Newcastle-Under-Lyme Borough Council Leisure
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Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council Leisure Needs Assessment & Playing Pitch Strategy A Final Report By Strategic Leisure Limited July 2006 CONTENTS Page SECTION I - INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND 01 • Introduction • Scope of the Study • Report Format and Structure • Framework for the Study • Methodology • Summary of Key Tasks • Background to the Study: Local Level Assessments SECTION II - STRATEGIC CONTEXT 11 • Demographics • National, Regional and Local Context SECTION III - KEY ASSESSMENT FINDINGS: OUTDOOR SPORTS 17 (BOROUGH WIDE) • Outdoor Sports Facilities ¾ Playing Pitches ¾ Other Sports SECTION IV - KEY ASSESSMENT FINDINGS: INDOOR SPORTS 47 (BOROUGH WIDE) • Indoor Sports Facilities • Community Centres SECTION V - KEY ASSESSMENT FINDINGS: AREA BASED 59 • Findings by Area: ¾ Knutton Cross Heath Area (AMI) ¾ Silverdale Area ¾ Urban Zone: Playing Pitch Assessment SECTION VI - SUMMARY OF KEY ISSUES & CHALLENGES 81 SECTION VII - CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS 83 APPENDICES APPENDIX 1 - Study Consultation APPENDIX 2 - Strategic Context APPENDIX 3 - Supply and Demand Data (Main Database) APPENDIX 4 - Playing Pitch Assessment Summary & Assessment Calculations APPENDIX 5 - Indoor Sports Facility Assessment (FPM) APPENDIX 6 - Neighbouring Facilities APPENDIX 7 - Action Plan APPENDIX 8 - Hierachy of pitches (all sports) APPENDIX 9 - Residents Door-to-door Survey APPENDIX 10 - Community Centre Analysis MAPS (In separate document) MAP 1 - Bowling Greens MAP 2 - Tennis Courts MAP 3 - Athletics Track MAP 4 - Athletics Track (with catchment area) MAP 5 - Indoor Facilities (by ownership) MAP 6 - Community Centres MAP 7 - Playing fields all sites MAP 8 - Playing fields by access MAP 9 - Playing fields by ownership MAP 10 - Playing fields by pitch type MAP 11 - All sites with Senior Football MAP 12 - Senior Football by average quality rating MAP 13 - All sites with Junior Football MAP 14 - Junior Football by average quality rating MAP 15 - All sites with Mini Soccer MAP 16 - Mini Soccer by average quality rating MAP 17 - Rugby Pitches MAP 18 - Rugby by average quality rating MAP 19 - Cricket Pitches MAP 20 - Cricket by average quality rating MAP 21 - STP’s by community use MAP 22 - Playing fields – changing room quality rating MAP 23 - Private Facilities MAP 24 - Public Facilities MAP 25 - Sports Halls MAP 26 - Sports Halls (with catchment areas) MAP 27 - Swimming Pools MAP 28 - Swimming Pools (with catchment areas) SECTION I – INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND Introduction 1.1 Strategic Leisure Limited (SLL) was appointed by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council (NBC) in October 2005 to undertake an assessment of sport and leisure facility needs within the Borough, to identify local needs for provision, and opportunities for enhancement, development or replacement of current facilities. The study is driven by the need to inform a number of current leisure facility proposals, including those in the regeneration areas of Knutton Cross Heath and Silverdale. Scope of the Study 1.2 The study encompasses an assessment of all formal indoor and outdoor sport and leisure facilities. The study has focussed on those facilities typically provided directly or supported by the Local Authority (including Sports Halls, Swimming Pools, Health and Fitness, Playing Pitches, Tennis Courts, Bowling Greens). Community Centres have also been considered within the assessment in relation to their role in the provision of community based leisure provision. 1.3 The study has been undertaken to provide a borough wide assessment of need. This borough wide assessment forms the context and background for further analysis on a local level to inform the following: • A local needs assessment to inform current proposals for the Renew (Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder) area of major intervention (AMI) for formal outdoor sports and indoor leisure provision (specifically Leisure Centres and Community Centres) centred on the Knutton and Cross Heath area • A local needs assessment to inform current proposals for the former Silverdale Colliery site for formal outdoor sports and formal indoor leisure provision (outdoor sports facilities, Leisure Centres and Community Centres) • A local area based playing pitch assessment for the urban area of the Borough (including Kidsgrove) to inform proposals for a “grouped” (multi-pitch) playing pitch site located centrally within the Borough. This proposal also needs to be considered alongside the recent Sports Village Model developed by the Football Association, which makes reference to the opportunity for new facility development within Housing Market Renewal area (Knutton and Cross Heath) 1.4 The Study has adopted a holistic and integrated approach to the specific proposals identified above. This is specifically relevant for the grouped playing pitch site where the AMI and former Silverdale Colliery Site were considered as potential sites for this provision. 1.5 Early project research also identified plans by Newcastle-under-Lyme College to rationalise their campus provision, and through the sale of one site, potentially fund the development of new sports facilities on the Trinity Road campus. This proposal has been considered through the assessment process. The planned development could in theory link to the proposal for a grouped playing pitch site (potentially in the Knutton Cross Heath area). Leisure Needs Assessment & Playing Pitch Strategy– Draft Report May 2006 1 SECTION I – INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND Framework for the Study 1.6 The guidance detailed in “Assessing Needs and Opportunities: A Companion Guide to PPG17” which details methods for undertaking local assessments of sport and recreation provision, has been used as the framework for the study methodology. The study has included an audit of existing indoor and outdoor sports facilities in terms of: • Quantity • Quality • Accessibility 1.7 The study undertaken has included: • Consideration of the likely facility needs in the future (over the next 10 years) • A review of existing leisure and recreation strategy and policy • A range of consultation exercises to ascertain the views of the local community, key interest groups and wider stakeholders • Consideration of all facilities within the borough, including provision by the local authority (including education), private and voluntary sectors • An assessment of playing pitch provision using the methodology detailed in “Toward a Level Playing Field: A Guide to the Production of Playing Pitch Strategies” (Sport England, 2002) • Recommendations for local standards of provision with regard to quantity, quality and accessibility • Review of current indoor facility provision in the light of new CPA guidelines i.e. all residents should be within 20 minutes (walking – urban areas / driving – rural areas) of three quality facilities (indoor or outdoor), one of which should have a recognised quality accreditation. The Newcastle-under-Lyme Approach: Methodology 1.8 For the assessment, the Companion Guide to PPG17 identifies five key steps to undertaking an assessment of playing pitches, indoor facilities and open space. These are broadly: • Step 1 – Identifying Local Needs • Step 2 – Auditing Local Provision • Step 3 – Setting Provision Standards • Step 4 – Applying Provision Standards • Step 5 – Policy Options 1.9 The desirable outcomes from undertaking a PPG 17 Assessment are to provide local people with networks of accessible, high quality sport and recreation facilities in both rural and urban areas, which will meet the needs of LOCAL people and visitors. 1.10 PPG 17 strives to provide a balance between enhancing existing provision and new provision. The study undertaken in the Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough has followed the framework provided. Leisure Needs Assessment & Playing Pitch Strategy– Draft Report May 2006 2 SECTION I – INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 1.11 A number of key tasks have been undertaken to complete the assessment and develop standards of provision and recommendations. These are summarised below: 1.12 Stage 1: Identification of local needs: The following key tasks have been undertaken: • A review of the implications and priorities of existing strategies to identify links with existing strategic priorities • A review of existing policies and provision standards relating to open space, sport and recreation facilities • Consultation with the community and stakeholders via Sports Club Surveys, School Surveys and Face-to-face meetings. Additionally a door-to-door survey to capture the views of facility users and non-users was undertaken 1.13 Stage 2: Audit of local provision: The following key tasks have been undertaken: • Review of quantitative information held by the Council • Site visits to all known formal sport and recreation facilities with community use (across all sectors – Public, Commercial, Education) • Consultation with facility providers • Mapping facilities in respect of location and catchment area 1.14 Stage 3: Setting Provision Standards: The following key tasks have been undertaken: • Quantity Standards set using the findings of facility audits, local consultation and demand modelling • Accessibility Standards set using the findings of facility audits, local consultation and mapping catchment areas 1.15 Stage 4: Application of Provision Standards: On the basis of the set standards, application of these, such as defined catchment areas, the impact of poor quality, allows the: • Identification of deficiencies in accessibility • Identification of deficiencies in quality • Identification of surpluses or deficiencies