In 2009, Southampton City Council commissioned Knight, Kavanagh & Page (KKP) to deliver a strategic framework built on a preceding audit and analysis of indoor sport and recreation facilities.

Facilities Improvement Service

Sport England's Facilities Improvement Service (FIS) is designed to improve local authority strategic planning for sport to maximise the opportunities for well-planned facilities improvement. Southampton City Council (SCC) took on the service in January 2008, quickly established a FIS Project Steering Group and produced a scoping study. This provided a strategic context and rationale for a facilities strategy and identified the following key drivers for change:

• The inclusion of Southampton in Wave 6A of Building Schools for the Future (BSF).
• Sourcing of alternative management arrangements for SCC sport and recreation facilities.
• The requirement for a needs and evidence base for sport and recreation facilities in order to inform the LDF Core Strategy and set facility standards in the City.

With this in mind, KKP was briefed to determine whether the right facilities were in the right place to serve Southampton residents and sports clubs. This was achieved by assessing the quantity, quality and accessibility of current provision and making recommendations for future action. The process took account of City BSF proposals and provided evidence that both supported and refuted their development in relation to supply and demand for sport and recreation facilities and community provision; now and in the future.

The term ‘sport and recreation facilities' encompasses large, purpose built sport and recreation centres of ‘district wide/national' significance, locally significant facilities and facilities provided by the City, education and private sectors. Within this framework, ownership and management are fundamental. They determine the effectiveness with which facilities serve the community and meet local need. Renowned for leaving no stone unturned, KKP included all such provision in the PPG17 compliant assessment of facilities for Southampton.

Via a combination of site audits, surveys, face to face consultation and desk analysis (utilising tools such as Active Places Power), KKP:

• Evaluated current provision based on quantitative and qualitative analysis.
• Analysed the accessibility of sport and recreation facilities.
• Identified key issues and shortfalls.
• Developed local minimum provision standards.
• Made recommendations about future provision, detailing facility development opportunities for each type assessed; ranging from sports halls and swimming pools to indoor bowls and synthetic turf pitches.

KKP also advocated adherence to a range of strategic, management and operational principles to optimise the realisation of the resulting vision, objectives and action plan.

Both the City Council and Sport England's FIS Adviser commended KKP for its approach and outcomes. David Payne said,

"Having reviewed a number of KKP's documents, it is my view that their use of strategic planning tools, analysis and interpretation and adherence to PPG17 guidance is exemplary, providing clients with thorough and comprehensive working documents. KKP is raising the bar and councils should expect this level of diligence and attention to detail when commissioning this type of work."

The City Council has subsequently retained KKP to produce a playing pitch assessment to ensure that it is fully armed with the necessary evidence base to inform its BSF Strategy for Change submission and that opportunity to develop sport are maximised through the Programme.

 View more information on KKP's expertise in BSF planning