Helping Shape the District

We have read thorough the New Local Plan and the Appendices/Background Technical Papers. Our concerns are not around the New Local Plan (NLP), but rather the evidence with under pins it.

We are pleased to see that our data in from the Active People Survey is being used. Data is released on an annual basis (with interim figures released every six months). We would suggest you utilise the most recent figures available figures and these are included in the Local Sport Profile (free to download via the following link http://www.sportengland.org/research/local_sport_profiles.aspx) this illustrates a baseline figure from the Active People Survey (APS) 1 (1,000 sample for each local authority area October 2005/ October 2006) of 25.7% measured against 3 x 30 minutes of moderate activity per week and a figure from APS 3 and 4 (a combined 1,000 sample October 2008 to October 2010) of 25.3%. While this decrease is not a statistically significant it is nonetheless a trend which the New Local Plan should contribute to reversing in ensuring provision for sport and active recreation within the District. These figures also demonstrate that Warwick figures are well above both West Midlands and England-wide averages.

Sport has been shown in successive studies to play an important role in improving health and well being. PPG 17 in its introduction states: health and well being - open spaces, sports and recreational facilities have a vital role to play in promoting healthy living and preventing illness, and in the social development of children of all ages through play, sporting activities and interaction with others. P 9 of NLP point 5 highlights that health is an important issue which the plan would seek to address, particularly for young people and teenagers to have access to sport. DCMS publish the Culture and Sport Evidence Programme http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/research_and_statistics/5698.aspx. In July 2010 a report 'Drivers, Impact and Value of Engagement in Culture and Sport' demonstrated the contribution sport makes to wider societal good. This highlights the positive benefits in numeracy for young people involved in sport and particularly the very positive contribution involvement in sport can have in under-achieving young people (see http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/research/CASE-supersummaryFINAL-19-July2010.pdf (page 27 of 42)) Page 38 of 42 of the same document measures the long-term public benefit of engagement focusing on health gains from taking part in sport. A model based approach was utilised in line with National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines. It estimated the impact of doing sport on the likelihood of experiencing four different health states: chronic heart disease (CHD), colon cancer, stroke, and type II diabetes. These effects were then valued in terms of health costs avoided and health-related quality of life gains. It shows the healthcare cost savings and the overall economic value (health care costs saved and improved health-related quality of life) generated by doing sport. These vary between £1,750 per person (badminton) and £6,900 per person (health and fitness), and that the total economic value generated by doing sport varies between £11,400 per person (badminton) and £45,800 per person (health and fitness). The variation in value is a result of two factors: the intensity level of the activity, and the duration and frequency with which a sport is undertaken.

We would once again urge WDC to carry out a robust playing pitch assessment. It is the only Warwickshire Local Authority who has not started this vital piece of work. In the same vain, most Warwickshire authorities have either commissioned or are completing a Sports facility strategy. These piece of work not only help to define how need for a number of sports are being met currently but they also highlight shortfalls which need to be addressed.

Once these assessments have been completed and strategies have been produced, it allows for targeted external funding to be sought. For example Sport England has recently launched its Protecting Playing Field imitative. One of the pre-requisites for a local authority bid is a robust playing field strategy. Currently Warwick District Council would be unlikely to achieve a successful bid to this fund.

Returning to the aspiration for having sports facilities to meet the needs of the district, another of our tools, Market Segmentation, which can be used to get a overall picture of the current interest in specific sports from the local population: (http://www.sportengland.org/research/market_segmentation.aspx). This can help target resources to where they can be most effective. These will help the council be better informed in tackling issues raised on p13 of the NLP by creating the best opportunities for specific sports in certain areas.

Sport and active recreation have also been proved to be important contributors to local economic health http://www.sportengland.org/support__advice/local_government/shaping_places.aspx
. Sport can lead regeneration by engaging the communities in the improvement of their area, creating employment and training opportunities. It would therefore be appropriate, in our opinion to include the benefits of sport in the overall vision.

It is also important to recognise that those working in and visiting business parks and town centres will generate additional demand for sport and recreation activities. This tends to be at the peak times early morning at lunch times and late afternoon and early evening. Sport England recommends that this is fully assessed and that appropriate consideration is given in the core strategy to this issue. Recreational and sports facilities in or close to town centres can provide additional attractions that can support the viability of centres.

The economic benefits of sport in the West Midlands is also recognised and a Sport England survey in 2008, showed continued growth from 2002 with over £2.1 billion spent on sport-related goods and services in the region in 2008. In the same year, consumer expenditure on sport accounts for 2.9% of the total expenditure in the region, the highest percentage among the English regions. Compared with 2005, there is a 39% increase in sport-related consumption. During the period 2003-2008, the proportion of total consumer spending on sport has increased from 2.4% to 2.9%.

Sport and associated industries are estimated to employ 54,200 people in the West Midlands. This represents an increase of 23% over the period 2005-2008. During the aforementioned period, the percentage of sport related employment in the region increased from 1.8% to 2.2%. Employment linked to the sport-retailing sector increased very strongly during the 2005-2008 period, reaching 5,400 people employed. The region bucked the recession trend in all sport related indicators. Sport therefore plays a vital role in the economy in the West Midlands and in particular in Warwick DC. The Local Sport Profile for Warwick identified above also incorporates economic performance in sport data for the District area. This illustrates that in terms of Sports Business Birth Rates, Warwick's growth is above that of West Midlands over a similar period (2006-2009) but below England figures. Equally Warwick performs well in comparison with regional figures in terms of new sports businesses as a proportion of all new businesses. Overall there is a fluctuating picture in terms of employment in sports related businesses compared to whole local economy employment when comparing Warwick, regional and national figures.

The headline findings for the participation in sport, the number of sports related business and an indication of the main interests in particular sports, can be found on our web site; http://www.sportengland.org/support__advice/local_government/local_sport_profiles.aspx We are enclosing a copy of the headlines for Warwick District Council. (This takes information from Active People and Market Segmentation.)

Sport England has developed extensive guidance for local authorities to assist them in the development of LDF policies and documents that include policies for sports facilities. The link to general guidance on policy development for sport on Sport England's website is below:-
http://www.sportengland.org/facilities__planning.aspx

The advice on Sport England's website specifically includes policies for inclusion in core strategies and includes a checklist of potential policy content relating to sport and some examples of good practice. This can be accessed at:-
http://www.sportengland.org/facilities__planning/developing_policies_for_sport.aspx

Core Strategy Policies should also place a strong emphasis upon designing quality places, which includes high quality public places and the promotion of walking and cycling. A document you may wish to draw upon in developing your approach (and refer to in your list of useful document) is Active Design, which suggests practical ways in which good design can facilitate a more active and sporting community. This can be downloaded from our website at:-
http://www.sportengland.org/facilities__planning/planning_tools_and_guidance.aspx

Sport England believes that the Core Strategy should contain within its vision and objectives the ability to maximise the opportunities for and the benefits of sport in the community and to integrate future developments with the existing community. A series of recent publications by Sport England have been prepared under the banner of 'Shaping places through sport' which emphasise this opportunity.
http://www.sportengland.org/support__advice/local_government.aspx

Sport England would also like to advise that, the previous National Sports Strategy, 'Game Plan', the Government's strategy for delivering sport and physical activity, has been replaced by Sport England's Strategy 2008-2011. This can be accessed on our website at:
http://www.sportengland.org/about_us/what_we_do.aspx

In conclusion, Sport England believes the baseline data in certain areas is not to be robust enough to underpin the aims and objectives of the emerging Warwick Local Plan. We would therefore advise that WDC employs the tools we have set out above to create a robust evidence base for sport within the local authority boundaries.

We trust that these comments and observations are helpful and we would be grateful if you could keep Sport England apprised of the progress of the New Local Plan in the coming months. In the meantime if you require any clarification of any of the points raised above please do not hesitate to contact us.