OLDHAM PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY ASSESSMENT REPORT August 2015 Integrity, Innovation, Inspiration 1-2 Frecheville Courtoff Knowsley StreetBury BL9 0UF T 0161 764 7040F 0161 764 7490E [email protected] OLDHAM PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY ASSESSMENT REPORT CONTENTS PART 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 4 PART 2: FOOTBALL ...................................................................................................... 15 PART 3: CRICKET ......................................................................................................... 47 PART 4: RUGBY UNION ................................................................................................ 66 PART 5: RUGBY LEAGUE ............................................................................................. 75 PART 6: HOCKEY .......................................................................................................... 90 PART 7: TENNIS ............................................................................................................ 95 PART 8: BOWLS .......................................................................................................... 102 APPENDIX 1: CONSULTEE LIST ................................................................................ 116 APPENDIX 2: SPORTING CONTEXT .......................................................................... 122 APPENDIX 3: LOCAL CONTEXT ................................................................................. 130 APPENDIX 4: ADDITIONAL PROVISION (PRIMARY SCHOOL SITES) ...................... 136 OLDHAM PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY ASSESSMENT REPORT PART 1: INTRODUCTION This is the Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS) Assessment Report prepared by Knight Kavanagh & Page (KKP) for Oldham Council (OC). The study covers all playing pitches as well as some non-pitch sports. The full list of sports facilities covered is set out below: Football pitches Cricket pitches Rugby league Rugby union pitches Hockey/ Artificial Grass Pitches (AGPs) Tennis courts Bowling greens Athletics tracks This report presents a supply and demand assessment of playing pitch facilities in accordance with Sport England’s Playing Pitch Strategy Guidance: An approach to developing and delivering a playing pitch strategy. It has been followed to develop a clear picture of the balance between the local supply of, and demand for, playing pitches and other outdoor sports facilities. The guidance details a stepped approach to developing a Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS). These steps are separated into five distinct sections: Stage A: Prepare and tailor the approach Stage B: Gather information and views on the supply of and demand for provision Stage C: Assess the supply and demand information and views Stage D: Develop the strategy Stage E: Deliver the strategy and keep it robust and up to date Stages A-C are covered in this report. March 2015 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 4 OLDHAM PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY ASSESSMENT REPORT Stage A: Tailoring the approach Why the PPS is being developed This strategy sits within the context of the Oldham Sport and Physical Activity Strategy. An internal strategic steering group has been set up to develop this brief. The rationale for the strategy will help to deliver on the broader agenda to increase participation in sport and physical activity, which is key to improving health and wellbeing outcomes. The need to address significant health and wellbeing issues is acknowledged in the Oldham Local Plan in order to ensure there is an active population able to make the most of job opportunities and able to play a positive role in social and civic life. In addition: The Councils existing Playing Pitch Strategy dates back to 2004 is now out of date and in need of replacing/updating. To help deliver the health agenda To inform the investment strategy for Oldham Council initiatives To inform local planning policy, planning decisions and potential developer contributions To inform sports development initiatives To reflect and inform wider Oldham Council strategic asset and service reviews To help facilitate community use of outdoor facilities on education sites The overall aim of this project is to: Produce a playing pitch strategy for Oldham Council, which includes the development of policy options, recommendations and an action plan. Ensure the integration of and clear linkages between the developed strategy and the borough’s other strategy documents. Provide a comprehensive assessment of the supply of, demand for and distribution of accessible outdoor playing pitches and outdoor facilities in and around Oldham. An analysis of the quantity and quality of this and other outdoor sports facilities in the borough including private and voluntary facilities. An assessment report of demand and supply that identifies key issues and findings, followed by a strategy that includes policy options, recommendations and a site specific action plan based on any sub areas used for analysis purposes (e.g. wards, neighbourhood areas etc.) This should be done in partnership. Support effective strategic management of the Council’s corporate estate and inform the Corporate Medium Term Property Strategy. March 2015 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 5 OLDHAM PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY ASSESSMENT REPORT In addition to the generic key drivers set out above the main pitch sport National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) have set out sport specific key drivers for Oldham: National Governing Key drivers Body (NGB) England & Wales Working towards ECB Champion Counties Strategic Plan 2014 – Cricket Board (ECB) 2017. Priority focus on engaging with south Asian communities in Oldham. Improve the quality of cricket pitches to achieve a greater capacity. Ensure there is access to education sites to accommodate cricket. Ensure there is enough provision for predicted growth (Oldham is a priority area for increased participation). Enhancing opportunities for informal cricket e.g. Last Man Stands (LMS). To ensure sustainable assets which may be appropriate for community asset transfer England Hockey (EH) Establish ‘The Single System’ in the study area to support the development pathway for players, coaches and officials of all ages and abilities to reach their full potential. Ensure there is access to good quality artificial grass pitches and ancillary facilities both now and in the future. Ensure there is enough provision (including accessibility) for predicted growth to support priority clubs Ensure access to school sites is maintained and secured through the appropriate community use agreements. Ensure any new hockey provision in the study area supports localised hockey demand and any hockey development programmes. The Football Working towards The FA National Facilities Strategy (2013 – 2015) Association (FA) and The FA National Game Strategy (2011 – 2015) Ensure any investment (current and future) is ‘value for money’. Ensure there is access to education sites to accommodate the game. Protect the right sites for current and future football participation. Provide new pitches and facilities to FA standards where needed. Implement an accurate pricing policy for grass root football clubs including discounts for FA Charter Standard Clubs. Ensure there is an appropriate maintenance of grass and artificial pitches particularly to pitches which have been grant funding (i.e., Football Foundation). To ensure sustainable assets which may be appropriate for community asset transfer Rugby Football League To deliver on the RFL Community Facilities Strategy and the RFL (RFL) Clean, Dry Safe & Playable policy To improve pitch quality across the Borough. To ensure there is access to good quality match and training pitches and ancillary facilities to meet existing and future demand To seek opportunities to be less reliant upon public sector provision. To ensure any assets which may be appropriate for community asset transfer are sustainable March 2015 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 6 OLDHAM PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY ASSESSMENT REPORT National Governing Key drivers Body (NGB) Rugby Football Union Working towards the Rugby Football Union National Facilities (RFU) Strategy (2013-2017). To ensure there is sustainable access to pitches in Oldham to satisfy predicted growth (particularly in light of the World Cup 2015) and retention aspirations of Oldham RUFC. To protect and improve quality of pitches, ancillary facilities and floodlights as current and future demand requires. To improve access to training areas in order to preserve pitches for matches. The extent of the study area The study area will comprise the whole of the Oldham Council (OC) administrative area which stretches from the boundary of Ashton up to Saddleworth. There are multiple cross- border issues relating to displaced demand. This is most pronounced in football, where there is both imported and exported demand on the majority of urban boundaries i.e. Rochdale, Manchester and Tameside. For cricket, cross boundary travel is most frequent in the more rural areas with flow towards Kirklees due to the presence of the Huddersfield League. Both rugby league and union appears to be played within the boundaries of Oldham itself. In order to differentiate in particular between the urban and rural areas of the Borough six districts areas have been adopted. These also reflect Oldham Council’s six District Executives which make decisions