Playing Fields Continue to be Protected

New figures show that Sport England has protected or improved sports provision in 93% of planning applications affecting playing fields. Sport England is a statutory consultee for local councils on any planning application that would affect or lead to the loss of a sports playing field.

For the period between April 2016 and March 2017, 1,102 out of 1,187 planning applications affecting playing fields resulted in improved or protected sports provision.

The figures also showed that:

• In 41% of the cases where Sport England originally objected to an application, further negotiations led to an overall improvement in sports provision.
• Of the 146 applications where Sport England maintained its objection, 61 were either withdrawn by the applicants or refused planning permission.

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