Practical planning guide for sports clubs

Sport England, in partnership with the Department of Communities and Local Government, has published a new guide to planning applications aimed at sports clubs who want to improve their facilities.

Research shows that poor quality facilities can be a significant barrier to increasing participation in sport at a grassroots level. All too often the planning system is viewed as an obstacle as opposed to a means of securing the best possible outcome, and when approached incorrectly can result in frustration, financial loss and damaged relationships.

Making a planning application provides practical advice that will help clubs across the country prepare their case and application in order to maximise their chances of success.

Step-by-step guidance is provided on the five stages of applying for, and securing, planning permission:

• Reviewing the options
• Preparing the application

• Submitting the application

• The decision

• Implementing the decision.

The handbook has been drawn up with help from the Planning Officers Society and a working group that included The FA, the RFU, the ECB and British Tennis.

Planning Minister Iain Wright MP welcomed the guide, saying:

“Small sports clubs can find it difficult to get planning permission for improving their facilities, from getting floodlighting for tennis courts to changing the surface of a football pitch. That’s why we asked Sport England to produce guidance for sports clubs on how to improve the quality of their planning applications.

“This practical and informative guide takes clubs through the whole process, giving them the best chance of getting the new facilities they need.”

Charles Johnston, Sport England’s Property Director, said:

“If community sports clubs want to attract and retain participants, they need to be able to offer high quality facilities to all their customers. That’s why it’s vital that we do all we can to help them navigate the planning system.”

Andrew Scoular, the RFU’s Community Rugby Director, said:

“It’s fair to say that not everyone running a sports club would consider themselves an expert in the complexities of planning applications. So this user-friendly guide will make a big difference to our clubs, many of which have exciting plans to transform the facilities available to their players.

You can find Making a planning application on Sport England’s website. Hard copies are available on request; please send an email to planningforsport@sportengland.org including the postal address to which you would like the guide sent.