Needs Analysis
When public leisure centres were first developed there were so few of them that the need for provision was self-evident. Nowadays, with high levels of provision across all sectors, the development of new facilities must be based on a detailed analysis of the local market and competition. These needs analyses are core business for PLC.
We have completed a wide range of studies identifying the need for sports facilities, open spaces and playing pitches, including assessments of the effects of increasing, reducing or improving the quality of provision. Examples include:
- A sports facilities needs assessment of the Building Schools for the Future programme in Stevenage for Hertfordshire County Council. The programme involves a complex mix of school closures, amalgamations and new provision and we assessed the sports facility implications to satisfy Sport England that the proposals represent a net gain for education and community provision in the borough. This drew praise from Sport England.
| The Stevenage BSF programme Sports Facilities Needs Analysis‘
It is an excellent piece of work that provides all of the written information that I need as a statutory consultee, as well as providing an invaluable reference document as the BSF programme goes forward in Stevenage. I will be using it as an example of good practice nationally and regionally’. Roy Warren, East Region Planning Manager, Sport England |
- A needs assessment for BAE Systems of proposed sports facilities improvements at their Sports and Social Club at Hoo St. Werbergh, near Rochester. We assessed the sporting benefits of the proposed improvements, securing Sport England support for the proposals, provided technical advice on floodlighting issues and liaised with the Council’s leisure management operator regarding the long-term operation of the site.
- A needs analysis on the proposals to reinstate sports facilities at BAE Systems’ former sports ground at Bragbury End in Stevenage, as part of a wider scheme involving residential development of part of the site. The commission involved undertaking a local supply and demand assessment, consulting with local sports interests and identifying a scheme that would meet local sporting needs.
- A sports facilities needs assessment for Acetate Products Ltd., relating to their Little Heath site in Coventry. The site includes an area of former playing fields, so we analysed local demand for such provision and identified a range of mitigation options, to satisfy the local planning authority and Sport England that there will be a net sporting gain from any redevelopment proposals.
- A sports needs analysis for Coors Brewers, to support an outline planning application for residential development at the Bass Sports and Social Club in Alton in Hampshire. The project involved reviewing the Council’s emerging playing pitch and green spaces strategies, to establish the impact of the loss of facilities at the project site and the benefits presented by the proposed mitigation package.
- A needs analysis for Cadburys of proposed sports facilities improvements at the Fry Club in Keynsham. This involved establishing what new and improved sports and related facilities will meet the needs of the club and the wider local community and providing evidence to demonstrate that the proposed loss of some pitches would be more than offset by the sporting benefits of the improved provision.
- A needs assessment and options analysis for Stamford Homes North of proposed sports facility improvements at the Stamford Club in Grimsby, with a view to improving the overall sustainability of the operation. The project involved establishing local need and examining options that could be funded by an enabling development, to include local community provision.