SALTEX November 2016

Guidance for Outdoor Sport and Play:Beyond the Six-Acre Standard

Fields in Trust

• Founded in 1925 by King George V

• Operating name of the National Playing Fields Association

• Patron: HM The Queen

• President: HRH The Duke of Cambridge

To safeguard and improve outdoor

recreational spaces for sport and play

for future generations

Our mission

The Fields in Trust Effect

1946 2010

King George V Field, Drayton, Norfolk – protected 1938

Policy and Guidance

• First guidance “The Six Acre Standard” in 1930

• Most recent guidance “Planning and Design for Outdoor Sport and Play” in 2008

• Survey data shows guidance widely used:• Responses from 119 planning

authorities• 75% of respondents use FIT or

equivalent standards for their policieswww.fieldsintrust.org/Guidance

Authorship• FIT Land & Planning Committee:

– Paul Garber (Chair)– Dr Ann Heywood– Tim Smith

• FIT officers:– Helen Griffiths (Chief Executive)– Don Earley (Head of Policy – now retired)

• Consultancy support– Phil Copsey and Katie Christou, David Lock Associates

Why Update It Now?• Significant changes to the planning system:

– New national policy: NPPF and PPG– PPG17 and Companion Guide cancelled– Phased introduction of CIL is changing the way

infrastructure contributions are made by developers

– Localism Act means greater focus on local character and standards

Survey Data• Survey sent to all English and Welsh LPAs

– Responses from 107 English and 12 Welsh LPAs– 33% response rate

• Close correlation with existing FIT standards:– 81% use measure “hectares per 1,000 population”– Median provision for play pitches: 1.21 hectares per 1,000

population (FIT policy: 1.20 ha)– Median provision for equipped play spaces: 0.25 hectares

per 1,000 population (FIT policy: 0.25 ha)

Geographic Coverage• New policy covers England only• Scotland and Wales to have own guidance:

– Different law and policy– Different governing bodies for sports– Development sites have unique characteristics

• Guidance being worked up now with FIT Scotland and FIT Cymru. (Publication imminent)

2015 Guidance: What is new?• Where guidance sits in the policy hierarchy• Flexible use of benchmark standards• New benchmarks for informal outdoor space• New supplementary standards:

– Replacement for accessibility standards– Standards/dimensions for play pitches– Some cases, recommend financial contribution

• Presentation: online guide

The Benchmark Guidelines

Formal Space Guidance

Implementing the Guidance

• Tool for planners and developers• Neighbourhood plan use• CIL-funded projects• Substantive evidence for planning objections• Helps makes the case for safeguarding spaces

Any Questions?

www.fieldsintrust.org

@fieldsintrust

FieldsInTrust

#LoveYourLocalPark