Sport England will retain its role as a statutory consultee on major planning applications affecting playing fields and community sport, following a Government review of the planning system.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government confirmed on 17 August that Sport England would remain a statutory consultee, although the range of applications automatically referred to it will be narrowed.
The Government had consulted on removing Sport England’s statutory consultee status as part of wider reforms designed to simplify the planning system and accelerate housing and infrastructure development.
Under the revised arrangements, Sport England will continue to be consulted on the most significant cases, including applications involving the physical loss of playing fields for housing or commercial development and substantial school or sports development on playing fields.
It will no longer automatically be consulted on a number of lower-risk applications, including developments adjacent to playing fields, pitches of less than 0.4 hectares, ancillary facilities such as pavilions, parking, lighting and storage, and some routine school developments.
The decision follows strong opposition to Sport England losing its statutory role. Of the 1,294 respondents who answered the relevant consultation question, 80 per cent opposed its removal, while a petition attracted more than 34,000 signatures.
Sport England has been a statutory consultee since 1996 and provides advice to local planning authorities where proposed development could affect playing fields and opportunities for community sport.
Chris Boardman, chair of Sport England, welcomed the decision.
'We welcome the Government’s decision to retain Sport England’s role as a statutory consultee on the most significant planning applications affecting playing fields and community sport,' he said. 'Once a playing field is lost, it is rarely replaced, which is why independent expert advice on the biggest planning decisions remains vital.
'These changes ensure our expertise is focused where it can make the greatest difference, for healthy communities today and for the generations that follow.'
The Government said narrowing the referral criteria would retain statutory oversight for the most significant proposals while reducing the regulatory burden associated with lower-risk applications.
Regulations setting out the revised arrangements will be brought forward in due course.
