WIGAN BOROUGH PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY ASSESSMENT REPORT AUGUST 2017 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 WIGAN PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY ASSESSMENT REPORT CONTENTS PAGE ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................................. 1 PART 1: INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY ........................................................... 2 PART 2: FOOTBALL ...................................................................................................... 16 PART 3: CRICKET ......................................................................................................... 58 PART 4: RUGBY LEAGUE ............................................................................................. 77 PART 5: RUGBY UNION .............................................................................................. 102 PART 6: HOCKEY ........................................................................................................ 123 PART 7: THIRD GENERATION ARTIFICIAL GRASS PITCHES (3G PITCHES) .......... 136 PART 8: OTHER PITCH SPORTS ............................................................................... 155 APPENDIX 1: SPORTING CONTEXT .......................................................................... 159 APPENDIX 2: STEERING GROUP CONTACTS .......................................................... 164 WIGAN PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY ASSESSMENT REPORT ABBREVIATIONS 3G Third Generation (artificial turf) AGP Artificial Grass Pitch CFA County Football Association ECB England and Wales Cricket Board EH England Hockey ET England Touch FA Football Association FC Football club FE Further Education FIT Fields in Trust FPM Facilities Planning Model GIS Geographical Information Systems HE Higher Education KKP Knight, Kavanagh and Page LANFA Lancashire County Football Association LCB Lancashire Cricket Board NGB National Governing Body NPPF National Planning Policy Framework PPS Playing Pitch Strategy RFL Rugby Football League RFU Rugby Football Union RUFC Rugby union football club S106 Section 106 TGR Team generation rate WBC Wigan Borough Council WR World Rugby August 2017 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 1 WIGAN PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY ASSESSMENT REPORT PART 1: INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY This is the Playing Pitch Assessment Report prepared by Knight Kavanagh & Page (KKP) for Wigan Borough Council (WBC) and its partners. 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 (Step 1) Stage B: Gather information and views on the supply of and demand for provision (Steps 2 & 3) Stage C: Assess the supply and demand information and views (Steps 4, 5 & 6) Stage D: Develop the strategy (Steps 7 & 8) Stage E: Deliver the strategy and keep it robust and up to date (Steps 9 & 10) Stages A to C are covered in this report. Stage A: Prepare and tailor the approach The primary purpose of the Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS) is to provide a strategic framework which ensures that the provision of outdoor playing pitches meet the local needs of existing and future residents across Wigan. The Strategy will be produced in accordance with Sport England Playing Pitch Strategy Guidance (October 2013 as updated in March 2014) and the national planning guidance and provide robust and objective justification for future playing pitch provision throughout the Borough. 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 73 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. The Wigan Local Plan needs to be based upon a robust evidence base. Paragraphs 73 and 74 of the NPPF discuss assessments and the protection of “existing open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields”. August 2017 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 2 WIGAN PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY ASSESSMENT REPORT Why the PPS is being developed A Playing Pitch Strategy will support delivery of outcomes under The Deal for the Future1, Wigan Borough’s asset-based strategy to work with local communities to achieve growth and reform: ‘Our part’ (Wigan Borough Council) Keep Council Tax as one of the lowest Help communities to support each other Cut red tape and provide value for money Build services around you and your family Create opportunities for young people Support the local economy to grow Listen, be open, honest and friendly Believe in our Borough ‘Your part’ (residents) Recycle more, recycle right Get involved in your community Get online Be healthy and be active Help protect children and the vulnerable Support your local businesses Have your say and tell us if we get it wrong Believe in our Borough The Wigan Deal is an informal agreement between Wigan Borough Council and all residents to work together to improve the Borough. As part of this programme the Council created the Deal for Communities Investment Fund to encourage residents to get involved in their communities. Organisations can apply for three tiers of funding: Small investment – Up to £2000 for one year to achieve something new and address key priorities. Start Up - Up to £10,000 (in addition to guidance) for one year to help progress and nurture an idea Big Idea - Greater than £10,000 and up to £1 million. A three year investment for innovative ideas which are well developed. The Wigan Locality Plan2 (updated July 2016) states that “Currently only 48% of adults in Wigan are physically active compared to England average of 56%. The Council recognises the importance of leisure services in engaging people to increase physical activity and reduce inactivity ... Increasing physical activity and reducing inactivity in targeted areas of our communities will positively impact on the causes of premature, preventable illness and deaths, contribute to reducing the health inequalities gap, improve people’s self-esteem, their mental wellbeing and decrease social isolation" Planning Policy and other relevant sport related corporate strategies must be based upon a robust evidence base in order to ensure planning and sports development policy can be implemented efficiently and effectively. 1 https://www.wigan.gov.uk/Council/The-Deal/The-Deal.aspx 2 Further, Faster Towards 2020: the Wigan Locality Plan for Health and Care Reform. -- July 2016 August 2017 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 3 WIGAN PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY ASSESSMENT REPORT Corporate and strategic: It ensures a strategic approach to playing pitch provision. The PPS will act as a tool for Wigan Borough Council and partner organisations to guide resource allocation and set priorities for pitch sports in the future. It provides robust evidence for capital funding. As well as proving the need for developer contributions towards pitches and facilities a playing pitch strategy can provide evidence of need for a range of capital grants. Current funding examples include the Sport England Funding Programmes, Heritage Lottery Fund (for park improvements), the Football Foundation and the Big Lottery. The site specific action plan that will form an integral part of this PPS will identify and prioritise sites that require improvements and where the funding should be secured from. Planning: The Playing Pitch Strategy will provide important evidence to support the Wigan Local Plan. It will support strategic policies on green infrastructure, leisure, outdoor sports facilities and health and well-being in the emerging Wigan Local Plan. Evidence for Community Infrastructure Levy and Developer Contributions Operational: It can help improve management of assets management, which should result in more efficient use of resources and reduced overheads. The Action Plan will identify sites where quality of provision can be enhanced. An assessment of all pitches (in use and lapsed) will be undertaken to understand how pitches are used and whether the current maintenance and management regimes are appropriate or require change. Sports development: It helps identify which sites have community use and whether that use is secure or not. It helps identify where community use of school sports pitches is most needed to address any identified deficits in pitch provision. It provides better information to residents and other users of sports pitches available for use. This includes information about both pitches and sports teams/user groups. It promotes sports development and can help unlock latent demand by identifying where the lack of facilities might be suppressing