Sports facilities planning is a current key focus area at all levels; regional agencies, sports partnerships and local authorities are all developing strategic pathways for improvement, investment and protection of sports facilities.

This momentum can be traced back to several significant factors, some stretching as far into the past as local government reorganisation in the 1970's; this led to much investment in facilities, many of which are now in dire need of refurbishment or replacement. In addition, the Government's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme is creating opportunities for cost effective joint school and community use.

BSF is critical to future development in Telford and Wrekin. In 2006, we developed a strategy for provision of indoor sport and physical activity facilities across the Borough in which BSF was clearly recognised as a key catalyst for change.

It was developed in two phases. Phase one was an assessment of the existing network of facilities and the extent this does and will in future, cater for the needs of local residents. Phase two used phase one findings to develop a proposed network and hierarchy of sports facility provision for the Borough.

A key principle of the Strategy was that indoor sports facilities in Telford and Wrekin should operate within a notional hierarchy. Community sport and physical activity provision is to be developed around ‘hubs' of schools and community-based facilities. The plan is that there will be one ‘hub' centre in each of the Borough's five ‘cluster' areas: Newport, Wellington, Telford North, Telford Central and Telford South.

To optimise use and the ‘developmental effectiveness' with which facility stock is utilised, central coordination of programming was also recommended. This will drive both recreational participation and ‘pathway' programmes (for beginners, improvers, and those who wish to excel in specific sports). The overall package is designed to develop sport and physical activity to an optimum level in the Borough.

Part of this, and key to maximising the usage benefits and financial efficiencies of community use of school facilities, is the proposal for low/no staff-based remote facility management linked to hub site operation. Our recommendations were subsequently incorporated in the Borough's 07/08 BSF submission.

Many local authorities are now realising the benefits of our practical yet challenging PPG17 compliant assessments and strategies. For example South Somerset District Council have secured several million pounds in developer contributions to improve sport and recreation facilities in the Yeovil and surrounding areas on the back of its Facilities Assessment and Strategy.