During 2008/9, Knight, Kavanagh & Page (KKP), produced a challenging strategic framework and strategy for sports facilities in response to the CSP's commitment to facilities development. The partners across the CSP area recognise the importance of facilities in delivering sports development priorities.

The Strategy informs future multi agency planning of key sports facility provision, the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme in the City and the County and provides guidance on an effective facility mix that will benefit the CSP area from a community development, economic and athlete development perspective.

The scope of this PPG17 compliant study included a comprehensive audit of all facilities to identify factors such as:

• Location of major and community venues in relation to sport and physical activity networks.
• A summary of facility quality and future life span.
• Identification of the core usage and the main markets/users.
• Identification of those with potential to be pre-2012 games training camps.

In addition, KKP assessed the:

• Economic and health benefits of investing in facility stock improvements.
• Current approach by partners to planning and developing sports facilities.
• Capacity of facilities stock to offer pre-2012 games training camps and improvements required to enable specific facilities to meet the relevant standards.
• Current approaches to section 106 and recommendations for improvement.

Via this and the in-depth demand analysis and needs assessment for a range of facility types from swimming pools to indoor bowls, KKP presented a report summarising aspirations for the framework, related investment requirements and advice on how these objectives could translate into policy and operating principles.

BSF was a key underlying theme. The KKP report documented core principles and protocols to adopt to ensure that maximum benefit is achieved from the refurbishment and redevelopment of school sports facilities. This focussed on advocating a tight, clear definition of community use and associated guidance on the design and management of sports facilities on school sites.

Another key focus was London 2012. The strategy presents a number of aspirations, ranging from inspiring Leicestershire businesses to compete for and win contracts to supply goods and services to encouraging more people to volunteer creating a strong legacy that will be of lasting benefit to local communities.

The study was led by David McHendry, Principal Consultant at KKP and resident expert in the field of sport and leisure facilities planning and management. He said,

"We are proud to have supported this innovative CSP, taking a powerful step and carrying the mantle for the development of sport facilities across the County. This holistic approach will surely pay off and ensure that all funding streams are optimised and investment is directed to the right place at the right time."