ACTIVE DORSET PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY ASSESSMENT REPORT MARCH 2019 QUALITY, INTEGRITY, PROFESSIONALISM Knight, Kavanagh & Page Ltd Company No: 9145032 (England) MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS Registered Office: 1 -2 Frecheville Court, off Knowsley Street, Bury BL9 0UF T: 0161 764 7040 E: [email protected] www.kkp.co.uk ACTIVE DORSET PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT CONTENTS PART 1: INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY ........................................................... 2 PART 2: FOOTBALL ....................................................................................................... 15 PART 3: THIRD GENERATION TURF (3G) ARTIFICIAL GRASS PITCHES (AGPS) ..... 65 PART 4: CRICKET .......................................................................................................... 79 PART 5: RUGBY UNION .............................................................................................. 108 PART 6: HOCKEY ........................................................................................................ 139 PART 7: OTHER SPORTS ........................................................................................... 158 APPENDIX 1: ADOPTED LOCAL PLANS ..................................................................... 160 APPENDIX 2: SPORTING CONTEXT .......................................................................... 165 APPENDIX 3: FOOTBALL TEAM GENERATION RATES ............................................ 171 APPENDIX 4: FOOTBALL MAPPING BY SUB AREA ................................................... 173 ACTIVE DORSET PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT GLOSSARY 3G Third Generation (artificial turf) AGP Artificial Grass Pitch AP Active Partnerships ASC All Stars Cricket CC Cricket Club CIC Community Interest Company CRC Community Rugby Coaching CSP County Sports Partnership ECB England and Wales Cricket Board DCB Dorset Cricket Board DCFA Dorset County Football Association EH England Hockey FA Football Association FC Football Club FF Football Foundation FIFA Fédération Internationale de Football Association FIT Fields in Trust FPM Facilities Planning Model GIS Geographical Information Systems HC Hockey Club KKP Knight, Kavanagh and Page LDF Local Development Framework LMS Last Man Stands NGB National Governing Body NHS National Health Service NPPF National Planning Policy Framework NTP Non Turf Pitch PPS Playing Pitch Strategy PQS Performance Quality Standard RFU Rugby Football Union RUFC Rugby Union Football Club S106 Section 106 SSE Scottish and Southern Energy TGR Team Generation Rate U Under March 2019 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 1 ACTIVE DORSET PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT PART 1: INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY 1.1: Introduction Knight, Kavanagh & Page Ltd (KKP) has been commissioned by Active Dorset to assess playing pitch facility needs across the five former local authorities of East Dorset District Council, North Dorset District Council, Purbeck District Council, West Dorset District Council and Weymouth & Portland Borough. These, together with the upper tier authority Dorset County Council, became the single Unitary Authority of Dorset Council on the 1st April 2019. Forming part of the Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS), this is the Assessment Report. It presents a supply and demand assessment of playing pitch provision across the whole Dorset Council area in accordance with Sport England’s PPS Guidance: An approach to developing and delivering a PPS. The guidance details a stepped approach that is separated into five distinct stages: Stage A: Preparation Step 1: Clarify why the PPS is being developed Step 2: Set up the management arrangements Step 3: Tailor the approach Stage B: Information Gathering Step 4: Develop an audit of playing pitches Step 5: Develop a picture of demand Stage C: Assessment Step 6: Understand how each site is being used Step 7: Develop the current picture of provision Step 8: Carry out scenario testing Stage D: Key Findings & Issues Step 9: Identify key findings & issues Step 10: Check and challenge key findings & issues Stage E: Strategy Development & Implementation Step 11: Develop conclusions & recommendations Step 12: Develop an action & implementation plan Step 13: Adopt, monitor and review the PPS Stages A to C are covered in this document, with Stage D and Stage E covered in the subsequent strategy document. The PPS should be used in conjunction with the Indoor Sports and Leisure Facilities Strategy, completed in 2018. The inter-relationship between the strategies must be noted as some sports covered by the PPS also use indoor facilities for matches or training. As the Indoor Sports and Leisure Facilities Strategy includes Christchurch, this PPS should also be used in tandem with the Christchurch PPS. 1.2: Why the strategy is being developed Active Dorset has commissioned this work to support higher level objectives and policies for the various local plans within Dorset Council. This includes it providing as strategic evidence to inform the drafting of the forthcoming new council local plan. It is also important for the PPS to inform potential decisions around rationalisation and investment and to account for budget restraints and look at efficiency savings and alternative delivery methods. Further, there is a need to align findings to the identified growth of the Study Area. March 2019 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 2 ACTIVE DORSET PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT In summary, to enable the above, the following outcomes of the PPS are considered key: An accurate audit of the supply of pitches and ancillary facilities; An accurate audit of the current demand for pitches; An understanding of the future demand for pitches; Detailed views on the adequacy of provision from users and pitch providers; An understanding of the situation at all sites available to the community; Whether the current Study Area is adequate to meet both current and future demand; The views and opinions of all relevant parties on the adequacy of provision; The key issues with the supply and demand for provision in the Study Area. To achieve the outcomes, significant engagement with local sports clubs, leagues, local pitch providers, Sport England and the relevant National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) is required. The final report (Strategy & Action Plan) will set out a significant number of individual pitch, sport and site specific recommendations which, following adoption by Dorset Council will constitute a useable strategy document which is owned by all relevant parties. It will set out a clear set of recommendations for playing pitch provision together with a prioritised sport, area and site specific action plan. Meeting Sport England PPS Requirements PPS requirements set out by Sport England include: To support the improving health and well-being and increasing participation in sport. Sports development programmes and changes in how the sports are played. The need to provide evidence to help protect and enhance existing provision. The need to inform the development and implementation of planning policy. The need to inform the assessment of planning applications. Potential changes to the supply of provision due to capital programmes e.g. for educational sites. To review budgetary pressures and ensure the most efficient management and maintenance of playing pitch provision. To develop a priority list of deliverable projects that will help to meet any current deficiencies provide for future demands and feed into wider infrastructure planning work. To prioritise internal capital and revenue investment. To provide evidence to help secure internal and external funding. One of the core planning principles of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is to improve health, social and cultural wellbeing for all and deliver sufficient community and cultural facilities and services to meet local needs. Section 8 of the NPPF deals specifically with the topic of healthy communities; Paragraph 96 discusses the importance of access to high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and recreation that can make an important contribution to the health and well-being of communities. Paragraphs 97 and 98 discuss assessments and the protection of “existing open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields”. A PPS will provide the evidence required to help protect playing fields to ensure sufficient land is available to meet existing and projected future pitch requirements. Paragraphs 99 and 100 promote the identification of important green spaces by local communities and the protection of these facilities. Such spaces may include playing fields. March 2019 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 3 ACTIVE DORSET PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT 1.3: Stage A: Prepare and tailor the approach Management arrangements A Project Team from the Council has worked with KKP to ensure that all relevant information is readily available and to support the consultants as necessary to ensure that project stages and milestones are delivered on time. A strong and effective steering group has and will continue to lead and drive the PPS forward during its development and also to ensure the delivery of its recommendations and actions. The membership of the group is balanced and representative of the different parties and key drivers behind the work and the providers and users of playing pitches in the Study Area. The Steering Group is and has been responsible for the direction of the PPS from a strategic perspective and for supporting, checking and challenging the