The brief

Strategic Leisure Limited (SLL) was tasked with the development of a Playing Pitch Strategy for Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council. The strategy involved extensive consultation with local clubs, schools, leagues and other key stakeholders, to identify views on existing playing pitch and ancillary provision e.g. changing accommodation. The consultation also identified a number of issues with existing facilities e.g. quality of pitches, quality of changing accommodation, drainage etc

Our Approach

SLL undertook a quality audit and assessment of all identified pitch site, using the ‘Towards a Level Playing Field’ toolkit. We then analysed pitch supply against pitch demand, to identify local levels i.e. sufficiency/deficiency in provision. This analysis informed the development of recommendations for a future hierarchy of provision overall and specific site investment.

SLL also produced Team Generation Rates (TGRs) for each of the pitch sorts assessed to identify current levels of participation at junior and senior levels, and to demonstrate likely levels of future participation. Future TGRs then informed the likely level of pitch demand, by type e.g. mini, junior, senior and by sport e.g. football, rugby league and union), cricket, hockey etc…

Project Outcomes

As a consequence of this strategy and other Playing Pitch Strategies developed by SLL, external funding has been secured to support new, and enhance existing pitch provision.