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Date submitted

1 July 2026

Submitted by

Interested party

Thank you for consulting Sport England on the above application. We do not wish to attend a hearing in the event that one is scheduled. Non-statutory planning advice The proposed development does not fall within our statutory remit (Statutory Instrument 2015/595) and, therefore, Sport England has not provided a detailed response in this case, but would wish to give the following advice to aid the assessment of the application. General planning guidance and advice can be found on our website: · https://www.sportengland.org/how-we-can-help/facilities-and-planning/planning-for-sport#planning_applications Loss of sports facilities If the proposal involves the loss of any sports facility, then full consideration should be given to whether the proposal meets Paragraph 104 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), is in accordance with local plan policies to protect sport and recreation facilities, and whether it meets any approved Playing Pitch Strategy or Built Sports Facility Strategy that the local authority has in place. New sports facilities If the proposal involves the provision of a new sports facility, then consideration should be given to the recommendations and priorities set out in any approved Playing Pitch Strategy or Built Sports Facility Strategy that the local authority may have in place. In addition, to ensure they are fit for purpose, such facilities should be designed in accordance with design guidance notes produced by Sport England, or the relevant sport National Governing Body. · Design Guidance notes: http://sportengland.org/facilities-planning/tools-guidance/design-and-cost-guidance/ Meeting the needs of new housing If the proposal involves the provision of additional housing, then it will generate additional demand for sport. If existing sports facilities do not have the capacity to absorb the additional demand, then new and/or improved sports facilities should be secured and delivered in accordance with any approved local policy for social infrastructure, and priorities set out in any Playing Pitch Strategy or Built Sports Facility Strategy that the local authority has in place. Our Sports Facility Calculator is a tool that can be used to estimate the additional demand for key community sports facilities from a new population and convert that demand into sport facility requirements with indicative costs. Guidance on how to use the tool is available on the link below. · Sports Facility Calculator: https://www.activeplacespower.com/ Other relevant guidance, tools and contacts Active Design In line with the Government’s NPPF (including Section 8) and PPG (Health and wellbeing section), consideration should also be given to how new development, especially new housing, will provide opportunities for people to lead healthy lifestyles and create healthy communities. Sport England’s Active Design guidance can be used to help with this when developing or assessing a proposal. Active Design provides ten principles to help ensure the design and layout of development encourages and promotes participation in sport and physical activity. NPPF Section 8: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-planning-policy-framework/8-promoting-healthy-communities PPG Health and wellbeing section: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/health-and-wellbeing Sport England’s Active Design Guidance: https://www.sportengland.org/how-we-can-help/facilities-and-planning/design-and-cost-guidance/active-design Planning conditions We maintain a list of model planning conditions covering issues such as - creation of new playing field, compliance with design guidance notes, sports lighting and community use. Community Use Agreements (CUA) Central Government wishes to see the availability of sports facilities to the wider community when they’re not being utilised by the main user, as they see schools being at the heart of local communities. To help with this ambition we have developed a template community use agreement. · Planning Conditions and Community Use Agreements: https://www.sportengland.org/guidance-and-support/facilities-and-planning/planning-sport/planning-applications National Governing Bodies of Sport Although Sport England is not in a position to provide a detailed response on this occasion, where relevant you may wish to consider advice provided by recognised sport National Governing Bodies (NGBs), a list of which is available on our website using the link below: · NGBs: https://www.sportengland.org/guidance-and-support/national-governing-bodies?section=expertise_advice_and_tools-section Please note: this response relates to Sport England’s planning function only. It is not associated with our funding role or any grant application/award that may relate to the site. Yours sincerely, Planning Technical Team