The South West is one of the most attractive and interesting parts of Europe, with an enviable blend of coastline, countryside, cities, towns and villages; but is it also envied for its sport and leisure provision? As a national practice but one with a full time presence in the South West, this is our take on the current situation in sport and leisure together with our predictions for future priorities and developments.

The South West has truly embraced the opportunity of 2012. Most counties have detailed plans and strategies and local authorities are considering sport and the Games as part of, and integrating legacy-related activity into, long term planning and investment in sports development and facilities.

Cornwall in particular, following the recent change to become a unitary authority is entering an exciting new era in the development of community sport underpinned by an emphasis on delivery of the aims and objectives of the new Sport England strategy and the recently launched national strategy for physical activity (Be Active, Be Healthy). 

The move to unitary status affects Wiltshire and Cornwall in the region and has led to our latest commission in Cornwall. We are currently taking stock of its sport and recreation facilities to pull together the County's requirements in a co-ordinated fashion, to allow a strategic overview and prioritisation.

Initial indications are good. There is strong common understanding and a ethos between officers previously in different local authorities; borne of years of joint work and a strong sub-regional identity. Future challenges will, almost certainly, include amalgamation of a variety of different operational models.

Moving north and east, Somerset is tackling Building Schools for the Future head on. Its innovative approach in Bridgwater is leading the way - as it becomes the first town in Somerset (and the whole South West) to develop a programme.

KKP has played a key role in planning for Bridgewater; we developed the strategic vision for sport in the town (prompted by the BSF submission) and have been commissioned to support the panel that will evaluate bids to operate the proposed new leisure facility in the town.

Nearby, Bath and North East Somerset Council and its partners are also committed to investing in facility improvements. Following the well received Sport and Recreation Facilities Strategy and Action Plan produced last year, we have developed an animated "vision" for future leisure facility development, incorporating ‘fly by' concepts and schematics for key sites alongside likely investment requirements.

The Council is currently using this ‘vision' to lobby partners and potential funders. The final piece of the jigsaw will soon be in place when we finalise the District's playing pitch strategy.

 Getting back to the region's more rural and coastal settlements; to name (drop) but a few, KKP has recently completed sport and leisure assessments in Bournemouth, Poole, Weymouth & Portland, Mendip and Carrick..and word is spreading! The reach of the regional office now extends to areas such as Southampton, South Wales and the West Midlands.

Generally, the South West is blessed with abundant sporting talent and world class provision such as Weymouth's Olympic Regatta centre. However, it is hard to avoid the suspicion that many national policies are derived from an ‘urban experience' and hence cannot always easily be grafted onto or into the rural South West. This has led to an uneven-ness in the proportion of secured resources, especially financial support.

Coming over the horizon is further local government re-organisation, reductions in public spending, changes to the sports lottery, future BSF initiatives and, lest we forget, the Olympic and Paralympic Games. These are real opportunities for the South West to continue to lead the way - putting programmes on the ground and attaching them to key measures to ensure that sport and leisure services demonstrably prove their worth. 

Contact Jonathan to discuss further (jonathan.woods@kkp.co.uk)