Chelmsford Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Needs Assessment
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Chelmsford Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Needs Assessment 2016 – 2036 (Part A, B and C) Report produced on behalf of Chelmsford City Council by Leisure and the Environment in association with Ethos Environmental Planning Chelmsford Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Needs Assessment 2 Chelmsford Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Needs Assessment Contents Part A: General Overview 1.0 Introduction 5 – 8 2.0 Methodology 9 – 10 3.0 Context 11 – 24 4.0 Overview of pitch provision 25 – 28 Part B: Playing Pitch Assessment 5.0 Football 30 – 81 6.0 Cricket 82 - 111 7.0 Rugby 112 - 124 8.0 Hockey 125 - 131 Part C: Other Outdoor Sports 9.0 Tennis (outdoor) 133 - 145 10.0 Bowls (Outdoor) 146 - 155 11.0 Netball (Outdoor) 156 - 163 12.0 Golf 16 4 - 168 Appendix 1: Methodology- additional notes Appendix 2: Active People Surveys and Market Segmentation Appendix 3: All-data spreadsheet (separate) Appendix 4: Full explanation of match equivalents and capacity for football and rugby Appendix 5: Maps 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 and associated table (relating to the football section) Chelmsford Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Needs Assessment 3 Glossary of Terms Term Meaning AGP Artificial Grass Pitch(es) ANOG Assessment of Needs and Opportunities Guide APS Active People Survey(s) BDA Bowls Development Alliance DPD Development Plan Document(s) ECB England and Wales Cricket Board EH England Hockey FA Football Association FIFA Federation of International Football Associations LTA Lawn Tennis Association NPPF National Planning Policy Framework PPS Playing Pitch Strategy RFU Rugby Football Union Chelmsford Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Needs Assessment 4 PART A: GENERAL OVERVIEW Chelmsford Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Needs Assessment 5 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Description of report 1.1.1 This is one of five reports provided within the overall Chelmsford Open Space, Sports and Recreational Facilities Study. The five reports are: Community and Stakeholder Consultation Report (Local Needs Assessment); Open Space Study (comprising a main report and six area profiles); Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Needs Assessment (this report – part A, B and C); Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy and Action Plan (part D of the Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Needs Assessment); and Indoor/Built Sports Facility Sport Needs Assessment. This report comprises Part A (General Overview), Part B (Playing Pitch Assessment) and Part C (Other Outdoor Sports). Part D (Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy and Action Plan) is provided as a separate report. 1.2 Study Overview 1.2.1 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires local planning authorities to set out policies to help enable communities to access high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and recreation. These policies need to be based on a thorough understanding of local needs for such facilities and opportunities available for new provision. 1.2.2 The Government's public health have seen local authorities take more responsibility for improving levels of public health. Studies show that living a healthy lifestyle and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the risk of developing chronic disease, improves quality of life and increases life expectancy. The Council is now responsible for many factors which impact on mental and physical health, including sports and leisure provision in the area, environmental health, green spaces and housing standards. The Council is therefore now aiming to support its residents and encourage health improvements by implementing the new Public Health Strategy alongside the Council's other policies and strategies. 1.2.3 In view of the above, in 2014 Chelmsford City Council appointed Ethos Environmental Planning in conjunction with Leisure and the Environment to produce a new open space, indoor and outdoor sports and recreational facilities audit and assessment- a needs assessment and strategy to inform the decision making process up to 2036 to replace that published by the Council in 2005. 1.2.4 Overall aims of the study are: To provide an audit of existing indoor and outdoor leisure facilities within the City’s administrative area and immediate boundaries. To provide an assessment of these facilities in terms of quantity, quality and accessibility. To provide a community and stakeholder needs assessment. Chelmsford Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Needs Assessment 6 To identify gaps in provision, over provision and priority guidelines for future investment. To develop and provide a strategy determining the actions and resources required to guide the City Council’s decision making up until 2036. 1.2.5 There are three key elements to the study: An Open Space Assessment A Playing Pitch Strategy and Outdoor Sports Assessment An Indoor Sports and Recreation Facilities Assessment 1.2.6 As such the overall outcome of the study will comprise of three main reports drawing upon an evidence base comprised of: Consultation and engagement with all relevant key stakeholders, agencies and organisations as well as the wider community and general public. A detailed audit of all facilities within the scope of the study. Analysis and assessment of the adequacy of current and future facility provision based on recommended methodologies such as Sport England's "Playing Pitch Strategy Guidance”. 1.3 Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Assessment 1.3.1 In addition to the overall requirements set out for the project (above) the Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Assessment should: Consider all accessible outdoor sports pitches/ courts including football, rugby, cricket, hockey, and other outdoor sports such as bowls, tennis and netball. (These latter sports can also be played indoors, and have therefore been addressed in the ‘Indoor Sports and Recreation Facilities Assessment’). Evaluate current trends in participation and needs of different users, as well as the profile of the local population. Undertake an audit of all existing pitches and support facilities (e.g. changing rooms, car parking, equipment/machinery storage etc.), including an evaluation of the quality of pitches (grass and synthetic playing surfaces). Undertake an audit of access to existing facilities. Identify all current users and potential users of pitches in the local authority. Analyse the adequacy of provision to meet both current and projected need. Identify key priorities and actions, including timeframes and responsibilities. Identify areas for creating new pitches, pitches that need improving and pitches that may be surplus to requirements. Identify clear recommendations and an action plan to address specific surpluses, deficiencies, quality issues and priority areas for improvements. Help to prove the need for developer contributions towards facilities. Chelmsford Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Needs Assessment 7 Methodology 1.3.2 In terms of that part of the assessment dealing with playing pitches, the appropriate guidance to follow is provided by Sport England in its ‘Playing Pitch Strategy Guidance’ which is explained in Section 2. In terms of other sports covered the assessment has used the Sport England Assessment of Needs and Opportunities Guidance (ANOG) also explained in Section 2. 1.3.3 The overall documentation is made up of 4 Parts and 14 main sections: Part A contains three overarching sections relevant to all parts of the report: Introduction, methodology, and context; Part B contains an overview section of pitch provision in general within the local authority; and, four sports specific sections dealing with key pitch sports of football, cricket, rugby, and hockey. Part C has three short sections dealing with other notable outdoor sports- bowls, netball and tennis, and golf. Most of these sports can also be played indoors and such aspects are therefore also covered in the separate report dealing with built facilities. Cross references to this report are made as appropriate. Part D (separate report) has two separate sections offering a strategy and action plan for playing pitches and other outdoor sports, and this is a separate volume. A remit that is based on Community Need 1.3.4 Fundamentally, this report is an assessment of community needs for certain kinds of sports facilities and opportunities. Facilities required specifically by institutions, such schools, the Ministry of Defence etc, are only covered by this report if they also have a (potential) secondary function in meeting wider community needs. In parts of the country where recreation land is in short supply and expensive to create, the dual use of facilities to meet a variety of needs can be highly cost-effective. What is community use? 1.3.5 At its simplest ‘community use’ is a term that is used to describe the extent to which a given sport or recreation facility is available for use by members of the general community- either on a pay-as-you go informal basis, or as part of an organised club or group. 1.3.6 In practice, the above definition of community use will include a wide range of management regimes whose admission policies will span informal ‘pay-as-you-go’ access, by the general community; and, through to use by organised clubs and groups by booking or longer-term agreements etc. Whether, individual facilities are considered to be available for significant community use depends of several factors, including: Type of facility (and whether its size and design might be of use to the community at large, or at least significant groups within the community); The cost of using facilities, and whether these might generally be considered to be affordable; Chelmsford Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Needs Assessment 8 The times and days of availability (times of most demand for the general community are likely to be in the evenings and at the weekends, as well as during mid-week lunchtime (a popular for people at work). The extent to which such use by the community is ‘assured’ over the longer- term. 1.3.7 In terms of utility for the general community different facilities will therefore have diverse value by nature of because of their varying scale, location, and management/pricing policies.