London, 15 October 2026: London Sport is today publishing the London Playing Fields Protection Project report, produced by Knight, Kavanagh & Page (KKP), as well as launching a new Early Warning System to help identify sports sites at risk across the capital.
Together, they respond to a growing concern: London’s playing fields and wider community sport facilities are being lost, and too often partners only find out when it is too late to act.
The launch comes as the Mayor of London consults on the draft London Plan, a key moment to make sure protections for these spaces get stronger, not weaker.
What the report found
Following the launch of the project in November 2024, the report finds that protections for London’s 1,804 playing field sites are proving insufficient. 36 sites are now known to be at risk, up from around 12 at the start of the project, and the true figure is likely to be higher.
Key findings include:
– Under-provided: London is home to 16% of the UK population but only 8% of its playing fields.
– Spotted too late: threats often only surface once a planning application has been submitted.
– Left to decline: some owners close and neglect sites for years, then argue they are no longer viable.
– Gaps in evidence: many boroughs lack an up-to-date playing pitch strategy, so risks go unrecorded.
The report’s recommendations focus on stronger planning protection, better data on at-risk sites, long-term investment, and opening up more school and university pitches to local communities.
Introducing the Early Warning System
The Early Warning System gives clubs, community groups, residents and partners a simple way to identify that a local site may be at risk. It covers, but is not restricted to, facilities such as playing fields, parks, multi-use games areas, sports halls and community spaces.
London Sport will review submissions and share them with partners, including Sport England and national governing bodies, so action can start earlier. Warning signs to look out for include planning applications, land sales, closure announcements, reduced use or maintenance, and changes in ownership or leases.
An accompanying guidance note explains how to spot a site at risk and what steps communities can take to protect it, from objecting to planning applications to securing Asset of Community Value status.
Why now? The draft London Plan
The London Plan shapes development across the capital, and borough plans must align with it. The report found that planning inspectors have cited current London Plan policy when deciding to protect playing fields.
London Sport’s research shows the equivalent of 288 new facilities are needed over the next decade just to maintain current activity levels, and that assumes no further losses. We are calling on the Mayor to ensure the new London Plan:
- keeps protection for playing fields and sports facilities at least as strong as it is today;
- stops owners being rewarded for deliberately closing and neglecting sites;
- requires boroughs to have up-to-date sport and pitch evidence in place; and
- secures community access to school and education sports facilities
How to get involved
If you know of a playing field, park or sports facility that could be at risk, let us know. Even limited evidence helps, as several reports about the same site can reveal a bigger picture.
Notes to editors
Read the full London Playing Fields Protection Project report: https://drive.londonsport.org/external/3d6666c188d852b27817ccd13c45c5cc8109ec4307ac6131dce623d3ea5d13b4
Download the Early Warning System guidance note: https://drive.londonsport.org/external/3d6666c188d852b27817ccd13c45c5cc8109ec4307ac6131dce623d3ea5d13b4
For further information about London Sport, visit londonsport.org.
