The brief

Hyndburn Borough Council appointed Strategic Leisure Limited (SLL) to undertake a Playing Pitch Assessment and develop a strategy for the area. The assessment undertaken and strategy developed has been completed in accordance with the revised guidance, ‘Towards A Level Playing Field: A Guide to the Productions of Playing Pitch Strategies’ published by Sport England and the Central Council for Physical Recreation (CCPR).

The Playing Pitch Assessment and strategy covers the overall Borough area and considers in some cases the overlap of supply and demand with adjoining areas. A major driving factor was to identify a hierarchy of investment priorities for pitch improvement and development. Encompassing an assessment of use and quality of sites and whether they are currently ‘fit for purpose’

Project Outcomes

The following strategic recommendations were identified from the assessment of pitch sports in the Borough. A number of solutions need to be considered in relation to issues identified; these can be broadly described as:

• Changing the use of existing pitches
• Dual-use facilities and greater use of school pitches
• Enhancing carrying capacity through improving the quality of facilities
• Development of new pitches
• Priorities for investment, on the whole related to the provision of changing rooms