Strategy and Development Welwyn Hatfield Sport Facility Study March 2011 FFFOOORRREEEWWWOOORRRDDD Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council is only one of the many organisations and groups who provide specialist facilities for sport within the borough. However, we have a special responsibility to bring together all of those involved, to develop an understanding of the network of sporting facilities that already exist and to consider the needs of Welwyn Hatfield citizens of today and in the future so that we can continue to efficiently work together to meet these needs. The attractive environment both within and around the Borough as well as its convenient location will result in continued pressure to increase the number of homes in the area. It is important to ensure that these new residents enjoy access to sports facilities. It is also essential that the increased demand does not reduce the ability of existing residents to take part in sport or physical activity as we recognise that this has a very beneficial impact on their health and quality of life. This Study has, therefore, been carried out in order to assess the quality and quantity need for additional facilities of Welwyn Hatfield. An important component of this work has been the securing of the views of many key stakeholders within the local community. In this difficult economic climate it is more important than ever to co-ordinate any investment in Sports Facilities in order to ensure that the limited funding that is available for these facilities is invested wisely, against a programme of recognised need and to ensure that the facilities that exist are sustainable. With this in mind, this Study will provide the basis for the development of the Sports Facilities Strategy and Action Plan for Welwyn Hatfield. I would like to thank all the partners who have supported this study, especially Sport England for their support and advice throughout the process. Councillor Tony Kingsbury Executive Member for Community and Leisure Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council Page 2 CCCOOONNNTTTEEENNNTTTSSS PPPaaagggeee NNNooo Forward 2 Glossary of Key Terms 5 Part 1: Introduction and Context 10 Chapter 1: Introduction 11 o Why is the Sports Facility Study 11 Important? o Purpose and Scope of the Study 11 o Study and Strategy Brief 12 o Opportunities 13 Chapter 2: Context 14 o Local Context and Demographics 14 . History 14 . Geography and Transport 14 . Health and Prosperity 14 . Population 15 . Population Assumptions 16 . Participation in Sport 16 . Population & Participation Estimates 17 . Market Segmentation 18 o Policy Context 19 . National 19 . Regional and County 20 . Local 22 o Neighbouring Local Authority Areas 24 o Summary of Key Context Considerations 30 Part 2: Methodology and Assumptions 31 Chapter 3: Need Assessment Methods 32 o Quantitative assessment of facility needs 32 o Quality audit of facilities 37 o Club and Schools Consultation 37 Part 3: Indoor Facilities Needs Assessment 39 Chapter 4: Overview of Indoor Facilities 40 Chapter 5: Sports Halls 42 Chapter 6: Swimming Pools 61 Chapter 7: Health and Fitness Centres 75 Page 3 Chapter 8: Indoor Bowls 83 Chapter 9: Indoor Tennis 90 Chapter 10: County Specific Facilities 95 Part 4: Outdoor Facilities Needs Assessment 97 Chapter 11: Overview of Outdoor Facilities 98 Chapter 12: Outdoor Sports Pitches 105 Chapter 13: Artificial Grass Pitches (AGP's) 123 Chapter 14: Multi-Use Games Areas 132 Chapter 15: Outdoor Tennis 136 Chapter 16: Outdoor Bowls 140 Chapter 17: Athletic Tracks 143 Chapter 18: Cycling Velodrome 147 Chapter 19: Netball 149 Part 5 Conclusions and Way Forward 150 Chapter 20: Conclusions of Needs Assessment 151 o Local Standards for Sports Facilities 172 Chapter 21: Way Forward 174 Chapter 22: Monitoring and Review 180 Part 6 Appendices 181 Appendix 1: Ward Names in Welwyn Hatfield, before 182 and after the 2008 boundary changes Appendix 2: Quality Analysis – the results of quality audit 185 assessment of all community indoor and outdoor sports facilities in Welwyn Hatfield (includes criteria & results at 2a and 2b) Appendix 3: Report on Welwyn Hatfield Sport Clubs & 223 Schools Consultation Questionnaires Appendix 4: Summary of letters and petitions in support 248 for Angerland Common Appendix 5: Detailed Consultation comments on Playing 250 Fields and Angerland Common Appendix 6: Sports Hall Quality Assessment 254 Part 7 Background Documents 256 Page 4 GGGLLLOOOSSSSSSAAARRRYYY OOOFFF KKKEEEYYY TTTEEERRRMMMSSS The study defines the following terms as: Active Places Power (APP): A planning tool for sports facilities provided by Sport England. It is designed to assist in investment decisions and the development of infrastructure improvement strategies for sport. It comprises a comprehensive database of mainly indoor sports facilities, together with a set of analytical strategic planning tools. Figures used are based on the 2001 census. Artificial Grass Pitch (AGP): An alternative to grass, providing an all weather surface for pitch sports, in particular, hockey and football. Pitches are a minimum of 75m x 45m and be floodlit. This definition does not include other non turf surfaces, such as tarmac, concrete, Redgra (natural aggregate dressing). Built Sports Facilities: Built sports facilities include sports centres, community halls, and any other building in which sport and recreational activities can take place. Building Schools for the Future: The Building School for the Future is a capital investment programmes of school developments. The new government in 2010 decided to reduce the level of investment in this programme and an announcement is awaited on any future capital programme for school improvement, which is likely to be much reduced in scale. Core Strategy: The Core Strategy Document is the key compulsory Local Development Document specified in United Kingdom planning law. Every other Local Development Document is built on the principles it sets out, regarding the development and use of land in the Borough's area. The principles should be in accordance with the Sustainable Community Strategy. The Core Strategy sets out the long-term spatial vision for the local planning authority area and the strategic policies and proposals to deliver that vision. It will contain a set of primary policies for delivering the core strategy. Broad locations for development may be set out in a key diagram. Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL): The Community Infrastructure Levy is a new levy that local authorities can choose to charge through the town planning process on new developments in their area. The money can be used to support development by funding infrastructure that the council, local community and neighbourhoods want. Distance Thresholds: The straight-line distance to an open space site. Dual Use Agreement: An agreement between two organisations such as a local community organisation (e.g. a school) and a local authority over the use of the sporting facilities by the community during out of school hours. Facilities Planning Model (FPM): A strategic modelling tool developed by Sport England and used to estimate the level of demand for sports facilities within the local population, comparing this with the supply of facilities within a given local area. Taking account of the size and location of the facilities, the model highlights any inadequacies in facility provision. The technique can also be used to model Page 5 ‘what if’ scenarios, for instance, the impact of increases in population, the closure of individual facilities, and the opening of new facilities. Field In Trust (FIT) / National Playing Fields Association (NPFA): A charity which aims to safeguard playing fields, recreation grounds and play areas from built development. The NPFA produced a guidance document on provision of playing fields called the Six Acre Standard. Since the 21st May 2007 NPFA have been known as Fields In Trust (FIT). Geographical Information System (GIS): GIS is a computer system where a variety of information can inputted to form a map. Hard Court: a generic term for a hard surfaced area which might include a tennis court or multi use games area. Local Development Document: the collective term used in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act for Development Plan Documents, Supplementary Planning Documents and other LDF documents such as the Statement of Community Involvement, the Local Development Scheme and the Annual Monitoring Report. Local Development Framework: The Local Development Framework (LDF) is the name for the portfolio of Local Development Documents and other related documents, which will provide the framework for delivering the spatial planning strategy for the Borough. A Local Development Framework can consist of: Development Plan Documents; Supplementary Planning Documents; Area Action Plans; A Proposals Map; A Local Development Scheme; The Statement of Community Involvement; and Annual Monitoring Reports. Local Strategic Partnership (LSP): Welwyn Hatfield's LSP is known locally as the Welwyn Hatfield Alliance. The Alliance is key public sector organisations, businesses, community groups and voluntary groups who come together around a shared vision to improve the quality of life for all in Welwyn Hatfield. The current Alliance works towards the delivery of the Community Action Plan which is put together by the different partnerships and groups that feed into the Alliance. Multi Use Games Area (MUGA): a hard surfaced area of 1-2 courts in size, (i.e. smaller than an AGP) mainly constructed of tarmac or with a synthetic