HSP supports Protect Where We Play campaign

Whether it’s scoring a goal, touching down for a try, taking a wicket or simply going for a run, our playing fields and pitches are the place we fall in love with sport and recreation. They’re where our children get the sporting bug – by simply playing with friends or as part of a community club. For some, they’re where they take their first steps on the journey to becoming the next sporting star. And they’re where communities come together, to enjoy being active outdoors and to connect with nature.

But our playing fields and the spaces we play are now at risk from Government reforms to the planning system.

Government’s proposals include plans to consult on the impacts of removing Sport England as a statutory consultee for planning applications involving playing fields. We are deeply concerned by this as it would remove vital safeguards which protect playing fields from development and ensure continued community use.

With the Government committed to building 1.5 million homes over this parliament, there is a real risk that our playing fields will be lost to development. And once they’re gone, they’re gone forever.

Removal of Sport England as a statutory consultee will also have detrimental knock-on impacts on the provision of wider community sports facilities which are essential to improving health and wellbeing. Removing Sport England’s formal role will reduce its capability to advise and support local authorities and to secure the provision of high quality, accessible community facilities such as courts, sports halls and leisure centres.

Ultimately, while we acknowledge the Government’s ambitions to increase economic growth and deliver increased housing, we firmly believe this must not come at the cost of playing fields, pitches and sports facilities which are vital community assets. Indeed, building more homes means we need even more places for local communities to be active.

We think these proposed reforms are wrong. We need your support to Protect Where We Play and change Government’s mind so that the next generation can continue to take part in sport, recreation and physical activity.

HSP is supporting the Sport & Recreation Alliance Protect Where We Play campaign. You can show your support by:

• Writing to your local MP
• Sending a message to Government ministers on social media
• Sharing your stories about your local playing field on social media

Supporting information and templates can be found here – so please get involved!

The Evidence

• Playing fields and pitches deliver at least £2bn in improved wellbeing every year and help 4 million people to be active, including 1 million children. Read the research here.
• Sport England protects more than 1,000 playing fields a year. Between April 2022 and March 2023. 94% (1,007 out of 1,075) of concluded planning applications affecting playing fields resulted in improved or safeguarded sports provision.
• Sport England does not slow the planning system down. On average Sport England responds to over 98% of applications within the required 21-day consultation period for statutory consultees. This compares to 77% for the Environment Agency (2023/24). On average Sport England receives around 1,200 statutory applications per year compared to around 10,000 for the Environment Agency.
• Sport England doesn’t object to planning applications unnecessarily. In 70% of cases Sport England doesn’t object and in two thirds of cases where it initially objects, further negotiations have led to development being approved with improved or safeguarded sports provision.