A coalition of prominent sports figures, governing bodies, and organizations has come together to express their deep concern over the UK government's proposed planning reforms, which could potentially lead to the widespread development of sports playing fields and facilities in England. The likes of former England footballer Jill Scott, Olympic gold medallists Mo Farah, Alex Yee, and Matthew Pinsent, are among the 88 signatories to an open letter warning of the devastating consequences of such reforms on local communities.
The proposed reforms aim to end Sport England's statutory right to be consulted on housing developments on playing fields, as part of the government's plans to build 1.5 million new homes. This move has sparked widespread criticism, with many arguing that it would disproportionately affect the most disadvantaged communities, who already have limited access to green spaces. The letter emphasizes that playing fields are not just recreational areas, but vital infrastructure for health, wellbeing, community sport, and children's play.
"We are deeply concerned that proposed planning reforms could remove the statutory protections that help safeguard England's playing fields and sports facilities. These spaces are not just playing fields – they are vital infrastructure for health and wellbeing, community sport, and children's play. Playing fields are irreplaceable. Once built on, they are gone forever, and Sport England's statutory consultee role is an important line of defence."
The signatories to the letter, which include the Football Association, the RFU, the LTA, and UK Athletics, argue that weakening the existing protections would accelerate the loss of grassroots sports and physical activity spaces, at a time when participation is on the rise. Social justice is also a key concern, as the people who need green spaces the most often have the least access. Without these protections, the health and wellbeing of communities will suffer, exacerbating existing social and economic inequalities.
Historically, the UK has seen significant losses of playing fields, with around 10,000 sold off in the 1980s and 1990s. However, the introduction of protections in 1996 and 2001 helped to stem the tide, with Sport England protecting over 1,000 playing fields in 2021-2022 alone. Nevertheless, the proposed reforms threaten to undermine these hard-won gains, leaving many communities vulnerable to the loss of their local green spaces.
Fields in Trust, the organization behind the letter, has found that almost half of Britain's population already lives more than a 10-minute walk from a playing field, with the poorest areas continuing to lose the most green spaces to development or closure. The organization's president, Jill Scott, has urged the government to listen to the warnings from across the sports community, emphasizing that the proposed reforms would have far-reaching and devastating consequences for local communities.
"Too many communities risk losing these very spaces. The playing fields where children first learn to play, the parks where families spend Sunday afternoons, the pitches for weekend kickabouts between friends. I wouldn’t be where I am today without that green space in Sunderland, where I spent countless hours as a kid, and every child deserves that same chance."
The government has been approached for comment, with a spokesperson stating that strong protections for playing fields are already in place and that £400 million is being invested in grassroots sport. However, the sports community remains unconvinced, arguing that the proposed reforms would undermine these existing protections and have a lasting impact on the health, wellbeing, and social cohesion of local communities. As the public consultation on the proposed reforms continues until January 13, the sports community will be watching closely, hoping that the government will heed their warnings and protect the nation's playing fields for future generations.
Original: The Guardian
Image: The Guardian
Written by Npsports
