Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Cabinet has today, Monday 7 July, officially endorsed a new Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS), a comprehensive document that will guide the future of outdoor sports provision across the District through to 2050.
Developed by independent consultants Strategic Leisure, the PPS forms a key part of the evidence base for the emerging South Warwickshire Local Plan (SWLP), which covers both Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick Districts. The document will also be used to inform wider planning decisions and can also be used to support funding applications made by sports clubs.
The strategy provides a detailed assessment of current playing pitch provision and outlines future needs based on projected population growth and housing development.
It includes a detailed action plan for the pitches across the District and also provides a number of recommendations to ensure the right facilities are delivered in the right places, supporting the health, wellbeing, and recreational needs of local communities.
Key Objectives of the Play Pitch Strategy include:
- Protecting strategic multi-sport and pitch sites for long-term community use.
- Promoting sustainable management of sports clubs and facilities.
- Ensuring sufficient, high-quality facilities to meet current and future demand.
- Supporting planning decisions, infrastructure delivery, and funding applications.
The PPS aligns with national planning policy, particularly the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which emphasises the importance of accessible, high-quality sports facilities in creating healthy, inclusive, and safe communities.
Councillor George Cowcher, Planning and Economic Development Portfolio Holder said: "This strategy is a vital step forward in ensuring that our residents have access to the sports facilities they need now and in the future. It also supports our wider goals around health, wellbeing, sustainability, and community development."
The PPS will also complement the District Council's Active Communities Strategy (2024-2027) and the Sports Facility Strategy, helping to shape long-term investment and maintenance plans. It will be instrumental in guiding developer contributions, securing external funding, and informing the Infrastructure Delivery Plan.
