A presentation at SALTEX 2016 - The Sports Amenity Landscaping Trade Exhibition - detailing Fields in Trust's Guidance for Outdoor Sport and Play - a free online resource available at http://www.fieldsintrust.org/guidance

1. SALTEX November 2016
Guidance for Outdoor Sport and Play:
Beyond the Six-Acre Standard

2. 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

3. To safeguard and improve outdoor
recreational spaces for sport and play
for future generations
Our mission

4. The Fields in Trust Effect
1946 2010
King George V Field, Drayton, Norfolk – protected 1938

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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)

9. 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)

10. 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

11. The Benchmark Guidelines

12. Formal Space Guidance

13. 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

14. Any Questions?
www.fieldsintrust.org
@fieldsintrust
FieldsInTrust
#LoveYourLocalPark