Luton playing pitch strategy 2014 2021 contents

Objectives:
j. Establish an approach to securing developer contributions
k. Work in partnership with stakeholders to secure funding

Objective (j) – Establish an approach to securing developer contributions

It is important that this strategy informs policies and emerging supplementary planning documents by setting out the approach to securing sport and recreational facilities through new housing development. The guidance should form the basis for negotiation with developers to secure contributions to include provision and/or enhancement of appropriate playing fields and its subsequent maintenance. Section 106 contributions or CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) could also be used to improve the condition and maintenance regimes of the pitches in order to increase pitch capacity to accommodate more matches. A number of planning policy objectives should be implemented to enable the above to be delivered:

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  Planning consent should include appropriate conditions and/or be subject to specific planning obligations. Where developer contributions are applicable, a Section 106 Agreement or equivalent must be completed specifying the amount which will be linked to Sport England’s Building Cost Information Service from the date of the Planning Committee, and timing of the Contribution(s) to be paid.
  
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  Some contributions may need to be ring fenced for use according to the particular terms of the Planning Obligation, where there is opportunity to improve the appropriate pitches within the local vicinity. However, for some sports such as for example cricket and rugby a “central pot” for developer contributions across the local authority area may be necessary for the particular sport.
  
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  Contributions should also be secured towards the first ten years of maintenance on new pitches. Consideration should also be given to what the maintenance regime will be following this, given future budget cuts. NGBs and Sport England can provide further and up to date information on the associated costs.
  
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  External funding should be sought/secured to achieve maximum benefit from the investment into appropriate playing pitch facility enhancement and its subsequent maintenance .
  
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  Where new multiple pitches are provided, appropriate changing rooms and associated car parking should be located on site.
  
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  All new or improved playing pitches on school sites should be subject to community use agreements. For further guidance please refer to Sport England:
  

http://www.sportengland.org/facilities-planning/planning-for-sport/planning-tools-and-guidance/community-use-agreements/

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  Establish a formula for collating developer contributions for playing pitches which is demand based.
  

Objective (k) - Work in partnership with stakeholders to secure funding

Partners, led by the Council, should ensure that appropriate funding secured for improved sports provision are directed to areas of need, underpinned by a robust strategy for improvement in playing pitch facilities.

In order to address the community’s needs, to target priority areas and to reduce duplication of provision, there should be a coordinated approach to strategic investment. In delivering this objective the Council should maintain a regular dialogue with local partners and through the Playing Pitch Steering Group.

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  In 2010, sport and sport-related activity contributed £20.3 billion to the English economy – 1.9% of the England total.
  
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  The contribution to employment is even greater – sport and sport-related activity is estimated to support over 400,000 full-time equivalent jobs, 2.3% of all jobs in England.
  

Health impact:

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  Physical activity, including sport, is linked to reduced risk of over 20 illnesses, including cardiovascular disease and some cancers.
  
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  Taking part in regular sport can save between £1,750 and £6,900 in healthcare costs per person.
  

Social and cultural impact:

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  Published studies show the positive effects of sport on education include improved attainment, lower absenteeism and drop-out, and increased progression to higher education. For instance, young people’s participation in sport improves their numeracy scores by 8 per cent on average above non-participants.
  
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  Other studies have found that sport programmes aimed at youths at risk of criminal behaviour can enhance self-esteem and reduce reoffending.
  

Engaging with Active Luton and identifying a key contact at Luton PCT are good starting points to identify local opportunities for funding.

4.1: Sport specific objectives

Site specific actions falling out of the sport by sport objectives outlined below are detailed within the action plan.

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  Protect the current level of playing pitches and seek to provide new pitches in areas of deficit.
  
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  Seek to provide a pitch to meet the requirements of Step 5 and above, and league cup finals.
  
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  Improve the quality and therefore carrying capacity of existing pitch stock.
  
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  Transfer overplay to alternative venues which are not operating at capacity or are not currently available for community use. Geographical location is a determining factor for where people want to play and must be considered.
  
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  Work with schools to secure tenure and access to primary and secondary schools to help address deficiencies. In particular target primary schools for access to mini/youth pitches and create better club school links.
  
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  Where schools are available but unused ensure access arrangements are suitable for facilitating access to the whole community, particularly in relation to cost.
  

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  In partnership with The FA, seek to establish a strategic phased programme of 3G pitches, which will increase training slots and support back to back modified games on Saturdays and Sundays.
  
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  Monitor trends in usage and to work out whether more 3G provision is required
  
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  Increase the quality and standard of changing rooms to accommodate dual gender changing facilities (in line with The FA standards).
  
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  Where necessary, reconfigure existing pitch provision with access to suitable pitches and facilities, to support and grow the game.
  

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  Where appropriate, develop partnership and/or lease arrangements with large, sustainable, development-minded (i.e. FA Charter Standard Community) clubs to manage their own ‘home’ sites thus facilitating club development (as detailed in the management objectives).
  
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  Continue to support clubs in the management and improvement of their own facilities.
  
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  As far as possible support clubs with facility development aspirations through the planning and application stages.
  
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  Address demand from informal football users with alternative provision away from formal pitches to reduce wear and tear.
  

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  Meet deficiencies in cricket pitches and increase the number of cricket grounds.
  
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  Protect current levels of provision and seek to provide new fine turf or artificial pitches to meet unmet demand.
  
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  Where appropriate, develop partnership and/or lease arrangements with large, sustainable, development-minded clubs to manage their own ‘home’ sites thus facilitating club development (as detailed in the management objectives).
  
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  Provide dedicated artificial wickets to service informal cricket in public sites.
  
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  Increase and sustain informal cricket participation and provide a pathway for those who wish to play at a formal level.
  
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  Ensure that any facilities developed support opportunities for women’s and girl’s competitive cricket.
  
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  Support clubs to develop and improve ‘off pitch’ practice facilities.
  
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  Where schools are available but unused ensure access arrangements are suitable for facilitating access to the whole community, particularly in relation to cost.
  

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  Protect current levels of provision and work to alleviate overplay on competitive grass pitches caused by training. Ensure clubs have access to training areas which are either dedicated floodlit grassed areas or through the provision of an IRB AGP.
  

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  Where appropriate, increase the quality of rugby pitches in order to increase capacity.
  
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  Investigate options to work with schools to maximise access to education sites to help address deficiencies.
  

Maximise access to existing provision and work towards improving quality.

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  Work with schools to maximise access to education AGPs to accommodate both hockey training and competitive play. Establish community use agreements which also ensure access to ancillary facilities.
  
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  Ensure access arrangements are suitable for facilitating access to the whole community, particularly in relation to cost.
  
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  Investigate options to provide floodlighting at Luton 6^th Form College.
  

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  Ensure that sinking funds are in place to maintain AGP quality in the long term.
  
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  Seek to work in partnership with Venue 360 to resurface the AGP.
  

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  Work with England Hockey to support its development programmes aimed at increasing participation.
  

Maximise access to existing provision and work towards improving quality.

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  Consider rationalisation of greens with a view to focusing investment on retained facilities to ensure that these are high quality and sustainable.
  
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  Where possible ensure clubs provide pay and play opportunities at greens located in public parks.
  
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  Support and encourage junior bowls development in order to grow and sustain future participation levels in the sport.
  
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  Re-approach larger, sustainable, development-minded clubs to establish leases to fully manage their own ‘home’ sites thus facilitating club development.
  
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  Develop maintenance arrangements with clubs on council bowling greens.
  
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  Further investigate the sustainability of providing bowling hubs on artificial grass pitches.
  

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  When demand exists, improve court quantity/quality and/or install floodlighting (in order to increase the capacity) of existing tennis court provision.
  
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  Support development of a Beacon site to service Luton.
  
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  Continue to support and encourage junior development in order to increase participation levels in the sport.
  
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  Where possible upgrade parks tennis courts to support informal playing opportunities.
  

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  Work with the Luton League to identify and secure access to a suitable site which could accommodate four or more good quality courts to operate as a Central Venue facility. Sites with four courts include Ashcroft High School, Challney High for Girls and Icknield School.
  
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  Work with schools to maximise access to education netball courts to accommodate competitive play.
  
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  Ensure community use agreements with Schools are upheld.
  

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  Work with Stockwood Golf Club to protect and maintain current quality of course.
  
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  Continue to work with Stockwood Golf Club to increase participation.
  

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  Protect current provision of Gaelic football pitches and plan for anticipated increase in demand in the next five years.
  

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  Protect and maintain the current standard of track at Stockwood Park.
  
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  Accommodate demand for a separate throwing area which is critical to retain the Grade A quality certificate of the track.
  
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  Work with football clubs to improve access/management of the grass pitch in the centre of the athletics track to avoid the need for additional maintenance on the track.