Playing Fields (Hansard, 13 March 2000)

§ Kate Hoey

The Government are delivering on the manifesto pledge to protect playing fields that schools and communities need because too many have been lost in recent years and grassroots sport has suffered as a result.

Local authorities are required to consult Sport England on all planning applications affecting sports pitches and playing fields. Since it has taken on this role, there has been a significant increase in the number of local authorities consulting Sport England, which is largely due to greater awareness of their obligation. Applications are assessed by Sport England against its published playing fields policy founded on a presumption against loss unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Figures show that Sport England receive around 60 applications a month and are objecting to about one third of these. The majority of those approved either contribute to better overall sporting provision, do not affect sports pitches or are proven to be surplus to school and community requirements.

In addition, the Town and Country Planning (Playing Fields) (England) Direction 1998 was issued on 15 December 1998 and requires planning authorities to refer to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions planning applications on playing fields which they are minded to approve but where Sport England has objected.

New legislation has also been introduced to require all state schools to seek approval from the Secretary of State for Education and Employment for the sale of playing fields, and to consult the local community and other user 12W groups. Since these measures were put in place, the number of school playing field disposals has dropped from some 40 a month to only three. Approval is given only where funds raised are ploughed back into sport and education, and where remaining playing fields fully meet the needs of the school and community both now and in the future. Around a half of approved disposals that affect school sports pitches have been at closed or closing schools, and some 70 per cent. of the remainder which have been approved will lead to new, improved sports facilities.

Further measures to help communities increase playing fields and green spaces have been launched through the Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities initiative, launched in January this year by the New Opportunities Fund. This will, by 2002, commit a total of £125 million of projects designed to help urban and rural communities throughout the UK, create new, or enhance existing, areas of open space. This will include as a priority the creation of new playing fields and recreational areas, with an emphasis on the needs of areas of multiple deprivation.

My Department is working closely with the Central Council for Physical Recreation and National Playing Fields Association, as well as the DfEE and DETR, in monitoring and evaluating the measures we have put in place, and will consider whether any further action is necessary.