halls Additional demand equivalent to Secure the provision of additional indoor 0.74 sports halls sports space equivalent to 0.74 sports halls, funded by developer contributions and within 20 minutes drive of new developments. Swimming Additional demand equivalent to Secure the provision of additional indoor pools 0.25 swimming pools water space equivalent to 0.25 indoor pools (80sq.m of pool space), funded by developer contributions and within 20 minutes drive of new developments. Indoor tennis No additional provision required No action required Indoor bowls Additional demand equivalent to Secure the provision of an additional rink at 0.12 indoor bowls facilities. existing or new facilities, funded by developer contributions and within 30 minutes drive of new developments. Health and Additional demand equivalent to 0.6 Secure the provision of the equivalent of 0.6 fitness health and fitness facilities additional health and fitness facilities (30 stations), funded by developer contributions and within 20 minutes drive of new developments. Squash Additional demand equivalent to 1.2 Secure the provision of the equivalent of 1.2 squash courts additional squash courts, funded by developer contributions and within 20 minutes drive of new developments. Village/ Additional demand equivalent to 6.7 Secure the provision of the equivalent of 6.7 community village/community halls additional village/ community halls, funded halls by developer contributions and within 20 minutes drive of new developments.

43) Because sport and physical activity is a rapidly changing environment, to ensure that the proposals in the assessment continue to address local needs and strategic priorities, the situation will be reviewed regularly. Assumptions about population growth will be tested regularly and projected requirements refined accordingly. There will therefore be annual reviews of action plan targets and a three-yearly review of the overall strategic approach.

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1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

Ploszajski Lynch Consulting Ltd. (PLC) was appointed by Suffolk Coastal District Council (SCDC) to produce a Built Facilities Assessment for the district.

1.2 Background

SCDC’s overall vision is to ‘maintain and sustainably improve the quality of life for everybody growing up, living in, working in and visiting the area’ and leisure services contributes to the following Corporate Business Plan priorities:

Promote increased access to quality leisure and cultural facilities and activities.

Protect and promote the health and well-being of all our communities to ensure they remain safe from harm, and able to live healthy lifestyles.

In addition, the provision of leisure services also contributes to other key corporate priorities including economic development. It is the Council’s intent to work in partnership to promote access to leisure services and to promote the health and well-being of all local communities.

With these priorities in mind SCDC is producing a Leisure Strategy for Suffolk Coastal district, which will have three strands:

A Playing Pitch and Non-pitch Facilities Assessment.

A Built Facilities Assessment.

An Open Space Assessment.

These assessments will guide future provision and management of leisure provision to serve existing and new communities in Suffolk Coastal, feeding into the long term delivery of the Suffolk Coastal District Local Plan - Core Strategy and Development Management Policies, up to 2027 and guiding Suffolk Coastal’s development partners in the form of a 10 year leisure strategy.

The assessments will support SCDC’s overall vision and core priorities and be based on a comprehensive, robust evidence base which will inform future planning policy decisions.

1.3 The study aims

The aims of the Assessment are as follows:

To identify the built sporting and recreational infrastructure that will be required to serve existing and new development, covering both the demand for and use of existing facilities identifying areas of deficiency or surplus facilities and highlighting priority locations for future provision.

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To map the identified existing provision of built sporting or recreational facilities on a GIS system and return this data to Suffolk Coastal District Council in a format compatible with ArcGIS alongside the findings of this assessment.

To identify the likely level of funding available from Sport England and other bodies to assist in the delivery of the assessment and its action plan to ensure the area has good quality local and regional/national level sports facilities.

To prioritise any funding for sport and recreation from local authority budgets, including from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) or Section 106.

To support measures to promote greater physical activity locally.

To identify the longer term sustainability of facilities, their changing and ancillary features such as car parking and on-going funding and management.

To review existing local standards of both provision and accessibility and recommend prioritised solutions in the form of amendments, improvements or continued use of existing standards.

To establish the potential for community use of private and educational establishment built sporting facilities.

1.4 The scope of the study

1.4.1 The facilities included

The facilities covered in the study are all those of the following types:

Sports halls Swimming pools Health and fitness Indoor tennis Indoor bowls Squash courts Village and community centres

1.4.2 Geographical scope

A number of key settlements in the Suffolk Coastal district border neighbouring local authorities. The study will include analysis of facilities in neighbouring local authority areas, where they are used by residents of Suffolk Coastal or fall within the drive, walking or cycling catchment areas allocated.

1.4.3 Timescale

The Assessment will cover the period from 2014 to 2027.

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1.5 The study methodology

The methodology for the study follows the new ‘Assessing Needs and Opportunities Guidance’ (2014), developed by Sport England.

1.5.1 Stage One: Preparing and tailoring the approach

We convened a Project Steering Group (PSG) involving representatives of SCDC and Sport England. The PSG discussed and approved:

The purpose and objectives of the Assessment. Project drivers, scope, time horizon and parameters. The local strategic context. The composition and role of the PSG. The project timescales. Sub-area issues and the relationship with provision in neighbouring local authorities.

1.5.2 Stage Two: Gathering facility supply information

Qualitative, quantitative and accessibility information on local built facilities provision in Suffolk Coastal and neighbouring areas was compiled as follows:

Site name and location. Ownership and management. Facilities at the site. Community accessibility and security of tenure. The quality of provision.

1.5.3 Stage Two: Gathering facility demand information

Demand information was compiled by examining:

The local population profile. Sports participation trends at national and local level. Unmet, latent, displaced and future demand. Local activity demand priorities. Sport-specific demand priorities.

1.5.4 Stage Two: Consultation

We initiated and circulated several local surveys on local facilities demand as follows:

A survey of local leisure centre users. Consultation with the governing bodies of all the sports that use facilities included in the Assessment. An on-line survey of local sports clubs that use facilities included in the Assessment.

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1.5.5 Stage Three: Bringing the information together

We applied the data on supply and demand to build a picture of the level of provision by:

Layering information on the quantity, quality, accessibility and availability of facilities provision to build up the assessment. Considering consultation findings to support the assessment. Identifying the key facility issues and priorities. Developing evidence-based standards of provision against which to assess current and future needs. Developing policy priorities to provide, protect, enhance to deliver the identified needs.

1.5.6 The application of needs and evidence assessment for sport

We applied the needs and evidence base to:

Contribute to planning policy development. Produce the Assessment document. Provide evidence for future funding applications.

1.6 Consulting on the Assessment

The Assessment document, setting out the evidence base and findings, was circulated to the following stakeholders for comment and approval:

All town and parish councils. Governing bodies of sport and local sports clubs. Local and national organisations with an interest in sport, including Suffolk Sport and Sport England.

1.7 Sub-area analysis

To enable analysis also to be undertaken at a local level, five sub-areas of Suffolk Coastal, based upon ‘Housing Market Areas’ are identified in SCDC’s ‘Adopted Core Strategy and Development Management Policies’ (2013). The details of the sub-areas are set out below, along with the wards and parishes incorporated in each.

Sub-area Wards Kesgrave and district Grundisburgh Nacton Kesgrave East Rushmere St. Andrew Kesgrave West Witnesham Martlesham Felixstowe and district Felixstowe East Felixstowe South-east Felixstowe North Felixstowe West Felixstowe South Trimleys with Kirton

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Sub-area Wards Woodbridge and Hollesley with Eyke Rendlesham district Farlinghaye Riverside Kyson Seckford Melton and Ufford Sutton Orford and Tunstall Wickham Market Otley Framlingham and Earl Soham Framlingham district Hacheston Peasenhall Leiston and district Aldeburgh Snape Leiston Walberswick & Wenhaston Saxmundham Yoxford

A map of the sub-areas is below:

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1.8 Assessment format

The structure of the assessment is as follows:

The local context. Local strategic influences. Wider strategic influences. Built facility demand in Suffolk Coastal. Built facility supply in Suffolk Coastal. The current balance between supply and demand. The future balance between supply and demand. Planning considerations. Action plan.

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2 THE SUFFOLK COASTAL CONTEXT

2.1 Introduction

This section identifies the context within which built facilities provision is made in Suffolk Coastal. It covers the following:

Background. Population. The local economy. Deprivation indices. Health indices. Implications for built facilities provision.

2.2 Background

Suffolk Coastal district is located in east Suffolk. It covers 89,100 hectares with a coastline of 76km (155km including estuaries. A large proportion of the district (36%) is nationally designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) for its environmental quality and importance. The Suffolk Coasts and Heaths AONB is a major tourist destination, being highly attractive to visitors and playing a key role in the local economy. In addition The Deben Estuary Special Protection Area (SPA) and Orwell Estuary SPA are internationally important wildlife sites and have to be carefully managed in order that the special characteristics of the locality are retained.

The district is primarily rural, with more than 80% of the population living in market towns or smaller settlements. The largest urban area is Felixstowe, with a population of more than 24,000, but the only other centres of population with more than 10,000 people are Kesgrave and Woodbridge.

2.3 Population

Based on the 2011 Census, Suffolk Coastal has a population of 124,600 (ONS, 2012). This represents growth of 8.0% (around 9,200 people) since the previous census in 2001.

2.3.1 Age structure

The age structure from the 2011 census is set out below, with comparator figures for the East and for England as a whole. The data shows that the area has a relatively elderly age structure, with more than half the population aged over 45, compared with a national figure of under 42%.

Age Suffolk Coastal Suffolk Coastal % East % England % 0-14 21,000 16.9% 17.7% 17.6% 15-24 15,000 12.0% 12.1% 13.3% 25-44 22,700 18.2% 26.4% 27.2% 45-64 36,900 29.6% 26.2% 25.4% 65+ 29,100 23.3% 17.5% 16.5% Total 124,600 100% 100% 100%

Source: 2011 Census (ONS, 2012)

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2.3.2 Ethnicity

Suffolk Coastal has a predominantly white population with 96.6% classing themselves as white, which is a higher proportion when compared with both the East of England (90.9%) and England as a whole (85.5%).

Group Number % White 112,650 96.6 Mixed 1,270 1.2 Asian 920 1.6 Black 350 0.4 Other ethnic 110 0.2

Source: 2011 Census (ONS, 2012)

2.3.3 Disability

The Papworth Trust published ‘Disability in the UK 2013: Facts and Figures’ (2013) which contains the following facts on disability in the UK:

Almost 1 in 5 people (19%) in the UK have a disability. Only 17% of disabled people were born with their disabilities. The majority of disabled people acquire their disability later in life.

The prevalence of disability rises with age, with 45% of adults over state pension age registered as disabled.

Extrapolating the national figures to the population of Suffolk Coastal, more than 23,000 people have some form of disability, of whom 13,000 are aged 65 and over.

2.3.4 Sub-areas

The sub-areas were constructed as per the geographical groupings in section 1.4.3 above and their respective populations are as follows:

Sub-area Population Kesgrave and district 34,357 Felixstowe and district 30,612 Woodbridge and district 28,112 Framlingham and district 10,941 Leiston and district 20,276

Source: 2011 Census (ONS, 2012)

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2.3.5 Population growth

The Office for National Statistics published ‘2012-based Sub-national Population Projections for Local Authorities in England’ (2014), which contains figures on projected population change in the district to 2027. The ONS projections for Suffolk Coastal forecast that the population of the district will be 132,000 by 2027, an increase of 7,400 people, or 5.9% growth.

However, the because of demographic trends, the number of people aged 50 or less will fall by 10,500 people, or 18.2%, which will mean reduced demand for many sports.

2.4 The local economy

The transport and communications sector is critical to the economy of Suffolk Coastal accounting for 21% of all local jobs (including the Port of Felixstowe and the BT Research and Development Centre at Martlesham).

Average earnings in 2011, for full and part time employees, show an increasing trend and stand at £26,530 which compares favourably with the Suffolk county average of £24,913. It is also above the average for the UK. On the whole the district is quite affluent but there are some areas with isolated pockets of deprivation.

The October 2012 unemployment rate for the district was 1.8% which is well below the Suffolk (2.9%), regional (3.0%) and national (3.8%) averages.

Resident qualification levels are generally above those seen at national level and also for the wider East of England. As such 77.6% of the population have a qualification at NVQ Level 2 or above which is in excess of the national average of 69.7%. Similarly only 5.9% of the population has no qualifications at all, whereas the Suffolk-wide figure is 9.0% and the national average stands at 10.6%. However those with higher level qualifications (50.6%), attaining NVQ Levels 3 and 4, whilst slightly below national figures (52.7%) still remain above the Suffolk average (49.9%).

2.5 Health indices

The Department of Health’s ‘Health Profile for Suffolk Coastal’ (2013) contains the following details on local health indices:

The health of people in Suffolk Coastal is mixed compared with the England average. Deprivation is lower than average, however about 2,400 children (11.9%) live in poverty. Life expectancy for both men (80.6 years) and women (83.7 years) is higher than the respective national averages (78.6 years and 82.6 years).

Life expectancy is 3.3 years lower for men and 3.1 years lower for women in the most deprived areas of Suffolk Coastal than in the least deprived areas.

15.1% of Year 6 children are classified as obese compared with 19.2% nationally.

The estimated level of adult obesity is 22.4%, which is better than the England average of 24.2%.

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2.6 Deprivation indices

According to the Government’s Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2010, Suffolk Coastal was ranked at 257 out of 354 local authorities in England, where 1 was the most deprived area and 354 the least deprived. However, this masks some variations across the district.

None of the population of the Suffolk Coastal lives in areas classified as being amongst the 20% most deprived in the country, however some parts of Felixstowe are ranked within the next quintile (the 20% to 40% most deprived areas nationally).

2.7 Summary of the local context

The implications for built facility provision in Suffolk Coastal are as follows:

The current population of Suffolk Coastal is 124,600. Whilst the district as a whole has a relatively aged population structure, there are variations at a local level, with the sub-areas in the south of the district (Kesgrave, Woodbridge and Felixstowe) having a larger proportion of younger people than the northern sub-area (Framlingham and Leiston).

The ethnicity of 96.6% of the local population is ‘White’ and since national and regional sports participation rates in a predominantly White populations is generally lower than for Black and minority ethnic groups, the demography of Suffolk Coastal should generate below average demand.

An estimated 19% of the local population (around 23,000 people) is affected by some form of disability and therefore ensuring that built facilities have adequate access arrangements, equipment adaptations and activity programmes is an important consideration.

Population growth of 7,400 people (a 5.9% increase) by 2027 will inflate demand for built facilities. However, the because of demographic trends, the number of people aged 50 or less will fall by 10,500 people, or 18.2%, which will mean reduced demand for many of the pitch and non-pitch sports.

The relatively buoyant local economy will boost the amount of disposable income available for discretionary spending on activities such as sport and should therefore increase demand levels.

Good health indices locally underline the importance of ensuring access to built facilities, as part of a wider strategy to get the local population more physically active.

Although the deprivation indices for Suffolk Coastal as a whole are much better than the national average, there are some variations at a more local level. Since deprivation is associated with lower rates for participation in sport and physical activity, patterns of demand are likely to vary within the district as a whole.

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3 LOCAL STRATEGIC INFLUENCES

3.1 Introduction

This section examines the influence of local strategic policies and priorities on built facilities provision in Suffolk Coastal, including the impact of neighbouring areas.

3.2 The Suffolk Coastal Business Plan

The ‘Suffolk Coastal District Council Business Plan 2012 - 2022’ (2012), describes in detail the approach and actions that the Council will be taking in the medium term, in leading and contributing towards an improved vision for the area.

3.2.1 Vision and strategic direction

The vision is ‘maintaining and sustainably improving the quality of life for everybody growing up, living in, working in and visiting the area’. It is underpinned by seven key themes:

Economic development, tourism and leisure

Planning and coastal management

Housing and benefits

Customers and communities

Community Health

Green environment

Resources

3.2.2 Sport and physical activity

Under the ‘economic development, tourism and leisure’ theme, the Plan states includes the propriety to ‘promote increased access to quality leisure and cultural facilities and activities’.

3.3 The Suffolk Coastal Core Strategy

The Council’s Core Strategy and Development Management policies are contained in ‘The Suffolk Coastal District Local Plan: Core Strategy and Development Management Policies’ (2013). The document sets out in strategic terms, the Council’s overall approach to future development in the period to 2027, where it should take place and the key factors that will be taken into account when considering proposals for development.

3.3.1 Sport and play

One of the key objectives of the Core Strategy is ‘community well-being’, which includes the following statements on sport and play: Ploszajski Lynch Consulting Ltd. 19 Suffolk Coastal District Council Built Facilities Assessment

‘Both the Council, through its corporate strategies and the Local Strategic Partnership through the Sustainable Community Strategy, promote the concept of healthy communities. The Core Strategy seeks to ensure that the community is as healthy as possible by providing/promoting opportunities for it to live a healthy lifestyle. One of the ways of achieving this and hence an important role for the LP, is to ensure the provision of areas for active play, sport and recreation, or as set out below in relation to green spaces, areas for quieter, more informal leisure pursuits.

Play space can be broken down into the two elements, play areas for children’s use (including equipped playgrounds and casual kick-about areas) and sports grounds for youth and adult use (including pitches, greens and courts). There are national standards for the provision of such play space, related to population size. The Council has carried out an audit of all facilities in every community and identified deficiencies. This was done in consultation with the communities themselves and is updated on an annual basis.

In addition, given the age structure of the population, more specific provision should be made for sport and leisure activities available to the general public but designed to meet the needs of older people.

Strategic Policy SP16 states that:

‘The appropriate provision, protection and enhancement of formal and informal sport and recreation facilities for all sectors of the community will be supported, particularly where shortfalls in local provision can be addressed and it accords with local requirements’.

‘The standard to be used in the calculation of play space (both children’s play areas and sports pitches) will be the national standard of 2.4 hectares per 1000 population. Deficiencies have been identified in an audit of current provision, prepared in association with town and parish councils and updated annually’.

‘In respect of new housing proposed under Policies SP20 and SP21 and meeting future needs the Council will rely on the information contained in the relevant community infrastructure studies completed in 2009.

3.3.2 Spatial planning

The ‘Settlement Hierarchy’ is a planning tool which is applied in the Core Strategy. It seeks to understand how existing settlements function and meet the needs of their communities now and as they could do in the future. The hierarchy provides a framework within which built facilities provision might also be organised. The hierarchy recognises six levels of settlement as follows:

Level Characteristics Settlements Major Centres Sub-regional centre for Eastern Ipswich Plan Area commercial and social facilities. Felixstowe, Walton and the Trimley Villages

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Level Characteristics Settlements Towns Focal point for employment, Aldeburgh shopping and community Framlingham facilities. A transport hub. Leiston Saxmundham Woodbridge Key Service Settlements which provide an Alderton Orford Centres extensive range of specified Blythburgh Otley facilities. Bramfield Peasenhall Darsham Rendlesham Dennington Snape Earl Soham Trimley St Martin Eyke Trimley St Mary Grundisburgh Westleton Hollesley Wickham Knodishall Market Martlesham Witnesham Melton Yoxford Local Service Settlements providing a smaller Aldringham Hasketon Centres range of facilities than the key Badingham Kelsale service centres Bawdsey Kirton Bucklesham Little Bealings Benhall Little Glemham Blaxhall Marlesford Brandeston Middleton Bredfield Nacton Bruisyard Parham Butley Rendham Campsea Ashe Rushmere St. Andrew Charsfield Shottisham Chillesford Stratford St Andrew Dunwich Sutton Heath Easton Theberton Hacheston Thorpeness Hasketon Tunstall Kelsale Ufford Kirton Walberswick Dunwich Waldringfield Easton Wenhaston Hacheston Westerfield Other Villages Settlements with few or Smaller villages minimal facilities Countryside Hamlets and small groups of Dispersed settlements dwellings that are dispersed across the district.

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3.3.3 Development management policies

The Core Strategy states that ‘applications for new sports facilities or the improvement of existing facilities will be supported by the Council unless the development is likely to raise issues of concern. In particular, the Council will consider the likely effect of the proposed development on the surrounding area and the countryside, as well as access provision’.

3.3.4 Planning policy

Policy DM32 - Sport and Play, states that:

‘Proposals for new facilities for sport and play will be considered in relation to the character of the location, the scale of the settlement, the impact on landscape and townscape, access provision, highway safety and residential amenity’.

‘Proposals that involve the loss of existing sports facilities and playing space (youth and adult) whether public, private or a school facility will be judged against:

- The overall needs of the community; - Adopted standards of provision; - The availability of comparable facilities elsewhere; - The contribution which a facility makes to the character of an area; and - Its value for informal recreation’.

‘Where the loss of the facility would result in a shortfall in provision or would exacerbate an already existing shortfall, an equivalent facility must be provided in a location agreed with the District Council and secured by a planning obligation, or other legal agreement’.

‘Proposals for new residential development will be expected to provide or contribute towards indoor and outdoor sport and play space, including equipment and maintenance, where a local need has been identified. Contributions to off-site provision will be secured as part of the standard charges set in the Community Infrastructure Levy Charging Schedule, when adopted’.

3.4 Suffolk Sports Facilities Strategy

‘Creating an Active Suffolk: Suffolk County Sports Facilities Strategy 2009 - 2016’ (2009) is a countywide assessment of sports facilities needs in the county. The key findings in relation to sports facilities in Suffolk Coastal are as follows:

Sports halls - The strategy projects a shortfall equivalent to 11.78 badminton courts (broadly equivalent to three sports halls) by 2016, based on projected population and participation increases.

Swimming pools - The strategy projects a shortfall equivalent to 135.08sq.m of pool space (broadly equivalent to just under half of a 25m x six lane pool) by 2016, based on projected population and participation increases.

Health and fitness - There is sufficient provision to meet all projected needs to 2016.

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Badminton - Priority to refurbish Rushmere Sports Centre as a county training and competitions venue.

Tennis - Priority for a two-court indoor airdome at Framlingham College.

3.5 Joint Health and Well-being Strategy for Suffolk

The ‘Joint Health and Well-being Strategy for Suffolk 2012 - 2022’ (2013) is a countywide strategy that sets out priorities for improving health and well-being.

3.5.1 Strategic outcomes

The strategy identifies four strategic outcomes:

Every child in Suffolk has the best start in life.

Suffolk residents have access to a healthy environment and take responsibility for their own health and well-being.

Older people in Suffolk have a good quality of life.

People in Suffolk have the opportunity to improve their mental health and wellbeing.

3.5.2 Priorities for action

One of the priorities for action that will contribute to all four of the strategic outcomes is ‘increasing the levels of physical activity and encouraging greater use of our natural environment’.

3.6 Summary of local strategic influences

The Council’s Business Plan includes a commitment to promote active and healthy lifestyles and built facilities are an integral means of facilitating this priority.

The Core Strategy contains positive policies on the provision and retention of built facilities. The ‘Settlement Hierarchy’ provides a framework for identifying levels of provision appropriate to settlements of different sizes.

The Suffolk Sports Facilities Strategy identifies a number of built facilities deficiencies in Suffolk Coastal, although these will need to be reappraised given the length of time that has elapsed since the assessment was undertaken.

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4 WIDER STRATEGIC INFLUENCES

4.1 Introduction

This section examines the influence of national strategic policies and priorities on built facilities provision in Suffolk Coastal.

4.2 Central Government

In March 2012, the Government published the ‘National Planning Policy Framework’ (2012), setting out its economic, environmental and social planning policies for England. Taken together, these policies articulate the Government’s vision of sustainable development, which should be interpreted and applied locally to meet local aspirations. The policies of greatest relevance to pitch provision and retention are as follows:

Sustainable development - ‘The purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. Sustainable development means development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’.

Health and well-being - ‘Local planning authorities should work with public health leads and health organisations to understand and take account of the health status and needs of the local population, including expected future changes, and any information about relevant barriers to improving health and well-being’.

Open space, sports and recreational facilities - ‘Access to good quality opportunities for sport and recreation can make an important contribution to the health and well-being of communities. The planning system has a role in helping to create an environment where activities are made easier and public health can be improved. Planning policies should identify specific needs and quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses of sports and recreational facilities in the local area. The information gained from this assessment of needs and opportunities should be used to set locally derived standards for the provision of sports and recreational facilities’.

‘Existing open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields, should not be built on unless:

- An assessment has been undertaken which has clearly shown the open space, buildings or land to be surplus to requirements; or

- The need for and benefits of the development clearly outweigh the loss’.

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4.3 Sport England

4.3.1 Overall policy

The ‘Sport England Strategy 2012 - 2017’ (2012) sets out national sports policy objectives for the next five years.

Overall aims - In 2017, five years after the Olympic Games, sport in England will be transformed, so that sport becomes a habit for life for more people and a regular choice for the majority. The strategy will:

- See more people taking on 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.

Sport England is seeking a year-on-year increase in the proportion of people who play sport once a week for at least 30 minutes. In particular it hopes to raise the percentage of 14-25 year olds playing sport once a week and reduce the proportion dropping out of sport.

Anticipated outcomes - The outcomes with the greatest potential impact on playing pitch use and provision will be as follows:

- Every one of the 4,000 secondary schools in England, will be offered a community sport club on its site with a direct link to one or more governing body of sport, depending on the local clubs in its area.

- County sports partnerships will be given new resources to create effective links locally between schools and sport in the community.

- All secondary schools who 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.

- Building on the early success of Places People Play, a further £100m will be invested in facilities for the most popular sports.

4.3.2 Planning policy

Sport England’s national policies in relation to planning policies are contained in ‘Spatial Planning for Sports and Active Recreation: Development Control Guidance Note’ (2009). Its planning policy objectives are as follows:

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A planned approach - To ensure that a planned approach to the provision of facilities and opportunities for sport and recreation is taken by planning authorities in order to meet the needs of the local community. The level of provision should be determined locally, based on local assessments of need and take account of wider than local requirements for strategic or specialist facilities.

Protecting existing places for sport - To prevent the loss of facilities or access to natural resources which are important in terms of sports development. Should redevelopment be unavoidable, an equivalent (or better) replacement facility should be provided in a suitable location.

Significant Areas for Sport (SASPs) - To prevent the loss or partial loss of any identified SASP to other uses unless an equivalent or improved replacement in terms of quantity, quality and accessibility to the original facility or resource is provided.

Planning new places for sport - To support the development of new facilities, the enhancement of existing facilities and the provision and/or improvement of access to the natural environment which will secure opportunities to take part in sport and which can be achieved in a way which meets sustainable development objectives.

Providing for sport through new development - To promote the use of planning obligations as a way of securing the provision of new or enhanced places for sport and a contribution towards their future maintenance, to meet the needs arising from new development.

Shared use sites - To promote the wider use of existing and new sports facilities to serve more than one group of users. Sport England will encourage potential providers to consider opportunities for joint provision and dual use of facilities in appropriate locations.

The Urban Fringe - To promote the urban fringe as an important resource in providing opportunities for sport, and support proposals for improved access for sport, for the development of extensive facilities such as golf courses and pitches, and for built facilities which can be developed in a way which meets sustainable development objectives and which helps to maintain and improve the identity of this resource.

The Green Belt - To promote the development of outdoor sports facilities in the Green Belt including essential ancillary built facilities. In exceptional circumstances Sport England will support the development of indoor or other built facilities associated with outdoor sports, where there is an identified need and no suitable site is available elsewhere in the locality.

Floodlighting - To support the installation of floodlighting of sports facilities where this will lead to a significant increase in opportunities for sport.

4.4 Governing bodies of sport

The governing bodies of sport funded by Sport England each produce a ‘Whole Sport Plan’ containing their sports development and related facilities priorities for the period 2013 to 2017.

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The facilities elements of the Whole Sport Plans using facility types included in this assessment are summarised below, to assess their implications for provision in Suffolk Coastal:

Sport Facilities priorities 2013 - 2017 Implications for Suffolk Coastal Badminton Investing in facilities to underpin the operations Potential for funding to upgrade of county badminton associations, performance sports halls to accommodate centres and community badminton networks. additional badminton activity. Investing in leisure facilities to underpin the ‘Play Badminton’ programme. Basketball No facilities priorities, but priority areas for club Ipswich is a priority area, so there development include Ipswich. may be opportunities for collaborative programmes. Gymnastics Dedicated Facilities - Funding for dedicated Opportunities to create or gymnastics centres. enhance local gymnastics Freestyle Equipment - Funding for freestyle provision. gymnastics equipment packs for clubs and other delivery partners. Trampoline Equipment - Funding for trampolines in clubs or leisure centres. Table No facilities priorities, but small grants are Equipment packages may tennis available to provide an equipment package to enhance local participation allow community organisations to deliver non- opportunities. traditional participation opportunities. Tennis Facilities investment will support the delivery of There may be opportunities for the tennis programmes, to address gaps or collaborative programmes. improve provision where critical to park or community programmes

4.5 Summary of wider strategic influences

Central Government planning policy is supportive of undertaking local assessments of need and the protection of built facilities, which provides helpful context for local planning policies in Suffolk Coastal.

Sport England’s target to increase participation rates year-on-year will drive up demand for facilities if it is achieved. The emphasis on developing and funding school-community club links will increase the scope for improving the dual use of education sports facilities. Its planning policies also provide a useful framework to inform the development of local planning policy.

A number of governing bodies of sport have indentified facilities objectives that could impact upon provision in Suffolk Coastal.

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5 BUILT FACILITIES DEMAND

5.1 Introduction

This section analyses the demand for built facilities in Suffolk Coastal.

5.2 Local sports participation trends

5.2.1 The ‘Active People’ Survey

The ‘Active People’ survey was commissioned by Sport England. The survey is the largest study of patterns of adult (people aged 16 and over) involvement in sport and physical activity ever undertaken and involved telephone interviews with a representative sample of between 500 and 1,000 residents of each local authority district in the country. Six surveys have been undertaken to date, which has enabled trends to be tracked over a seven year period. The following Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) are measured and the results for each are tabulated below:

Overall participation - This is defined as ‘taking part on at least one day a week in moderate intensity sport and active recreation (at least four days in the last four weeks) for at least 30 minutes continuously in any one session’.

Volunteering - This is defined as ‘volunteering to support sport for at least one hour a week’.

Club membership - This is defined as ‘being a member of a club particularly so that you can participate in sport or recreational activity in the last four weeks’.

Receiving tuition - This is defined as ‘having received tuition from an instructor or coach to improve your performance in any sport or recreational activity in the last twelve months’.

Organised Competition - This is defined as ‘having taken part in any organised competition in any sport or recreational activity in the last twelve months’.

Organised sport - This is defined as ‘the percentage of adults who have done at least one of receiving tuition in the last twelve months and/or taken part in organised competition in the last twelve months and/or been a member of a club to play sport’.

Satisfaction - This is defined as ‘the percentage of adults who are very or fairly satisfied with sports provision in their local area’.

Participation in individual sports - This is defined as ‘the percentage of adults who have participated at least once in a sport in the preceding four weeks’.

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5.2.2 Overall participation

Overall rates of regular adult participation in sport and physical activity (at least one session of 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week) show that whilst local rates have generally been close to the East and England averages, there has been an increase in participation rates in Suffolk Coastal over the survey period as a whole, although the most recent figure fell to around the regional and national figures.

Area 2005/6 2007/8 2008/9 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 Suffolk Coastal 32.0% 37.8% 34.4% 34.9% 32.1% 39.7% 35.3% East 34.8% 36.5% 35.6% 34.9% 34.7% 36.0% 35.4% England 34.2% 35.8% 35.7% 35.3% 34.8% 36.0% 35.2%

5.2.3 Volunteering

Rates of volunteer support for sport in Suffolk Coastal have varied during the survey period, but are currently below the regional and national averages:

Area 2008/9 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 Suffolk Coastal 5.6% 6.3% 9.4% - 5.6% East 4.7% 4.8% 8.0% 7.4% 6.8% England 4.7% 4.5% 7.2% 7.6% 6.0%

5.2.4 Sports club membership

Rates of sports club membership in Suffolk Coastal have fluctuated during the survey period but are consistently above the regional and national averages:

Area 2008/9 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 Suffolk Coastal 25.0% 24.6% 24.2% 27.9% 24.8% East 25.5% 24.3% 23.6% 23.7% 22.2% England 24.1% 23.9% 23.3% 22.8% 21.0%

5.2.5 Sports coaching/tuition

The proportion of adults in Suffolk Coastal who received sports coaching or tuition in the previous 12 months has varied during the survey period but currently stands well above the regional and national averages:

Area 2008/9 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 Suffolk Coastal 19.8% 17.2% 19.9% 17.7% 19.7% East 18.3% 18.3% 16.8% 17.4% 16.7% England 17.5% 17.5% 16.2% 16.8% 15.8%

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5.2.6 Organised competition

The proportion of adults in Suffolk Coastal who took part in organised sports competitions in the previous 12 months has increased over the survey period as a whole and stands well above the regional and national averages:

Area 2008/9 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 Suffolk Coastal 14.4% 17.2% 13.5% 17.4% 18.1% East 14.7% 15.3% 14.5% 15.1% 13.6% England 14.4% 14.4% 14.3% 13.3% 11.2%

5.2.7 Satisfaction with local sports provision

The proportion of adults in Suffolk Coastal who are satisfied with local sports provision decreased during the survey periods when this element was included but remains well above the regional and national averages:

Area 2008/9 2009/10 2012/13 Suffolk Coastal 73.4% 66.7% 65.4% East 69.7% 70.2% 62.5% England 68.4% 68.0% 60.3%

5.2.8 Participation in individual sports

The top five sports in which survey respondents from Suffolk Coastal participated in the four weeks prior to the survey are listed below, along with the respective regional and national figures:

Sport Suffolk Coastal East England Cycling 12.1% 8.4% 8.1% Swimming 10.7% 11.1% 11.5% Health and fitness 9.1% 10.1% 10.9% Running 8.1% 6.6% 6.7% Football 5.1% 5.8% 6.3%

5.3 Market Segmentation

Sport England has identified 19 adult sporting market segments, to better understand specific motivations and barriers to doing sport and physical activity. The data provides a useful way of anticipating demand for activities, based upon the extent to which segments are represented in the local population.

5.3.1 Suffolk Coastal market segments

The proportion of the Suffolk Coastal population in each market segment is tabulated below, with the East and national figures for comparison:

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Segment Suffolk Coastal East England Competitive male urbanites 5.2% 5.3% 4.9% Sports team drinkers 2.3% 4.0% 5.4% Fitness class friends 5.5% 5.3% 4.7% Supportive singles 2.1% 3.2% 4.3% Career focused females 4.9% 5.0% 4.5% Settling down males 10.3% 10.5% 8.8% Stay at home mums 5.4% 5.4% 4.4% Middle England mums 4.3% 4.8% 4.9% Pub league team mates 2.5% 4.1% 5.9% Stretched single mums 1.6% 2.9% 3.7% Comfortable mid-life males 10.3% 9.6% 8.6% Empty nest career ladies 7.5% 6.8% 6.1% Early retirement couples 9.7% 8.2% 6.8% Older working women 2.6% 3.2% 4.9% Local ‘old boys’ 2.2% 2.9% 3.7% Later life ladies 1.1% 1.6% 2.1% Comfortable retired couples 9.0% 5.1% 4.2% Twilight years gents 4.5% 4.3% 4.0% Retirement home singles 8.1% 7.9% 8.0%

5.3.2 Dominant segments

Sport England classifies the ‘dominant’ market segments as those with more than 7% of the local population. In Suffolk Coastal these comprise ‘settling down males’, ‘comfortable mid-life males’, ‘empty nest career ladies’, ‘early retirement couples’, ‘comfortable retired couples’ and ‘retirement home singles’. The activities likely to appeal to these segments are as follows:

Segment name Characteristics Sports that appeal Settling down males Age 26-45 Canoeing Married Skiing Owner-occupied Cricket Employed full-time Golf 50% have children Cycling Social class ABC1 Squash 32% do 3x30 minutes exercise per week Football 27% do no exercise Comfortable mid- Age 36-65 Sailing life males Married Gym Owner-occupied Football Employed full-time Jogging 50% have children Badminton Social class ABC1 Golf 26% do 3x30 minutes exercise per week Cycling 39% do no exercise Cricket

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Segment name Characteristics Sports that appeal Empty nest career Age 46-55 Swimming ladies Married Yoga Owner-occupied Walking Employed full-time Horse riding No dependent children Aqua aerobics Social class ABC1 Pilates 25% do 3x30 minutes exercise per week Step machine 44% do no exercise Gym Early retirement Age 56-65 Swimming couples Married Sailing Owner-occupied Walking Retired/employed full-time Golf No dependent children Aqua aerobics Social class ABC1 Shooting 19% do 3x30 minutes exercise per week Bowls 54% do no exercise Fishing Comfortable Age 65+ Bowls retired couples Married Snooker Owner occupied Golf Retired Walking No dependent children Tennis Social class ABC1 Fishing 14% do 3x30 minutes exercise per week Table tennis 70% do no exercise Swimming Retirement home Age 65+ Walking singles Single Bowls Owner occupied and council Dancing Retired Gentle exercise No dependent children DE 5% do 3x30 minutes exercise per week 86% do no exercise

Based upon the activities likely to appeal to these groups, demand for swimming is likely to be buoyant, whilst the relatively large proportion of residents from market segments which traditionally play bowls will inflate demand for this sport.

5.4 Community consultation

5.4.1 Introduction

Suffolk Coastal District Council organised a major community consultation exercise in connection with the development of its overarching Leisure Strategy. The objectives of the consultation were as follows:

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To inform the Council of any gaps in the leisure facility information previously compiled.

To update the Council on the current local patterns of physical activity and advise of the future wants and needs for leisure and recreation service provision over the next ten years.

To identify any current barriers to keeping local communities physically active and any known local opportunities to overcome them.

5.4.2 Survey format

The consultation period which set out to identify stakeholder views ran from February to June 2014. The consultation process involved the following:

Five parish and town council focus groups were organised to ensure Councillors were able to feed in more specific local information. A total of 72 local stakeholders attended these events.

Four resident and community group drop-in sessions were held for members of the community that wanted to find out more about the project or speak to an officer regarding their personal experiences. A total of 43 local residents attended these events.

An online questionnaire, also made available in hard copy, was added to the Suffolk Coastal District Council website, a link to this was also pushed out by many of the Council’s partners via social media, e-newsletter/e-blast, newsletter/newspaper, radio, links on websites and promotion at many events across the district. 244 questionnaires were completed on-line and 33 hard copies submitted.

5.4.3 Views on facilities provision

The issues that emerged in relation to demand for built facilities are summarised below:

Quantity - The majority of survey respondents believe that the numbers of most types of built facility are about right to meet existing needs.

Quality - There are some criticisms of facility cleanliness (particularly changing provision), but this may reflect the age of some facilities, rather than cleaning schedules.

General access - Respondents would like longer opening hours at the major community facilities in the district and better opportunities for casual usage at dual use facilities.

Disability access - Respondents cited difficulties with disabled access at several built facilities in the district, including the lack of pool hoists and the absence of adaptive health and fitness equipment.

5.4.4 Factors encouraging participation

Respondents felt that the most important factors encouraging participation are affordability, followed by facility cleanliness, convenient opening hours and proximity to home.

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5.4.5 Factors inhibiting participation

32.5% of respondents indicated that they have no current barriers to becoming more physically active, but 35.8% cited cost and 29.1% lack of time.

5.4.6 Patterns of provision

Respondents were asked for their views on the patterns of built facility and opportunity provision in the district and replied as follows:

70% of respondents would rather have ‘a greater number of facilities across the district of a more limited standard (i.e. not all facilities offer all services)’ whereas the remaining 30% would rather have ‘fewer facilities of a higher standard (i.e. all services under one roof)’.

60% of respondents would be prepared to travel further to a higher quality facility, but only 35% of respondents would be prepared to pay more for this.

75% of respondents would be prepared to walk or cycle to facilities if footpaths and cycleways were improved.

5.4.7 Specific sub-area issues

The issues that emerged in relation to built facilities provision in each sub-area are summarised below:

Sub-area Emerging issues Kesgrave and There is a good range of facility provision at Kesgrave Community Sports Centre. district Kesgrave is quite compact and therefore centrally-located facilities cater for and reach a large audience. Kesgrave is easily accessible by public transport and travelling to Ipswich is relatively easy. The Park and Ride service is also very close and easy to use. School sports facilities in the area are currently unavailable for community use. Some commercial leisure facilities in the area such as the Martlesham Leisure Club are too expensive for many local residents to access. Felixstowe Access to a wide range of built sports facilities in Felixstowe is good. and district There are current proposals to develop health and fitness facilities at Trimley Sports and Social Club. Local sports facilities could be better promoted as part of the offer to tourist visitors to the area. Woodbridge Local assessments of leisure and physical activity needs should be included in and district community-led or neighbourhood plans. Public transport in the rural parts of the sub-area is poor. There is a lack of safe cycle paths.

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Sub-area Emerging issues Framlingham Many sports facilities in the sub-area are on school sites and therefore have restrictive and district community opening hours. There is good quality and level of provision of village halls in the sub-area, but no community hall in Framlingham. Voluntary sector sports clubs provide a range of excellent facilities in the sub-area. Collaboration between the school, college and local sports clubs to develop a trust/ association could help to co-ordinate opportunities to access local sports facilities. Limited or no public transport. For the services that are available, the running times are poor. Proposed facility developments at the Halesworth Campus, just across the border in Waveney district may improve opportunites for some Framlingham residents. Leiston and Many village halls in the sub-area accommodate a wide range of leisure and physical district activity, in particular activities that cater for older people like tai chi, pilates and dancing. The facilities at Leiston leisure Centre would benefit from refurbishment. Public transport in the rural parts of the sub-area is poor. The developments at Sizewell power station may provide investment for new and improved community leisure facilities in the area.

5.5 Leisure centre users

A survey of leisure centre users was undertaken at Brackenbury Sports Centre, Felixstowe Leisure Centre, Deben Pool and Leiston Leisure Centre. The survey sought views on:

Patterns of use.

The adequacy of local facilities provision.

5.5.1 Patterns of use

Frequency - Responses were as follows.

Frequency (%) Every day 18.5% Less than daily but more than weekly 59.3% Weekly 14.8% Fortnightly 0.0% Monthly 7.4% Less than monthly 0.0%

Journey time - Responses were as follows.

Frequency (%) Less than 5 minutes 7.7% 5 - 10 minutes 50.0% 11 - 15 minutes 19.2% 16 - 20 minutes 3.8% More than 20 minutes 19.2%

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Mode of transport - Responses were as follows.

Frequency (%) Car 69.2% Public bus 0.0% Train 0.0% Bicycle 15.4% On foot 15.4%

5.5.2 Views on the number of local facilities

Facility type Too many (%) About right (%) Too few (%) No opinion (%) Sports halls 0.0% 57.7% 7.7% 34.6% Swimming pools 3.8% 65.4% 15.4% 15.4% Health and fitness gyms 7.7% 38.5% 19.2% 34.6% Dance studios 3.8% 23.1% 26.9% 46.2% Indoor tennis courts 0.0% 15.4% 30.8% 53.8% Indoor bowls greens 3.8% 30.8% 11.5% 53.8% Squash courts 0.0% 26.9% 19.2% 53.8% Village and community halls 0.0% 61.5% 11.5% 26.9%

5.6 Sports clubs needs

An online survey was circulated to 96 sports clubs covering the full range of sports represented by the facility types included in this Assessment. 18 responses were received, from clubs covering badminton, basketball, gymnastics, karate, swimming and tennis with a collective membership of 1,780 people. The key findings were as follows:

Membership trends - 55.5% of clubs have achieved an increase in membership over the past five years, whilst 33.3% have experienced static membership and 11.1% has lost members.

Development plans - 55.5% of clubs already have a written development plan, a further 11.1% is currently producing a plan, whilst the remaining 33.3 % of clubs have no plan.

Clubmark - 44.4% of respondents have Clubmark accreditation or its equivalent.

Problem issues - Respondents were asked to indicate whether any of the following issues currently cause them problems:

Issue Problem (%) No problem (%) Lack of internal funding 22.2% 77.8% Lack of external funding 44.4% 55.6% Lack of local facilities 22.2% 77.8% Access difficulties 55.5% 44.4% Lack of information about local facilities 22.2% 77.8% Limited links with other clubs 22.2% 77.8% Shortage of volunteers 22.2% 77.8% Shortage of coaches 11.1% 88.9% Retaining members 22.2% 77.8%

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Facility aspirations - 44.4% of respondents have aspirations to provide new or refurbished facilities.

Facility availability - 100% of respondents are able to access a facility at their favoured location. 33.3% say that their chosen facility is always available when they need it and 66.7% that it is mostly available when needed.

Facility quality - The most frequently cited poor quality aspects of the facilities used are changing provision and parking facilities, both of which are highlighted by 44.4% of respondents. The overall quality of the facilities used by respondents is rated a ‘good’ by 22.2% of clubs, with a further 66.7% regarding the quality as ‘acceptable’ and 11.1% as poor.

Opinions on local levels of facility provision - These were as follows:

Facility type Too many (%) About right (%) Too few (%) No opinion (%) Sports halls 0.0% 11.1% 44.4% 44.4% Swimming pools 0.0% 11.1% 44.4% 22.4% Health and fitness gyms 0.0% 22.2% 22.2% 55.6% Dance studios 0.0% 11.1% 33.3% 55.6% Indoor tennis courts 0.0% 11.1% 22.2% 66.7% Indoor bowls greens 0.0% 11.1% 11.1% 77.8% Squash courts 0.0% 11.1% 22.2% 66.7% Village and community halls 11.1% 44.4% 11.1% 33.3%

5.7 Summary of local sports participation patterns

The implications for built facilities provision in Suffolk Coastal are as follows:

Participation rates - Overall rates of regular adult participation in sport and physical activity measured by the ‘Active People’ survey show that participation rates in Suffolk Coastal have increased since 2005/6 and at 35.3% are currently around the regional (35.4%) and national (35.2%) averages.

Club membership - Local rates of sports club membership and participation in formal competitive activity are well above the national and regional averages.

Satisfaction - Rates of satisfaction with local built provision are above the national and regional averages.

Market segmentation - The dominant market segments in Suffolk Coastal are likely to inflate local demand for swimming, health and fitness and bowls facilities.

Community consultation - Community consultation identified that demand is cost sensitive and that a geographical spread of accessible local facilities provision is regarded as more appropriate than fewer higher standard centrally-located facilities. The sub-area forums identified a number of common themes, in particular the shortage of public transport to access facilities in rural areas and the value of village and community halls in delivering local leisure opportunities.

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Leisure centre users - 92.6% of respondents to the leisure centre users survey visit at least weekly, with 80.8% travelling for up to 20 minutes to access their favoured facility and 69.2% by car. The majority believe that levels of most types of facility provision locally are currently about right, although 30.8% feel that there are too few indoor tennis centres and 26.9% too few dance studios.

Sports club needs - The buoyant nature of local sports clubs was emphasised by survey respondents, with more than half experiencing recent increases in membership. A key problem identified by more than 50% of respondents is access to facilities in rural areas. Whilst all can use their favoured facility, 66.7% are unable to get as much time there as they need. Most regard the overall quality of facilities as acceptable, but changing provision is frequently rated as poor.

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6 BUILT FACILITIES SUPPLY

6.1 Introduction

This section analyses the supply of built facilities in the Suffolk Coastal district. We look at multi-purpose sports halls, swimming pools, indoor bowls and tennis, health and fitness facilities and squash courts. We also look at the supply of village halls and similar community facilities which, whilst not being purpose built for sport, offer opportunities for physical activities such as exercise classes and martial arts. In this section we look at the supply of facilities across the whole of the Suffolk Coastal district and on a sub-area basis. We compare the supply with that in neighbouring authorities in Suffolk and in similar area across the country based on the CIPFA near neighbour criteria. We also assess the quality of facilities in the district.

6.2 Sports halls

6.2.1 Quantity

Sports halls are defined as community accessible indoor halls with multi-sport markings and minimum dimensions equivalent to three badminton courts. There are 12 sports hall in the district.

Site Name Address Size Brackenbury Sports Centre High Road East, Felixstowe IP11 9JF 40m x 18m Farlingaye High School Ransom Road, Woodbridge IP12 4JX 33m x 18m Felixstowe Academy High Street, Felixstowe, IP11 9QR 33m x 18 33m x 17m Framlingham College College Rd, Framlingham, IP13 9EY 33m x 17m Framlingham Sports Centre Saxtead Road, Woodbridge IP13 9HE 33m x 18m Kesgrave Community Sports Centre Twelve Acre Approach, Ipswich IP5 1JF 33m x 18m Kesgrave High School Main Road, Ipswich IP5 2PB 33m x 17m Leiston Leisure Centre Red House Lane, Leiston IP16 4LS 33m x 18m Orwell Park School Orwell Park, Nacton, Suffolk IP10 0ER 33m x 18m Rushmere Sports Centre Rushmere Street, Rushmere St. Andrews IP5 1DE 40m x 20m Woodbridge School Old High Road, Grove Park, Woodbridge IP17 3HN 33m x 27m

6.2.2 Sub-area analysis

Sports hall provision is not evenly spread across the district as shown in the table below. Residents in the south have better access than those in the north.

Sub-area Population Sports halls Facilities per capita Kesgrave and district 34,357 4 1: 8,589 Felixstowe and district 30,612 3 1: 10,204 Woodbridge and district 28,112 2 1: 14,056 Framlingham and district 10,941 2 1: 5,471 Leiston and district 20,276 1 1: 20,276 SUFFOLK COASTAL 124,600 12 1: 10,383

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6.2.3 Benchmarked provision

To benchmark levels of provision in Suffolk Coastal, per capita provision in the geographical neighbouring local authorities and also the demographically most similar areas is ranked as follows. The data is drawn from Sport England’s ‘Active Places Power’. These tables show that, overall, per capita provision of sports halls in the Suffolk Coastal area is better than in neighbouring areas and almost exactly at the average level for similar sized authorities elsewhere in the country.

Geographical neighbours

Local authority Population Sports halls Facilities per capita Ipswich 133,400 15 1: 8,893 Suffolk Coastal 124,600 12 1: 10,383 Babergh 87,700 8 1: 10,963 Average - 9.5 1: 11,397 Mid-Suffolk 96,700 7 1: 13,814 Waveney 115,300 8 1: 14,413

Demographic comparators

Local authority Population Sports halls Facilities per capita West Dorset 99,300 13 1: 7,638 South Lakeland 103,700 12 1: 8,642 Chichester 113,800 13 1: 8,754 Suffolk Coastal 124,600 12 1: 10,383 Average - 10.5 1: 10,683 South Hams 83,100 6 1: 13,850 Wealden 148,900 11 1: 13,536 Teignbridge 124,200 8 1: 15,525

6.2.4 Quality

The quality of sports halls was assessed by a non-technical visual inspection.. The criteria that were assessed were as follows:

Playing area - Including the overall condition, clear span roof height, lighting, spectator provision, equipment and fitness for purpose.

Changing facilities - Including capacity, condition and fitness for purpose.

Disabled Access - Including dedicated changing rooms and toilets.

Other features - Including reception area, circulation space, disability access and external appearance.

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The facilities were rated on a five point scale, where 5 equates to ‘very good’, 4 to ‘good’, 3 to ‘average’, 2 to ‘poor’ and 1 to ‘very poor’. The scores for sports halls were as follows:

Facility Playing Changing Disability Maintenance & General Area Access Cleanliness Access Brackenbury Sports Centre 4 3 3 4 4 Farlingaye High School 3 3 3 3 2 Felixstowe Academy 4 4 5 5 4 Framlingham College 4 3 3 5 3 Kesgrave Community Sports Centre 5 4 4 5 5 Kesgrave High School 3 3 4 3 3 Leiston Leisure Centre 4 3 4 3 4 Rushmere Sports Centre 4 3 2 4 5 Thomas Mills High School 4 3 4 4 3 Woodbridge School 2 3 3 3 2

The table shows that the current stock of sports hall is generally of an average to good standard. The older facilities at Woodbridge School and Ipswich School's Rushmere Centre are in need of some improvement. Access for people with disabilities needs improvement in most cases.

Brackenbury Sports Centre, Felixstowe

6.2.5 Disabled provision

Whilst all of the sports halls in the district comply with the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act in terms of facilitating access to the buildings, none has ‘changing places’ provision to enable severely disabled people to use them. Such a facility comprises a dedicated changing area, toilet, changing bed, hoist and shower, plus plenty of circulation space.

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6.2.6 Accessibility

Accessibility to sports halls in Suffolk Coastal is mapped below: On the basis of the results of the leisure centre users’ survey, which shows that 80.8% of sports hall users in the district travel for up to 20 minutes to reach their chosen facility, a 20 minute travel time catchment has been applied. 20-minute cycling and walking catchments have also been marked around each site. The accessibility analysis in the map below shows that:

Driving - About 120,000 people (96.3% of the district population) are within 20 minutes drive of their nearest sports hall.

Cycling - About 105,000 people (84.3% of the district population) are within 20 minutes cycle of their nearest sports hall.

Walking - About 80,000 people (64.2% of the district population) are within 20 minutes walk of their nearest sports hall.

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6.2.7 Summary

Quantity - There are 12 community accessible sports halls in Suffolk Coastal, equivalent to one per 10,383 people. Per capita levels of provision vary widely between sub-areas, with the best served area of Framingham having around four times better provision per capita than the poorest served area of Leiston.

Benchmarked provision - Per capita levels of sports hall provision in Suffolk Coastal are better than all but one of its geographical neighbours and almost exactly at the average for CIPFA near neighbour areas.

Quality - The quality of provision is generally good, although the older halls at Woodbridge School Sports Centre, Farlingaye School Sports Centre and Rushmere Sports Centre have aspects that are rated as ‘poor’.

Disabled provision - None of the sports halls in Suffolk Coastal has dedicated changing facilities for people with severe disabilities.

General access - 96.3% of the population of Suffolk Coastal is within 20 minutes drive time of their nearest sports hall.

6.3 Swimming pools

6.3.1 Quantity

For the purposes of the assessment, indoor swimming pools are defined as main pools with minimum length of 20 metres, although smaller teaching and diving pools are included in the assessment where they are integral to a facility with a main pool. This is the case at Felixstowe Leisure Centre and Leiston Leisure Centre. There are four publicly accessible swimming pool sites in the Suffolk Coastal district with a total water area of 1,355 square metres. Three pools offer casual swimming whilst access to the pool at Framlingham College is on a membership basis.

Site Name Address Type Size Deben Pool Station Road, Woodbridge IP12 4AU Main Pool 25m x 12.5m Felixstowe Leisure Centre Undercliff Road West, Felixstowe IP11 2AE Main Pool 25m x 13m Felixstowe Leisure Centre Undercliff Road West, Felixstowe IP11 2AE Leisure Pool 15m x 9m Felixstowe Leisure Centre Undercliff Road West, Felixstowe IP11 2AE Learner Pool 11.5m x 3m Framlingham College College Rd. Framlingham IP13 9EY Main Pool 20m x 11m Leiston Leisure Centre Red House Lane, Leiston IP16 4LS Main Pool 25m x 10.5m Leiston Leisure Centre Red House Lane, Leiston IP16 4LS Learner Pool 10m x 6.6m

6.3.2 Sub-area analysis

The distribution of both swimming pools and the overall water space they contain in each sub- area is detailed below:

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Sub-area Population Main Main pools per Sq.m water Sq.m per Pools capita space 1,000 people Kesgrave and district 34,357 0 0 0 0 Felixstowe and district 30,612 1 1: 30,612 495 16.2sq.m Woodbridge and district 28,112 1 1: 28,112 313 11.1sq.m Framlingham and district 10,941 1 1: 10,941 220 20.1sq.m Leiston and district 20,276 1 1: 20,276 327 16.1sq.m SUFFOLK COASTAL 124,600 4 31,075 1,355sq.m 10.87sq.m

There are pools in four of the five sub-areas with Kesgrave being the exception, although it is served by the pool at David Lloyd, just over the Ipswich border. Framlingham, the smallest sub- area, is served by the smallest pool with the lowest level of public access

6.3.3 Benchmarked provision

To benchmark levels of provision in Suffolk Coastal, per capita provision in the geographical neighbouring local authorities and also the demographically most similar areas is ranked as follows. The data is drawn from Sport England’s ‘Active Places Power’. These tables show that the availability of swimming pools in Suffolk Coastal is below average when compared with neighbouring areas in Suffolk both in terms of the number of pools and per capita provision. SCDC per capita provision is 23% below the county average.

There is a more pronounced under-provision when Suffolk Coastal is compared with its CIPFA neighbours. Per capita provision is only 55% of the average for this group of councils.

Geographical neighbours

Local authority Population Main Pools Main pools per capita Waveney 115,300 7 1: 16,471 Average 4.5 1: 24,061 Ipswich 133,400 5 1: 26,680 Babergh 87,700 3 1: 29,233 Suffolk Coastal 124,600 4 1: 31,150 Mid-Suffolk 96,700 3 1: 32,233

Demographic comparators

Local authority Population Main Pools Main pools per capita South Lakeland 103,700 9 1: 11,522 West Dorset 99,300 8 1: 12,413 Wealden 148,900 9 1: 16,544 South Hams 83,100 5 1: 16,620 Average 6.5 1: 17,256 Chichester 113,800 5 1: 22,760 Suffolk Coastal 124,600 4 1: 31,150 Teignbridge 124,200 3 1: 41,400

The nearest 50m pools to Suffolk Coastal are in Basildon and Cambridge. The nearest diving facilities are in Chelmsford, Witham and Cambridge.

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6.3.4 Quality

The quality of swimming pool provision was assessed by a non-technical visual inspection. The criteria that were assessed were as follows:

Pool area - Including the overall condition, temperature, spectator provision, equipment storage and fitness for purpose.

Changing facilities - Including capacity, condition and fitness for purpose.

Disabled access - Including dedicated changing rooms and toilets.

Maintenance and cleanliness - Including how clean and well maintained the facilities are.

General access - Including overall car parking capacity and bike racks.

The facilities were rated on a five point scale, where 5 equates to ‘very good’, 4 to ‘good’, 3 to ‘average’, 2 to ‘poor’ and 1 to ‘very poor’. The scores for the pools in the district were as follows:

Facility Pool Changing Disabled Maintenance & General area Access Cleanliness Access Deben Pool 3 3 3 4 4 Felixstowe Leisure Centre 5 3 4 4 4 Framlingham College 3 3 3 4 3 Leiston Leisure Centre 4 3 4 4 4

The standards in the district's pools are average to good. This is despite the three public pools now being somewhat aging. The operators are making best use of the facilities available.

6.3.5 Disabled provision

Whilst all of the swimming pools in the district comply with the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act in terms of facilitating access to the buildings, none has either a disabled hoist to facilitate access to the water by people with ambulant disabilities, nor ‘changing places’ provision suitable for severely disabled people.

6.3.6 Accessibility

On the basis of the results of the leisure centre users survey, which shows that 80.8% of swimming pool users in the district travel for up to 20 minutes to reach their chosen facility, a 20 minute travel time catchment has been applied. 20-minute cycling and walking catchments have also been marked around each site. The accessibility analysis in the map below shows that:

Driving - About 120,000 people (96.3% of the district population) are within 20 minutes drive of their nearest swimming pool.

Cycling - About 95,000 people (76.2% of the district population) are within 20 minutes cycle of their nearest swimming pool.

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Walking - About 70,000 people (65.2% of the district population) are within 20 minutes walk of their nearest swimming pool.

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6.3.7 Summary

Quantity - There are four publicly accessible swimming pool sites in the Suffolk Coastal district with a total water area of 1,295sq.m. This is the equivalent of one main pool per 31,150 people or 10.4sqm. of water space per 1,000 population.

Benchmarked provision - Per capita swimming provision in Suffolk Coastal district is over 20% below the average for neighbouring Suffolk and at only 55% of that for similar authorities across the country.

Quality - Site visits assessed the quality of the pools in the district as average to good. The publically available pools are now somewhat old but remain attractive.

Disabled provision - None of the swimming pools in Suffolk Coastal has either a pool hoist to facilitate access to the water dedicated changing facilities for people with severe disabilities.

Access - 96.3% of the population of Suffolk Coastal is within 20 minutes drive time of their nearest sports hall.

6.4 Indoor tennis

6.4.1 Quantity

For the purposes of the assessment, indoor tennis halls are defined as specialist indoor facilities with appropriate playing surface and court dimensions for tennis. There are no indoor tennis centres within the Suffolk Coastal area. However, the David Lloyd Centre in Ipswich is situated very close to the district boundary and which draws some of its users from the area, in particular players from Kesgrave, Felixstowe and Woodbridge. It has therefore been included in the assessment of facilities available in Suffolk Coastal.

Facility Address No. courts David Lloyd, Ipswich Ransomes Europark, The Havens, Ipswich, IP3 9SJ 10

6.4.2 Benchmarked provision

To benchmark levels of provision in Suffolk Coastal, per capita provision in the geographical neighbouring local authorities and also the demographically most similar areas is ranked as follows. The data is drawn from Sport England’s ‘Active Places Power’.

Only two of the four neighbouring authorities have provision for indoor tennis. Data for per capita provision of indoor courts is skewed by the comparatively high level of provision in Ipswich including the David Lloyd Centre.

A better comparator is the number of courts provided in CIPFA near neighbour authorities. The average provision here is 2.3 indoor courts per council area or one court per 48,071 people. To meet this standard in Suffolk Coastal would require two or three courts.

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Geographical neighbours

Local authority Population Courts Courts per capita Ipswich 133,400 13 1: 10,262 Mid-Suffolk 96,700 3 1: 32,233 Babergh 87,700 0 - Waveney 115,300 0 - Suffolk Coastal 124,600 0 - Average - 4 1: 27,069

Demographic comparators

Local authority Population Courts Courts per capita South Hams 83,100 4 1: 20,775 South Lakeland 103,700 4 1: 25,925 Chichester 113,800 3 1: 37,933 Average - 2.3 1: 48,071 Teignbridge 124,200 2 1: 62,100 Wealden 148,900 1 1: 148,900 West Dorset 99,300 0 - Suffolk Coastal 124,600 0 -

6.4.3 Quality

The quality of indoor tennis provision was assessed by a non-technical visual inspection. The criteria that were assessed were as follows:

Courts - Including the overall condition, temperature, spectator provision, equipment storage and fitness for purpose.

Changing facilities - Including capacity, condition and fitness for purpose.

Disabled access - Including dedicated changing rooms and toilets.

Maintenance and cleanliness - Including how clean and well maintained the facilities are.

General access - Including overall car parking capacity and bike racks.

The facilities were rated on a five point scale, where 5 equates to ‘very good’, 4 to ‘good’, 3 to ‘average’, 2 to ‘poor’ and 1 to ‘very poor’. The scores for the David Lloyd centre are as follows:

Facility Courts Changing Disabled Maintenance & General Access Cleanliness Access David Lloyd, Ipswich 5 5 4 5 5

6.4.4 Disabled provision

There is provision for full disabled access at the David Lloyd centre.

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6.4.5 Accessibility

On basis of research commissioned by the Lawn Tennis Association, which revealed that indoor tennis centre users typically travel for up to 30 minutes to reach their chosen facility, a 30 minute travel time catchment has been applied. 30-minute cycling and walking catchments have also been marked around each site. The accessibility analysis in the map below shows that:

Driving - About 90,000 people (72.2% of the district population) are within 30 minutes drive of their nearest indoor tennis facility.

Cycling - About 25,000 people (20.1% of the district population) are within 20 minutes cycle of their nearest indoor tennis facility.

Walking - About 10,000 people (12.5% of the district population) are within 20 minutes walk of their nearest indoor tennis facility.

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6.4.6 Summary

Quantity - There are no indoor courts within the Suffolk Coastal district but residents in the south have access to the David Lloyd Centre with 10 courts

Benchmarked provision - Some 2.3 indoor courts would be required to bring provision up to the average for similar authorities

Quality - The David Lloyd Centre offers high standard facilities

Disabled provision - The David Lloyd Centre provides full disabled access.

Access - About 90,000 people (72.2% of the district population) are within 30 minutes drive of their nearest indoor tennis facility.

6.5 Indoor bowls

6.5.1 Quantity

For the purposes of the assessment, indoor bowls halls are defined specialist indoor facilities with appropriate playing surface and rink dimensions for bowls. There is a single, four rink centre within the council area. This is situated in Felixstowe Leisure Centre.

Facility Address Rinks Felixstowe Leisure Centre Undercliff Road West, Felixstowe IP11 2AE 4

Felixstowe Indoor Bowls Centre

6.5.2 Benchmarked provision

To benchmark levels of provision in Suffolk Coastal, per capita provision in the geographical neighbouring local authorities and also the demographically most similar areas is ranked as follows. The data is drawn from Sport England’s ‘Active Places Power’.

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The tables below show an uneven pattern of provision for indoor bowls across Suffolk. Babergh, Ipswich and Suffolk Coastal each have a single centre whilst Mid-Suffolk has two centres and Waveney has four. The high level of provision in Waveney has the effect of skewing the county average. The CIPFA near neighbour authorities provide a more meaningful comparison. The per capita provision in Suffolk Coastal is slightly better than the average.

Geographical neighbours

Local authority Population Centres Facilities per capita Waveney 115,300 4 1: 28,825 Mid-Suffolk 96,700 2 1: 48,350 Average - 2 1: 54,138 Babergh 87,700 1 1: 87,700 Ipswich 133,400 1 1: 133,400 Suffolk Coastal 124,600 1 1: 124,600

Demographic comparators

Local authority Population Centres Facilities per capita West Dorset 99,300 2 1: 49,650 South Hams 83,100 1 1: 83,100 Teignbridge 124,200 1 1: 124,200 Suffolk Coastal 124,600 1 1: 124,600 Average - 0.8 1: 134,600 Wealden 148,900 1 1: 148,900 South Lakeland 103,700 0 - Chichester 113,800 0 -

6.5.3 Quality

The quality of indoor bowls provision was assessed by a non-technical visual inspection conducted as part of the current study. The criteria that were assessed were as follows:

The green - Including the overall condition, lighting, spectator provision, equipment storage and fitness for purpose.

Changing facilities - Including capacity, condition and fitness for purpose.

Access - Including overall car parking capacity, disabled spaces and bike racks.

Other features - Including disability access and external appearance.

The facilities were rated on a five point scale, where 5 equates to ‘very good’, 4 to ‘good’, 3 to ‘average’, 2 to ‘poor’ and 1 to ‘very poor’. The scores for the indoor bowls facility at Felixstowe Leisure Centre were all good to very good as follows:

Facility Green Changing Disabled Maintenance & General Access Cleanliness Access Felixstowe Leisure Centre 5 3 4 4 4

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6.5.4 Disabled provision

As part of Felixstowe Leisure Centre, the indoor bowls facility complies with the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act in terms of facilitating access to the building, but there is no dedicated ‘changing places’ provision suitable for severely disabled people.

6.5.5 Accessibility

On basis of research commissioned by the Bowls England, which revealed that indoor bowls users typically travel for up to 30 minutes to reach their chosen facility, a 30 minute travel time catchment has been applied. 30-minute cycling and walking catchments have also been marked around each site. The accessibility analysis in the map below shows that:

Driving - About 65,000 people (52.2% of the district population) are within 30 minutes drive of their nearest indoor bowls facility.

Cycling - About 35,000 people (28.1% of the district population) are within 20 minutes cycle of their nearest indoor bowls facility.

Walking - About 25,000 people (20.1% of the district population) are within 20 minutes walk of their nearest indoor bowls facility.

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6.5.6 Summary

Quantity - There is one facility per 124,600 people in Suffolk Coastal.

Benchmarked provision - Provision in the district slightly above average for the CIPFA near neighbours but below average for neighbours in Suffolk. However, this latter figure is skewed by the high numbers of indoor bowls centres in neighbouring Waveney.

Quality - The quality of the indoor bowling centre at Felixstowe is good.

Disabled provision - The facility does not have dedicated changing facilities for people with severe disabilities.

Access - About 65,000 people (52.2% of the district population) are within 30 minutes drive of their nearest indoor bowls facility.

6.6 Health and fitness

6.6.1 Quantity

For the purposes of the assessment, health and fitness facilities are defined as dedicated community accessible facilities with a range of exercise equipment. There are 10 health and fitness centres of various sizes in the district equivalent to one centre per 12,460 people. None of the major fitness chains such as Virgin Active or LA Fitness operate in the district.

Site Name Address Stations Deben Pool Station Road, Woodbridge IP12 4AU 20 Courtyard Leisure Club Seckford Hall Hotel, Woodbridge IP1`3 6NU 20 Farlingaye High School Ransom Road, Woodbridge IP12 4JX 15 Felixstowe Leisure Centre Undercliff Road West, Felixstowe IP11 2AE 46 Framlingham College College Rd, Framlingham, Suffolk IP13 9EY 20 Lacey's Fitness 47 Cobbold Road, Felixstowe IP11 7EN 30 Leiston Leisure Centre Red House Lane, Leiston IP16 4LS 31 Martlesham Leisure Club Gloster Road, Ipswich IP5 3RJ 65 Otley College Charity Lane, Ipswich IP6 9EY 20 Ufford Park Spa And Health Club Ufford Park, Melton IP12 1QW 33

6.6.2 Sub-area analysis

The distribution of both health and fitness facilities and the number of equipment stations they contain in each sub-area is detailed below:

Sub-area Population Facilities Facilities per Stations Stations capita per capita Kesgrave and district 34,357 1 1: 34,357 65 1: 529 Felixstowe and district 30,612 2 1: 15,306 76 1: 403 Woodbridge and district 28,112 5 1: 5,622 108 1: 260 Framlingham and district 10,941 1 1: 10,941 20 1: 547 Leiston and district 20,276 1 1: 20,276 31 1: 654 SUFFOLK COASTAL 124,600 10 1: 12,460 300 1: 415

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6.6.3 Benchmarked provision

To benchmark levels of provision in Suffolk Coastal, per capita provision in the geographical neighbouring local authorities and also the demographically most similar areas is ranked as follows. The data is drawn from Sport England’s ‘Active Places Power’.

Suffolk Coastal has the lowest level of provision amongst both for its neighbours in Suffolk and amongst similar authorities across the country. Provision per capita is only two thirds of that in Suffolk and less than half that in comparator council areas.

Geographical neighbours

Local authority Population Facilities Facilities per capita Babergh 87,700 14 1: 6,264 Average - 13.3 1: 8,172 Ipswich 133,400 16 1: 8,338 Mid-Suffolk 96,700 11 1: 8,791 Waveney 115,300 12 1: 9,608 Suffolk Coastal 124,600 10 1: 12,460

Demographic comparators

Local authority Population Facilities Facilities per capita South Lakeland 103,700 24 1: 4,321 South Hams 83,100 17 1: 4,888 West Dorset 99,300 19 1: 5,226 Average - 17.8 1: 6,290 Chichester 113,800 18 1: 6,322 Teignbridge 124,200 14 1: 8,871 Wealden 148,900 15 1: 9,927 Suffolk Coastal 124,600 9 1: 12,460

6.6.4 Quality

The quality of health and fitness facility provision was assessed by a non-technical visual inspection. The criteria that were assessed were as follows:

Fitness facilities - Including the overall condition, mix of cardio-vascular and resistance equipment, lighting and ambience.

Changing - Including cleanliness, capacity and fitness for purpose.

Disabled access - Including disability-specific equipment.

Parking and general access - Including car parking capacity.

The facilities were rated on a five point scale, where 5 equates to ‘very good’, 4 to ‘good’, 3 to ‘average’, 2 to ‘poor’ and 1 to ‘very poor’. The scores were as follows:

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Facility Facilities Changing Disabled General Access Access Deben Pool 3 3 4 4 Courtyard Leisure Club 3 4 3 3 Farlingaye High School 2 3 2 1 Felixstowe Leisure Centre 4 4 4 4 Framlingham College 4 3 3 2 Lacey's Fitness 2 2 1 2 Leiston Leisure Centre 4 4 4 5 Martlesham Leisure 5 5 3 3 Otley College 2 2 2 3 Ufford Park Spa And Health Club 5 4 3 3

Framlingham College Health and Fitness

6.6.5 Disabled provision

Whilst all of the health and fitness facilities in the district comply with the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act in terms of facilitating access to the buildings, none has either adaptive fitness equipment specifically to cater for people with disabilities, nor ‘changing places’ provision suitable for severely disabled people.

6.6.6 Accessibility

On the basis of the results of the leisure centre users survey, which shows that 80.8% of health and fitness facility users in the district travel for up to 20 minutes to reach their chosen facility, a 20 minute travel time catchment has been applied. 20-minute cycling and walking catchments have also been marked around each site. The accessibility analysis in the map below shows that:

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Driving - About 120,000 people (96.3% of the district population) are within 20 minutes drive of their nearest health and fitness facility.

Cycling - About 95,000 people (76.2% of the district population) are within 20 minutes cycle of their nearest health and fitness facility.

Walking - About 70,000 people (65.2% of the district population) are within 20 minutes walk of their nearest health and fitness facility.

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6.6.7 Summary

Quantity - The area is served by 10 health and fitness clubs or one facility per 12,460 people

Benchmarked provision - The Suffolk Coastal area has the lowest level of provision amongst both for its neighbours in Suffolk and amongst similar authorities across the country.

Quality - There is considerable variation in the quality of health and fitness clubs across the district. In general the smaller clubs have poorer facilities than the larger sites.

Disabled provision - None of the health and fitness facilities in Suffolk Coastal has adaptive equipment for people with disabilities, nor dedicated changing facilities for people with severe disabilities.

Access - About 120,000 people (96.3% of the district population) are within 20 minutes drive of their nearest health and fitness facility

6.7 Squash courts

6.7.1 Quantity

For the purposes of the assessment, squash courts are defined as specialist courts for squash and racketball, complying with regulation dimensions, with community access.

Site Name Address Courts Alexanders International School Bawdsey Manor, Woodbridge IP12 3AZ 1 Brackenbury Sports Centre High Road East, Felixstowe IP11 9JF 2 Framlingham College College Rd, Framlingham, Suffolk IP13 9EY 2 Leiston Leisure Centre Red House Lane, Leiston IP16 4LS 2 Martlesham Leisure Gloster Road, Ipswich IP5 3RJ 8 Orwell Park School Orwell Park, Ipswich IP10 0ER 3 Trimley Sports And Social Club High Road, Felixstowe IP11 0RJ 2

6.7.2 Sub-area analysis

Sub-area Population Courts Courts per capita Kesgrave and district 34,357 11 1: 3,123 Felixstowe and district 30,612 4 1: 7,653 Woodbridge and district 28,112 1 1: 28,112 Framlingham and district 10,941 2 1: 5,471 Leiston and district 20,276 2 1: 10,138 SUFFOLK COASTAL 124,600 20 1: 6,230

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6.7.3 Benchmarked provision

To benchmark levels of provision in Suffolk Coastal, per capita provision in the geographical neighbouring local authorities and also the demographically most similar areas is ranked as follows. The data is drawn from Sport England’s ‘Active Places Power’.

Geographical neighbours

Local authority Population Courts Courts per capita Ipswich 133,400 22 1: 6,064 Suffolk Coastal 124,600 20 1: 6,230 Average - 11.8 1: 9,215 Mid-Suffolk 96,700 9 1: 10,744 Babergh 87,700 8 1: 10,923 Waveney 115,300 8 1: 14,413

Demographic comparators

Local authority Population Courts Courts per capita Chichester 113,800 14 1: 8,129 South Hams 83,100 13 1: 6,392 South Lakeland 103,700 10 1: 10,370 Teignbridge 124,200 8 1: 15,525 Wealden 148,900 10 1: 14,890 West Dorset 99,300 15 1: 6,620 Suffolk Coastal 124,600 20 1: 6,230 Average - 11.7 1: 9,614

6.7.4 Quality

The quality of squash court provision was assessed by a non-technical visual inspection conducted as part of the current study. The criteria that were assessed to give a single overall score for each squash facility were the court surface, line markings, walls, disability and general access and fitness for purpose.

The facilities were rated on a five point scale, where 5 equates to ‘very good’, 4 to ‘good’, 3 to ‘average’, 2 to ‘poor’ and 1 to ‘very poor’. The scores for squash courts were as follows:

Facility Score Alexanders International School 3 Brackenbury Sports Centre 4 Framlingham College 4 Leiston Leisure Centre 4 Martlesham Leisure 5 Orwell Park School 4 Trimley Sports And Social Club 3

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Squash courts at Brackenbury Leisure Centre

All facilities are rated as average or better with five of the seven sites being ‘above average’ or ‘Very good’ standard.

6.7.5 Disabled provision

Whilst all of the squash courts in the district comply with the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act in terms of facilitating access to the buildings, none has ‘changing places’ provision suitable for severely disabled people.

6.7.6 Accessibility

On the basis of the results of the leisure centre users survey, which shows that 80.8% of squash court users in the district travel for up to 20 minutes to reach their chosen facility, a 20 minute travel time catchment has been applied. 20-minute cycling and walking catchments have also been marked around each site. The accessibility analysis in the map below shows that:

Driving - About 120,000 people (96.3% of the district population) are within 20 minutes drive of their nearest squash court.

Cycling - About 95,000 people (76.2% of the district population) are within 20 minutes cycle of their nearest squash court.

Walking - About 70,000 people (65.2% of the district population) are within 20 minutes walk of their nearest squash court.

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6.7.7 Summary

Quantity - There are 20 squash courts at 7 sites across the district. This is the equivalent of one court per 6,230 people or one club per 17,800.

Benchmarked provision - Per capita provision of squash courts is higher than three of the four geographic neighbours and all of the CIPFA near neighbour authorities.

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Quality - All facilities are rated as average or better with five of the seven sites being above average or high standard.

Disabled provision - None of the squash courts in Suffolk Coastal has dedicated changing facilities for people with severe disabilities.

Access - About 120,000 people (96.3% of the district population) are within 20 minutes drive of their nearest squash court.

6.8 Village and community halls

6.8.1 Quantity

For the purposes of the assessment, village and community halls are defined as multi-purpose indoor facilities that are capable of accommodating a range of sports or physical activities. Depending on the design of the halls these can range from provision for formal sports such as table tennis, badminton and carpet bowls to spaces which can accommodate activities such as yoga and aerobics. The list below also includes some spaces which are simply meeting rooms which can provide valuable space for club committees and similar functions.

There are 113 village and community halls in the Suffolk Coastal area. This is the equivalent of one hall per 1,103 people. A full list of halls is as follows:

Site Address Aldeburgh Church Hall Victoria Road, Aldeburgh IP15 5EA Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall Crabbe Street, Aldeburgh IP15 5BN Alderton Village Hall The Street, Alderton, Woodbridge IP12 3DA All Saints Church Hall Main Road, Kesgrave IP5 1JG Angela Cobbold Hall The Street, Little Bealings, Woodbridge IP13 6LW Badingham Village Hall Low Street, Badingham, Woodbridge IP13 8JS Bawdsey Village Hall The Street, Bawdsey IP12 3AW Bealings Village Hall The Street, Little Bealings IP13 6LH Benhall Ex-Servicemens Club School Lane, Benhall, Saxmundham IP17 1HJ Blaxhall Village Hall Blaxhall, Woodbridge IP12 2DP Blythburgh Village Hall Blythburgh, Halesworth IP19 9LQ Boyton Church Rooms The Street, Boyton, Woodbridge IP12 3LH Bramfield Village Hall Pitman's Grove, Bramfield, Halesworth IP19 9HT Brandeston Village Hall The Street, Brandeston, Woodbridge IP13 7AD Bredfield Village Hall The Street, Bredfield, Woodbridge IP13 6AX Bromeswell Village Hall School Lane, Bromeswell IP12 2PY Bucklesham Village Hall Levington Lane, Bucklesham, IP10 0DZ. Bruisyard Village Hall Rendham Road, Bruisyard IP17 2DX Burness Parish Rooms 38, The Street, Melton, Woodbridge IP12 1PW Butley Village Hall Butley, Woodbridge IP12 3NZ Campsea Ashe Victory Hall Station Road, Campsea Ashe IP13 0PT Chediston Church Room Chediston, IP19 0BB Christ Church - Church Hall Grange Farm Avenue, Felixstowe IP11 2FB

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Site Address Charsfield Village Hall Charsfield, Woodbridge IP13 7QB Clopton Village Hall Manor Road, Clopton IP13 6QW Cratfield Village Hall Cratfield, Halesworth IP19 0DL Dallinghoo Jubilee Hall Pound Hill, Dallinghoo IP13 0LR Darsham Village Hall The Street, Darsham, Saxmundham IP17 3QD Dennington Jubilee Village Hall Framlingham Road, Dennington IP13 8BD Dunwich Reading Room St James Street, Dunwich IP17 3DT Earl Soham Village Hall The Street, Earl Soham IP13 7SQ Eyke & Rendlesham Village Hall Church Lane, Eyke, Woodbridge IP12 2QS Felix Cobbold Centre Charity Lane, Otley, Ipswich IP6 9NA Felixstowe Library Rooms Crescent Road, Felixstowe IP11 7BY Friston Village Hall Church Road, Friston, Saxmundham IP17 1PU Great Glamham Village Hall Low Road, Great Glemham, Saxmundham IP17 2DH Grundisburgh Sports Pavilion Ipswich Road, Grundisburgh, Woodbridge IP13 6TJ Hacheston Village Hall Hacheston, Woodbridge IP13 0DR Hasketon Victory Hall Tymmes Place, Hasketon IP13 6JD Hollesley Village Hall Hollesley, Woodbridge IP12 3RQ Home Guard Hall 23, Victory Road, Leiston IP16 4DQ Hungarian Hall Pettistree, Woodbridge IP13 0JF Huntingfield Village Hall The Street, Huntingfield, IP19 0PU Jubilee Hall Theberton, Leiston IP16 4SD Kelsale Village Hall and Centre Kelsale, Saxmundham IP17 2QU Kesgrave British Legion Hall Main Road, Kesgrave IP5 1JG Kesgrave Community Centre Twelve Acre Approach, Kesgrave IP5 1JF Kesgrave Scout Hut Twelve Acre Approach, Kesgrave IP5 1JF Kesgrave Social Club Edmonton Road, Kesgrave IP5 1EE Kesgrave Millennium Pavilion Twelve Acre Approach, Kesgrave IP5 1JF Kettleburgh Village Hall The Street, Kettleburgh, Woodbridge IP13 7LA Kirton Church Hall Church Lane, Kirton IP10 0PT Kirton & Falkenham Village Hall Falkenham Road, Kirton IP10 0QW Kirton Pavilion Back Road, Kirton IP Knodishall Village Hall School Road, Knodishall, Saxmundham IP17 1UD Leiston Community Centre King George's Avenue, Leiston IP16 4JX Lindos Centre Saddlemakers Lane, Melton IP12 1PP Linstead Village Hall Halesworth Road, Linstead IP19 0LB Marlesford Village Hall Marlesford, Woodbridge IP13 0AJ Martlesham Community Hall Felixstowe Road, Martlesham, Woodbridge IP12 4PB Martlesham Scout Hut The Drift, Valiant Road, Martlesham IP5 3UY Middleton Village Hall Mill Street, Middleton, Saxmundham IP17 3NG Monewden Village Hall Rookery Road, Monewden, Woodbridge IP13 7DD Nacton Hallowtree Scouts HQ Hall Nacton, Ipswich IP10 0JB Nacton Village Hall The Street, Nacton, Ipswich IP10 0EU Newbourne Village Hall Mill Road, Newbourne IP12 4NP Old Felixstowe Community Assoc. The Community Centre, Ferry Road, Felixstowe IP11 9NB Orford Town Hall Market Hill, Orford, Woodbridge IP12 2NZ Otley Village Hall Chapel Road, Otley IP6 9NT

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Site Address Parham Village Hall Parham, Woodbridge IP13 9LZ Peasenhall Assembly Hall Hackney Road, Peasenhall, Saxmundham IP17 2HN Playford Village Hall Hill Farm Road, Playford, Ipswich IP6 9DU Rendham Village Hall Framlingham Road, Rendham, Saxmundham IP17 2AG Rushmere Community Hub The Street, Rushmere St Andrew, Ipswich IP5 1DF Rushmere Village Hall Humber Doucy Lane, Rushmere St Andrew, Ipswich IP4 3PD St Andrew’s Church Hall Station Road, Melton IP12 1QA St Andrew's Church Hall The Street, Rushmere St Andrew, Ipswich IP5 1DF St. Andrew's Church Hall St Andrew's Road, Felixstowe IP11 7BW St. John's Church Hall Princes Road, Felixstowe IP11 7PU St John's Church Hall St John's Hill, Woodbridge IP12 1HS St. Mary’s Church Hall Church Lane, Ufford IP13 6DS St. Michael’s Church Hall The Drift, Martlesham Green IP5 3PL St. Philip's Church Hall Wadgate Road, Felixstowe IP11 2LX Saxmundham Market Hall High Street, Saxmundham IP17 1AJ Shire Hall Market Hill, Woodbridge IP12 4LP Shottisham WI Trust Hall Shottisham, Woodbridge IP12 3ET Snape CP School Hall Church Road, Snape, Saxmundham IP17 1QG Snape Village hall Church Road, Snape, Saxmundham IP17 1SX Sudbourne Village Hall Snape Road, Sudbourne IP12 2AT Sutton Memorial Hall Old Post Office Lane, Sutton, Woodbridge IP12 3JQ Sweffling Village Hall Sweffling, Saxmundham IP17 2BL The Fairfield Centre Fairfield Road, Aldeburgh IP15 5JS The Fred Reynolds Centre Churchill Close, Woodbridge IP12 4UU The Riverside Centre Mill Lane, Statford St Andrew, Saxmundham IP17 1LN The Welcome Hall High Road, Trimley St Mary, Felixstowe IP11 0TN Tower Hall Broadlands Way, Rushmere St Andrew, Ipswich Trimley St Martin Memorial Hall High Road, Trimley St Martin IP11 0RJ Tuddenham St Martin Village Hall Westerfield Lane, Tuddenham St Martin, Ipswich IP6 9BH Tunstall Community Centre Woodbridge Road, Tunstall IP12 2JE Walberswick Village Hall Main Street, Walberswick, Southwold IP18 6UA Waldringfield Village Hall Waldringfield, Woodbridge IP12 4QP Wenhaston Village Hall Hall Road, Wenhaston, Halesworth IP19 9EP Westbury Centre Fairfield Road, Framlingham IP13 9EL Westerfield Village Hall Church Lane, Westerfield, Ipswich IP6 9BE Westleton Village Hall The Street, Westleton, Saxmundham IP17 3AA Wickham Market Resource Centre Chapel Lane, Wickham Market, Woodbridge IP13 0SB Wickham Market Village Hall High St, Wickham Market IP13 0HE Witnesham Village Hall Church Lane, Witnesham, Ipswich IP6 9JD Women’s Institute Hall John Street, Leiston IP16 4DR Woodbridge Library Room New Street, Woodbridge IP12 1DT Woodbridge Community Hall Station Road, Woodbridge IP12 4AU Worlingworth Community Centre Shop Street, Worlingworth IP13 7HX Yoxford Village Hall Old High Road, Yoxford, Saxmundham IP17 3HN

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6.8.2 Sub-area analysis

The distribution of village and community halls in each sub-area is detailed below:

Sub-area Population Halls Halls per capita Kesgrave and district 34,357 23 1: 1,041 Felixstowe and district 30,612 11 1: 2,783 Woodbridge and district 28,112 35 1: 803 Framlingham and district 10,941 17 1: 643 Leiston and district 20,276 27 1: 751 SUFFOLK COASTAL 124,600 113 1: 1,103

There is a network of village and community halls across the district. Provision is lower in the more urban area of Felixstowe (one hall per 2,783 people) than in the other, more rural sub-areas. This is in counterpoint to the comparatively high level of access to facilities such as the leisure pool and indoor bowls centre in Felixstowe.

6.8.3 Benchmarked provision

No comparator data was available against which to benchmark the Suffolk Coastal figures.

6.8.4 Quality

The quality of village and community halls was assessed by a non-technical visual inspection conducted as part of the current study. Facilities were assessed against the following criteria: -

Provision for formal sport - Including dedicated sports facilities and markings and changing rooms. These are given a rating of 5 or 4

Available for informal activities - The provision of a space which can be used for exercise classes such as yoga or aerobics. These are given a rating of 3

Not available for physical activity - But with meeting space. These are given a rating of 2

Social Clubs - These are given a rating of 1

Using these criteria the village and community halls were assessed as follows

Site Location Rating Aldeburgh Church Hall Aldeburgh 3 Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall Aldeburgh 3 Alderton Village Hall Alderton 3 All Saints Church Hall Kesgrave 2 Angela Cobbold Hall Little Bealings 2 Badingham Village Hall Badingham 3 Bawdsey Village Hall Bawdsey 3 Bealings Village Hall Little Bealings 4 Benhall Ex-Servicemens Club Benhall 1

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Site Location Rating Blaxhall Village Hall Blaxhall 3 Blythburgh Village Hall Blythburgh, 3 Boyton Church Rooms Boyton, 2 Bramfield Village Hall Bramfield, 3 Brandeston Village Hall Brandeston 3 Bredfield Village Hall Bredfield 3 Bromeswell Village Hall Bromeswell 3 Bucklesham Village Hall Bucklesham 3 Bruisyard Village Hall Bruisyard 3 Burness Parish Rooms Melton 3 Butley Village Hall Butley 3 Campsea Ashe Victory Hall Campsea Ashe 2 Christ Church - Church Hall Felixstowe 2 Charsfield Village Hall Charsfield 3 Chediston Church Room Chediston 1 Clopton Village Hall Clopton 3 Cratfield Village Hall Cratfield 3 Dallinghoo Jubilee Hall Dallinghoo 3 Darsham Village Hall Darsham 2 Dennington Village Hall Dennington 3 Dunwich Reading Room Dunwich 2 Earl Soham Village Hall Earl Soham 3 Eyke & Rendlesham Village Hall Eyke 3 Felix Cobbold Centre Otley 2 Felixstowe Library Rooms Felixstowe 2 Friston Village Hall Friston 2 Great Glemham Village Hall Great Glemham 3 Grundisburgh Sports Pavilion Grundisburgh 2 Hacheston Village Hall Hacheston 3 Hasketon Victory Hall Hasketon 3 Hollesley Village Hall Hollesley 3 Home Guard Hall Leiston 1 Hungarian Hall Pettistree 1 Huntingfield Village "Hut" Huntingfield 2 Jubilee Hall Theberton 3 Kelsale Village Hall and Centre Kelsale 2 Kesgrave British Legion Hall Kesgrave 2 Kesgrave Community Centre Kesgrave 3 Kesgrave Scout Hut Kesgrave 2 Kesgrave Social Club Kesgrave 1 Kesgrave Millennium Pavilion Kesgrave 3 Kettleburgh Village Hall Kettleburgh 3 Kirton Church Hall Kirton 3 Kirton & Falkenham Village Hall Kirton 3 Kirton Pavilion Kirton 4 Knodishall Village Hall Knodishall, 3 Leiston Community Centre Leiston 3

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Site Location Rating Lindos Centre Melton 5 Linstead Village Hall Linstead 2 Marlesford Village Hall Marlesford 3 Martlesham Community Hall Martlesham, 3 Martlesham Scout Hut Martlesham 2 Middleton Village Hall Middleton, 3 Monewden Village Hall Monewden, 3 Nacton Hallowtree Scouts HQ Hall Nacton 2 Nacton Village Hall Nacton 3 Newbourne Village Hall Newbourne 2 Old Felixstowe Comm. Assoc. Felixstowe 2 Orford Town Hall Orford 4 Otley Village Hall Otley 3 Parham Village Hall Parham 2 Peasenhall Assembly Hall Peasenhall 3 Playford Village Hall Playford 3 Rendham Village Hall Rendham 2 Rushmere Community Hub Rushmere St Andrew 2 St Andrew’s Church Hall Melton 2 St Andrew's Church Hall Rushmere St Andrew 3 St. Andrew's Church Hall Felixstowe 3 St. John's Church Hall Felixstowe 3 St John's Church Hall Woodbridge 3 St. Mary’s Church Hall Ufford 2 St. Michael’s Church Hall Martlesham Green 2 St. Philip's Church Hall Felixstowe 3 Saxmundham Market Hall Saxmundham 3 Shire Hall Woodbridge 2 Shottisham WI Trust Hall Shottisham 3 Snape CP School Hall Snape 3 Snape Village Hall Snape 3 Sudbourne Village Hall Sudbourne 2 Sutton Memorial Hall Sutton 4 Sweffling Village Hall Sweffling 3 The Fairfield Centre Aldeburgh 3 The Fred Reynolds Centre Woodbridge 3 The Riverside Centre Saxmundham 3 The Welcome Hall Trimey St Mary 3 Tower Hall Rushmere St Andrew 3 Trimley St Martin Memorial Hall Trimley St Martin, 3 Tuddenham St Martin Village Hall Tuddenham St Martin 3 Tunstall Community Centre Tunstall 3 Village Hall Rushmere St Andrew 3 Walberswick Village Hall Walberswick, 3 Waldringfield Village Hall Waldringfield 3 Wenhaston Village Hall Wenhaston 4 Westbury Centre Framlingham 2

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Site Location Rating Westerfield Village Hall Westerfield 3 Westleton Village Hall Westleton 3 Wickham Market Resource Centre Wickham Market 2 Wickham Market Village Hall Wickham Market 3 Witnesham Village Hall Witnesham 3 Women’s Institute Hall Leiston 1 Woodbridge Library Room Woodbridge 2 Woodbridge Community Hall Woodbridge 4 Worlingworth Community Centre Worlingworth 3 Yoxford Village Hall Yoxford 3

Hacheston Village Hall

6.8.5 Disabled provision

Disabled access to village and community halls varies widely between facilities, although all comply with their legal obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act, most are not capable of accommodating sports use by people with severe disabilities.

6.8.6 Accessibility

Because village halls are effectively local scale facilities, a 10 minute travel time catchment has been applied. 10-minute cycling and walking catchments have also been marked around each site. The accessibility analysis in the map below shows that:

Driving - The whole district population is within 10 minutes drive of their nearest village or community hall.

Cycling - About 120,000 people (96.4% of the district population) are within 10 minutes cycle of their nearest village or community hall.

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Walking - About 90,000 people (72.2% of the district population) are within 10 minutes walk of their nearest village or community hall.

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6.8.7 Summary

Quantity - There is a total of 113 village and community halls across the Suffolk Coastal district.

Benchmarked provision - No comparative information is available for either geographic of near neighbour authorities

Quality - Few village and community halls have been designed with sport in mind but the vast majority most provide space for physical activities and some types of formal sport. Six facilities (5.7%) provide for formal sport, 64 (61.0%) provide for informal sport, 30 (28.6%) provide only meeting space and seven (6.3%) provide only social facilities. Most provide valuable facilities for rural communities without immediate access to larger, purpose built sports halls.

Disabled provision - Most village and community halls are not capable of accommodating sports use by people with severe disabilities.

Access - The whole district population is within 10 minutes drive of their nearest village or community hall.

6.9 Summary of built facilities supply in Suffolk Coastal

6.9.1 Quantity of provision

Per capita levels of provision of sport halls in Suffolk Coastal are comparable with those for its geographic neighbouring authorities. The large halls are supported by a network of village and community halls which provide valuable, local venues. Provision of squash courts is good with only Ipswich of the comparator authorities having a higher level of provision.

However, provision for swimming is considerably below these comparators. There is also a comparatively low level of health and fitness clubs.

There is no indoor tennis provision in the authority area although the Ipswich David Lloyd club serves the south of the district. There is a single indoor bowls facility in Felixstowe.

6.9.2 Sub-area analysis

A sub-area examination of sporting provision across the district shows that per capita levels of provision of more formal built facility provision such as sports halls and squash courts are generally higher in the southern sub-areas than in the north. For instance, provision in Leiston is less than half that in the Kesgrave and Felixstowe sub areas. The only indoor bowling centre is in Felixstowe as is the largest swimming venue. Access to health and fitness clubs is better in the south than the north.

There is a higher level of village and community halls in the north which may go some way to offset the comparative lack of more formal venues.

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6.9.3 Quality of provision

Based on the site visits and visual inspections, the quality of most playing areas and more unusually changing facilities is generally rated at least ‘average’ for all facility types. This is despite, for instance, the three public swimming pools all being somewhat aging. Less highly rated is disabled access to some facility types. Some of the smaller health and fitness venues need improvement.

6.9.4 Disabled provision

Whilst all facilities in the district comply with the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act and are therefore capable of accommodating some sports use by disabled people, provision for people with more severe disabilities is more limited.

6.9.5 Accessibility of provision

Geographical accessibility, particularly by car, is good throughout the district for most facility types. However, for those who are dependent on public transport (particularly in the rural areas) or non-vehicular transport, access is more limited.

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7 THE CURRENT SUPPLY AND DEMAND BALANCE

7.1 Introduction

This section analyses the current balance between the supply of and demand for each type of built facility in Suffolk Coastal.

7.2 Sports halls

7.2.1 Consultation and audit findings

Quantity - There are 12 community accessible sports halls in Suffolk Coastal, equivalent to one per 10, 383 people. Per capita levels of provision vary widely between sub-areas, with better access in the south than the north.

Benchmarked provision - Per capita levels of sports hall provision in Suffolk Coastal are better than the average for neighbouring authorities in Suffolk an almost exactly match the average for CIPFA comparator council areas.

Quality - The quality of sports halls is generally average or better, due in part to the recent construction of new facilities at schools. Access for people with disabilities could be improved.

Disabled provision - None of the sports halls in Suffolk Coastal has dedicated changing facilities for people with severe disabilities.

Accessibility - About 120,000 people (96.3% of the district population) are within 20 minutes drive of their nearest sports hall, about 105,000 people (84.3% of the district population) are within 20 minutes cycle of their nearest sports hall and about 80,000 people (64.2% of the district population) are within 20 minutes walk of their nearest sports hall.

Consultations - The consultations carried out for this study have not highlighted any significant demand for additional sports halls in the district.

Market Segmentation Data - The comparatively aged profile of Suffolk Coastal's population means that demand for indoor sports such as basketball and five-a-side football is less than amongst a similar sized population elsewhere. The sports most likely to be enjoyed by the key market segments take place in other types of venue.

7.2.2 Assessment of current provision

Current levels of provision of sports halls in Suffolk Coastal are adequate to meet existing needs. However:

Several facilities have access issues for people with disabilities

Marketing and information about school facilities should be improved

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7.3 Swimming pools

7.3.1 Consultation and audit findings

Quantity - There are four main pools in Suffolk Coastal the equivalent of on pool per 31,075 people. Three of these pools are fully accessible public pools.

Benchmarked provision - Per capita levels of swimming pool provision in Suffolk Coastal are significantly below the average for Suffolk neighbours (one pool per 24,061 people) and the CIPFA comparator authorities (one pool per 17,256).

Quality - The quality of provision as assessed by the visual inspections is generally good, with all aspects of all facilities rated as at least ‘average’ standard. This is despite the age of the public pools.

Disabled provision - None of the swimming pools in Suffolk Coastal has a pool hoist to facilitate access to the water, nor dedicated changing facilities for people with severe disabilities.

Access - About 120,000 people (96.3% of the district population) are within 20 minutes drive of their nearest pool. About 95,000 people (76.2% of the district population) are within 20 minutes cycle of their nearest swimming. About 70,000 people (65.2% of the district population) are within 20 minutes walk of their nearest swimming pool.

Market Segmentation Data - The comparatively aged profile of Suffolk Coastal's population means that swimming is a sport most likely to be enjoyed by the key market segments.

7.3.2 Assessment of current provision

Current levels of provision of swimming pools in Suffolk Coastal are adequate to meet existing need, but all facilities have access issues for people with disabilities

7.4 Indoor tennis

7.4.1 Consultation and audit findings

Quantity - There is no indoor tennis provision in the district. Residents in the south of the Suffolk Coastal area have access to the David Lloyd centre just over the district boundary in Ipswich

Benchmarked Provision - Only two of the four neighbouring authorities have provision for indoor tennis. Data for per capita provision of indoor courts is skewed by the comparatively high level of provision in Ipswich including the David Lloyd Centre. A better comparator is the number of courts provided in CIPFA near neighbour authorities. The average provision here is 2.3 indoor courts per council area or one court per 48,710 people. To meet this standard in Suffolk Coastal would require two or three courts.

Disabled provision - The David Lloyd Centre provides full disabled access.

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Access - About 90,000 people (72.2% of the district population) are within 30 minutes drive of their nearest indoor tennis facility. About 25,000 people (20.1% of the district population) are within 20 minutes cycle of their nearest indoor tennis facility. About 10,000 people (12.5% of the district population) are within 20 minutes walk of their nearest indoor tennis facility.

Market Segmentation Data - The comparatively aged profile of Suffolk Coastal's population means that demand for indoor tennis is less than amongst a similar sized population elsewhere.

Local consultations - 30.7% of respondents to the leisure centre users survey believe that there are too few indoor tennis facilities in the district at present.

Demand - Levels of provision of outdoor tennis courts in Suffolk Coastal are high. Consultation with local tennis clubs shows a demand for facilities to enable all year round play. Comments made suggest that this could best be achieved by construction of air domes or similar over existing hard courts rather than through a new specialist centre.

7.4.2 Assessment of current provision

The absence of indoor tennis courts in the district limits all year round play. Provision of two or three indoor courts, possibly in the form of seasonal airdomes, would widen the range of opportunities in the district and make comparable provision to the similar authorities elsewhere.

7.5 Indoor bowls

7.5.1 Consultation and audit findings

Quantity - There is a single indoor bowls centre in the district at Felixstowe Leisure Centre. This is the per capita equivalent of one centre per 124,600 people.

Quality - The quality of the Felixstowe centre is rated at good or very good across all aspects

Benchmarked Provision - Suffolk Coastal makes above average provision for indoor bowls when compared with CIPFA near neighbours. It makes below average provision when compared with Suffolk neighbours but this figure is skewed by a high level of facilities in Waveney which has four centres.

Disabled provision - Felixstowe Leisure Centre does not have dedicated changing facilities for people with severe disabilities.

Access - About 65,000 people (52.2% of the district population) are within 30 minutes drive of their nearest indoor bowls facility. About 35,000 people (28.1% of the district population) are within 20 minutes cycle of their nearest indoor bowls facility. About 25,000 people (20.1% of the district population) are within 20 minutes walk of their nearest indoor bowls facility.

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Market Segmentation Data - The comparatively aged profile of Suffolk Coastal's population means that indoor bowls appeals to the dominant market segments. This supports the case for an additional venue.

7.5.2 Assessment of current provision

The single indoor bowls facility in Suffolk Coastal means that in purely numerical terms provision is broadly adequate to meet existing needs from within the district. However, the location of the centre means that access across the area is difficult. Ideally, additional provision should be made in one of the northern sub-areas.

The current position should be kept under review and if sufficient demand is identified in the district, additional provision may be made by the voluntary or commercial sectors, which is the commonest operational model elsewhere.

7.6 Health and fitness

7.6.1 Consultation and audit findings

Quantity - There are 10 health and fitness clubs in the district. This is the per capita equivalent of one centre per 12,460 people.

Quality - The quality of the clubs is generally good although two sites rate as below average. None of the well known brands such as LA Fitness operate in the district.

Benchmarked Provision - The supply of health and fitness clubs in the Suffolk Coastal district is significantly below the levels for both geographic neighbours and comparable authority areas.

Disabled provision - None of the health and fitness facilities in Suffolk Coastal has adaptive equipment for people with disabilities, nor dedicated changing facilities for people with severe disabilities.

Access - About 120,000 people (96.3% of the district population) are within 20 minutes drive of their nearest health and fitness facility, about 95,000 people (76.2% of the district population) are within 20 minutes cycle of their nearest health and fitness facility and about 70,000 people (65.2% of the district population) are within 20 minutes walk of their nearest health and fitness facility.

Market Segmentation Data - The comparatively older profile of Suffolk Coastal's population means that demand for gym facilities is low amongst the dominant market segments. This goes some way to explaining the low level of provision.

7.6.2 Assessment of current provision

The comparative data suggests that there may be some latent demand for health and fitness facilities in the district. The provision of adaptive equipment for people with disabilities should be considered at the publicly-owned facilities in Suffolk Coastal.

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The current position should be kept under review and if sufficient demand is identified in the district, additional provision may be made by commercial operators, which is the commonest operational model elsewhere.

7.7 Squash courts

7.7.1 Consultation and audit findings

Quantity - There are 20 squash courts in the district. This is the per capita equivalent of one court per 6,230 people.

Quality - The quality of the courts is good.

Benchmarked Provision - Per capita provision of squash courts is higher than three of the four geographic neighbours and all of the CIPFA near neighbour authorities.

Disabled provision - None of the squash courts in Suffolk Coastal has dedicated changing facilities for people with severe disabilities.

Access - About 120,000 people (96.3% of the district population) are within 20 minutes drive of their nearest squash court. About 95,000 people (76.2% of the district population) are within 20 minutes cycle of their nearest squash court. About 70,000 people (65.2% of the district population) are within 20 minutes walk of their nearest squash court.

Market Segmentation Data - The comparatively aged profile of Suffolk Coastal's population means that demand for squash facilities is low amongst the dominant market segments.

7.7.2 Assessment of current provision

There is a high level of provision of squash courts in Suffolk Coastal district. The priority for England Squash and Racketball, the governing body of the sport, is to preserve and encourage us of existing courts rather than to increase supply. There is therefore no current need for additional squash facilities.

7.8 Village & Community Halls

7.8.1 Consultation and audit findings

Provision for large sports halls is supported, particularly in the north of the district, by a large network of village and community halls. Most of these have space available for informal sport and physical activities. A small number have been designed for formal sport such as badminton.

Quantity - There are 113 such venues across the Suffolk Coastal area the equivalent of one hall per 1,103 people. Provision per capita is higher in the two northern sub-areas.

Quality - More than two-thirds of halls were rated as having some space available for physical activity such as yoga, aerobics or keep fit. The halls are very varied in terms of floor area, floor surface, ceiling height and ancillary facilities.

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Benchmarked Provision - No comparable data is available for geographic or near neighbours.

Disabled provision - Most village and community halls are not capable of accommodating sports use by people with severe disabilities.

Access - The whole district population is within 10 minutes drive of their nearest village or community hall.

Market Segmentation Data - The comparatively aged profile of Suffolk Coastal's population means that the sports most likely to be enjoyed by the key market segments are such as bowls, dancing and gentle exercise. These can be ideally accommodated in local halls with a minimum of travel time.

7.8.2 Assessment of current provision

Current levels of provision of village halls in Suffolk Coastal are adequate to meet existing needs. Indeed, more could be made of their potential as local venues for physical activity. Marketing and information about facilities should be improved. A central, on-line list of halls and contacts would provide valuable information

7.9 Summary of current needs

On the basis of the analysis of the current balance between supply and demand of built facilities in Suffolk Coastal, the following needs have been identified:

Facility type Quantity Quality Accessibility Sports halls Current levels of Improvements needed: - 120,000 people (96.3% of the district provision are Woodbridge School playing population) are within 20 minutes adequate to meet surface. drive of their nearest sports hall. existing needs Disabled changing 105,000 people (84.3% of the district improvements at all sites. population) are within 20 minutes Information provision at cycle of their nearest sports hall. school sites 80,000 people (64.2% of the district population) are within 20 minutes walk of their nearest sports hall. Swimming Current levels of Improvements needed: - 120,000 people (96.3% of the district pools provision are Disabled hoists at all pools. population) are within 20 minutes adequate to meet all Disabled changing drive of their nearest pool. needs in the district. improvements at all sites. 95,000 people (76.2% of the district All public pools are ageing population) are within 20 minutes and will need major cycle of their nearest pool. refurbishment or 70,000 people (65.2% of the district replacement in due course. population) are within 20 minutes walk of their nearest pool.

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Facility type Quantity Quality Accessibility Indoor tennis No provision in the The quality of the 90,000 people (72.2% of the district courts district, although needs are existing courts at David population) are within 30 minutes drive met by the 10-court facility Lloyd Ipswich is good. of their nearest indoor tennis facility. at David Lloyd is just over 25,000 people (20.1% of the district the Ipswich border. population) are within 20 minutes cycle of their nearest indoor tennis facility. 10,000 people (12.5% of the district population) are within 20 minutes walk of their nearest indoor tennis facility. Indoor bowls Current levels of All aspects of the 65,000 people (52.2% of the district provision are adequate current facility are population) are within 30 minutes drive to meet existing needs good quality. of their nearest indoor bowls facility. Market Segmentation Disabled changing 35,000 people (28.1% of the district data indicates that bowls improvements needed. population) are within 20 minutes cycle demand should be of their nearest indoor bowls facility. above the national 25,000 people (20.1% of the district average. population) are within 20 minutes walk of An additional centre their nearest indoor bowls facility. may desirable as long term objective. Health and Comparatively low level Facilities and changing 120,000 people (96.3% of the district fitness facilities of provision but no improvements needed population) are within 20 minutes drive evidence of need for at: of their nearest health and fitness facility. additional facilities. Lacey's Fitness 95,000 people (76.2% of the district Support for additional Farlinghaye High population) are within 20 minutes cycle facilities to be provided School of their nearest health and fitness facility. by commercial Otley College 70,000 people (65.2% of the district operators. Adaptive equipment population) are within 20 minutes walk of needed for disabled users their nearest health and fitness facility. at all public facilities. Disabled changing improvements at all sites. Squash courts High levels of provision All courts are good 120,000 people (96.3% of the district meet existing needs. quality. population) are within 20 minutes drive Disabled changing of their nearest squash court. improvements needed. 95,000 people (76.2% of the district population) are within 20 minutes cycle of their nearest squash court. 70,000 people (65.2% of the district population) are within 20 minutes walk of their nearest squash court. Village and Current levels of Facilities are very The whole district population is within 10 community provision are adequate variable in age, size minutes drive of their nearest village or halls to meet existing needs. and range of facilities. community hall. Only 67% of halls meet Disabled access 120,000 people (96.4% of the district formal or informal improvements population) are within 10 minutes cycle sports needs. needed at some sites. of their nearest village or community hall. 90,000 people (72.2% of the district population) are within 10 minutes walk of their nearest village or community hall.

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8 FUTURE SUPPLY & DEMAND BALANCE

8.1 Introduction

This section analyses the future balance between the supply of and demand for built facilities in Suffolk Coastal, in the period to 2021.

8.2 Methodology

The application of locally-derived, evidence-based standards of provision is the most appropriate way of assessing the adequacy of future provision of built facilities, taking account of projected population change.

8.3 Projected population change to 2027

The Office for National Statistics published ‘2012-based Sub-national Population Projections for Local Authorities in England’ (2014), which contains figures on projected population change in the district to 2027. The ONS projections for Suffolk Coastal forecast that the population of the district will be 132,000 by 2027, an increase of 7,400 people, or 5.9% growth. To meet the needs of this growing population the following of standards are proposed.

8.4 Proposed planning standards

8.4.1 Sports halls

Element Standard Justification Quantitative One sports hall per Existing levels of provision equate to one sports hall per 10,383 10,000 people. people - Suffolk Coastal Quantitative Audit (2014). Current levels of provision are adequate to meet current needs with no identified gaps Qualitative All aspects of a sports All aspects of the quality of all sports facilities in Suffolk Coastal hall and its ancillary should aspire to be of at least ‘average’ quality. - Suffolk Coastal Built facilities should rate Facilities Assessment (2014). ‘average’ or better. Accessibility The whole 80.8% of sports hall users in the district travel for up to 20 minutes population within 20 to reach their chosen facility. - Suffolk Coastal Leisure Centre Users minutes drive of the Survey (2014). nearest sports hall.

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8.4.2 Swimming pools

Element Standard Justification Quantitative One swimming pool Existing levels of provision equate to one swimming pool per per 30,000 people. 31,075 people - Suffolk Coastal Quantitative Audit (2014). Per capita levels of provision are below the average for neighbouring and demographic comparator local authorities, but there is no evidence of unmet demand in the district at present - Suffolk Coastal Quantitative Audit (2014). Qualitative All aspects of a All aspects of the quality of all sports facilities in Suffolk Coastal swimming pool and should aspire to be of at least ‘average’ quality. - Suffolk Coastal Built its ancillary facilities Facilities Assessment (2014). should rate ‘average’ or better. Accessibility The whole 80.8% of swimming pool users in the district travel for up to 20 population within 20 minutes to reach their chosen facility. - Suffolk Coastal Leisure Centre minutes drive of the Users Survey (2014). nearest swimming pool.

8.4.3 Indoor tennis courts

Element Standard Justification Quantitative No standard set There is no current provision. Consultations with local clubs indicate a requirement for winter playing opportunities. Covering three existing hard courts would provide this opportunity to a level close to the average for comparable authorities. The standard is based on three indoor courts The Suffolk Sports Facilities Strategy identifies a strategic need for indoor tennis provision in Suffolk Coastal. - ‘Suffolk Sports Facilities Assessment’ (2009). Qualitative All aspects to be All aspects of the quality of all sports facilities in Suffolk Coastal rated good or better should aspire to be of at least ‘average’ quality. - Suffolk Coastal Built Facilities Assessment (2014). Accessibility The whole Research commissioned by the Lawn Tennis Association revealed population within 30 that indoor tennis centre users typically travel for up to 30 minutes minutes drive of the to reach their chosen facility and more than 90% travel by car. - nearest indoor tennis LTA (2002). courts.

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8.4.4 Indoor bowls facilities

Element Standard Justification Quantitative One indoor bowls Existing levels of provision equate to one indoor bowls hall per facility per 62,300 124,600 people - Suffolk Coastal Quantitative Audit (2014). people (or one rink This is deemed sufficient to meet current needs. However, access per 15,300 people). difficulties mean that an additional facility is a long term goal - Suffolk Coastal Built Facilities Assessment (2014). Sport England’s Market Segmentation data suggests that given the demographic profile of the study area, demand for bowls should be above the national average. - Market Segmentation data (2014). Qualitative All aspects of an All aspects of the quality of all Built facilities in Suffolk Coastal indoor bowls hall should aspire to be of at least ‘average’ quality. - Suffolk Coastal Built should rate ‘average’ Facilities Assessment (2014). or better. Accessibility The whole ‘The majority of indoor facility users will live locally and travel not population within 30 more than 30 minutes. 90% of users will travel by car’. - ‘Bowls minutes drive of the Design Guidance’ (2005). nearest indoor bowls hall.

8.4.5 Health and fitness facilities

Element Standard Justification Quantitative One health and Existing levels of provision equate to one health and fitness facility fitness facility per per 13,844 - Suffolk Coastal Quantitative Audit (2014). 13,800 people. The Market Segmentation data indicates that the demographic profile of Suffolk Coastal is such that demand for health and fitness facilities is likely to be lower than the national average. - Market Segmentation data (2014). Qualitative All aspects of a All aspects of the quality of all Built facilities in Suffolk Coastal facility should rate should aspire to be of at least ‘average’ quality. - Suffolk Coastal Built ‘average’ or better. Facilities Assessment (2014). Accessibility The whole 80.8% of health and fitness users in the district travel for up to 20 population within 20 minutes to reach their chosen facility. - Suffolk Coastal Leisure Centre mins. drive of the Users Survey (2014). nearest facility.

8.4.6 Squash courts

Element Standard Justification Quantitative One squash court per Existing levels of provision equate to one squash court per 6,200 6,200 people. people - Suffolk Coastal Quantitative Audit (2014). Per capita levels of squash court provision in Suffolk Coastal are the second highest of its geographical neighbours and the highest for its demographic comparators. There is no evidence of any local shortfalls in supply. - Suffolk Coastal Quantitative Audit (2014).

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Element Standard Justification Qualitative All aspects of a All aspects of the quality of all Built facilities in Suffolk Coastal squash court and its should aspire to be of at least ‘average’ quality. - Suffolk Coastal Built ancillary facilities Facilities Assessment (2014). should rate ‘average’ or better. Accessibility The whole As a specialist Built facility, squash court users typically travel for population within 20 up to 20 minutes to reach their chosen facility and over 90% travel minutes drive of the by car. - England Squash and Racketball (2011). nearest squash court.

8.4.7 Village and community halls

Element Standard Justification Quantitative One hall per 1,100 Existing levels of provision equate to one village/community hall people. per 1,103 people. Current provision appears to supplement more formal, specialist Built facilities by meeting low-level recreational needs, particularly in rural areas - Suffolk Coastal Quantitative Audit (2014). Qualitative All new village/ All aspects of the quality of all Built facilities in Suffolk Coastal community halls should aspire to be of at least ‘average’ quality. - Suffolk Coastal Built should include some Facilities Assessment (2014). provision for formal sport and associated changing rooms. Accessibility The whole Village/community halls are essentially local facilities with a population within 10 relatively limited catchment, so a maximum of 10 minutes travel minutes drive of the time is an appropriate standard. - Suffolk Coastal Built Facilities nearest hall. Assessment (2014).

8.5 Projected future needs

The Office for National Statistics published ‘2012-based Sub-national Population Projections for Local Authorities in England’ (2014), which contains figures on projected population change in the district to 2027. The ONS projections for Suffolk Coastal forecast that the population of the district will be 132,000 by 2027, an increase of 7,400 people, or 5.9% growth.

Projected future needs are calculated below, based upon the standards proposed above:

Facility Current Current Recommended Extra Population Extra facilities facilities provision Standard by 2027 needed by 2027 Sports halls 12 1:10,383 1: 10,000 7,400 0.74 Swimming pools 4 1:31,075 1: 30,000 7,400 0.25 Indoor bowls 1 1:124,600 1: 62,300 7,400 0.12 Indoor tennis 0 - - 7,400 0 Health and fitness 10 1:12,460 1: 12,460 7,400 0.6 Squash 20 1:6,200 1: 6,200 7,400 1.2 Village/community halls 110 1:1,133 1: 1,100 7,400 6.7

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9 PLANNING POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

9.1 Introduction

This section examines the considerations that Suffolk Coastal Council will take into account in refining built facilities planning policies in the study area.

9.2 Locally-derived standards of provision

The National Planning Policy Framework states that

‘Access to high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and recreation can make an important contribution to the health and well-being of communities. 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. The assessments should identify specific needs and quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses of open space, sports and recreational facilities in the local area. Information gained from the assessments should be used to determine what open space, sports and recreational provision is required’.

The standards of provision proposed in the Suffolk Coastal Built Facilities Assessment are accordingly based upon a detailed assessment of local needs.

9.3 Protection of existing provision

Suffolk Coastal Council will resist the loss of built facilities, unless one of more of the following policy exceptions applies:

A carefully quantified and documented assessment of current and future needs has demonstrated that there is an excess of facility provision in the catchment and that the site has no special significance to the interests of sport.

The proposed development is ancillary to the principal use of the site as a built facility and does not affect the quantity or quality of facilities or adversely affect their use.

The proposed development affects only land incapable of forming a built facility and does not result in:

- The loss, or loss of use of, any facility (including the maintenance of adequate safety margins).

- A reduction in the size of the playing area of any facility.

- The loss of any other sports/ancillary facilities on site.

The built facility which would be lost as a result of the proposed development would be replaced by facilities of an equivalent or better quality, in a suitable location and subject to equivalent or better management arrangements, prior to the commencement of the development.

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The proposed development is for an indoor or outdoor sports facility, the provision of which would be of sufficient benefit to the development of sport to outweigh the detriment caused by the loss of the current facility.

9.4 Provision relating to new developments

The following principles should apply:

All new developments which result in an increase in the number of dwellings should contribute towards the provision of built facilities. For smaller developments where on-site provision is not achievable, a financial contribution will be sought from developers towards the improvement of provision elsewhere, where appropriate schemes can be identified within the defined catchment.

The precise nature, composition and size of built facilities provision in new developments will be determined in relation to the overall size of the development and with reference to the minimum standards of provision.

9.5 Regular review

Because the assessment of the adequacy of built facilities provision is based upon an aggregation of supply and demand factors which may vary over time, the Assessment will be regularly reviewed to ensure that the information upon which it is based remains current.

9.6 Summary

The planning policy considerations will inform local planning policy on built facilities, which will in turn protect existing provision and define the basis for achieving additional facilities to meet identified needs.

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10 ACTION PLAN

10.1 Introduction

This section comprises an action plan for meeting the deficiencies identified in this assessment. It examines the options for meeting the shortfalls, the delivery partners and an action plan that specifies what needs to be provided and where and proposes how best this might be achieved.

10.2 Dealing with deficiencies

10.2.1 New provision

Providing entirely new built facilities may be the only means of securing additional provision in the right location. This can be achieved by:

Identifying entirely new sites for provision in appropriate locations.

Extending existing provision where feasible.

Disposing of existing facilities to reinvest the capital receipt in new provision of at least equivalent quantity, quality and accessibility.

Incorporating facilities into new community provision and housing developments.

10.2.2 Upgrading and refurbishing

Upgrading and refurbishing existing built facilities would help to meet some of the qualitative deficiencies identified:

Leisure centre refurbishment offers the opportunity to extend current provision and/or to include additional types of facility.

Disabled changing facilities are poor or absent at many facilities in the Suffolk Coastal and improvements broaden the potential for use of the facilities by disabled people.

10.2.3 Enhanced access

Developing new access to built facilities on education sites and securing community use at sites where access is only informal at present would significantly improve the availability of provision. Securing improved access through the development of formal agreements serves to safeguard community use of school built facilities may provide sufficient security of tenure to allow external funding applications to be sought, to provide further enhancements.

10.2.4 Reinstating former facilities

Reinstating built facilities where usage has, for a variety of reasons, been discontinued in recent times, affords a straightforward response to increased local demand.

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10.3 Delivery partners

A wide range of organisations will have a role in implementing the Suffolk Coastal Sports Facilities Assessment. The type of roles are summarised below.

10.3.1 Suffolk Coastal Council

The council is likely to play the lead role in co-ordinating the development of the larger, more strategic built facility sites, in conjunction with other partners where appropriate.

10.3.2 Management contractor

The contractor appointed by the Council to run the main leisure centres in the district may be prepared to invest capital funds to improve the facilities it is managing, on the basis that improved capacity and usage will enable it to generate a commercial return on its investment.

10.3.3 Town and Parish Councils

Parish councils will continue to play a valuable role in providing and maintaining built facilities, especially in the rural parts of the district.

10.3.4 Schools and colleges

Many schools in Suffolk Coastal already provide built facilities from which local communities benefit and there will be further opportunities to extend and formalise community access to a range of provision on school sites.

10.3.5 Sports clubs

Local sports clubs are significant providers of built facilities and will continue to do so. Some clubs may be interested in taking on delegated management responsibilities for facilities management and maintenance from Suffolk Coastal Council or parish councils.

10.3.6 Developers

The developers of new housing and commercial projects in Suffolk Coastal can be required either to provide new built facilities as part of an individual development, or to make a financial contribution towards the costs of such provision on site or elsewhere in the vicinity. The key principle is that the provision must meet the needs of the residents of the new homes, as opposed to rectifying any pre-existing deficiencies.

10.3.7 Partnership arrangements

Partnership arrangements involving combinations of any of the above providers will help to share the costs of provision, management and maintenance of additional provision.

10.4 Action plan for meeting existing needs

The action plan identifies the ways in which current deficiencies might be met and the partners who will have a role in providing and funding new and improved provision.

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Facility Current assessed deficiency Action plan for meeting deficiency Sports halls Current levels of provision are Support facility owners with external funding adequate to meet existing needs. applications for playing surface and lighting Playing surface improvements improvements at Woodbridge School. needed at 1 site. Support facility owners with external funding Disabled changing improvements applications for disabled changing needed at all sites. improvements at all sites. General access improvements Support facility owners with external funding needed at 2 sites. applications for general access improvements at: No accessibility deficiency. - Farlinghaye High School - Woodbridge School Swimming Current levels of provision are Support facility owners with external funding pools adequate to meet existing needs. applications for disabled pool hoists at all sites. Disabled hoists needed at all sites. Support facility owners with external funding Disabled changing improvements applications for disabled changing needed at all sites. improvements at all sites. No accessibility deficiency. Indoor tennis Current levels of provision are No action required. adequate to meet existing needs. No quality improvements needed. No accessibility deficiency. Indoor bowls Current levels of provision are Support facility operator with external funding adequate to meet existing needs. applications for disabled changing improvements Disabled changing improvements at all sites. needed. No accessibility deficiency. Health and Current levels of provision are Support facility owners with external funding fitness adequate to meet existing needs. applications for facilities improvements at: Facilities improvements needed at - Lacey’s Fitness 3 sites. - Farlinghaye High School Disabled changing improvements - Otley College needed at all sites. Support facility owners with external funding Adaptive equipment needed at all applications for disabled changing public sites. improvements at all sites. No accessibility deficiency. Support facility owners with external funding applications for adaptive equipment at: - Deben Pool - Felixstowe Leisure Centre - Leiston Sports Centre Squash courts Current levels of provision are Support facility owners with external funding adequate to meet existing needs. applications for disabled changing improvements Disabled changing improvements at all sites. needed at all sites. No accessibility deficiency.

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Facility Current assessed deficiency Action plan for meeting deficiency Village and Current levels of provision are Ensure that all new village and community community adequate to meet existing needs. halls are provided with suitable dimensions for halls Only 67% of halls meet formal or formal sports usage. informal sports needs. Support facility owners with external funding No qualitative deficiency. applications for facility improvements to No accessibility deficiency. facilitate additional formal sports usage.

10.5 Action plan for meeting future needs

The action plan identifies the ways in which future deficiencies might be met and the partners who will have a role in providing and funding new and improved provision. The deficiencies arising from the projected growth in population of 7,400 people are expressed in terms of ‘facility equivalents’ and based upon the planning standards for each type of facility.

Facility Future assessed deficiency Action plan for meeting deficiency Sports halls Additional demand equivalent to Secure the provision of additional indoor 0.74 sports halls sports space equivalent to 0.74 sports halls, funded by developer contributions and within 20 minutes drive of new developments. Swimming Additional demand equivalent to Secure the provision of additional indoor pools 0.25 swimming pools water space equivalent to 0.25 indoor pools (80sq.m of pool space), funded by developer contributions and within 20 minutes drive of new developments. Indoor tennis No additional provision required No action required Indoor bowls Additional demand equivalent to Secure the provision of an additional rink at 0.12 indoor bowls facilities. existing or new facilities, funded by developer contributions and within 30 minutes drive of new developments. Health and Additional demand equivalent to 0.6 Secure the provision of the equivalent of 0.6 fitness health and fitness facilities additional health and fitness facilities (30 stations), funded by developer contributions and within 20 minutes drive of new developments. Squash Additional demand equivalent to 1.2 Secure the provision of the equivalent of 1.2 squash courts additional squash courts, funded by developer contributions and within 20 minutes drive of new developments. Village/ Additional demand equivalent to 6.7 Secure the provision of the equivalent of 6.7 community village/community halls additional village/ community halls, funded halls by developer contributions and within 20 minutes drive of new developments.

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10.6 Provision for reviews

Because sport and physical activity is a rapidly changing environment, to ensure that the proposals in the assessment continue to address local needs and strategic priorities, the situation will be reviewed regularly. Assumptions about population growth will be tested regularly and projected requirements refined accordingly. There will therefore be annual reviews of progress towards action plan targets and a three-yearly review of the overall strategic approach.

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