Sport England has produced guidance on how to carry out a needs assessment of local sport and recreation facilities.
Aimed at local authorities, the Assessing Needs and Opportunities Guide for Indoor and Outdoor Sports Facilities guidance recommends a best practice approach that takes into account local area needs.
Although primarily aimed at local authorities the guidance can also be used by national governing bodies, clubs, schools, facility providers and developers looking to undertake a needs assessment for a particular purpose, eg developing a planning application.
Sport England believes that a needs assessment of sport and recreation facilities will provide a clear understanding of what is required in an area and provide a sound basis on which to develop policy. It will also allow local authorities to make informed decisions.
The guide replaces the previous guidance: Assessing needs and opportunities: a companion guide to PPG17 and reflects the requirements of paragraph 73 in the National Planning Policy Framework.
Sport England is keen to ensure that this guide evolves through regular feedback. Feedback – including good practice, lessons learnt and suggested improvements can be sent to the Sport England Planning for Sport team.
View the Assessing Needs and Opportunities Guide for Indoor and Outdoor Sports Facilities guidance.
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