City of Stoke-On-Trent Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sport Needs Assessment
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City of Stoke-on-Trent Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sport Needs Assessment Final Report May 2017 Neil Allen Associates Registered Office: 20 Brook Road, Lymm, Cheshire, WA13 9AH A limited company, registered in England and Wales no. 616528 Contents Section 1: Introduction and Context 1 Section 2: Strategic Context and Vision 8 Section 3: Football 14 Section 4: Rugby 63 Section 5: Cricket 79 Section 6: Hockey 106 Section 7: Tennis 122 Section 8: Bowls 132 Separate Appendices Appendix 1: Football pitch assessment summary Appendix 2: Grass football pitches and teams Appendix 3: Balance of football teams not assigned to grass pitches Appendix 4: Assessment of football pitch capacity 1: Introduction and Context Introduction 1.1 In June 2015, Stoke-on-Trent City Council commissioned naa to produce a combined Built Facilities Strategy (BFS) and Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS). The combined strategies provide an updated evidence base to support the delivery of sport and physical activity across the City. The strategies update the Playing Pitch Strategy and Facility Strategy (2009). 1.2 These documents together, developed using the up-to-date Sport England methodologies, provide the council and its partners with a robust evidence base and set of strategic priorities to direct future sports planning policy and funding. These strategies will underpin the delivery of the Councils new Physical Activity and Sport Strategy “Active Together” (2016) and the Council’s aspirations for the European City of Sport 2016. 1.3 The achievement of European City of Sport status supports the City Council’s priorities by: Helping to raise the profile of the City and wider county/surrounding areas on a national and international stage. Improving the perceptions and aspirations of residents. Encouraging participation in physical activity and sport, thus contributing to the health and wellbeing of the population. Contributing to the local economy, supporting businesses and jobs, and using the status as a means to attract inward investment. Sustaining the benefits associated with being a European City of Sport, by creating a strong legacy post-2016, in terms of engagement, participation and income generation where appropriate. The BFS and PPS will seek to ensure the City has a facility infra-structure to deliver on these priorities and provide a facility legacy in line with the City of Sport aspirations, whilst addressing the council’s long-term infra-structure challenges. 1.4 The Council and the City Physical Activity and Sports Board has recently approved a Physical Activity and Sport Strategy (PASS) the development of a sport and physical activity strategy and vision underpins the BFS and PPS works and helps to shape the recommendations set out. The strategies have therefore been undertaken and the report structured to address the key drivers of the council as set out in the PASS and central to the City of Sport 2016 and to ensure compliance with new national planning policy. 1.5 The needs assessment work has been produced in line with the National Planning Policy Guidance (NPPF), which requires that (Paragraph 73, page 18): ‘………planning policies are based upon robust and up-to-date assessments of needs for open space, sport and recreation facilities and opportunities for new provision. 1.6 This assessment and strategies have therefore been produced in line with guidance by Sport England (Assessing Needs and Opportunities Guide for Indoor and Outdoor Sports Facilities; January 2014) and ‘Playing Pitch Guidance, An approach to Developing and Delivering a Playing Pitch Strategy (Sport England 2013). City oStoke-on-Trent Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sport Needs Assessment 1 1.7 This section summarises the methodology that has been used in the preparation of this assessment report and the strategy document that is under separate cover. This assessment and strategy has been produced in line with guidance by Sport England (Assessing Needs and Opportunities Guide for Indoor and Outdoor Sports Facilities; Consultation Draft; December 2013) and ‘Playing Pitch Guidance, An approach to Developing and Delivering a Playing Pitch Strategy (Sport England 2013). Playing Pitch Strategy Methodology 1.8 Figure 1.1 summarises the stages of this methodology. This assessment report represents steps 1 – 6 while the strategy document will include recommendations and actions. Figure 1.1: Developing and Delivering a Playing Pitch Strategy – The 10 Step Approach Geographical Analysis 1.9 The assessment covers the area within the local authority boundaries of Stoke City. Reflecting the tight boundaries of the City council area however, consideration is also given to the role that facilities in close proximity to the boundary play. 1.10 To provide a further understanding of the spatial distribution of both supply and demand, as well as to add a geographical dimension to analysis, the City has been divided into sub areas. These divide the City into three geographical sections; north, central and south, and these are shown on Map 1.1 below. City oStoke-on-Trent Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sport Needs Assessment 2 Map 1.1: City of Stoke sub areas City oStoke-on-Trent Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sport Needs Assessment 3 Steps 2 and 3 – Gather Supply and Demand Information and Views Supply 1.11 The data collection process included a full audit of pitches across Stoke City. For each site, the following information was collected; Site name, location, ownership and management type Number and type of pitches and outdoor sports facilities Accessibility of pitches to the community Overall quality of pitches and ancillary facilities (including maintenance regimes) Level of protection and security of tenure Views of users and providers. Demand 1.12 To evaluate the demand for playing pitches, the following information was collated; Number of sports clubs and teams and their match and training requirements Casual and other demand Educational demand Displaced demand (i.e. teams wishing to play within the City but unable to) Latent demand Future demand (including club and team aspirations for development as well as National Governing Body priorities and targets) User views and experiences, including trends and changes in demand. 1.13 The following tasks were undertaken to compile the above supply and demand data; Analysing the existing audit of playing fields and open space and the Sport England Active Places tool Reviewing NGB data on pitches, outdoor sports facilities and local participation Full review of local league websites, fixture lists and pitch booking records Use of available technical quality assessment reports Undertaking non-technical site visits Undertaking a detailed survey and follow up consultation with schools A full programme of consultation with sports clubs and league secretaries Face to face and telephone discussions with NGBs to discuss key issues and priorities. Steps 4, 5 and 6 – Assessing the Supply and Demand Information and Views 1.14 The supply and demand information collated has been used, in line with the Sport England methodology, to; understand the situation at individual sites; develop the current and projected future pictures for each sport; and identify the key findings and issues that need to be addressed. 1.15 Figure 1.2 overleaf, extracted directly from the guidance (Sport England 2013), provides further detail of the issues explored during the analysis of the adequacy of provision. Steps 6 - 10 Develop the Strategy and Deliver the Strategy and Keep it Up to Date and Robust 1.16 The strategy document will use the issues identified to set out a strategic framework for City oStoke-on-Trent Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sport Needs Assessment 4 the provision of pitches. Recommendations and priorities will be developed following extensive scenario testing and in conjunction with key stakeholders (both internal to the Council and external). Non Pitch Sports - Sport England (Assessing Needs and Opportunities Guide for Indoor and Outdoor Sports Facilities; Consultation Draft; December 2013) 1.17 For none pitch sports the assessment stages (Phase A) of the Assessing Needs and Opportunities Guide (ANOG) approach are as follows: Stage 1 – Prepare and tailor your assessment Stage 2 – Gather information on supply and demand Stage 3 – Assessment, bring the information together Stage 1 Undertaking an Assessment: 1.18 Stage A was carried out through detailed discussions with the steering group. Stage 2: Gather Information on Supply and Demand 1.19 To gather information on supply, visits were made to all tennis courts, bowling greens and athletics tracks within the City, and assessments made of their quality, maintenance and ‘fit for purpose’ rating. Discussions were held with operators, manager and users. 1.20 To gather information on demand, questionnaires were sent (many with follow up phone calls and/or visits) to all known sports clubs. Consultation took place with national and regional governing body of sport representative. Stage 3: Assessment – Bring the Information Together 1.21 The analysis seeks to bring together the evidence gathered to gain an understanding of the relationship between supply and demand. Key findings and issues to be addressed are set out for each of the sports / facilities covered. B Application of Assessment – Strategy Development 1.22 Recommendations and strategy priorities are developed to address the issues identified through the data collection and analysis undertaken in Step A. City oStoke-on-Trent Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sport Needs Assessment 5 Figure 1.2: Overview of the Assessment Process An overview for each site available to the Understand the 2.1 community should be developed consisting of: 2.2 situation at individual sites 1. A comparison between the amount of play a site can accommodate with how much play takes place there; 2. Whether there is any spare capacity during the peak period for relevant pitch types; 3. The key issues with, and views of, the provision at the site. 2.3Develop the current Site overviews should be used to help understand: 2.4 picture of provision 2.5 1.