Ploszajski Lynch Consulting Ltd. Brentwood Borough Council Sport, Leisure and Open Space Assessment Final Report August 2016 CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND ....................................... 1 1.1 Ploszajski Lynch Consulting Ltd. Appointed in April 2015 ............... 1 1.2 Aim of the Studies ................................................................................ 1 1.2.1 Open Space Assessment .................................................................................. 1 1.2.2 Sport and Leisure Study .................................................................................. 1 1.2.3 A Single Project .............................................................................................. 1 1.3 The Study Methodology ....................................................................... 1 1.3.1 Open spaces ..................................................................................................... 2 1.3.2 Outdoor sports facilities .................................................................................. 2 1.3.3 Playing pitches ................................................................................................ 3 1.4 Scope of the Study ............................................................................... 3 1.5 Definitions of Spaces and Facilities .................................................... 4 1.5.1 Definitions of Open Spaces ............................................................................. 4 1.5.2 Definitions and Dimensions of Grass Pitches ................................................. 5 1.5.3 Definitions and Dimensions of Outdoor Sports Facilities .............................. 6 1.5.4 Definitions and Dimensions of Indoor Sports Facilities ................................. 7 1.6 Definitions of Demand .......................................................................... 7 2 THE BRENTWOOD CONTEXT ............................................... 8 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................... 8 2.2 Geography & Transport ....................................................................... 8 2.3 Landscape & Environment .................................................................. 8 2.4 Population ............................................................................................. 8 2.4.1 Projected Population Growth .......................................................................... 9 2.4.2 Ethnicity ........................................................................................................ 10 2.5 Affluence & Deprivation ..................................................................... 10 2.6 Education ............................................................................................ 11 2.7 Health ................................................................................................... 11 2.8 Implications for Open Spaces, Sport & Recreation ......................... 12 3 NATIONAL STRATEGIC INFLUENCES ............................... 13 3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................... 13 3.2 Central Government ........................................................................... 13 3.2.1 National Planning Policy Framework ........................................................... 13 3.2.2 "Sporting Strategy for An Active Nation" .................................................... 13 3.3 Sport England ..................................................................................... 14 3.4 English Federation of Disability Sport .............................................. 15 3.5 Natural England .................................................................................. 15 3.6 Summary of the Implications for Brentwood ................................... 15 4 REGIONAL STRATEGIC INFLUENCES ............................... 16 4.1 Essex County Council ........................................................................ 16 4.1.1 Essex Biodiversity Plan ................................................................................. 16 4.2 Essex Wildlife Trust ............................................................................ 16 4.3 Umbrella Bodies of Sport in Essex ................................................... 17 4.3.1 Active Essex .................................................................................................. 17 4.3.2 Governing Bodies of Sport ............................................................................ 17 4.3.3 Essex County Cricket Board ......................................................................... 17 4.3.4 Essex County Football Association............................................................... 18 4.3.5 Essex Rugby Football Union ........................................................................ 18 4.4 Summary of the Implications for Brentwood ................................... 18 5 LOCAL STRATEGIC INFLUENCES...................................... 19 5.1 Providers of Facilities and Services ................................................. 19 5.1.1 The Public Sector .......................................................................................... 19 5.1.2 Private and Voluntary Sectors ....................................................................... 20 5.1.3 Education ....................................................................................................... 20 5.1.4 Leisure Trusts ................................................................................................ 20 5.2 Vision for Brentwood 2016-2019 ....................................................... 21 5.2.1 Environment and Housing Management ....................................................... 21 5.2.2 Community and Health ................................................................................. 21 5.2.3 Economic Development ................................................................................ 21 5.2.4 Planning and Licensing ................................................................................. 21 5.2.5 Transformation .............................................................................................. 22 5.3 Health & Wellbeing policy [2014-2017] ............................................. 22 5.4 Brentwood Replacement Local Plan 2005 ........................................ 22 5.5 Brentwood's Emerging Local Plan .................................................... 22 5.5.1 Dunton Hills Garden Village......................................................................... 23 5.6 Policies of Neighbouring Authorities ................................................ 24 5.6.1 Basildon Council ........................................................................................... 24 5.6.2 Chelmsford Borough Council ....................................................................... 24 5.6.3 Epping Forest District Council ...................................................................... 24 5.6.4 Harlow Council ............................................................................................. 25 5.6.5 London Borough of Havering ....................................................................... 25 5.6.6 Thurrock Council .......................................................................................... 25 5.6.7 Thames Chase Community Forest ................................................................ 25 5.7 Summary of the Implications for Brentwood ................................... 26 6 OPEN SPACES ..................................................................... 27 6.1 Introduction ......................................................................................... 27 6.2 Demand for Open Spaces .................................................................. 27 6.3 Participation Trends ........................................................................... 27 6.3.1 Sporting Participation .................................................................................... 27 6.3.2 Essex Wildlife Trust ...................................................................................... 28 6.3.3 Essex County Council Country Parks ........................................................... 28 6.3.4 Horse Riding ................................................................................................. 29 6.3.5 Rambling ....................................................................................................... 29 6.3.6 Walking and Cycling ..................................................................................... 29 6.3.7 Allotments ..................................................................................................... 29 6.4 Overview of Demand .......................................................................... 29 6.5 Formal Open Spaces .......................................................................... 30 6.5.1 Current Standard of Provision ....................................................................... 30 6.5.2 Quality Assessment ....................................................................................... 30 6.5.3 Distribution and Accessibility ....................................................................... 31 6.5.4 Comment on Supply & Demand ................................................................... 31 6.6 King George's Playing Fields ...........................................................