28 November – London, UK: London Sport would like to announce a new project, delivered in partnership with Sport England and management consultants, Knight, Kavanagh and Page (KKP), to identify, review and address the greatest challenges surrounding access to, and the protection of playing fields, across the capital.
Playing fields play a crucial role in support the delivery of community sport and informal recreation across the Capital, both of which support Londoners to lead an active lifestyle. Beyond the well documented benefits to people’s wellbeing that having access to local green spaces brings, these green spaces also play a key role in supporting community cohesion as well as efforts to mitigate climate change.
Despite the importance of such assets locally, there are significant concerns over the increasing pressure being placed on existing playing field sites, with some either at risk of being closed to the public, at risk of being closed, or even being sold off privately. There is also evidence of sites being closed when there is clear evidence of demand for such facilities locally. Sport England continue to play a key role in protecting key playing field assets across the Country and have successfully defended proposals to develop playing fields at Udney Park, Richmond and Worsley Bridge, Bromley.
However, the ability to protect playing field assets is becoming increasingly difficult and even when a site has been protected, it is not always the case that these assets remain accessible for sporting use.
The anticipated population growth in London and a reduced amount of available land throughout the capital to support housing growth, is likely to place additional pressure on the existing playing field provision in London which could lead to more sites being lost for sporting use. This risk is particularly high in areas with high deprivation levels, where access to these green spaces is already limited. The continued loss of playing fields threatens to exacerbate existing inequalities, making it more difficult for underserved communities to engage in sport and physical activity.
Through this project London Sport will bring together major stakeholders, including National Governing Bodies (NGBs), Local Authorities, community clubs, and other strategic bodies, to better understand the key challenges that impact the sectors ability to protect playing field assets and ensure equitable access to such provision across London. The insights gained will allow London Sport, Sport England, and other stakeholders to identify, co-design and implement the solutions need to address the issues whilst also providing key insight to support advocacy efforts around this topic.
Work on the project to date has already highlighted key issues, such as a lack of awareness of at-risk sites, insufficient funding to support the purchase of sites at risk of closure, and reduced ability of landowners to maintain playing field provision due to budget cuts and rising maintenance costs. Furthermore, the purchasing of facilities by professional sports clubs continues to take place, which often results in the loss of community use, while local sports organisations lack the capacity/expertise to take on the management of available sites.
Chris Donkin, Strategic Lead for Active Environments at London Sport said:
“The protection of playing fields in London is critical to ensuring that all communities, especially those in the most deprived areas, have equal access to sport and physical activity. The loss of these spaces exacerbates existing inequalities and limits opportunities for healthy living.
At London Sport, we are committed to addressing these challenges head-on by collaborating with key stakeholders to ensure key stakeholders across London are better informed in efforts to preserve and enhance our playing field provision. This project will not only support the safeguarding of key community assets but also unlock the numerous health, social, and economic benefits that come with an active lifestyle. By working together with Sport England, we can ensure that London’s diverse communities have the opportunity to thrive through sport and physical activity.”
Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Executive Director of Place at Sport England said:
“The places we live and access to green space like playing fields are central to how active we can be. This project is essential for the long-term health and wellbeing of communities living in the capital.
“Our strategy Uniting the Movement is laser-focused on tackling inequalities and making sure everyone can get active – regardless of postcode, bank balance or background. That’s why protecting London’s playing fields is so important: they represent opportunities for people to get active and play sport in their local area, particularly within communities that are less likely to be active.”
For more information on London Sport, visit www.londonsport.org.
Media Contacts
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