VALE OF WHITE HORSE DISTRICT COUNCIL Playing Pitch Study …democratic.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/documents/s41085/2017_01... · 2017-02-10 · Rugby Football Union, England Hockey, and

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VALE OF WHITE HORSE DISTRICT COUNCIL

Playing Pitch Study

Final report

September 2015

Nortoft Partnerships Limited 2 Green Lodge Barn, Nobottle, Northampton NN7 4HD

Tel: 01604 586526 Fax: 01604 587719 Email: [email protected] Web: www.nortoft.co.uk

mailto:[email protected]

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Nortoft Partnerships Ltd Vale of White Horse District Council Page 1 of 150 Playing Pitch Study: Final report

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION 6

SECTION 2: MODELLING THE VALE OF WHITE HORSE 8

SECTION 3: ARTIFICIAL GRASS PITCHES 16

SECTION 4: GRASS PLAYING PITCHES 42

SECTION 5: FOOTBALL 43

SECTION 6: CRICKET 86

SECTION 7: RUGBY UNION 101

SECTION 8: PLANNING STANDARDS FOR GRASS PLAYING FIELDS 119

SECTION 9: RECOMMENDATIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION 125

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TABLE OF FIGURES Figure 1: Sport England approach to developing a playing pitch strategy 10

Figure 2: Playing pitch study sub areas 12

Figure 3: Population growth by sub area table 13

Figure 4: Population growth by sub area graph 13

Figure 5: Development of provision per 1000 standards 14

Figure 6: AGP surfaces and use by sport 19

Figure 7: AGPs - current provision 20

Figure 8: Existing artificial grass pitches 21

Figure 9: Football clubs use of AGPs 23

Figure 10: FPM AGP parameters 26

Figure 11: FA 3G AGP model training hours 28

Figure 12: FA model applied to Vale 3G AGPs 29

Figure 13: AGPs - comparator authorities 30

Figure 14: Nortoft Calculator – AGPs, large size but all types 30

Figure 15: Sports Facility Calculator for Artificial Grass Pitches 32

Figure 16a: Future need for 3G pitch space if no additional provision 34

Figure 16b: Future need for 3G pitch space with proposals included 34

Figure 17: Charter standard football clubs 2013/14 44

Figure 18: FA recommended pitch sizes 45

Figure 19: Football teams 2014-15 season 46

Figure 20: Temporal demand 48

Figure 21: Pitches used by the community (secured and unsecured) 49

Figure 22: Pitches in secure community use by sub area 49

Figure 23: Football sites not in secure community use 50

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Figure 25: Adult pitch sites season 2014-15 51

Figure 26: Youth football pitch sites season 2014-15 52

Figure 27: Mini Soccer pitch sites season 2014-15 53

Figure 24: Clubs with stadia pitches 54

Figure 28: Pitch carrying capacity for football 54

Figure 29: Football spare capacity by pitch size and sub area in 2015 61

Figure 30: Forecast team numbers - whole authority 63

Figure 31: Forecast team numbers – Abingdon and Oxford Fringe 63

Figure 32: Forecast team numbers – South East Vale 64

Figure 33: Forecast team numbers – Western Vale 64

Figure 34: Forecast team numbers – Didcot Leisure Sub Area, Vale part 65

Figure 35: Football up to 2031 matches only - whole authority 67

Figure 36: Football up to 2031 matches only – Abingdon and Oxford Fringe sub area 68

Figure 37: Football up to 2031 matches only – South East Vale sub area 69

Figure 38: Football up to 2031 matches only – Western Vale sub area 70

Figure 39: Football up to 2031 matches only – Didcot Leisure sub area (Vale part) 71

Figure 40: Football up to 2031 incl training – whole authority 72

Figure 41: Football up to 2031 incl training – Abingdon and Oxford Fringe sub area 73

Figure 42: Football up to 2031 incl training – South East Vale sub area 74

Figure 43: Football up to 2031 incl training – Western Vale sub area 75

Figure 44: Football up to 2031 incl training – Didcot Leisure sub area (Vale part) 76

Figure 45: Summary of sub area playing field needs up to 2031 77

Figure 46: Potential new provision 79

Figure 47: Football new playing field provision recommendations 84

Figure 48: Cricket pitches in 2015 88

Figure 49: Cricket grounds in secure community use by sub area 89

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Figure 50: Cricket terms and definitions 89

Figure 51: Club membership and expansion issues 91






Figure 57: Cricket grounds required up to 2031 95

Figure 58: Cricket- future requirements 99

Figure 59: RFU rugby team numbers 2015 102

Figure 60: Rugby pitch sites 103

Figure 61: Rugby site and pitch capacity assessment 105






Figure 67: Rugby union supply and demand modelling 2021 111



Figure 70: Proposals to meet future rugby union needs to 2031 115

Figure 71: Rugby union scenario to 2031 116

Figure 72: Recommendations for rugby 118

Figure 73: Provision per 1000 for playing field space with AGPs 121

Figure 74: Provision per 1000 for playing field space with no extra AGPs 122

Figure 75: Study Summary: Site priorities for Abingdon & Oxford Fringe Sub Area 126

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Figure 76: Study Summary: Site priorities for South East Vale Sub Area 135

Figure 77: Study Summary: Site priorities for Western Vale Sub Area 141

Figure 78: Study Summary: Site priorities for Vale Didcot Leisure Sub Area 146

APPENDICES APPENDIX 1: Football Clubs and Teams APPENDIX 2: FA Ground Grading Requirements APPENDIX 3: Cricket Clubs and Teams APPENDIX 4: Protecting Playing Fields Cost Sheets

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SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 This Playing Pitch Study (PPS) follows the Sport England methodology set out in

their Playing Pitch Strategy Guidance 2013. The assessment and the development of the future priorities for investment have been derived following the close involvement of local clubs and leagues, Sport England, the Football Association at both regional and county level (Berks and Bucks FA), Oxfordshire Cricket Board, the Rugby Football Union, England Hockey, and the Vale of White Horse District Council.

1.2 The first section of this report relates to artificial grass pitches for football, hockey

and rugby. The second focuses on grass pitches for football, cricket and rugby. 1.3 The artificial grass pitch provision was addressed in the Vale of White Horse Leisure

and Sports Facilities Study 2013-2031, updated in November 2014 and has since been formally consulted upon as part of the Local Plan process. However for completeness, and to bring this Playing Pitch Study into line with the Sport England Guidance 2013, the artificial grass pitch section is largely repeated below but updated where necessary in light of more recent information. Any changes to the 2014 report are identified in the footnotes. The artificial grass pitch section in this PPS will update and replace the artificial grass pitch section in the Vale of White Horse Leisure and Sports Facilities Study 2013-2031.

1.4 The study brings together both the consultation findings from the formal study

process and the extensive and detailed consultations relating to over 125 separate planning applications for housing schemes of over 10 dwellings that have been submitted to the District Council since May 2013. This information has been able to be collated because Nortoft has acted as specialist planning adviser to the District Council over this two year period. As such Nortoft has commented at both the pre-application stage of major schemes as well as on applications submitted, as well as being involved with a number of planning appeals.

1.5 The planning advice process involves detailed discussions with the relevant parish

councils and with the local clubs. The issues and findings from these consultations have been used to inform both the overview and the site by site proposals in this study.

1.6 Where possible this study has identified specific sites where improvements to

provision or the provision of new facilities should be delivered. For example, in relation to the emerging housing allocations in the local plan, the study recommends the amount of and type of pitches to be provided on site, or if more appropriate, off site. If a proposed facility’s catchment area is wider than a residential neighbourhood, alternative options are proposed.

1.7 With the fast changing environment in the Vale of White Horse it will be essential

to keep this study up to date, and in particular to revise the site specific implementation tables on at least an annual basis. This will be part of a rolling

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leisure delivery plan that the Council will update regularly, including as appropriate taking account of political decisions on the apportionment of resources.

1.8 It should be noted that the proposals in this study do not commit the Vale of White

Horse District Council or its partners to the funding, provision or management of sites. The recommendations will be used as a guide for investment, including via the Community Infrastructure Levy, other developers’ contributions, and national governing body of sport funding.

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SECTION 2: MODELLING THE VALE OF WHITE HORSE Methodology 2.1 The methodology for the assessment follows the requirements of the Sport

England Playing Pitch Guidance (PPS) of 2013 (www.sportengland.org/facilities-planning/planning-for-sport/planning-tools-and-guidance/playing-pitch-strategy-guidance/). The ten step approach in the guidance is copied below, and this study addresses Steps 1-8 (see Figure 1).

2.2 All of the clubs involved in football, cricket and rugby have been consulted using

the national governing body (NGB) club survey questionnaires contained within the guidance. The NGBs have been active in supporting and encouraging clubs to respond to the survey requests, and agreed a final deadline for responses of 31 May 2015.

2.3 In addition to the PPS formal surveys of the pitch based clubs, Nortoft has

responded to over 125 separate planning applications and pre-application discussions since May 2013 involving proposed housing across the following towns and villages:

Abingdon Blewbury Botley Chilton Cumnor Didcot East Challow East Hanney East Hendred Great Coxwell Grove Grove Airfield Harwell Kingston Bagpuize Marcham Milton North Hinksey Shrivenham Southmoor Stanford in the Vale Steventon Sutton Courtenay Uffington Wantage

http://www.sportengland.org/facilities-planning/planning-for-sport/planning-tools-and-guidance/playing-pitch-strategy-guidance/



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Watchfield West Hanney

2.4 This planning application work, including planning appeals and commentary on

emerging Neighbourhood Plans involves very detailed conversations with all of the main interests in a local area. These direct discussions include as appropriate, the parish/town council, pitch providers, and the key pitch clubs in the local area. The key issues and any local aspirations or facility plans for each specific location are used to inform the planning application responses. These in turn have been used to inform this study’s findings and recommendations.

2.5 Due to the way in which the planning consultations are undertaken; on site, by

phone, and by email, the responses of each of the separate organisations/ individuals have not been recorded in a way which directly reflects the PPS formalised survey approach. They are not therefore separately identified within this report.

2.6 Nortoft has also visited and assessed each playing pitch site using the non-technical

pitch survey templates contained in the Sport England Guidance. Views on the quality of the sites have been checked against both the comments received from the clubs and national governing bodies as part of the PPS process, and those which have been gathered as part of the planning development control assessments.

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Figure 1: Sport England approach to developing a playing pitch strategy

2.7 The emerging findings and priorities were discussed with the NGBs, the key clubs,

Sport England and the Vale of White Horse District Council. The initial priorities for investment are for a period of 5 years, but there are also some longer term proposals to guide future provision.

Demographics and modelling 2.8 This assessment is based on the population numbers, locations and demographics

set out in the Vale of White Horse Leisure and Sports Facilities Study 2013-2031, (updated in 2014) and the growth target of each of the sports of cricket, rugby, and football have been agreed by the relevant national governing body as a 0.5% increase per annum. The justification for this growth for each of the sports is provided under each of the relevant sections, but overall Sport England has a corporate objective of increasing sports participation by 1% each year. This has not been fully achieved in the Vale of White Horse so the overall target of 0.5% for each sport has been moderated to 0.5% growth in participation each year. This 0.5% growth is also the adopted policy of the Vale of White Horse for built facility provision, and appears in the Leisure and Sports Facilities Study of November 2014.

2.9 The local research undertaken to support this PPS with the pitch clubs specifically

asked about the catchments of the different sports at the different age groups. It is clear that for football the majority of players travel only up to 5 miles from their

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home to their club, whatever the age group. For cricket, most players travel up to 10 minutes from their home to their club. For rugby the youth players tend to live within 5 miles of the club, and most seniors within 10 miles.

2.10 The catchment of artificial grass pitches has been assessed by Sport England

following detailed national research. This has demonstrated that for football players will travel up to 20 minutes to reach a 3G pitch, but hockey players will travel up to 30 minutes.

2.11 This catchment information from both the local clubs and from national research

provides confirmation that the key determinant for the demand for pitch sports is the number of people living in an area, rather than the number of people employed in an area. One of the starting points for the assessment is therefore the demographic forecasts of resident population, which is available at the ward level up to 2031.

2.12 A sub area approach has been used for the playing pitch study, and these are

mapped in Figure 2. The reasoning behind the chosen sub-areas are:

• A need to consider the impact of the planned new growth across key settlements in the district (the emerging Local Plan’s Final Sites Package).

• A need to reflect as far as possible the Local Plan’s sub areas, but taking into account the agreed sub area for leisure around Didcot which encompasses areas both within the Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire.

• A need to use the available population forecasts, produced by Oxfordshire Insight in summer 2014 which are based on ward boundaries.

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Figure 2: Playing pitch study sub areas

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2.13 The sub area demographics are based on ward forecasts provided by the District Council, which were produced for the Council by Oxfordshire County Council’s Research and Intelligence Unit in July 2014. These took into account the anticipated population growth from the “Final Sites Package” of the emerging Vale of White Horse Local Plan. A summary of the anticipated growth across the sub areas is provided in Figure 3, and the scale of the growth is illustrated by Figure 4.

Figure 3: Population growth by sub area table

Abingdon &

Oxford Fringe South East Vale Western

Vale

Didcot Leisure

Sub Area (Vale) Total

2015 69377 23644 24695 9639 127354 2021 75992 30981 30707 16487 154168 2026 75949 36326 31104 21956 165335 2031 75284 38531 30643 25682 170140 Growth 2015-31 5907 14887 5948 16044 42786

Figure 4: Population growth by sub area graph

2.14 These figures and graph illustrate that the existing population in the Abingdon and

Oxford Fringe sub area is much greater than the populations in the other areas of the district, and that this area will experience some growth. However the largest growth is anticipated to be in the Didcot area, where the population growth in the Vale of White Horse is over 16,000 people. Together with the growth in the South

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

80000

Abingdon & Oxford

South East Vale Western Vale Didcot Leisure Sub Area (Vale)

Num

ber o

f peo

ple

Sub area

2015

2021

2026

2031

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Oxfordshire part of Didcot, the resulting growth around the Didcot Leisure Sub Area is over 30,000 in the period up to 2031.

2.15 The detailed demographic forecasts behind this study will be revisited over the

coming months to take account of changed baseline data from the ONS. However the revision of the small area estimates needed to inform the PPS are not likely to be available for some time. Once they are, then the PPS modelling can be checked. However it is not expected that any significant changes will be required to the recommendations.

Cross boundary movement 2.16 Some of the Abingdon cricket and football teams play just over the Thames on

Culham Road, which is in South Oxfordshire. For the purposes of modelling, these teams have been included within the Vale of White Horse playing pitch study along with the pitches at this site.

2.17 The other main cross-boundary movement of players is in relation to rugby, with

Oxford Harlequins estimating that 62% of their players are from Oxford with 14% from South Oxfordshire and only 11% from the Vale of White Horse. Oxford RFC has about 50% of its members from Oxford, with 40% from the Vale of White Horse. This compares to Grove where 80% of the members come from within the district.

2.18 In relation to cricket, again most of the players are drawn from within the district,

with only Kennington reporting a high percentage (40%) coming from Oxford. 2.19 All of the football clubs who responded to the survey, even those relatively close to

the authority’s boundaries, report that a high percentage of their players live within the district.

2.20 Given the nature of the areas surrounding the borders of the Vale of White Horse,

very urban in the case of Oxford, or very rural in the case of West Berkshire, it is likely that the balance of players for the sports into or out of the authority will remain approximately the same. In practice this means that the modelling assumes no adjustment is required to the team numbers.

2.21 The detailed modelling, including the sites list capacity assessments, is provided

within each sport specific section below. The development of quantitative standards is summarised here as Figure 5.

Figure 5: Development of provision per 1000 standards

Step 1 Identify the number of teams for each relevant age group for each sport e.g.

the number of boys aged 10-15 years Step 2 Identify using the authority’s demographic information, the number of

individuals in each relevant age group for each sport e.g. the number of boys

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aged 10-15 years Step 3 Calculate the number of teams per 1000 for each relevant age group for each

sport, known as the Team Generation Rate (TGR) Step 4 Apply a multiplication factor to the TGR rate at 0.5% pa for 2021, 2026, 2031

and 2036 Step 5 Using the whole authority demographic profiles for 2021, 2026, 2031 and

2036, apply to a population of 1000 Step 6 Apply the forecast TGR rates to the forecast 1000 population for 2021, 2026,

2031 and 2036 to identify the number of teams which would be expected to be generated for each age group within each sport both at the whole authority level and at the sub area level

Step 7 Calculate the amount of playing field space that would be required to meet the needs from the 1000 population for each sport at 2021, 2026, 2031 and 2036 at the whole authority level and at the sub area level.

Step 8 Using the site quality information, review the outcomes of Step 7 and increase the amount of area required if the pitches are of poorer quality and unlikely to be improved, or reduce if the pitches are of high quality.

Scope of the brief 2.22 The agreed brief for the project was to primarily focus on those sites with

community use. It is noted in particular that the large amount of grass playing field space at the independent schools which are not generally available for use by the community, and that a change in the position is unlikely in the foreseeable future. This is a similar situation with the MOD sites in the authority. It was therefore agreed that, because the costs of including such sites in the assessment would be significant but that there would little community benefit, that they should be excluded from the scope of the detailed assessment work.

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SECTION 3: ARTIFICIAL GRASS PITCHES 3.1 The provision of artificial grass pitches (AGPs) in the Vale of White Horse is

geographically uneven, with almost all of the provision being down the eastern side of the district. Compared to many areas, the provision of 3G pitches, the preferred surface for football, is also low.

3.2 Artificial grass pitches can be used intensively and can withstand use for a large

number of hours per week, so long as the surface is effectively managed and repairs undertaken when necessary. The carpet of the pitches needs to be replaced around every 8-10 years, but this in part will depend on the amount of use and the maintenance regime put in place.

3.3 The almost unlimited use that an AGP can take compares to a maximum of around

3 hours use per week for both football or rugby grass pitches where the use is junior or adult. This use will include training as well as matches. In principle therefore, if the football or rugby training can be in part or in whole relocated to artificial pitches, then there is less pressure, and somewhat less need, for grass pitches in an area.

3.4 For football, there will still be a need to provide for grass pitches because at the

weekend peak times a large number of matches take place at the same time. Even if an AGP is accredited by the FA, on the FA register, and made available for match use, only a small number of matches can actually take place on that pitch and the remainder need to take place on grass.

3.5 There is no simple equation which equates an AGP to match provision, but it could

be assumed that one match could be played each of Saturday morning and afternoon, and Sunday morning and afternoon for the senior game. However for the junior and mini games one large pitch can be marked out for 2 x u11/u12 pitches or 4 x (5v5) mini pitches, enabling concurrent and consecutive matches to be played. The key issues in determining how far an AGP can potentially compensate for grass pitches therefore include: the number of hours and days of week it is available for community (club use); the provision of floodlighting; changing and car park provision; and whether the hire charges for club use both for training and matches are affordable for all age groups.

3.6 Rugby has just started using artificial surfaces for matches although the preferred

surface for the community game continues to be natural grass. Where grass is not available then a World Rugby 22 compliant surface is welcomed by the RFU for both matches and training.

3.7 Community hockey is now solely played on artificial surfaces. 3.8 AGPs are often considered revenue generators so can be an important source of

income for schools, clubs and leisure centres. However all too often insufficient

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money is set aside to re-carpet the pitch at the end of its lifespan (often about 10 years) so issues arise in terms of maintaining and retaining the facility.

Pitch design and activities 3.9 There are three main types of AGPs: sand based/sand filled; 3G; and water based.

These pitches can withstand high levels of use if they are maintained carefully, but are only really of value to the community if they are floodlit to enable evening use. The current provision of AGPs is listed in Figure 7 and mapped in Figure 8.1

• Sand dressed/sand filled (sand based) pitches have a short pile, which is most

suited to hockey but can be used for football and non-contact rugby training. This is the most common surface for school sites, and the longest established. o The sand dressed pitches are England Hockey Category 2 pitches and are

approved for hockey within the FIH global/national parameters. o The sand-filled (sand based) surfaces are EHC Category 3 surfaces within

the FIH national parameter. • 3G or rubber crumb pitches usually have a long pile and are the preferred

surface for football and rugby (with enhanced specification), but they have limited use for hockey, as an England Hockey Category 4 pitch.

• Water based pitches are a specialist hockey surface but can also be used for football and non-contact rugby training. There are no water based AGPs in the Vale of White Horse. These are England Hockey Category 1 pitches. The nearest water-based pitches are located at the Oxford University Sports Complex, and the Reading Cricket and Hockey Club.

3.10 From the 2014/15 season a 3G Football Turf pitch which appears on the FA’s

national register can be used for match play in all competitions at the FA’s National League system Step 7 and below, including Women’s and Youth Football. At Step 6 and above, these pitches must be tested by the FA annually, or for Step 7 and below, every three years and can either be “approved” as meeting the FA’s (lower) or the Federation Internationale de Football Association’s (FIFA) (higher) standards. There are currently no registered match pitches for football in the district. 2

3.11 For rugby to be able to use a 3G surface for matches any new facility must meet the

Rugby Turf Performance Specification issued in 2015, which has been developed to provide guidance on the technical requirements of pitches which are designed to meet the requirements of World Rugby Regulation 22 (previously IRB 22). Again the minimum pile length for these pitches is 60 mm. These pitches need to be retested every 2 years to retain their accreditation.

3.12 The demand for AGPs is one of the fastest growing of all sports facilities, and the

National Governing Bodies (NGBs) are responding to this with ‘new’ surfaces and new competition rules. AGPs are also vital for many clubs for training, even if

1 The list of existing pitches and proposals for new provision have been updated. 2 Additional information provided about the FIFA and FA match standard football turf pitches

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matches are played on grass. The guidance from Sport England and the NGBs (‘Selecting the Right Artificial Surface’, 2010) provides more detail on the types of surface and their expected use (see Figure 6). However this advice may now be becoming superseded by emerging policy from England Hockey, the FA, and RFU which may put much more emphasis on sports specific surfaces rather than shared surfaces.

3.13 AGPs are seen as a major benefit for schools, both in the public and independent

sectors. Many schools therefore have aspirations for AGPs as do the higher and further education sectors.

3.14 The majority of community demand for AGP time comes from football training and

the small-sided senior game. This type of football is often unaffiliated and run independently from the Football Association.

3.15 In general terms, the community market for AGPs is not inexhaustible and all

proposals for AGPs should have a rigorous business plan to demonstrate their viability in the longer term if they are dependent on revenue from the community. If new AGPs are proposed to be built on existing grass pitches, the loss of the grass pitches and the impact upon the grass playing field stock should also be given detailed consideration, both in relation to summer and winter sports.

Current provision 3.16 There are currently 3 large size floodlit AGPS in Vale, none of which is 3G, plus four3

small size 3G pitches. The details are provided in Figure 7, and they are mapped in Figure 8 together with the pitches in the surrounding areas.

3.17 It is notable that all of the current provision is on the east side of the authority, and

residents in Wantage/Grove and parts of the Western Vale area are outside a 20 minute drive time to any AGP.

3 Small size 3G pitch at Harwell Primary School added

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Figure 6: AGP surfaces and use by sport

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Figure 7: AGPs - current provision

Site Name Facility Sub Type Size

Dimensions (m)

Build date

Refurb date

Sports lighting Management Type

Hours available

for community

use

HARWELL PRIMARY SCHOOL 3G Small 40 x 18 2014 School/College/University (in house)

30

RADLEY COLLEGE SPORTS CENTRE Sand filled Large 100 x 60 1997 2010

School/College/University (in house)

0

RADLEY COLLEGE SPORTS CENTRE Sand dressed Large 100 x 60 1982 2011 School/College/University (in house)

2

THE DEFENCE ACADEMY, SHRIVENHAM Sand Filled Small 90 x 50 2000 x

Ministry of Defence limited

TILSLEY PARK Sand dressed Large 110 x 60 1996 2013 School/College/University (in house)

25

TILSLEY PARK Sand dressed Large 110 x 60 1996 2013 School/College/University (in house)

25

TILSLEY PARK Rubber crumb pile (3G) Small 37 x 21 2005 x


25



25



25

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Figure 8: Existing artificial grass pitches

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Consultation findings4 3.18 The consultation on the 2013 Leisure and Sports Facilities Strategy specifically

asked about artificial grass pitch provision. This was seen as a high priority for Wantage/Grove.

3.19 The 2014 Faringdon Neighbourhood Plan specifically identifies the development of

a large size 3G AGP as a sports facility priority, with the options being at Faringdon Community College, Tuckers Field or adjacent to the skate park. Reference is made to the need for improved car parking provision at the leisure centre if the facilities there are to be expanded.

Club comments Hockey 3.20 There are currently 2 community hockey clubs based in Vale of White Horse:

• Abingdon Hockey Club with 3 men’s teams, 3 women’s teams and one mixed team. Juniors play in the senior teams.

• Abingdon Pilgrims Hockey Club with one women’s team. 3.21 A response to the club’s consultation was received from Abingdon Pilgrims who

currently use the Oxford Academy site for their matches and use Tilsley Park for training. The club would like to also play their matches at Tilsley Park, but are struggling to find available time slots.

3.22 Abingdon Hockey Club plays and trains at Tilsley Park. They did not respond to the

club’s consultation. Football 3.23 Sixteen of the football clubs in the Vale of White Horse responded to the club

survey, and 12 use AGPs for winter training either on a regular or occasional basis. The sites used by the clubs and comments made about them are summarised in Figure 9.

4 Consultation updated with addition of club comments.

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Figure 9: Football clubs use of AGPs Club AGP Surface Quality Ease of

booking Comment

Abingdon Youth FC

Radley College Sand Excellent Difficult Very costly

Ardington & Lockinge Youth FC

Tilsley Park 3G Good Difficult

Botley Boys & Girls FC

Iffley Sports Park, Oxford

Water Average Difficult

Cumnor Minors Youth

Tilsley Park Sand Poor Difficult Poorly maintained

Faringdon Town FC

Defence Academy, RMCS Shrivenham

Sand Good V difficult Stringent security measures make this site difficult to book and use

Carterton Community College, West Ox

3G Good Difficult

Grove Challengers FC

Harwell Primary School

3G Excellent Easy

Tilsley Park Sand Good Difficult Harwell & Hendred Youth FC

Tilsley Park 3G Good Difficult Harwell Primary School

3G Average Easy

Wallingford School Sand Good Easy Letcombe FC Tilsley Park Sand Good Easy Milton United

Tilsley Park Not stated

Occasional basis only

Wallingford School Sand Occasional basis only

St Edmunds Tilsley Park Sand Excellent Difficult Stanford in the Vale AFC

Grange Leisure Centre, Swindon

3G Excellent V easy

Rugby 3.24 All of the six rugby clubs playing in the district responded to the club survey. None

of the clubs are currently using AGPs for either training or matches, and no one flagged the availability of AGPs as an issue or significant aspiration.

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National Governing Body comments and strategies Hockey 3.25 England Hockey’s document ‘The Right Pitches in the Right Places’ is the governing

body’s facilities strategy. It suggests that there should be a number of steps in assessing hockey provision including an assessment of supply and demand, the strategic considerations, the type/level of use, and standard of play. Nationally over 80% of the total current pitch provision is on education sites (schools, Further Education, or Higher Education).

3.26 England Hockey has a capital investment programme running up to spring 2016

which is for both refurbishments and new AGPs. The programme is already almost fully committed for the period 2013-17, and it seems unlikely that any facilities in the Vale of White Horse would be a high priority for investment, given that the double pitch site at Tilsley Park has recently been re-carpeted.

3.27 England Hockey has confirmed as part of the strategy process, that the national

governing body’s priority is the retention of the double pitch site at Tilsley Park. No new hockey surface pitches are currently being sought but if the clubs continue to grow there may be future demand.

Football 3.28 The Football Association’s National Facilities Strategy of 2013 places heavy

emphasis on the development of new 3G AGPs and on the re-carpeting of some of the existing AGPs to 3G from sand filled/dressed. The objective is to give every team the opportunity to at least train on a 3G pitch, and the FA estimate that the equivalent of one large size 3G pitch is needed for every 56 teams in an area.

3.29 With the lack of large size 3G pitches in the Vale of White Horse, the district may be

a priority for funding from the Football Foundation, dependent upon the projects meeting their detailed funding criteria.

3.30 The FA & Berks & Bucks FA have identified that a high priority site within the Vale

of White Horse district is the need for a full size football turf 3G pitch in the Wantage and Grove area. Further work is outstanding by all partners to ensure that the proposed usage, pricing structure, business plan and operational management stacks up and the correct location is identified. At this stage, the preferred side would be the proposed new leisure centre at Mably Way, Grove, although there is still outstanding detail to be confirmed.

3.31 The FA have also welcomed the proposed 3G match pitch (with enhanced

specification for rugby) at Tilsley Park athletics track, but note that there is no clarification on the availability or accessibility for community clubs for either matches or training. The FA has provided technical support to Abingdon School which is developing the site, but will not be providing any funding support to it.

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Rugby Union 3.32 The National Facilities Strategy 2013-2017 from the Rugby Football Union (RFU)

sets the criteria for the County Board investment strategies. One of the priorities for investment includes to “Increase the provision of artificial grass pitches that deliver wider game development outcomes”.

3.33 The RFU strategy states:

“The use of artificial grass pitches and in particular IRB 22 compliant surfaces has the potential to offer wider opportunities for the growth of the game, particularly when taken in the context of those communities that do not have access to natural turf facilities or when natural turf facilities are unavailable or unusable. Artificial grass pitches can offer a quality playing surface throughout the year, allowing for increased opportunities for training and match competition at all levels and ages. In a wider context and when delivered against a strategic setting such as a school, college or university site, they enhance curricular activity, opportunities for intra-mural social and competitive rugby and provide quality playing opportunities for the wider community.

Previous strategic investment in artificial grass pitches that deliver wider game development outcomes remain valid and investment will continue into sites that service a number of rugby partners at a local level.”

3.34 The RFU has welcomed the proposed development of an IRB 22 [WR 22] quality

pitch at Tilsley Park athletics track but note that the amount of community use of the proposed facility, which is being funded by the school, is yet to be confirmed. They have also confirmed that AGPs with surfaces suitable for rugby are not a high priority for the district at the current time. However as the sport grows off the back of the Rugby World Cup of 2015 then the need for a compliant surface may arise and at this point the RFU would welcome the ability to discuss this requirement. Any new pitch would need to be located to best maximise the ability to further grow the game.

Modelling Active People Survey findings 3.35 AGPs are used primarily for football and hockey. They are also increasingly used for

rugby (where the surface is appropriate). Sport England published detailed sport evidence packs, which bring together data from the Active People Survey.

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3.36 For football, there is a clear overlap between the small sided game played on large

size pitches that have been divided up, and the specialist small sided (usually commercial) pitch complexes. Of the two, the small sided pitch complexes tend to be more attractive to players, but at present there are only three small-sided pitches, adjacent to the full sized sand dressed pitches at Tilsley. The cost of hiring artificial surfaces can often prohibit use by mini and junior teams however.

3.37 For rugby, good quality natural turf remains the surface of choice for both matches

and training. However, where there is limited space, 3G artificial grass pitches with the appropriate length pile and shock pad offer a real opportunity to provide a quality surface upon which to play the game. The RFU however will generally only prioritise funding for AGP development where a pitch is on a rugby club site, or is adjacent to it, or possibly where a school has a very strong background in rugby.

Facilities Planning Model 3.38 The Sport England Facilities Planning Model (FPM) for AGPs currently considers

only large size pitches. It is a useful guide to the balance in supply and demand, particularly where the area in question does not also have a large number of small-sided football pitches, which can skew the demand patterns. The key parameters (Figure 10) used in the FPM provide a useful guide to the ways in which AGPs are used. The key points to note are: the dominance of football overall, the much higher percentage of male users than female, and the rapid fall off in users with age.

Figure 10: FPM AGP parameters

Parameter

Comments

Participation -% of age band

0-15 16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55+ Male 3.37 7.72 4.93 2.71 1.26 0.17 Female 3.16 2.70 0.94 0.46 0.18 0.07

Frequency – Visits Per Week in the Peak Period

0-15 16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55+ Male 1.81 1.67 1.27 1.06 1.07 0.97 Female 1.02 1.45 1.34 1.31 1.21 1.32

Football 75.2% Hockey 22.7% Rugby 2.1%

Peak Period

Monday-Thursday = 17.00 – 21.00 Friday = 17.00 – 19.00 Saturday = 9.00 – 17.00 Sunday = 9.00 – 17.00 Total Peak Hours per week = 34 hrs Total number of slots = 26 slots

Mon-Friday = 1 hr slots to reflect mixed use of activities –training, 5/7 a side & Informal matches Weekend = 2 hrs

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Percentage of demand in peak period = 85% slots to reflect formal matches.

Duration

Monday - Friday = 1 hr Saturday & Sunday = 2 hrs

At one time capacity

30 players per slot Mon to Fri; 25 players per slot Sat & Sun 30 X 18slots = 540 visits 25 X 8slots = 200 visits Total = 740 visits per week in the peak period

Saturday and Sunday capacity to reflect dominance of formal 11-side matches i.e. lower capacity

Catchments

Overall catchment for all users 82% travelling 20 minutes or less during week – within a distance decay function of the model Users by travel mode 81% Car borne 15% Walk 4% Public Transport

3.39 The key findings from the national FPM assessment of early 2014 by Sport England

are given below. This assessment considered only large size pitches, and it should also be noted that it included Radley College pitch as 3G and accessible to the community. The pitches at Radley College are sand based and have almost no community use. The other two pitches included in the assessment are at Tilsley Park.

• There are effectively 3 pitches available for community use in the Vale of White

Horse, once the opening hours are taken into account. These are 2 pitches most suitable for hockey, and 1 pitch most suitable for football.

• There is a total estimated demand for 3 football pitches and 0.8 hockey pitches. • Although football is using the sand dressed pitches at Tilsley Park, there is an

overall lack of the preferred surface for football, the 3G pitches. • There is more than sufficient space for hockey. • The current level of provision is 0.02 pitches per 1000, which is the same as for

South Oxfordshire, but a lower rate of provision than the national average (at 0.03 pitches per 1000) and about half the rate of the average for the south east region.

• About 82% of the estimated demand is met, about 42% of which is provided for in the adjoining authorities. The demand for football is partially met through the use of the sand dressed pitches at Tilsley Park, which is not the preferred surface.

• The amount of export of demand is almost balanced out by the number of imported visits;

• All of the pitches are sited close to Abingdon; • Most of the unmet demand is simply due to a lack of capacity, although the

location of the existing pitches means that they are too far to travel to from

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parts of the Vale of White Horse (they are more than 20 minutes drive for football use);

• People living in the Wantage and Faringdon areas have least good access to a pitch, but there is no one place in the authority where a new pitch is currently justified simply because of the total level of unmet demand in the area.

• The estimated used capacity of the Tilsley Park pitches is around 94%, and the Radley College pitches at about 89%.

FA model for 3G AGP provision Football training 3.40 The FA have an aspiration that each football team should have access at least one

hour a week to a 3G AGP for training, and they have developed their own model to calculate the amount of 3G AGP pitch space required. The FA assumes in their model that the 3G AGPs are available from 6pm-10pm midweek and 9am-5pm on weekends, and that the pitches are available for club training as follows (Figure 11):

Figure 11: FA 3G AGP model training hours

Pitch size and nature Number of hours available for club training

Full size 56 Stadia 46 Multi Use Games Area 18 Commercial 5 aside centres 10 Pro club indoor and outdoor facilities 0

3.41 This FA model was based on research undertaken in 2012 by Sport England. It

found that on average 51% of usage is by sports clubs when factoring in the number of training slots available per pitch per hour if a site is fully open during the weekday evenings and at weekends, with hours of operation as above. A full size 3G AGP on average has 111 training slots per week, and 55 of these are either pay and play or commercial use, with the remaining 56 slots available for community club training (or matches).

3.42 The model therefore incorporates both the commercial/pay and play use of a pitch

and community club use. The FA advise that all planned 3G AGP pitches with high levels of community use but which are yet to have a formal programme of use identified, should be assumed to have 56 training slots available for community club training.

3.43 The FA model also helps to identify how many more hours are required in each

local authority to potentially provide every affiliated club with the opportunity to train for one hour per week. The FA has agreed that the number of affiliated teams playing on grass in the Vale of White Horse, in 2014/15 is 196 teams. Of these, 196

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teams arise and play their matches within the Vale of White Horse. As such, the FA is currently seeking 196 training slots of 1 hour each on 3G pitches.5 However it should be noted that the FA model does not take account of sites which are available for training over the authority’s borders, nor the distribution of pitches within an authority. This is a significant factor for the Vale of White Horse, where much of the western side of the authority is within the catchment of 3G pitches in either Swindon or West Oxfordshire, and the east side of the authority within the catchment of existing pitches in Oxford.

3.44 The table in Figure 12 considers the number of hours the pitches in the Vale of

White Horse are currently available for training, based on the FA model. The maximum number of training slots/hours is currently 72, so this is 124 slots short of the FA’s aspirations in relation to 3G pitches for the authority, as at 2015.

Figure 12: FA model applied to Vale 3G AGPs6

Dimensions Hours / slots available for

general hire Length (m) Width (m) TILSLEY PARK 37 21 18 TILSLEY PARK 37 21 18 TILSLEY PARK 37 21 18 HARWELL SCHOOL 40 18 18

TOTAL NUMBER OF SLOTS AVAILABLE 72 Football matches 3.45 The FA is placing an increasing focus on the opportunity for community clubs to use

3G AGP pitches for matches. Such pitches need to conform to the requirements of the FA Register and need to be retested every 3 years. The lack of any large size 3G pitches in the Vale of White Horse which are on the FA 3G Register means that no sanctioned league fixtures can take place on artificial pitches in the district.

3.46 To ensure the ongoing availability of match quality pitches where new facilities are

proposed, the FA would wish to see the application of a planning condition requiring a formal community use agreement. This should include the following:

• Sites should be available for community (club hire) at weekends during the

daytime for matches. • Pricing policies for matches at weekends should be put in place. The price

charged for matches should be similar to the hire charge for football matches on grass pitches in local authority ownership (parish, town or district) within 10 miles radius. For the senior game this will be for sites with changing provided.

5 FA’s estimated number of teams in 2013/14 was 217. 6 Radley College excluded from assessment as pitch confirmed as sand rather than 3G surface

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• New 3G pitches with a football turf surface must be tested and subsequently FA registered.

• New 3G football turf pitches should be retested every 3 years, and remedial works undertaken as necessary to retain the FA register status.

• The establishment of a sinking fund to enable surface replacement as necessary. The FA recommends that a sinking fund of approximately £25,000 pa (at 2015 prices).

Comparator authorities’ provision 3.47 Using the data available on Active Places it is possible to compare the general levels

of facility provision in the Vale of White Horse with its CIPFA benchmark authorities and with South Oxfordshire (see Figure 13). It is clear that the Vale of White Horse has a lower number of pitches than any of it comparator authorities. None of the authorities has a water based pitch.

Figure 13: AGPs - comparator authorities

Nearest Neighbour

Population at 2014

AGPs (sand filled or sand

dressed )

AGPs (sand filled or sand

dressed ) small AGP (3G) AGP (3G) small

Vale of White Horse 124,580

4 0 0 3

South Oxfordshire 136,758

4 1 0 2

East Hampshire 117,513 3 0 2 1 East Hertfordshire 141,940

8 0 1 0

Test Valley 117,691 4 0 1 3 Assessment of Future Needs Nortoft Calculator 3.48 The Nortoft Calculator forecasts future need for facilities based upon both changes

in the population and the anticipated growth in participation (at 0.5% pa). The findings in Figure 14 suggest that 4 additional pitches would be required in the period up to 2031 to allow for the increase in housing growth, an increase in participation, and to bring the authority into line with the south east average level of provision, which is currently 0.04 pitches per 1000. If the national average rate of provision of 0.03 pitches per 1000 was applied instead, then 3 additional pitches would appear to be justified by 2031.

Figure 14: Nortoft Calculator – AGPs, large size but all types

FPM comparators

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Extra provision needed to meet South East rate of provision with increased

participation at 0.5% pa (number of pitches)

Current rate of provision

per 1000 2015 2021 2026 2031

Vale of White Horse 0.02 2 3 4 4 National 0.03

South East 0.04

Sports Facilities Calculator

3.49 To assess the demand for AGPs arising directly from the main new housing

developments, Sport England’s Sports Facilities Calculator is the most appropriate and accurate modelling tool. A 10% increase for participation growth over the period 2015-31 has been applied as this is the best fit for the modelling of the agreed 0.5% participation increase per year.

3.50 Each of the 21 separate housing sites in the Local Plan 2014 Final Sites Package has

been assessed using the SFC, see Figure 15. Altogether the new additional residents will generate around the equivalent demand of one large AGP (0.84 pitch).7

3.51 In the Didcot Leisure Sub Area there are no AGPs at this time which have

community access. The Didcot North East leisure centre is proposed to have at least one if not two large size 3G AGPs. If two pitches are built either here or elsewhere in the town, this would meet the needs of both the new housing growth in the DLSA and the existing population within Didcot.

3.52 The SFC suggests that the planned new housing growth up to 2031 alone will

generate approximately the equivalent of 0.8 of a large size AGP. This compares to the 1-2 pitches identified in the Nortoft Calculator, which suggests that a high proportion of the demand will be from the new housing growth.

7 Information in 2014 Study update report Appendix 11 summarised in Figure 15 for ease of reference.

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Figure 15: Sports Facility Calculator for Artificial Grass Pitches

Site number

Number of dwellings

Number of people

AGP (large size pitches) required to meet demand Cost as at q4, 2013

North West of Abingdon-on-Thames 1 200 478 0.01 £ 13,229 North of Abingdon-on-Thames 2 800 1912 0.06 £ 52,914 South of Kennington 3 270 645 0.02 £ 17,850 North West of Radley 4 240 574 0.02 £ 15,885 East of Sutton Courteney 5 220 526 0.02 £ 14,557 East of Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor 6 280 669 0.02 £ 18,514 Milton Heights 7 400 956 0.03 £ 26,782 Valley Park 8 2550 6095 0.19 £ 170,749 North-West of Valley Park 9 800 1912 0.06 £ 53,564 West of Harwell 10 200 478 0.01 £ 13,229 East of Harwell Campus 11 850 2032 0.06 £ 56,926 North-West of Harwell Campus 12 550 1315 0.04 £ 36,829 South of East Hanney 13 200 478 0.01 £ 13,229 Crab Hill 14 1500 3585 0.11 £ 99,214 Monks Farm (North Grove) 15 750 1793 0.06 £ 49,621 Land South of Park Rd, Faringdon 16 350 837 0.03 £ 23,164 West of Stanford in the Vale 17 200 478 0.01 £ 13,229 South of Faringdon 18 200 478 0.02 £ 13,229 South-West of Faringdon 19 200 478 0.01 £ 13,229 North of Shrivenham 20 500 1195 0.04 £ 33,071 East of Croxwell Road 21 200 478 0.01 £ 13,229

0.84 £ 762,243

FA model forecast 8 3.53 The assessment of future needs relates to the forecast number of teams for each

sport, based on the forecast populations, current team numbers and Sport England’s Team Generation Rate modelling. The population forecasts including demographic profile (age) was provided by the District Council in July 2014 and takes into account the emerging Local Plan’s Final Sites Package.

8 FA model updated with Team Generation Rate model findings, 2015.

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3.54 Based on these demographics, the number of football teams is estimated to rise to 316 teams by 2031, so this will be the number of training slots on 3G pitches required by the FA, assuming all of the demand was to be met within the authority. Figure 16 shows that most of this new demand will already be in place by 2026. The total of 193 training slots provides justification for 4 full size 3G pitches across the authority by 2026, if all of the pitches were available for 56 training slots a week during the winter months.

3.55 When revised demographics are available for the Vale of White Horse, the

modelling will be rerun to confirm the number of teams expected to arise in each sub-area of the authority.

Hockey9 3.56 There are currently 9 hockey teams in total, including mixed teams, in the district.

The Team Generation Rate modelling suggests that this will increase to 12 teams by 2026 and 13 teams by 2031. Given the existing hockey pitch capacity on the east side of the district, it seems unlikely that any additional hockey pitch would be required in this area.

9 New information for hockey based on Team Generation Rate model findings, 2015.

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Figure 16a: Future need for 3G pitch space if no additional provision

Area Number of teams = number of training slots required on 3G pitch

Capacity on 3G pitch for training (current provision)

Additional large size 3G equivalent @ 56 slots per pitch (rounded) required

2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 Whole authority 196 262 298 316 72 72 72 72 2 2.4 3 3.4 Abingdon & Oxford 109 127 132 130 54 54 54 54 1 1.3 1.4 1.4 South East Vale 37 53 66 73 0 0 0 0 0.6 0.9 1.1 1.3 Western Vale 41 56 58 56 0 0 0 0 0.7 1 1 1 Didcot Leisure Sub Area (Vale part) 16 30 46 61 18 18 18 18 0 0.2 0.5 0.8

Figure 16b: Future need for 3G pitch space with proposals included

Area Number of teams = number of

training slots required on 3G pitch Capacity on 3G pitch for training if all

proposals come forwards* Additional large size 3G equivalent @ 56 slots per pitch (rounded) required

2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 Whole authority 196 262 298 316 72 223 223 223 2.2 0.7 1.3 1.7 Abingdon & Oxford 109 127 132 130 54 93 93 93 1 0.6 0.7 0.7 South East Vale 37 53 66 73 0 56 56 56 0.7 0 0.2 0.3 Western Vale 41 56 58 56 0 0 0 0 0.7 1 1 1 Didcot Leisure Sub Area (Vale part) 16 30 46 61 18 74 74 74 0 0 0 0

*Possible proposals [with assumed build date]: Tilsley Park conversion of small size to full size 3G pitch = 56 slots [date to be confirmed, assumed 2016] Tilsley Park new match specification 3G pitch in athletics stadium, limited community use, assumed available 50% of time = 28 slots [2016] Oxford Brookes conversion of tennis courts to small size 3G, assumed to be available 50% of time = 9 slots [2016] Wantage/Grove large size 3G with community use agreement = 56 slots [2021] Valley Park large size 3G with community use agreement = 56 slots [2021]

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Meeting the needs of the future10 Football 3.57 Figure 16b considers the 3G need for football training should the potential pitch

proposals come forwards across the authority. Abingdon and Oxford Fringe sub area 3.58 This area has a number of independent organisations including Abingdon School

and Oxford Brookes University who are proposing to develop new 3G pitches which are expected to have some community use.

3.59 Abingdon School at Tilsley Park has two proposals:

• 3G match pitch for football and rugby: this pitch is proposed to be developed in the centre of the athletics track. The site has a community use agreement with the District Council but the level of community use of the proposed pitch is uncertain. The FA and RFU have given technical advice but are not offering funding for its development, and neither is the District Council. Given the lack of community use certainty, the site has been assumed to be available for football community use for 28 training slots per week but with no match capacity. In general terms, although this pitch would be a welcome addition to sport in the area if made available for community use it is important that the proposal does not compromise the athletics club use of the site.

• There is a proposal to convert the small size 3G pitches at Tilsley Park to one large size. It is not known if the small size pitches will be relocated elsewhere. This has been modelled as a single large size pitch at 56 slots per week, but no match provision.

3.60 Oxford Brookes University is in the process of converting 6 tennis courts to 3G

pitches. These are likely to have some community use, but limited. They have therefore been modelled as having a maximum of 9 slots for training.

3.61 These proposals are still likely to be unable to meet all of the demand for football

training in the sub area. However as there is football training on the sand pitches at Tilsley Park and this is likely to be able to continue, this fills the gap in provision, though on a non-preferred surface.

South East Vale 3.62 A large size 3G pitch in Wantage/Grove area would help to fill the strategic gap in

provision of 3G pitches.

10 Section updated with proposals information as at September 2015.

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3.63 There has been a long standing proposal with planning permission (November 2011 and since renewed) to develop a full-size floodlit 3G pitch adjacent to the existing Wantage Leisure Centre which is a partnership between Wantage Town Football Club and King Alfred’s School. The Vale of White Horse District Council is involved as one of the landowners. Construction has yet to start as funding still needs to be put in place, and the extent of community use has not yet been confirmed.

3.64 Given the long history of this project and its remaining uncertainties, the FA and

the Berks and Bucks FA have now identified the proposed new leisure centre at Mably Way, Grove as their preferred location for the proposed 3G community pitch. However the funding for the proposed pitch on the Mably Way site also requires confirmation and needs to be developed in close association with the football partnership.

Western Vale 3.65 The Western Vale area appears, from the modelling, to be short of 3G pitch space.

The options for AGP provision in Faringdon have been explored during the study period, both in terms of real levels of need and in terms of location. In relation to the site options, Faringdon Community College was previously identified as the preferred site, but as the school needs to expand and there may not be sufficient space for a large size AGP. The school’s preferred surface type is also still uncertain, as the school may require a multi-use surface suitable for both school hockey and football.

3.66 The Faringdon Neighbourhood Plan additionally considered locating an AGP at

either Tucker Park (preference) or near the skate park. The Tucker Park proposal would be on open space, and although the site is already used intensively for football, achieving planning approval for an AGP here may be potentially difficult to achieve. This is in part due to the need for evening use and floodlighting. The skate park site option is Folly Park, now home to both rugby and cricket. The RFU, Oxfordshire Cricket Board and the FA are all of the view that a 3G pitch on this site would not be effectively manageable, and therefore sustainable long term. Furthermore there is not enough space on the site without seriously impacting upon the grass pitches of either rugby or cricket. This alternative has not therefore been considered further.

3.67 In relation to identified need for AGP provision in the area, the new and planned 3G

AGPs in Swindon will mean that Watchfield and Shrivenham will now come within the accepted 20 minutes travel time for this type of facility. Further if a large size 3G pitch was developed at Mably Way in Grove as part of the leisure centre, then much of Faringdon town would be within the drive time catchment of that facility. Most of Faringdon is also within a 20 minutes drive time of the 3G pitch at Carterton.

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3.68 The need for a full size 3G pitch in Faringdon for football training is therefore less compelling than was previously identified. However if a pitch was developed it is likely to be well used and would also support the retention and growth of FA Charter Standard Development Club teams, Faringdon Town FC and local grassroots football teams.

3.69 Clear indications have been given by England Hockey and the RFU that the

development of an AGP in Faringdon would not be a priority for them and would not therefore receive grant aid support. The FA have also indicated that a Faringdon pitch would not be as high a priority for their funding as a pitch in the Wantage / Grove area. Given this situation it appears that the school, the leisure centre operator, district council and town council are reasonably free to consider any surface option and to determine if a smaller size artificial pitch on the Faringdon Community College site is feasible and sustainable. This could still be funded from CIL or other sources.

Didcot Leisure Sub Area 3.70 There is currently one small size 3G pitch at Harwell School which is available for

training but is not match quality. 3.71 Two new 3G pitches were proposed for Didcot in the previous sport and leisure

strategy for South Oxfordshire (Leisure and Sports Facilities Strategy, 2011), to address both the needs of the existing and developing communities in the South Oxfordshire part of the town. Recent updates of the South Oxfordshire strategy and also the assessment of the needs of the Didcot Leisure Sub Area confirms that two large size 3G pitches with community use are still required. It should be noted that the modelling in Figure 16b includes only the Vale part of the Didcot Leisure Sub Area, so will substantially underestimate the total demand for football training in this cross-boundary area.

3.72 The final site location(s) have yet to be confirmed although the preferred option is

to have at least one pitch located at the proposed Didcot North East leisure centre. 3.73 The option of developing a large size match pitch specification 3G football turf pitch

at Valley Park is currently under discussion with the developer, so the proposal is at too early a stage to confirm whether this will go ahead.

Hockey 3.74 England Hockey has confirmed that the long term priority for the sport is the

retention of the double hockey pitch at Tilsley Park, now managed by Abingdon School which is used by two hockey clubs in the district; Abingdon Hockey Club and Abingdon Pilgrims Hockey Club. Of these clubs, the Abingdon Pilgrims HC would like more match play time as they currently need to play their matches elsewhere.

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3.75 Radley College currently has two hockey surface pitches and is proposing to develop a third. These pitches are not currently used for community hockey, although there is some limited football training use of them.

Rugby 3.76 The RFU has confirmed that it welcomes the proposal by Abingdon School to

develop an IRB 22 quality pitch in the athletics track at Tilsley Park. However as there are no community use plans in place, the extent of use is yet to be confirmed. The RFU’s priority is however focussed on the grass pitch provision for the sport.

Justifying developers’ contributions 3.77 A planning standard approach is appropriate for artificial grass pitch (AGP)

provision in the Vale of White Horse which is derived from a synthesis of the findings from the modelling, consultation responses, and the policy decisions of the authority including in relation to the sports development objective of increasing activity levels. The standard also needs to take into account the current network of AGP space.

Standard for quantity 3.78 A planning standard to be applied to new developments which simply reflects the

level of current provision across the district would not be appropriate because the level of provision is lower than is justified by the needs of the community at this time. It is therefore proposed to apply a standard only to new developments, where the amount of provision of AGPs and the associated developers’ contributions will be determined by the number of people who will be living in the development, using the relevant population profile at 2031 plus a percentage increase for participation.

3.79 The Sports Facility Calculator estimates that the new housing requirement is a rate

of provision of 0.03 large size pitches per 1000, and it is therefore proposed that this figure should be the planning standard. Developers’ contributions should be sought and the SFC value for 3G AGPs should be used as the basis for developers’ contributions as it is this type of AGP which is primarily required in the Vale of White Horse.

Standard for accessibility 3.80 Sport England research has shown that the majority of football AGP users will travel

up to around 20 minutes to reach a 3G pitch. As the priority for AGP provision in the Vale of White Horse is for football use, developers’ contributions should be collected for this purpose within a drive time catchment area of 20 minutes.

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Standard for design and quality 3.81 The third element of the planning standards is that of quality and design. The

quality and design of facilities should reflect current best practice, including design guidance from Sport England and the national governing bodies. This should apply to refurbishment proposals as well as new build.

3.82 The planning standards for new housing are therefore proposed as:

• 0.03 large size 3G AGPS per 1000 (fully available to the community at peak time i.e. weekday evenings and weekends)

• 20 minutes drive time catchment • Design and quality standard to meet Sport England or the relevant national

governing body standards. Conclusions and Recommendations Current supply and demand 3.83 AGPs are an important part of the facility network in the Vale of White Horse but

there are currently only the equivalent of 3 large size pitches and 4 small sized pitches regularly available for community use. All of these pitches are currently on the eastern side of the authority and there are no large size 3G pitches. The current overall rate of AGP provision is about 2/3rd of the national average, and about half of the south east regional average. The FA model for identifying the amount of 3G pitch space required suggests that two 3G pitches are justified as at 201511.

Future requirements 3.84 The theoretical modelling suggest that there will may be a need for up to 3.5

additional large size equivalent 3G pitches across the Vale of White Horse to cater for the existing population, new housing growth and an increased rate of participation in the period up to 2031.

3.85 A full size 3G football turf pitch at Wantage would help to fill the strategic gap in

terms of accessibility as well as meeting identified needs of local clubs. The preferred location for this pitch is at Mably Way, Grove and developed as part of the proposed leisure centre and with the support of the local football partnership.

3.86 The pitch proposals at Tilsley Park and Botley which are not seeking public funding

are in the Abingdon and Oxford Fringe sub area. These should largely be able to meet the long term needs of the football teams arising from that sub area,

11 Reduced from 2 to 1 reflecting the change in football team numbers for 2014/15.

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although the community programme for the pitches is still to be confirmed. If there is a small shortfall which does not justify a new large size 3G AGP, this may be met through the use of sand-based pitches, although these are not the preferred surface for football.

3.87 The future facility requirements arising from the housing growth in the Vale part of

the Didcot Leisure Sub Area are likely to be met by both the facilities within the Vale of White Horse and within Didcot. There has been an identified need for two large size 3G football turf pitches for the Didcot town area. The locations are yet to be confirmed but at least one is proposed to be located at the Didcot North East leisure centre. There is a proposal, still at an early stage, for the other of these pitches to be located at Valley Park. If this does not go ahead, a pitch could be located elsewhere within Didcot, perhaps linked to a school.

3.88 The double hockey pitch at Tilsley Park is essential for club use and needs to be

retained. 3.89 Artificial grass pitches are not currently a high priority for rugby however as the

sport grows following the Rugby World Cup 2015 then there may be a need for an IRB 22 [WR 22] compliant surface to help maximise the ability to grow the game further. This would need to be discussed with the RFU in the future, and the options for the best location, ownership and management would need to be confirmed at that time.

3.90 The priorities for community facilities are:

• 3G pitch at Wantage, site to be confirmed but likely to be Mably Way, Grove • 3G pitch (possibly with shorter pile) at Faringdon to cater primarily for football,

but also to enable hockey training • 3G pitch in Didcot, either within the district or in South Oxfordshire (plus one in

the South Oxfordshire side of Didcot). Recommendations 3.91 The existing AGP network should be retained and two new large size 3G pitches

with confirmed community use should be developed; one in Wantage/Grove with the preferred option adjacent to the proposed new leisure centre at Mably Way, and one in the Didcot Leisure Sub Area, potentially at Valley Park. These pitches should have a community use agreement which covers both football training and match use.

3.92 There is also a need for an AGP at Faringdon, but its size and surface type need to

be confirmed. The preferred site for this pitch is Faringdon College.

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3.93 The other AGP proposals by organisations offering community use should be welcomed, including the 3G AGP at Tilsley Park athletics track, so long as this does not compromise the athletics club usage.

3.94 Funds should be secured from developers for housing growth around Wantage,

Grove, and those within the Vale of White Horse which are within the Didcot Leisure Sub Area, for the proposed new AGPs within the relevant sub area.

3.95 Some of the developers’ contributions from within the Didcot Leisure Sub Area

might also be allocated towards enhanced and new facilities within South Oxfordshire if a policy decision is made to do so. In this case the priority is for a 3G football turf pitch at the proposed Didcot North East leisure centre site.

3.96 Funds secured from developers for housing growth within the catchment of

Faringdon should be directed towards the development of an AGP at Faringdon Leisure Centre, as a dual use facility.

3.97 The double hockey pitch at Tilsley Park should be retained and kept fully available

for club hockey use. 3.98 The longer term need for a rugby AGP which is IRB 22 [WR 22] compliant should be

kept under review, and if a need is demonstrated then the best location and options for provision should be discussed with the RFU.

3.99 In relation to new housing developments, where there is an identified need for

specific facility investment this will need to meet the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) tests to justify contributions. The AGP provision policy for new housing has the following standards:

• 0.03 large size 3G AGPS per 1000 (fully available to the community at peak time

i.e. weekday evenings and weekends) for new housing developments • 20 minutes drive time catchment • Design and quality standard to meet Sport England and the relevant national

governing body standards both for new build and refurbishment. 3.100 Sport England’s Sports Facilities Calculator should be used to determine the level of

contributions expected from each development, where such contributions are justified.

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SECTION 4: GRASS PLAYING PITCHES Introduction 4.1 The assessment in this section of the report considers the sports of football, cricket

and rugby union on sites used by the community. The needs of community hockey are specifically addressed in the artificial grass pitch section of the report above, as community hockey is now solely played on artificial surfaces.

4.2 The agreed brief for the project was to primarily focus on those sites with

community use. It is noted in particular that the large amount of playing field space at the independent schools are not generally available for use by the community and that a change in the position is unlikely in the foreseeable future.

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SECTION 5: FOOTBALL Introduction 5.1 Football is a significant pitch based sport in the Vale of White Horse district, with

196 community teams (almost all male) across the age groups. All of the game, other than a limited number of mini soccer games and small sided games, is on grass pitches for matches and some of the teams also train on their home sites. However according to the club survey returns, a significant proportion of training takes place on AGPs, at sites both within and outside the district.

5.2 It should be noted that this study refers only to community football, and does not

address football at schools, either curricular or extracurricular. 5.3 The Football Association’s priorities are driven by their National Game Plan of

2011-2015 supplemented by the National Facilities s(February 2013). The sports development challenges outlined in the Game Plan are:

• Halting the decline of male adult 11-a-side football; • Providing local and flexible formats of football to suit changing consumer

lifestyles; • Addressing the drop-off of at ages 14–19; • Supporting the transition from mini-soccer to youth, and youth to adult; • Widening affiliation and integrating teams and leagues from diverse

communities; • Affiliating and developing football in the commercial small-sided sector; • Working effectively with the changing school sport and sports development

structures. 5.4 The National Facilities Strategy vision for facilities can be summarised as:

Building: new facilities and pitches in key locations to FA standards in order to sustain existing participation and support new participation.

Protecting: ensuring that playing pitches and facilities are protected for the benefit of current and future participants.

Enhancing: investing in existing facilities and pitches, ensuring that participation in the game is sustained as well as expanded.

5.5 The FA national priorities for 2013 – 2015 are, with a focus on FA Charter Standard

Clubs and Charter Standard Leagues are:

• Natural grass pitch improvements and maintenance • Provision of suitable changing accommodation and toilet facilities

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• Small Grants Programme for modest facility improvements • New / replacement goalposts in support of the proposed implementation of

9v9 football and other flexible formats of the game. 5.6 The FA Charter Standard Club Programme was established to provide recognition

that clubs are well run, sustainable, with child protection and safety paramount. It also recognises the club’s commitment to coaching, player and coach development and the raising of standards of behaviour in the game. The FA Charter Standard Club Programme has three levels:

• FA Charter Standard Club (Youth, Adult) • FA Charter Standard Development Club (Youth, Youth and Adult) • FA Charter Standard Community Club.

5.7 The Charter Standard Clubs are expected to have at least one team in a league and

have a school-club link. The Charter Standard Development Clubs may either be youth and adult or only provide for youth. These are expected to have at least 5 teams and a club development plan. The Charter Standard Community Clubs are expected to have at least 10 teams in an area such as the Vale of White Horse and to run teams in each age category. They are also expected to have a detailed club development plan.

5.8 The Charter Standard and above clubs in the district in 2014/15 were:

Figure 17: Charter standard football clubs 2013/14

Club Name Charter Status 2013/14 Abingdon Youth FC Development Ardington & Lockinge Youth Charter Botley Boys and Girls FC Charter Cumnor Minors FC Charter Faringdon Town Charter Grove Challengers FC Community Grove Rangers FC Community Hanney Youth Charter Hanney United Charter Harwell and Hendred Youth Charter Kennington Athletic Charter Letcombe FC Charter Marcham FC Charter Milton United FC Development Shrivenham and Watchfield Charter St Edmonds FC Charter Uffington United Charter Wantage Town (Adult, Juniors & Girls) Community

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Pitch sizes and age groups 5.9 In 2012 the Football Association (FA) developed a new set of recommended pitch

sizes, pitch markings and goal post sizes for different age groups, and these were set out in The FA Guide to Pitch and Goalpost Dimensions (2012). The FA has since been working with leagues and pitch providers to try to ensure that all matches are now played on the recommended size pitch. The clubs responding to the survey have confirmed that in almost all cases clubs are now playing on pitches of the recommended size, and on a small number of sites this has meant overmarking with different pitch sizes.

5.10 The pitch dimensions, taken from the FA Guide are given in Figure 18.

Figure 18: FA recommended pitch sizes

Type Type Recommended size without runoff

(metres)

Recommended size including runoff

(meters)

Area of pitch with

runoff (hectares, rounded)

L m W m L m W m Min Soccer U7/U8 5v5 37 27 43 33 0.14 Mini Soccer U9/U10 7v7 55 37 61 43 0.26 Youth U11/U12 9v9 73 46 79 52 0.41 Youth U13/U14 11v11 82 50 88 56 0.49 Youth U15/U16 11v11 91 55 97 61 0.59 Youth U17/U18 11v11 100 64 106 70 0.74 Over 18 (adult age) 11v11 100 64 106 70 0.74

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Participation in football 5.11 Nationally around 3.08 million people aged 14+ years take part in football at least

once a month. The rate of participation nationally has declined slightly from the Sport England survey in 2012-13. Around 92% of participants are male, and about 35% are aged under 24 years, with only about 1% of players aged over 45 years. There has been a slight decrease in the number of people playing football of any type since 2007, from 7.58% of adults over 16 years playing once a month, to 6.39%.

5.12 The FA has advised that an annual growth of 0.5% in participation should be

applied across all of the football team age groups for the purposes of modelling in this study. This reflects the commitment of the national governing body to keep maintaining and growing the sport of football, and broadly reflects the number of participants playing in teams over recent years in the Vale of White Horse. The FA and the Berks and Bucks FA advise that they consider this to be a conservative estimate because of the growth in the mini, female youth and male youth age groups.

5.13 During the 2014/15 season there were 196 community teams playing football on

grass in the district, see Figure 19. Where a team is identified as a mixed team at the youth ages, then 75% of the team is assumed to be male and 25% female, and added to the relevant team count. This has given the half team count in Figure 19. These team numbers are used as the baseline for the modelling. A full list of football clubs and teams is provided in Appendix 1.

5.14 There was one team from South Oxfordshire playing within the Vale, which has

been excluded from the modelling. 5.15 The team numbers playing in 2014/15 have been extensively checked using a

variety of sources, and have been confirmed with the FA at the county level prior to the development of this study.

Figure 19: Football teams 2014-15 season

Age Team age group Number of teams

Mini-soccer 6-7 yrs - mixed 6 -7 yrs u7 & u8 29 Mini-soccer 8-9 yrs - mixed 8 -9 yrs u9 & u10 29 Youth football 9 v 9 - boys 10-11yrs u11 & u12 30.5 Youth football 9 v 9 - girls 10-11yrs u11 & u12 8.5 Youth football 11 v 11 boys 12-15 yrs u13 & u16 43 Youth football 11 v 11 girls 12-15 yrs u13 & u16 5 Men’s football 16-45yrs u17 + 49 Women’s football 16-45yrs u17 + 2

TOTAL 196

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FA Football Participation Report Season 13/14 5.16 This report was produced in March 2014 and identified that 217 teams were arising

from the district, with 215 playing within the district. The FA 2013/14 records showed 57 adult teams (now 51), 85 youth teams (now 87), and 73 mini teams (now 58). The main fall in participation has therefore been at the mini ages.

5.17 The FA 13/14 report identified that there had been a fall of 15 teams over the

previous season (from 2012/13); a decrease of 12 adult teams and a decrease of 12 youth teams. However there had been an increase of 9 mini soccer teams.

5.18 Even with the higher team numbers in 2013/14, the rates of participation in the

Vale of White Horse appeared to be low compared to the south east and national averages, with only girls’ youth and mini soccer being better. The district lay 35th out of 43 comparator authorities.

5.19 In terms of club development, the percentage of clubs which are either Community

Club (1 club in the district) or Charter Standard Clubs (8 clubs in the district) is lower in the Vale of White Horse than the national average, but the percentage of Development Clubs is higher, with 2 clubs. The FA has an objective of 80% of youth and mini soccer teams playing within a Charter Standard Club by 2015, and for the season 2013/14 this was at 70.9% in the Vale of White Horse.

5.20 The information provided by those clubs who responded to the club survey

suggests most clubs draw a high proportion of their members from within the district. It is therefore assumed for the purposes of modelling that all of the teams (except for 1 adult team) arise from within the district, and that demand for the sport will arise proportional to the population growth from the new housing.

5.21 In the Vale of White Horse, almost all of the mini soccer is played on a Saturday

morning. The youth matches (9v9 and 11v11) are rather more evenly spread with the peak time being 61% of the matches on a Sunday morning. The adult game is even more evenly spread across the week, with the peak time of Saturday afternoon having about 41% of the matches. Figure 20 provides a summary of this temporal demand, which is then used in the Playing Pitch Model to assess the balance between supply and demand for pitch space.

5.22 The analysis of supply and demand merges the mini age groups and also those for

the youth/junior ages. This approach provides the greatest long term flexibility in the use of playing field space, as the pitches can then be marked out annually to meet the changing needs of the game.

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Figure 20: Temporal demand

Number teams

playing Peak kick off

time

% games being played in the peak time on this

pitch size Mini-soccer 6-7 yrs - mixed

58 Saturday am 100% Mini-soccer 8-9 yrs - mixed Youth football 9 v 9 - boys

88 Sunday am 61% Youth football 9 v 9 - girls Youth football 11 v 11 boys Youth football 11 v 11 girls Men’s football

51 Saturday pm 41% Women’s football Current provision 5.23 During the 2014/15 football season there were pitches of all recommended sizes in

the district being used by the community. The following table in Figure 21 summarises these, and they are mapped in Figures 25-27. In addition, but excluded from the table and maps are those pitches on school sites which have no community use.

5.24 This table suggests that overall a high proportion of the football pitches in the Vale

of White Horse are on secure sites.

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Figure 21: Pitches used by the community (secured and unsecured)

Type Type Recommended

size without runoff

(metres)

Area of pitch with

runoff (hectares, rounded)

No of pitches used by

the community

No of pitches

used by the community

in SCU

Size of pitch used

in the modelling (hectares)

L m W m Mini Soccer U7/U8

5v5 37 27 0.14

32 26 0.30 Mini Soccer U9/U10

7v7 55 37 0.26

Youth U11/U12 9v9 73 46 0.41

36 32 0.50 Youth U13/U14 11v11 82 50 0.49

Youth U15/U16 11v11 91 55 0.59

Youth U17/U18 11v11 100 64 0.74

38 36 0.74 Over 18 (adult age)

11v11 100 64 0.74

5.25 The number of pitches in secure community use by sub area is provided in Figure

22. Unsurprisingly, the largest number of pitches available to the community are in the most populated area of the district, and the lowest numbers where there is currently least population.

Figure 22: Pitches in secure community use by sub area

Sub Area Adult Youth Mini

Abingdon and Oxford Fringe 14 19 14 South East Vale 8 7 8 Western Vale 9 4 1 Didcot Leisure Sub Area (Vale part) 5 2 3 5.26 The four sites in the Vale of White Horse which are used by the community for

football but which are not in secure community use are given in Figure 23 below. All are education sites, with two being secondary schools, one primary, and one higher education site.

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Figure 23: Football sites not in secure community use Site Pitches used by

the community Sub area

CUMNOR PRIMARY SCHOOL 1 x mini Abingdon on Thames and Oxford FARINGDON COMMUNITY COLLEGE 1 x adult

2 x mini Western Vale

KING ALFRED’S ACADEMY (CENTRAL SITE)

2 x junior 5 x mini

South East Vale

WESTMINSTER COLLEGE (OXFORD BROOKES)

2 x adult 2 x junior

Abingdon on Thames and Oxford

5.27 The maps show that adult football pitches are the most geographically well spread,

with pitches in both the towns and several villages. In contrast mini provision is much more limited and is more focussed on the towns and largest villages. Youth football provision falls between the two, with more than minis but less than adult.

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Figure 25: Adult pitch sites season 2014-15

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Figure 26: Youth football pitch sites season 2014-15

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Figure 27: Mini Soccer pitch sites season 2014-15

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Stadia sites 5.28 The stadia sites in the district are not available for general community use so are

not specifically covered in this assessment. However, they are important because they are an essential facility for the game at the higher levels of the player pathway. The term “stadia” covers a wide range of facility levels, from a relatively simple fenced pitch with toilets but no other spectator provision or floodlights, up to a major stadium, e.g. Oxford United’s Kassam Stadium. The requirements for the football pitch and site depend upon the level at which a club is playing, and this is set out in the FA’s Ground Grading requirements, a summary of which is provided in Appendix 2. The current stadia pitches in the Vale of White Horse are given in Figure 24.

Figure 24: Clubs with stadia pitches

Club League 2015/16 National League

System Step Ground grade

Abingdon Town FC

Hellenic League Premier Step 5 Grade F

Abingdon United FC

Hellenic League Premier Step 5 Grade F

Letcombe FC Hellenic League Div 1 West

Step 6 Grade H

Milton United FC Hellenic League Premier Step 5 Grade F Shrivenham FC Hellenic League Div 1

West Step 6 Grade H

Uffington United FC

North Berks League Div 3

- -

Wantage Town FC Southern Div 1 South and West for 2014/15

Step 4 Grade D

5.29 These sites should be retained and it is likely that at least one additional stadia site

will be required in the next few years. 5.30 The quality standard for each pitch used by the community has been assessed

through a site visit and consultation with the clubs. The estimated carrying capacity for each of the pitches is derived from the agreed quality standard for each pitch and the guidance criteria for pitch carrying capacity, a copy of which is given below in Figure 28.

Figure 28: Pitch carrying capacity for football

Agreed pitch quality rating

Adult football Youth football Mini soccer Number of match equivalent sessions a week

Good 3 4 6 Standard 2 2 4 Poor 1 1 2

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5.31 It should be noted that the Playing Pitch Guidance criteria from Sport England does

not specifically take into account the impact of weather on the football season, such as snow cover or frozen ground. This will have an impact on both the number of matches which are able to be played on a pitch, and often the length of the season if postponed matches are rescheduled. It is therefore important to retain some spare capacity in the pitch stock generally to enable flexible management of sites and bookings.

5.32 Where pitches are in parks or amenity green spaces they tend to suffer more than

the closed sites from dog fouling and damage from unauthorised or other uses. 5.33 The quality of the changing and ancillary provision on each site has also been

assessed using the guidance templates. Consultation findings 5.34 The following comments are a summary of the general comments received in the

formal playing pitch strategy process from the clubs and providers. Sixteen of the clubs playing in the Vale of White Horse responded to the formal PPS survey, which represented 125 out of the total of 196 teams (64%). Where issues or comments on quality have been raised about particular sites or locations, these have been incorporated into the site by site table in the report (Figures 75-78).

5.35 Similarly, where issues and sites have been discussed with either the club or

provider as part of evidence to support a response by the District Council to a planning application, these have been incorporated in the site by site summary table. Examples of these include Kingston Colts in relation to housing development at Kingston Bagpuize and East Hendred AFC for development in East Hendred.

Club comments 5.36 All of the clubs involved in football in the district were consulted using a web based

survey approved by the Football Association based on the Sport England Guidance. As part of the formal study process, clubs responded to the web based survey. The findings from the formal PPS surveys have however been significantly enhanced because of the number of detailed individual consultations with clubs over the past few months in relation to planning applications for new housing developments.

Key generic findings 5.37 The following are some of the generic key findings from the web based club survey.

The detail in the responses to the clubs survey, particularly the growth of the number of teams, suggests that they are probably amongst the most active.

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• Number of teams

o The number of mini teams has increased in most clubs. o The number of clubs with an increase in their boys youth teams is fewer

than the number of clubs seeing a decrease in teams, but girls football is the opposite, with more clubs saying that they have more teams.

o Most adult football has stayed the same in terms of the number of teams o Most clubs expect to have an increase in their team numbers in the next

5 years, mostly by 1 or 2 teams, and mostly in the mini or youth team ages.

• Half of the clubs have waiting lists.

• Most clubs are facing issues which would limit their expansion, the issues in

priority order are: o Cost of facilities o Lack of funding o Lack of coaches o Access to facilities/lack of facilities o Lack of volunteers.

• A lack of training facilities comes out strongly from the responses received,

although there are also a lack of pitches in some areas. Detailed comments from individual clubs on the main issues limiting their expansion are: o Milton United are having to turn football and teams from other sports

(e.g. Rugby) away as unable to accommodate floodlit training for all at their site. The main pitch is used by the Vale School Representative teams as it is the only facility that is able to regularly support their games and training.

o A floodlit all weather facility would provide better conditions and more space to provide decent coaching. It would also enable matches to be played without fear of grass pitches becoming unusable. Potentially more teams could then play at each age group.

o All the junior teams have waiting lists but we cannot run the extra teams on the current pitches. Training facilities are shared with all the teams on different nights. In the winter especially the fields become unplayable. An artificial pitch would help this but more mini pitches and 9v9 are also required.

o We have waiting lists for all age groups, but the lack of football pitches at all levels is holding the club back. There is also a lack of training pitches through the winter for the teams in and around Abingdon.

o Local Development Plan will include new pitches and a community changing facilities, but has no provision for AGP or all weather floodlit training facilities, which is the most important part about any expansion plans with the sport.

o Having better facilities brings in better coaches which will bring in better players which will drive the club to a bigger and better position to service

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the community. We like all clubs are run by volunteers but we do need some support with better facilities to provide a better environment.

o Majority of age groups have players asking to play - due to success/ achievement and we are not in a position to run additional teams apart from at mini level. We need more 11v11 and 7v7 pitches at Harwell Recreation Ground now, there is sharing every year with pitches marked on top of larger ones.

o If we had an AGP we could train properly. If we had drained pitches we could use all year round we could accommodate more teams. Also we don't have shower facilities so we cannot have adult teams play at Lambrick.

o We could benefit from a 3G pitch as the training pitch is poorly drained and poorly floodlit. The training pitch takes up valuable space in a prime location due to the ancient fixed floodlights. We have a waiting list for our Under 12's as we can only fit one pitch and one team into the area. We are restricted by the number of pitches we can fit into the area during the winter months. Have applied to the Football Foundation for funds to improve the drainage of our pitches. Due to the low ground level and high water table 25% of our pitches are unplayable during the winter. Our training pitch under some very poor floodlights also becomes unplayable. Our main pitch is unplayable each winter due to very poor drainage and water logging. No funding has yet been allocated but under pitch drainage and a new drain channel would vastly improve the situation. This year the training areas was unusable by November which meant we had to train before the matches on Saturday and Sunday to make the use of the daylight to train on other areas of the field - this is not ideal.

o Most teams have refused players. One team cannot start as no volunteers to run. Lack of training facilities.

o Have enough pitches to accommodate our current teams at the moment, however we have to pay for a winter training facility elsewhere which provides a 3G surface over the winter months.

o We have several Sunday teams that want to rent our pitch, we already have 2 that rent our facilities, they are not classed as SCFC.

o We have very limited training facilities, with very poor lighting and an area which is often waterlogged with 10 sides needing to use the area during winter months. Our senior sides are having to training at the RMCS in Watchfield, which costs in excess of £40 per hour, whilst our under 12's use an artificial facility in Carterton on Friday nights which is £20.00 for a third of the pitch. We would look to expand the club and look to host annual tournaments.

o We have no lights at Letcombe, so we have to hire Tilsley Park for training and travel to Abingdon. A floodlit 3G pitch in Wantage would be a huge help.

o Training issues over the winter. We annually have issues around training and booking training times [on AGPs] at times suitable for each age group.

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o We have part of the ground for training which has floodlights but in the winter we need somewhere else as the ground will not cope with all of the training requirements of the teams we have. The club uses the sports hall at Larkmead School for some winter training. (Saxton Rovers)

• The majority of all players of whatever age group , travel up to 5 miles to their

home club.

• 13 of the clubs responding have facility development plans.

• 14 out of the 15 clubs responding were not happy with football provision in the Vale of White Horse. The explanatory comments were:

o Lack of all weather pitches. Lack of support for local clubs who support

both local, district and county level sport. Despite years of correspondence to District regarding the potential of this site no formal engagement/response has taken place.

o Desperate need for decent floodlit all weather facility. o Not enough pitches and the standard is very poor. The club should be

supported to supply training facilities and expand bringing the children into the club. We could double in size with the correct provision.

o Due to cutbacks in the council, it is very hard to get the pitches cut on a regular basis. The pitches also need regular maintenance which needs funding.

o Better facilities all round are required. o Quality of grass pitches and area available for pitches. o Matches are constantly cancelled due to un-level and un-drained pitches,

cannot extend playing teams as A: not enough pitch space and B: lack of changing rooms/showers.

o Poor quality pitches, lack of access to funds to maintain, small clubs not seen as a priority it seems.

o Pitches are provided by council and colleges - generally not maintained to a sufficient standard of safety as our own site.

o No winter training facilities. o Faringdon is not supported for football by the VOWHDC. We as a club

want to be able to grow and be confident that all teams have facilities which are sufficient for a town of our size and which is currently approving more and more housing.

o Training issues over the winter and poor maintenance of the facilities in general. Currently parking is difficult due to potholes that the council have not addressed. Council have not been very helpful. (Fogwell Road Recreation Ground, Botley Boys and Girls)

o As a Club we need more. o We are happy with our facilities at Letcombe, but need a floodlit training

facility in the Wantage area.

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National Governing Body comments and strategies 5.38 The Football Association (FA) is the national governing body for football in England,

and its local association is the Berks & Bucks Football Association. The County FA officers have actively supported the consultation with the clubs, and have been involved with the study process.

5.39 There is no specific football facility strategy for the Vale of White Horse but this

report will inform the FA’s own future priorities for investment via their sister body, the Football Foundation.

Modelling Market Segmentation and sports development 5.40 The Market Segmentation tool from Sport England which considers participation in

sport by people age 16 and over, suggests that 3 of the larger market segments in the district may take part in football, all of which are male. It also suggests that, for adults, there is probably limited potential to significantly increase the rates of football participation in the district, even in the longer term, and even if all of the facilities were brought up to a high quality standard. There will however be an increase in line with the planned housing growth.

Playing pitch model 5.41 In considering the balance between the supply and demand for football pitch space

in the district, there are two elements and the assessment is based on the season 2014-15:

• Pitch capacity - the ability of natural grass pitches to provide for matches,

training and other activity over a week or over a season. This is most often determined by their quality.

• Pitch availability at peak times – the number of pitches required for football at the different FA recommended pitch sizes, in order to cater for matches.

5.42 The Sport England guidance sets out the required approach towards modelling of

grass pitch sports, using Team Generation Rates, the temporal demand for the sport (the number of matches at peak time), and the availability of pitches of the required size. The model also requires consideration of training on grass pitches, where this takes place.

5.43 The modelling of the Didcot Leisure Sub Area requires an adapted approach. The

town currently lies mainly within South Oxfordshire but a high proportion of the growth in and around the town will be within the Vale of White Horse district. As

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the TGR rates for the two authorities are different, the Playing Pitch Study Steering Group comprising the authorities, Sport England and the National Governing Bodies of sport, agreed that the average TGR rates for each of the age groups and sports should be used in the modelling to guide the estimate of need.

5.44 The consultation with the clubs and pitch providers has not identified informal or

casual use of the grass pitches during the winter months as a significant issue on any site.

Pitch capacity across the week 5.45 Each marked out football pitch on each site has been assessed for its total carrying

capacity for football across the week, based on the pitch quality and the pitch size (see paragraph 5.30). The take up of this carrying capacity has then been estimated by considering the usage made of each pitch by the community and, where appropriate by the school on school sites.

5.46 Figure 29 provides a summary of the spare capacity across the pitch sizes and types

in the sub areas as at 2015. This table considers two aspects of the demand. The Match columns consider only the overall match demand for pitches, and assumes that every team will play at home once in every two weeks, therefore for a “standard” quality grass pitch, 4 teams can be accommodated with 2 of them playing at home every week. It should be noted that match times have not been taken into account in this column, which will impact upon the number of pitches actually required for matches for each pitch size.

5.47 The Overall including training column assumes that each team plays at home once

every 2 weeks, and that each team trains on their grass pitch once a week. Therefore a standard grass pitch with a capacity of 2 can cater for only 2 teams. This is the most realistic scenario for football in the Vale of White Horse because of the limited amount of artificial turf pitch space, and particularly 3G pitches in the district.

5.48 However, even given the lack of AGP space across the authority, it seems that mini

soccer is well provided for, with most areas having plenty of pitches available in secure community use. However there is a lack of space for youth football in the Western Vale and the Vale part of the Didcot Leisure Sub Area. For adult football, there is just sufficient space in the Western Vale but slightly too little in the Vale part of the Didcot Leisure Sub Area.

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Figure 29: Football spare capacity by pitch size and sub area in 2015 (secure community use only)

Football pitch types and spare capacity Sub Area Adult Football Youth Football

Mini Soccer

Match Overall incl

training

Match Overall incl

training

Match Overall incl

training Abingdon on Thames and Oxford

14.5 5 19.5 8 37 22

South East Vale

14.5 7 13 4 29.5 23

Western Vale 9 0 2 -5 3 2 Vale DLSA 5.5 -1 1 -2 11 10

Pitch capacity at the site level 5.49 The following playing field sites appear to be used to full capacity, or have been

flagged in the club returns as being sites under significant pressure. In assessing the site supply-demand balance, account has been taken of training as well as match pressures.

Abingdon & Oxford Caldecott Recreation Ground, Abingdon Southern Town Park, Abingdon (junior) Closes Field, Cumnor Forest Side, Kennington Appleford-on-Thames South East Vale

Alfredian Park, Wantage

Milton Heights Grove Recreation Ground, Grove Western Vale

Tucker Park, Faringdon

Shrivenham Recreation Ground Stanford-in-the-Vale Steventon Didcot Leisure Sub Area (Vale)

Recreation Ground, Harwell (juniors)

Peak time capacity 5.50 Almost all of the clubs responding to the survey and involved in the study process

have confirmed that they are playing on the FA recommended pitch sizes. The

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assessment of the current situation is therefore based on these pitch sizes and the current demand in terms of number of teams. The modelling suggests that all of the areas of the district have sufficient match capacity, with the exception of youth pitches in the Abingdon and Oxford Fringe sub area, even at 2015 and with no housing growth.

Assessment of Future Needs 5.51 The modelling approach follows the methodology set out in the Sport England

guidance, including Team Generation Rates (TGR), forecast demographics for the Vale of White Horse, and a forecast growth in the game of 0.5% per annum across the age groups. With the growth in the population of the district planned up to 2031, there will be increasing demand for all sizes of pitch. The outcomes of TGR modelling based on the agreed population profiles at the whole authority level and at the sub area level is given in Figures 30 to 34. In relation to the Didcot Leisure Sub Area, which spans the Vale and South Oxfordshire boundary, the approach agreed by the stakeholders (national governing bodies and the Council) was to take the average TGR across both authorities as the starting point for each age group.

5.52 Unsurprisingly, the growth in team numbers largely reflects the planned housing

growth. The most significant change will be in the Didcot Leisure Sub Area, where the team numbers are expected to grow by 2031: minis rising from 4 to 20 teams, youth from 6 teams to 24 teams, and adults from 5 to 17 teams. It should be noted that this modelling only applies to the Vale of White Horse area, and there is likely to be further significant housing growth in the South Oxfordshire area of the town, leading to further demand for football.

5.53 Future playing field provision for football needs to build in some flexibility in terms

of pitch size and the amount of area available. Since there will also be changes in demand over time, the modelling combines the minis together using a pitch size of 0.3 ha; the junior/youth age groups with a pitch size of 0.5 ha; and the senior/open age/adult pitches with a size of 0.75 ha.

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Figure 30: Forecast team numbers - whole authority

Number of teams within age group

Age Groups Team age

group 2015 2021 2026 2031 Mini-soccer 6-7 yrs - mixed 6 -7 yrs u7 & u8 29 42 47 48

Mini-soccer 8-9 yrs - mixed 8 -9 yrs u9 & u10 29 42 47 48

Youth football 9 v 9 - boys 10-11yrs u11 & u12 31 41 47 52

Youth football 9 v 9 - girls 10-11yrs u11 & u12 9 11 13 14

Youth football 11 v 11 boys 12-15 yrs u13 & u16 43 54 64 71

Youth football 11 v 11 girls 12-15 yrs u13 & u16 5 6 7 8

Men’s football 16-45yrs u17 + 49 64 69 71

Women’s football 16-45yrs u17 + 2 3 3 3

Figure 31: Forecast team numbers – Abingdon and Oxford Fringe


Age Groups Team age group 2015 2021 2026 2031









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Figure 32: Forecast team numbers – South East Vale


Age Groups Team age









Figure 33: Forecast team numbers – Western Vale


Age Groups Team age









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Figure 34: Forecast team numbers – Didcot Leisure Sub Area, Vale part (population forecasts based on July 2014 Vale housing projections)


Age Groups Team age









5.54 The following tables (Figures 35 - 44) present two different scenarios and consider

the impact of the changing team numbers on the pitch supply:

• Figures 35 – 39: assumes matches only are played on grass, and all training takes place on AGP surfaces

• Figures 40 - 44: assumes both matches and training continue to take place on grass pitches i.e. no 3G AGPS with community use are provided.

5.55 For each of these tables:

• The team numbers come from the TGR modelling (Figures 30-34) • The minimum number of pitches required assumes 4 teams per pitch for

matches only in Figures 35-39, and 2 teams per pitch for Figures 40-44. • The peak time demand is the number of pitches based on the maximum

percentage of matches played at the same time for each age group, based on the league kick-off times.

• The balance in provision in secure community use compares the number of pitches available and in secure community use with the demand. For the demand side, Figures 35-39 use the number of pitches required at peak match time for the calculation. For Figures 40-44 it uses the column Minimum Number of Pitches Required if used at maximum capacity. The first set of Figures assumes that the training is taking place on artificial surfaces, but the second set of Figures assumes that the training is all on the grass pitches.

• The next column translates the pitch requirement into the area in hectares of pitch space needed.

• The final column considers the balance in provision in hectares. This is important because it shows how much spare space there is available to football, or if the figure is a deficit (in red) how much extra space is needed.

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• The bottom two rows of the table show the total number of hectares marked out for pitches, and the total amount of playing field space based on 150% of the pitch space as this additional area provides space for the clubhouse/ pavilion, parking and other ancillary facilities required to make a playing field sustainable.

5.56 None of the district currently has sufficient 3G AGP space to cater for all football

training, and there is no 3G provision in the South East Vale or Western Vale area, although some of Western Vale is within a 20 minute travel time of 3G pitches outside of the authority.

5.57 Should the AGP proposals come forwards in Wantage, Didcot and Abingdon areas

then a significant proportion of football training could potentially be met on artificial pitches, mostly 3G and mostly within the authority area, see the AGP section of this report, paragraph 3.57. The continued availability of sand based pitches will help to supplement the 3G pitch supply, again both sited within and outside of the authority.

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Figure 35: Football up to 2031 matches only - whole authority

Note: Pitch sizes as The FA Guide to Pitch and Goalpost Dimensions, 2012 Adult: 0.75 ha; Junior/youth combined size: 0.5 ha; Mini combined size: 0.3 ha

Age Groups 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031

Mini-soccer 6-7 yrs mixed

6 -7 yrs


8 -9 yrs

Youth football boys

10-15yrs 74 95 111 123

Youth football girls

10-15yrs 14 18 21 23

Men’s football 16-45yrs 49 64 69 71

Women’s football

16-45yrs 2 3 3 3

50.8 13.4 17.5 19.8 21.0 26.8 19.3 14.9 12.5

76.2 20.1 26.2 29.7 31.6 40.2 28.9 22.4 18.7

18 10


Minimum number of pitches required if used at maximum capacity (@ 4 senior, 4 youth

teams, 6 mini)

58 83 94 97 10 14 16 16

Balance in provision in secure community use (number of pitches

at peak time)

Playing pitch area required to meet demand at peak time:

Mini (u10): 0.3 ha; Junior (u11-u16): 0.5 ha; Senior (16+ yrs):

0.75 ha

Balance in pitch area available in secure use. In hectares: Mini

(u10): 0.3 ha; Junior (u11-u16): 0.5 ha; Senior (16+ yrs): 0.75 ha

Peak time number of pitches required for matches

Playing pitch area in secure use (hectares)

Number of pitches which are both available and in

secure community use

3.1 3.010 10 3 4 5 5 4.9 3.67.8 16 1216

27 34 40 44 32 16 5 -2

16 2610 14

-4.1 -6.213 17 20 22 2.7

27

-8 -12 -1.2

TOTAL PITCH AREA Hectares

TOTAL PLAYING FIELD AREA (@ 150% OF PITCH AREA) Hectares

15

22 28 33 36

13 17 18 16 1610 11 11 19 1726 22 21 21 814 15 36

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Figure 36: Football up to 2031 matches only – Abingdon and Oxford Fringe sub area


Age Groups 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031


6 -7 yrs


8 -9 yrs

Youth football boys

10-15yrs 40 47 52 52


10-15yrs 7 9 10 10


Women’s football

16-45yrs 1 1 1 1

24.2 7.5 8.6 9.0 8.9 10.9 8.7 8.0 8.1

36.3 11.2 12.9 13.5 13.4 16.3 13.1 11.9 12.1

6 65 5 5 6 58 7 7 7 57 7 14 10.5

0 0 1.0



7

12 14 15 15

7 8 8

0.2 0.17 8 9 9 2.39.5 5 2

6 14

14 17 19 19 19







2.3 2.48 8 2 2 2 2 2.6 2.24.2 97 6 6


at peak time)



0.75 ha

765 7

8 6



teams, 6 mini)

32 39 39 37 5

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Figure 37: Football up to 2031 matches only – South East Vale sub area


Age Groups 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031


6 -7 yrs


8 -9 yrs

Youth football boys

10-15yrs 13 18 24 28


10-15yrs 2 3 4 5


Women’s football

16-45yrs 0 1 1 1

11.9 2.4 3.5 4.4 4.8 7.5 5.6 4.0 3.1

17.85 3.7 5.2 6.5 7.2 11.3 8.5 6.0 4.6

3 32 3 3 5 46 5 5 5 13 3 8 6

-2 -3 0.2



3

4 5 7 8

2 3 4

-0.8 -1.52 3 4 5 1.23.5 2 0

4 8

5 7 9 10 7







1.3 1.24 4 1 1 1 1 1.8 1.52.4 63 4 4


at peak time)



0.75 ha

542 3

4 2



teams, 6 mini)

12 17 22 23 2

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Figure 38: Football up to 2031 matches only – Western Vale sub area


Age Groups 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031


6 -7 yrs


8 -9 yrs

Youth football boys

10-15yrs 15 21 23 23


10-15yrs 3 4 4 4


Women’s football

16-45yrs 0 0 0 0

9.05 2.6 3.6 3.8 3.7 4.2 2.5 2.0 2.2

13.575 4.0 5.4 5.7 5.6 6.4 3.7 3.1 3.3

5 52 2 2 5 57 6 6 6 13 3 9 6.75

-4 -4 -1.7



3

4 6 7 7

2 3 3

-2.2 -2.13 4 4 4 -0.62 -1 -3

3 1

5 7 8 8 4







-0.6 -0.5-2 -2 1 1 1 1 -0.4 -0.60.3 -13 3 3


at peak time)



0.75 ha

-232 3

3 2



teams, 6 mini)

14 18 18 16 2

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Figure 39: Football up to 2031 matches only – Didcot Leisure sub area (Vale part)


Age Groups 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031


6 -7 yrs


8 -9 yrs

Youth football boys

10-15yrs 6 9 13 21


10-15yrs 1 2 2 4


Women’s football

16-45yrs 0 0 1 1

5.65 1.1 2.2 3.2 4.1 3.7 1.9 0.2 -1.7

8.475 1.7 3.3 4.7 6.2 5.5 2.9 0.3 -2.6

1 12 2 3 3 24 3 2 2 12 3 5 3.75

-3 -6 -0.7



3

2 3 4 6

1 3 4

-1.4 -2.81 2 2 4 0.01 0 -1

3 3

2 3 5 8 2







0.2 -0.11 0 0 0 1 1 0.7 0.50.9 21 2 3


at peak time)



0.75 ha

221 1

4 1



teams, 6 mini)

4 8 15 20 1

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Figure 40: Football up to 2031 incl training – whole authority


Age Groups 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031


6 -7 yrs


8 -9 yrs

Youth football boys

10-15yrs 74 95 111 123


10-15yrs 14 18 21 23


Women’s football

16-45yrs 2 3 3 3

50.8 43.8 57.2 64.7 68.8 7.0 -6.4 -13.9 -18.0

76.2 65.7 85.8 97.1 103.2 10.5 -9.6 -20.9 -27.0


Peak time number of pitches required for matches Number of pitches

which are both available and in



14 16


teams, 6 mini)



Balance in provision in secure community use (total demand vs total capacity of piitches) No of

pitches

Playing pitch area required to meet demand: Mini (u10): 0.3

ha; Junior (u11-u16): 0.5 ha; Senior (16+ yrs): 0.75 ha

58 83 94 97 10 316 10 14 16 16 26 7.8 16 12 10 10 3.0

44 56 66 73 27 34 40 44 32

4 5 5 4.9 3.6 3.1

-12.1 -16.916 -12 -24 -34 -41 22

-1 19

-20.3

26 33 36 37 10 14 15 15 36

28 33 36 -5.8

-1



25 27 28 8 2 027 11 3 0

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Figure 41: Football up to 2031 incl training – Abingdon and Oxford Fringe sub area


Age Groups 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031


6 -7 yrs


8 -9 yrs

Youth football boys

10-15yrs 40 47 52 52


10-15yrs 7 9 10 10


Women’s football

16-45yrs 1 1 1 1

24.2 13.3 15.5 16.2 16.1 -0.3 -3.9 -5.1 -5.0

36.3 20.0 23.2 24.4 24.2 -0.4 -5.9 -7.7 -7.4








6


teams, 6 mini)


pitches



26 5 7 6 6 14 4.2 9 7 832 39 39 37 5 2.4

24 28 31 31 14 17 19 19 19

2 2 2 2.6 2.27 2.3

-4.4 -5.89.5 -5 -9 -12 -12 7

8

-2 5

-5.9

15 16 16 16 6 7 7 7 14

8 9 9 -2.3

-1



5 5 5 -1 -2 -210.5 -1 -2 -2

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Figure 42: Football up to 2031 incl training – South East Vale sub area


Age Groups 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031


6 -7 yrs


8 -9 yrs

Youth football boys

10-15yrs 13 18 24 28


10-15yrs 2 3 4 5


Women’s football

16-45yrs 0 1 1 1

11.9 8.0 11.4 14.2 15.8 3.9 0.5 -2.3 -3.9

17.85 12.0 17.1 21.4 23.7 5.9 0.8 -3.5 -5.8







pitches






teams, 6 mini)

14 2 3 4 4 8 2.4 6 512 17 22 23 2 1.2

8 11 14 17 5 7 9 10 7

1 1 1 1.83 4 1.5 1.3

-1.9 -3.53.5 -1 -4 -7 -10 4

4 4

0 4

-4.8

5 7 8 8 2 3 3 3 8

5 7 8 -0.3

0



5 6 6 2 1 06 3 1 0

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Figure 43: Football up to 2031 incl training – Western Vale sub area


Age Groups 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031


6 -7 yrs


8 -9 yrs

Youth football boys

10-15yrs 15 21 23 23


10-15yrs 3 4 4 4


Women’s football

16-45yrs 0 0 0 0

9.05 8.6 11.8 12.5 12.2 0.4 -2.7 -3.4 -3.2

13.575 12.9 17.6 18.7 18.3 0.6 -4.1 -5.1 -4.8






3


teams, 6 mini)


pitches



13 2 3 3 3 1 0.3 -1 -2 -214 18 18 16 2 -0.5

9 12 14 13 5 7 8 8 4

1 1 1 -0.4 -0.63 -0.6

-2.3 -4.1 -4.82 -5 -8 -10 -9 4

-2

6.75 3 4

-4.7

5 6 6 6 2 3 3 3 9

6 7 7

3 2 24 3 3



2



5 5 5

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Figure 44: Football up to 2031 incl training – Didcot Leisure sub area (Vale part)


Age Groups 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031


6 -7 yrs


8 -9 yrs

Youth football boys

10-15yrs 6 9 13 21


10-15yrs 1 2 2 4


Women’s football

16-45yrs 0 0 1 1

5.65 3.7 7.1 10.3 13.5 1.9 -1.5 -4.7 -7.9

8.475 5.6 10.7 15.5 20.3 2.9 -2.2 -7.0 -11.8

-3



4 6 6 2 0 -23.75 3 0 -3 -3 2

-5.2

2 5 8 8 1 2 3 3 5

3 4 6 -0.7

0.5 0.2

-1.7 -2.91 -1 -3 -6 -10 2

1 0 -0.1

3 5 8 12 2 3 5 8 2

0 1 1 0.73 3 0.9 2 2


pitches





4 8 15 20 1 1 2


03 1 1 2



teams, 6 mini)Peak time number of pitches

required for matches Number of pitches which are both available and in


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Figure 45: Summary of sub area playing field needs up to 2031

Sub Area

Additional grass playing field provision required (hectares) Without additional 3G AGP

provision With sufficient 3G AGP provision to

cater for all training 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031

Abingdon and Oxford Fringe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 South East Vale 0 0 4 6 0 0 0 0 Western Vale 0 4 5 5 0 0 0 0 Didcot Leisure Sub Area (Vale) 0 2 7 12 0 0 0 3 5.58 Figure 45 summarises the findings from Figures 35 to 44. It uses the pitch area

calculations from the final row of the right hand columns of these Figures, so takes into account the number of teams expected to be generated and the area of playing field. It demonstrates the very significant impact of potentially providing sufficient 3G AGPs for all training on the needs for new playing field space across each area of the authority. Where such training space is provided, the requirements for grass playing field space for football falls significantly. The AGP proposals set out in paragraph of 3.91-3.98, should they all come forwards, will go a long way towards this scenario. However some clubs will still need or choose to train on their grass pitch sites and none of the AGP proposals are yet confirmed. There is therefore a need to plan for new grass pitch space across most of the authority area, primarily to meet the needs of new housing.

Meeting the needs of the future 5.59 The rate of playing field provision for football across the district therefore needs to

assume that no additional 3G pitches are developed, in order to ensure that sufficient playing field space is made available to the sport. Based on the table in Figure 45, the whole authority analysis inclusive of training provision, it is clear that a rate of provision of 0.6 ha per 1000 is required to meet the needs of the community up to 2031.

5.60 Although the costs of developing new 3G pitches is high, the land cost and the

realistic deliverability of providing substantial new playing field areas to cater for major new housing growth means that the provision of 3G AGPs may be the preferred way in some locations of achieving more capacity for football, along with improvements at the more intensively used football sites to enable them to cater for some more demand.

5.61 Whether or not new 3G AGP space is provided, the priority for new pitch space is

for the youth teams. None of the sub areas have sufficient current pitch capacity for youth teams to cater for both matches and training, and there will be future

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deficits of match pitch space for the youth age groups in every sub area by between 2021 and 2026.

5.62 The requirements modelled above exclude any additional housing growth at Valley

Park, where an increase of 1990 dwellings is proposed. This would take the total population of Valley Park to 10,636. With a playing field requirement of 0.61 ha for football, this would lead to a need for 6.48 ha of playing field space for football, approximately 4.33 ha of pitch space for this sport.

5.63 There is an early stage proposal to develop a mini pitch venue in the southern part

of Great Western Park in Didcot. This would be on just over 2.6 ha, so providing a number of mini pitches. This is a welcome proposal as there is a clear demand for more mini soccer provision in the Didcot area.

5.64 The other large housing developments and their playing field requirements for

football are:

• Crab Hill (Wantage), 2.15 ha • North of Abingdon on Thames, 1.15 ha • Monks Farm (Grove), 1.08

5.65 Where there are a number of developments in and around a town, a single multi-

pitch site which caters for all of the new growth should be considered. This is the case for the housing growth around Faringdon, other parts of the Didcot Leisure Sub Area e.g. around Harwell. Where new sites for football are developed these should be:

• multi-pitch; • have good quality changing provision; • flat and do not easily become waterlogged in the winter; • be free of informal public use i.e. are fenced.

5.66 Site specific proposals are addressed in the Implementation section of this report,

in Figures 75 - 78. There are also a small number of potential new playing fields and pitches either already committed or potentially coming forward as part of planning applications, see Figure 46.

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Figure 46: Potential new provision

Sub area Site Proposal Status Abingdon & Oxford

West of Abingdon Rd, Drayton

1 adult, 1 youth, 1 mini plus cricket. Shared pavilion (1.25 ha football pitches)

Pitches confirmed. Changing pavilion requires shortfall of funding to be met (75% of costs).

South East Vale

Grove Airfield, Grove 11.5 ha of playing fields for football including pavilion. (Net gain of approx 8 ha of football pitch space due to relocation of Grove Challengers from Parish Council site).

Planning permission not yet granted. S106 under negotiation. 1st tranche of playing fields (3.35ha) ready for use by 2019. Remainder up to 2031.

South East

Crab Hill, Wantage Area of 2.64 ha (equivalent to 3 senior pitches) including pavilion.

Estimated 2026

Western Vale

The Steeds, Faringdon There are two concurrent planning applications:

• 2-3 pitch site with club house

• No pitch

provision but off-site contributions

Planning applications both submitted. No decision.

Western Vale

Land East of Highworth Road, Shrivenham

New mini pitch Resolution to grant outline planning permission but subject to S106 confirmation.

Western Vale

Recreation Ground, Stanford-in-the-Vale

3 football and 1 cricket on shared site.

Proposed in Neighbourhood Plan. No planning application and no funding agreed.

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5.67 If these proposals go ahead, then the identified needs of South East Vale will be met through the new provision planned at Crab Hill and Grove Airfield, and these sites are reasonably well located for much of the new housing. The provision of a 3G pitch at Wantage would also help to release the training pressures on the grass pitches.

5.68 In Western Vale the sites potentially coming forwards at Shrivenham and Faringdon

together with any expansion of the Stanford-in-the-Vale site will help to meet some of the new demand. The Stanford-in-the-Vale proposal which is still at the earliest stages of consideration and may not progress, would primarily address the needs arising from that village. The site is however too far away from Faringdon, Watchfield or Shrivenham to meet the demands arising from new housing developments in this area, so The Steeds proposal or a replacement is needed. Should a 3G pitch be developed in Faringdon, this will reduce the training pressure on the grass pitches.

5.69 The area with the largest expected growth in demand for football pitches is the

Didcot Leisure Sub Area. At present, there is just sufficient capacity to cater for both matches and training overall, though some sites such as Harwell Recreation Ground are under pressure. At this time there is some additional pitch provision planned at Boundary Park in Great Western Park in Didcot, with 1 adult and 5 junior football pitches together with rugby and cricket. This new provision at Boundary Park meets the identified needs of Didcot town and Great Western Park and this assessment therefore considers what else is required to be provided to meet the needs of the planned additional population in the Didcot Leisure Sub Area.

5.70 In the Vale part of the DLSA no other additional playing fields have been identified

for football at this time although the new strategic housing site allocations plus the proposed additional housing at Valley Park, means that 9.82 ha of playing fields for football would be required to meet the needs of the new developments within the Vale part of Didcot Leisure Sub Area. Meeting the needs of this sub area is therefore the highest priority for the future. Again, the provision of 3G pitches in Didcot would help to reduce this need for grass pitches, and just the population of this part of Didcot alone would justify a large size 3G pitch open for community training use for 56 slots per week. There would still however be a need for at least 4.5 ha of football grass playing field space, with a pitch area of at least 3 ha which should preferably be located in Valley Park.

5.71 The viability of the option of developing a 3G pitch at Valley Park is in part as a

replacement for grass pitches, however this would require detailed investigation prior to this being confirmed as the potential way forwards. This would need to include consideration of the management options, any commuted sum from the developer towards long term replacement of the carpet, and revenue generation for both club training and any small sided leagues.

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5.72 In the Abingdon and Oxford Fringe sub area, if the proposed 3G pitches are developed and there is sufficient space for community football training (around 130 training slots per week), then there should be sufficient capacity on the existing sites to cater for most of the new demand. In this area, the priority should therefore be to improve the quality of the existing provision, both pitches and ancillary facilities. The priorities are those sites already under pressure; Caldecott Recreation Ground, Abingdon; Southern Town Park, Abingdon; Closes Field, Cumnor; Forest Side, Kennington; and Appleford-on-Thames.

5.73 The existing stadia sites should be retained, and additional stadia sites allowed to

come forwards as needed to support the growth of the game. Development of a planning standard 5.74 The planning standards for playing fields need to cover all of the grass pitch sports

of football, cricket and rugby. Planning standards are therefore developed at the end of this report section.

Conclusions and Recommendations Current supply and demand 5.75 Football in the Vale of White Horse is an important sport, and there are currently

196 teams across all of the age groups. Most of the teams’ members live within the district.

5.76 Overall across the authority as a whole there is slight surplus of pitch space in

secure community use for football. However there is an imbalance across the pitch sizes, with youth pitches being least well provided for, and a surplus of both senior and mini pitches if match use alone is considered.

5.77 However many of the clubs train as well as play matches on their pitches, which

significantly increases the wear on the pitches on some sites, and also leads to a much higher requirement for grass playing field space than in other districts which have good access to 3G AGPs. The inclusion of training in the assessment moves the overall current provision to one just in balance in most areas of the authority.

5.78 This lack of 3G training space has emerged as the highest priority for the clubs,

many of whom feel that they could expand if such provision was available. Training on a 3G AGP would also enable them to host more teams on their grass pitches.

5.79 There are currently six stadium sites in the district and these are important for the

sport but are not available for general community use.

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5.80 A summary of each playing field site and its issues is provided in the Implementation section of this report.

Future requirements 5.81 If further accessible 3G provision is not made available in the district and the teams

need to continue to train on grass pitches, then more playing field space is required in all of the sub areas.

5.82 The Didcot Leisure Sub Area (within Vale) will experience the greatest increase in

population up to 2031. However no new football provision is currently planned other than the one adult and five youth pitches at Boundary Park, and some of the existing sites are already under pressure, for example at Harwell. The new growth is expected to generate a need for around 10 ha of grass playing field space for football if Valley Park is developed at the higher density.

5.83 This 10 ha is mainly generated by Valley Park and North West Valley Park (7.5 ha)

so the focus of the pitch delivery should be in these locations. However some of this 10 ha may be deliverable at a second multi-pitch site, for example associated with East of Harwell Campus, as the housing growth in Harwell will generate a need for at least 2 ha of football playing field space. But with a minimum requirement of 4.5 ha of playing field to make a viable site. With this 4.5 ha minimum this means that some of the Valley Park/North West Valley Park demand might be accommodated at Harwell.

5.84 Should 3G pitch(es) be made available to cater for an anticipated 56 training slots

arising from the Vale part of the Didcot Leisure Sub Area, then additional grass playing field space would still be required for community football matches, with the preferred location being in Valley Park. The amount of grass playing field space required for football should be a minimum of 4.5 ha, with a minimum pitch area of 3 ha. The design and quality of the new provision should meet Sport England and the national governing body guidelines.

5.85 The viability of the option of developing a 3G pitch at Valley Park in part as

replacement for grass pitches however requires detailed investigation prior to this being confirmed as the potential way forward.

5.86 Elsewhere in the Didcot Leisure Sub Area (within Vale) the priority should be to

improve the existing facilities, and pitches, particularly at Harwell. 5.87 In the South East area there are new pitches proposed at Grove Airfield and at Crab

Hill. These together should be able to meet the needs of the communities in Wantage, Grove, and Monks Farm, plus the other smaller developments in the area. However if this proposed provision does not come forward, then additional playing field space for football will be required, of around 6 ha. Should a 3G pitch match specification pitch be developed at the proposed new leisure centre at

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Mably Way, Grove, this will help to reduce the pressures on the grass pitches. However even if the 3G pitch proposed was to be available at a rate of 56 training slots per week for community football, this is too small a capacity to meet the potential demand from the number of teams forecast to have arisen by 2031. Additional grass pitch provision is therefore essential, and confirms the need for the pitches to be developed as proposed at Grove Airfield and Crab Hill.

5.88 In the Western Vale sub area, 5 ha of additional playing field space is required by

2031. The majority of this should ideally be on a multi-pitch site close to Faringdon. There are no confirmed significant new playing field areas in this part of the district, but there are some emerging options at Stanford-in-the-Vale and at Faringdon, which would support new housing growth. If The Steeds proposal is not confirmed then a new multi pitch site of minimum 4.5 ha to the south of Faringdon – north of Watchfield should be developed. Should a 3G AGP be developed in Faringdon suitable for football training, then this will reduce the training pressures on the grass pitches. The preferred location is Faringdon Community College where it would be managed as part of the joint use facility. If a large size or training pitch is developed, then the amount of grass playing pitch space required reduces but there is still a need for more match pitch space, particularly in Faringdon. This justifies the development of a multi-pitch site of at least 4.5 ha if The Steeds does not go ahead.

5.89 In the Abingdon and Oxford Fringe sub area the priority is to improve the existing

pitches and ancillary facilities in order for them to withstand more use as the population in this area increases. As not all of the forecast training needs could be met through the development of the currently proposed pitches in the sub-area, there is still a need for additional pitch space. One new pitch site is currently being developed, at Drayton with one adult and one mini pitch. However this site requires additional funding for the development of the pavilion.

5.90 Generally across the district there is therefore justification to retain all of the

existing playing field space which is in secure community use for football, and to improve both the pitches and ancillary facilities where a need is shown. The current issues and requirements are summarised in the Implementation section of the report.

5.91 The current stadium sites should be retained, and additional stadia pitches

developed as needed to support higher levels of play. The requirements will need to be led by the FA’s Ground Grading Criteria based on the needs and realistic expectations of the clubs involved.

Recommendations 5.92 The existing network of football pitch sites in secure community use should be

retained, and improved as needed.

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5.93 New playing field provision is required on the following basis:

Figure 47: Football new playing field provision recommendations

Sub area Provision required/priorities for investment Abingdon & Oxford 3G pitches planned are developed and made

available and accessible for community football training. Existing 3G pitches remain. Improve existing network of pitches and ancillary facilities through investment at existing sites.

South East Vale Development of 11.25 ha of playing field space at Grove Airfield for football with associated ancillary facilities. Development of 2.6 ha of playing field space at Crab Hill for football with associated ancillary facilities. Full size 3G pitch, preferred site at Mably Way, Grove

Western Vale Minimum of 5 ha of playing field space. Preferred location south of Faringdon, plus Stanford-in-the-Vale. AGP pitch with the preferred site at Faringdon Community College as joint use facility. Surface type of AGP to be confirmed.

Didcot Leisure Sub Area (within Vale)

7.5 ha of playing field space in Valley Park or 1 large size 3G pitch with football match specification and community use agreement plus 4.5 ha playing field space in Valley Park 4.5 ha minimum multi-pitch site at Harwell (preferably associated with East of Harwell Campus)

5.94 The proposal for a new mini football venue in Great Western Park should be

brought to fruition. 5.95 The stadium sites should be retained and further stadia developed as needed to

support the higher levels of the game, based on the specific needs of the clubs and

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the Football Association’s Ground Grading criteria. This may include the need for floodlighting on appropriate sites.

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SECTION 6: CRICKET 6.1 Cricket is a strong pitch based sport in the Vale of White Horse, with 110

community teams including the Abingdon Vale Cricket Club which plays just over the district boundary at Culham Road. All of the teams are male, with the exception of a small number of junior teams that are mixed. It should be noted that this study refers only to community cricket.

Participation in cricket 6.2 The Sport England Active People Survey research suggests that about 324,400

adults aged 14+ years play cricket at least once a month during the cricket season. The national rate of participation has declined slightly since the 2012-13 Sport England survey. Of those playing cricket regularly, about 93% are male, and 7% are female. About 66% of the adult players are aged 16-34 years, with 29% aged between 35-54 years, and only 5% aged 55 years and over.

6.3 Although there has been some decrease in participation nationally amongst men,

Oxfordshire Cricket Board have seen a strong recent interest in the women’s and girls’ game, and also fairly steady participation amongst the men’s and boys’ games. Nationally a new Women’s Super League is launching for 2016. The Cricket Board is therefore confident that an overall 0.5% per annum growth in participation for the period of the sis realistic and is a sound basis for the PPS modelling. The forecast growth in the women’s and girls’ games as provided by Oxfordshire Cricket Board in September 2015 is:

Number of women’s teams Number of girls’ teams 2015 actual 0 0 2021 forecast 3 6 2026 forecast 3 9 2031 forecast 5 12

6.4 It is expected that this female growth in the game will be at the most active clubs;

Abingdon Vale, Kingston Bagpuize and Challow and Childrey. There is also expected to be new female teams arising at Didcot Cricket Club which currently draws its members mostly from the South Oxfordshire and will be playing at Boundary Park from the 2016 season onwards. The growth in the female game is therefore expected to be across the whole of the authority.

6.5 There are currently 25 cricket clubs in the district with 12 clubs having a number of

teams including juniors. The four smallest clubs only have one senior team each. Only a proportion of teams play every week, mainly those in the higher leagues either on a Saturday or Sunday.

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6.6 The cricket teams and clubs are listed in Appendix 3 together with their home grounds and the days that the teams play their matches.

6.7 The pattern of participation in the authority is similar to most other local

authorities in that the highest number of teams (71) are from the men’s open age group. Just over half of the men’s matches are played on a Saturday afternoon (54%), with most of the remainder being on a Sunday. The midweek leagues have 14 teams. Across the juniors; there is no set day for the U11s (11 teams), the U13s mostly play on a Sunday as do the two U17 teams, whilst the U15s mostly play on a Monday.

6.8 The information provided by those clubs who responded to the club survey

suggests that most clubs draw most of their members from within the district. Only Kennington has a high proportion from elsewhere; 40% from Oxford with 60% from within the Vale of White Horse. For the purposes of the modelling and reflecting the feedback from the clubs, it is therefore assumed that all of the teams are drawn from within the district.

6.9 The Vale of White Horse does not appear to have a notable “pop up” team demand

which has emerged as an issue in more urban authorities, particularly those with a high Asian population.

Current provision 6.10 There are 23 cricket grounds in secure community use in the district, including the

double ground site played on by Abingdon Vale, which is actually in South Oxfordshire. The sites are mapped in Figure 48. In addition to the secure sites, there are four unsecured sites used for community cricket in the Vale of White Horse district: Pinewood School, Bourton; Harwell Labs at Harwell, Radley School close to Abingdon, and the Didcot Power Station site.

6.11 The quality standard for each pitch has been assessed through a site visit and

consultation with the clubs and Oxfordshire Cricket Board (OCB). The estimated carrying capacity for each of the pitches is derived from the agreed quality standard for each site and England Cricket Board guidance criteria for pitch carrying capacity.

6.12 The map shows a wide geographical spread of cricket facilities across the district,

with sites located in or close to the main towns and also in the more rural areas.

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Figure 48: Cricket pitches in 2015

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6.13 The number of cricket grounds in secure community use by sub area are provided

in Figure 49 below.

Figure 49: Cricket grounds in secure community use by sub area

Sub Area Number of grounds

Abingdon and Oxford Fringe (incl Abingdon Vale)

9

South East Vale 3 Western Vale 7 Didcot Leisure Sub Area (Vale part) 4

Assessment of current supply/demand 6.14 For the purposes of clarity the following definitions are used in this report.

Figure 50: Cricket terms and definitions

Term Definition Ground The whole pitch area including the cricket square and outfield Square/table The fine turf area which is specially mown and managed to give a

high quality set of strips (often 6, 9 or 12 strips) Strip Single strip of natural turf or artificial turf on which the wickets are

placed at either end for a single match Wicket The collective name for the 3 stumps and the bails placed at each

end of the strip Site The ground plus ancillary facilities such as the club house/pavilion,

car parking etc 6.15 The quality standard for each ground used by the community has been assessed

through a site visit, advice from the OCB, and consultation with the clubs. 6.16 For junior cricket the strip length is different from those of the adult games. If the

natural turf strips are used for the junior game, it cannot be safely reused for the adult game. Only those clubs with non-turf strips in addition to natural turf are therefore able to cater reasonably easily for junior players in addition to their seniors.

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Consultation findings 6.17 The following comments are a summary of the general comments received in the

formal playing pitch study process from the clubs and providers. Where issues or comments on quality have been raised about particular sites or locations, these have been incorporated into the site by site tables in the report (Figures 75 - 78).

6.18 Similarly, where issues and sites have been discussed with either the club or

provider as part of evidence to support a response by the District Council to a planning application, these have been incorporated in the site by site summary table.

6.19 In terms of the clubs included in the assessment, the Abingdon Vale club has been

included as a Vale of White Horse club because a high percentage of its members come from this district, and the site is located just over the border in South Oxfordshire. Conversely, the Didcot Cricket Club has been excluded from the assessment and will be addressed in the South Oxfordshire Playing Pitch Study because 95% of its members are from South Oxfordshire even though the ground is just within the Vale of White Horse.

Club comments 6.20 All of the clubs involved in cricket in the district were consulted using email and a

tailored version of the survey form for cricket clubs contained in the Sport England Guidance. As part of the formal study process, 25% of teams responded to the survey despite a number of follow up chases to respond by Oxfordshire Cricket Board. This rate of return has however been significantly increased because of the number of detailed individual consultations with providers and clubs over the past few months in relation to planning applications for new housing developments.

Key generic findings 6.21 The membership trends for the past 3 years see an overall static or slightly

declining picture with only one of the club responses noting an increase. Two of the clubs had facility issues impacting upon their ability to retain members or to grow (see Figure 51).

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Figure 51: Club membership and expansion issues Cricket Team Membership trends in past 3 years Issues affecting ability to

grow Increase Decrease Stayed the same Challow and Childrey

Junior boys

Senior men 2nd ground required

East and West Hendred

Senior men Junior boys

Do not expect to grow. Main issue is recruitment and retention of members.

Kennington Junior boys

Senior men Recruitment and retention of members. Lack of coaches Lack of volunteers

Marcham Senior men Uncertain ground provision over next few years Lack of coaches Lack of volunteers Access to or lack of facilities

6.22 Most players appear to travel up to 10 minutes, with the seniors sometimes

travelling more than this. National Governing Body comments and strategies 6.23 Oxfordshire Cricket Board has been involved with the PPS process, and provided

the following specific comments about the following clubs.

Club OCB comments Abingdon Vale Large club. 2 grounds on their site. First square is over used.

Expected to develop both women’s and girls’ teams. Cumnor Well run club. Ground is overused. Kingston Bagpuize

Club declining due to facilities. In the process of putting in plans for development with s106 money. Expected to develop both women’s and girls’ teams.

Challow and Childrey

Expected to develop both women’s and girls’ teams.

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Modelling Market Segmentation and sports development 6.24 Cricket is a relatively small sport and is not picked up by the Sport England Market

Segmentation modelling. Playing pitch model 6.25 The Sport England guidance sets out the required approach towards modelling of

grass pitch sports, using Team Generation Rates (TGR), the temporal demand for the sport (the number of matches at peak time), and the availability of pitches of the required size. This section provides a detailed assessment of cricket using this methodology.

6.26 As the district does not appear to have significant level of casual cricket in parks, no

specific allowance has been included within the modelling for this. Ground capacity across the season 6.27 In terms of the number of strips required to cater for the demand, the calculation is

based on the total number of grass and artificial strips available in the district. The number of grass strips is 165 across all of the sites, or provision for around 660 matches (assuming an “average quality” of the strips, with a capacity of 4 matches each per season). The total match demand in 2015 if every team recorded (110 teams) was to play every week for a 20 week season is 1100 matches, so the theoretical strip capacity considering the grass strips appears less than required. However there are also 7 grounds with artificial grass wickets which can cater for up to 60 uses a season, giving an additional capacity of 420 strips across the district In reality, only a proportion of teams play weekly, so the combination of grass and artificial turf strips meets the current needs of cricket when considering the district as a whole.

6.28 Looking at the sub areas, none of the sub areas are lacking in strip capacity in 2015,

in a large part because of the availability of the artificial strips at 7 sites. These help to increase capacity, but there still appears to be capacity issues at the following sites, either flagged through the assessment of supply and demand for each club, or through comments received from OCB, the club or other stakeholder e.g. the parish council.

• Blewbury (Blewbury and Wallingford CC) • East Challow (Challow and Childrey CC) • Cumnor (Cumnor CC) • Shrivenham • Wotton and Boars Hill

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Peak time capacity 6.29 The peak time requirement in 2015 is for 19 grounds and there are 23 grounds

available across the authority. However there is theoretically too little provision in the Abingdon and Oxford Fringe sub area and also in the South East Vale area. However the Challow and Childrey site (Western Vale) is close to the edge of Wantage, and within an easy 10 minute drive of most of both Wantage and Grove, so is likely to draw many of its members from these areas and effectively providing a second club for this part of South East Vale. The Abingdon and Oxford Fringe sub area includes Radley College which has high quality cricket grounds but is used on an unsecure basis.


guidance, including Team Generation Rates (TGR), forecast demographics for the Vale of White Horse from July 2014, and a forecast growth in the game of 0.5% per annum across the age groups. With the growth in the population in the district planned up to 2031, there will be an increasing demand for cricket. These however do not take into account the current proposal to increase the density of housing in Valley Park, Didcot, which could increase the number of people in that development from just over 6,000 to over 10,500.

6.31 The theoretical modelling in Figures 52-56 suggests that there is likely to be some

increase in the male teams, but that the number of women’s and girl’s teams will remain unchanged, largely because there are zero teams at this time. However there are likely to be new women’s and girls’ teams in the period up to 2031 and overall there is expected to be a 0.5% growth in the game per annum, including the female teams. The actual number of men’s and boy’s teams may be slightly less than the theoretical modelling suggests, but the assessment outcomes are not critically affected by the slight change in balance between the male and female elements of the sport.

6.32 As with football, the growth in team numbers largely reflects the planned housing

growth. The most significant change will be in the Didcot Leisure Sub Area, where the adult team numbers are expected to grow by 2031 from 5 to 16 teams. It should be noted that this modelling only applies to the Vale of White Horse area, and does not include Didcot Cricket Club which plays at the Didcot Power Station site but draws almost all of its members from South Oxfordshire.

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Age Groups

Number of teams within age group (excl team equivalents)

2015 2021 2026 2031 Junior cricket - boys 7-18yrs 39 49 58 63 Junior cricket - girls 7-18yrs 0 0 0 0 Men’s cricket 18-55yrs 71 89 95 100 Women’s cricket 18-55yrs 0 0 0 0


Age Groups




Age Groups




Age Groups



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Figure 56: Forecast team numbers – Didcot Leisure Sub Area, Vale part

(population forecasts based on July 2014 Vale housing projections)

Age Groups



6.33 The following table uses the team numbers above and summarises the impact of

this growth on balance in supply and demand for cricket grounds at peak time in the district. In terms of the capacity of available strips (with multiple strips at each cricket ground including some with artificial turf), there is sufficient on average across each of the sub areas to meet future needs up to 2031, so no further analysis is needed on this point.

Figure 57: Cricket grounds required up to 2031

Sub Area

Number of Grounds in

Secure Community Use in 2015

Balance in supply and demand

Extra cricket grounds required

2015 2021 2026 2031 2021 2026 2031 Abingdon and Oxford Fringe

10 -1 -2 -2 -2 2 2 2

South East Vale* 3 0 -1 -2 -3 1 2 3 Western Vale*

7 2 1 1 1 0 0 0

Didcot Leisure Sub Area (Vale)

3 1 0 -1 -2 0 1 2

6.34 The modelling suggests that 27 cricket grounds will be required by 2031 to cater for

the demand from the population of the district at that date, with a total area of 54ha. With 2ha average size of a cricket ground (1.3 ha of ground, plus ancillary facilities and car parking), this gives a whole authority rate of provision of 0.32 ha per 1000 being required to meet the needs of the community up to 2031.

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Meeting the needs of the future 6.35 The figures marked with * for South East Vale and Western Vale in the table above

assume that the Challow and Childrey club is in part providing for players from Wantage and Grove. This has the effect of reducing the need of the South East area by one ground, whilst bringing the Western Vale level of provision down by one ground.

6.36 This suggests that there is an urgent need to develop more cricket space in South

East Vale (or at the adjacent Challow and Childrey club) and that further provision will be required in the period up to 2031 to meet the needs generated by the planned new housing.

6.37 The lack of capacity at Challow and Childrey has been identified and this should

therefore be the highest priority for new ground provision. An appropriate site needs to be identified as soon as possible to enable this to come forward.

6.38 It is known that the Wantage CC has some spare capacity as it only has 3 senior

teams (Saturday, Sunday, midweek) and no juniors. If the capacity of this site was increased, by the provision of an artificial strip and any necessary improvements to the clubhouse to enable it to cater more effectively for juniors, then this site should be able to absorb some of the expected additional demand.

6.39 One further cricket ground will still be required in the South East Vale area in the

period between 2026 and 2031. As it is important that cricket grounds are provided separated from public open space, the potential options might include the retention of the playing fields at the East Site of King Alfred’s Academy, Wantage or the development of an alternative site, yet to be identified, elsewhere. The advantage of the retention of the playing fields at the Academy site for community sport is that the site is large enough, potentially available, and does not currently have public open space use. Conversely, the site is potentially coming forwards too soon for the local cricket demand to grow sufficiently to take on the site and its costs in the short-medium term. A better alternative would be to plan in a new cricket ground in an appropriate site, to come into use from around 2031. The location for this long term provision can then be confirmed at the next Playing Pitch Study review (in around 2020).

6.40 There will also be a need to provide additional cricket ground space in the Vale part

of the Didcot Leisure Sub Area. The unsecured site at Harwell Labs seems unlikely to be made secure due to its ownership, so two additional cricket club grounds are needed in the period up to 2031.

6.41 Two cricket grounds will be developed at the Boundary Park site in Great Western

Park in Didcot. For the purposes of the modelling, this site has been discounted from the assessment because the new facility will primarily provide for Didcot Cricket Club which draws 95% of its members from South Oxfordshire and the site

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was justified by the needs of Didcot town and the housing growth in Great Western Park. The Didcot Cricket Club runs a number of teams and is moving from the unsecured Didcot Power Station site, where the lease is due to end in 2018.

6.42 The new demand arising from new strategic housing development sites in the Vale

part of the Didcot Leisure Sub Area is equivalent to 2 additional cricket grounds, justified both by the application of a calculated rate of provision of 0.32 ha per 1000, and the modelling forecast (Figure 57). The preferred locations for these new sites are: one secure community use ground site in each of East of Harwell Campus, and one at Valley Park. Both sites should be 2 ha in size with appropriate clubhouse, car parking and ancillary facilities.

6.43 Should the land pressures at Valley Park mean that a cricket ground cannot be

effectively provided, then a second ground should be developed at or immediately adjacent to the East of Harwell Campus.

6.44 The Blewbury and Wallingford Cricket Club based at Blewbury is also under some

pressure because of the number of teams it runs. Ideally a further ground should be sought to support this club’s continuing growth, however at this time no deliverable site has been identified. Given this club’s membership, it would be appropriate to consider potential developers’ contributions towards new facilities at this club from both the Vale of White Horse District and South Oxfordshire. This may be particularly important if there is further housing growth in the nearby South Oxfordshire area.

6.45 There is also theoretically a lack of capacity of secure community use sites in the

Abingdon and Oxford Fringe sub area as the Radley College site used by the community has no security of use. However a new cricket pitch is to be provided at Drayton as part of a multi sport site with football, although this is too far from the clubs using the Radley College site for them to use. The site at Drayton is however within about 12-15 minutes from the Valley Park site at Didcot, so will be able to meet some of the demand generated in this area. The priority at Drayton is to complete the funding of the planned clubhouse.

6.46 The site noted to be under particular pressure is Cumnor due to the success of the

club and the lack of ground space, but the site at Drayton is too far away from this club to be used by the club on a regular basis. However the club survey returns from Kennington, and East and West Hendred plus the comments from Oxfordshire Cricket Board suggest that there is some spare capacity at several of the existing club sites in this area, with the exception of Cumnor.

6.47 The new housing growth in the area will generate a new cricket need of the

equivalent of just under 1 cricket ground in the period up to 2031. 6.48 The investment priorities in the Abingdon and Oxford Fringe sub area are

therefore:

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• Development of a second ground for Cumnor Cricket Club. A site for the expansion of the club has yet to be identified;

• Improvement at the club sites across the area to increase their capacity;

• If possible, the community use of Radley College should be secured.

6.49 The Radley College site is used by the community, but there is no secure use. Other

clubs have issues which need to be addressed such as Marcham’s security of use, and the quality of the Kingston Bagpuize site.

6.50 In the Western Vale sub area there should be sufficient capacity for cricket in the

long term on the existing sites, and the priority here is to retain and improve their quality. A cricket pitch has previously been proposed as part of a planning application at The Steeds, Faringdon as part of a multi pitch site, however this assessment suggests that additional cricket ground provision is probably not required.

6.51 Site specific proposals are addressed in the Implementation section of this report,

in Figures 75 - 78. Development of a planning standard 6.52 The planning standards for playing fields needs to cover all of the grass pitch sports

of football, cricket and rugby. Planning standards are therefore developed at the end of this report section on grass pitches. However, a minimum of 27 cricket grounds are expected to be required by 2031 across the district, with a site size of 2 ha, giving an area requirement of 54 ha in total by this date, or a provision rate of 0.32 ha per 1000 for cricket.

Conclusions and Recommendations Current supply and demand 6.53 Cricket is a popular sport in Oxfordshire and there are currently 23 cricket grounds

in secure community use across the district. These together provide sufficient space for the 110 community teams. In 2015 there were no club based women’s or girls’ teams but a strong interest in the growth of the female game is expected to see a number of teams arise at the larger clubs over the next few years.

6.54 A small number of sites are currently under pressure due to their success, but

others have some spare capacity. The key driver for the assessment of cricket supply and demand in the authority is the number of grounds available at peak time, as just over half of the senior matches are played on a Saturday afternoon.

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6.55 At a sub-area level, the Abingdon and Oxford Fringe area use of the Radley College unsecured site, brings the amount of pitch supply into balance with the demand. Cumnor Cricket Club needs more space, but some of the other clubs are not running at capacity.

6.56 The South East Vale area has a balance between supply and demand because of the

use of the Challow and Childrey site, just within Western Vale, which meets some of the needs of Wantage and Grove.

6.57 The Western Vale area has sufficient capacity to meet demand as does the Vale

part of the Didcot Leisure Sub Area. However the Harwell site used for community cricket is not secure.

6.58 All of the grounds in the district were assessed using the Sport England template as

either good or standard quality. Future requirements 6.59 The growth across the district up to 2031 will need additional provision for cricket,

and the following is proposed:

Figure 58: Cricket- future requirements

Sub area Provision required/priorities for investment Abingdon & Oxford Development of additional ground for Cumnor

Cricket Club. Site to be identified. Provide clubhouse at Drayton (complete funding package). Improve existing network of cricket grounds and ancillary facilities. Seek to secure community use of Radley College cricket grounds.

South East Vale Development of additional ground for Challow and Childrey Club (just in Western Vale) (2 ha). Improve existing network of cricket grounds and ancillary facilities. One community cricket ground to be developed in the period between 2026 and 2031 (2 ha).

Western Vale Improve existing network of cricket grounds and ancillary facilities.

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Didcot Leisure Sub Area (Vale)

One cricket site at East of Harwell Campus (2 ha) as part of the proposed sports hub. One cricket site at Valley Park (2 ha) Or if Valley Park not possible to deliver, 2 x cricket grounds at East of Harwell Campus (3.3 – 4 ha) as part of the proposed sports hub.

6.60 The existing network of cricket sites in the rural areas should be retained and

improved as necessary to meet the needs of the local community.

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SECTION 7: RUGBY UNION 7.1 There are six rugby union clubs in the Vale of White Horse district with a total of 12

senior, 19 youth and 28 mini teams between them. There are no rugby leagues clubs playing in the district.

Participation in rugby 7.2 Nationally, participation in rugby once a month for people aged 14+ years is around

326,000 according to the latest Active People Survey information from Sport England. This number has not changed since the survey undertaken in 2012-13. Earlier research from Sport England for the period ending October 2009, showed that around 95% of the participants are male. The sport is mainly played by younger people, with about 84% being under the age of 34. The take up across the socio economic groups is approximately even, with a slight weighting to the NS SEC9 group which includes students, and to the more affluent groups. There are high rates of club membership for this sport, which reflects the way in which the sport is played.

7.3 England is hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2015 and there is expected to a

significant growth in the game across all age groups and both men and women. Over time the peak in interest will subside, but the RFU are confident that, on average over the period up to 2031, the objective of a 0.5% per annum growth in participation will be achieved. This has therefore been used as the basis for the modelling in this PPS.

7.4 The club information provided by the RFU in May 2015 has the following team

information. The Oxford Harlequins mini and youth teams play at a site within Oxford City, so are not included in these totals. The seniors share a site with Oxford RFC.

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Figure 59: RFU rugby team numbers 2015

Club Mini Midi Teams

Youth Teams U13-18 Adult teams

Abingdon RFC 5 4 2

Faringdon RFC 5 2 1

Grove RFC 6 5 2

Harwell RFC 0 0 2

Oxford Harlequins RFC 0 0 4

Oxford RFC 6 2 1

Totals 22 13 12 Current provision 7.5 Information about the rugby club sites has been collated by the RFU, and is given in

Figure 59 and mapped in Figure 60. The information also supplied details about the use of the sites and their estimated capacity has been used to inform the modelling below.

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Figure 60: Rugby pitch sites

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Assessment of current supply/demand 7.6 The peak match demand for rugby is either Saturday afternoon for senior men, or

Sunday mornings for juniors, and minis/midis, but just as important is the impact of training which is mainly on the grass pitches. Both are therefore taken into account in the modelling, reflecting the requirements of Sport England’s Playing Pitch Strategy Guidance 2013.

7.7 The RFU assessment of the current balance in supply and demand both at the

individual sites and across the district in Figure 61 shows that the district is currently short of space for rugby overall. There are particular issues at Grove RFC which has too little space, primarily because it does not have any full size floodlit pitches suitable for training. The clubs at Abingdon and Faringdon are also slightly short of pitch space, again mainly due to a lack of floodlights for training. The jointly used site of Oxford RFC and Oxford Harlequins currently has a balance between the demand and supply, as does Harwell.

7.8 All of the club sites other than Harwell’s are in secure community use. 7.9 The Oxford Harlequins club survey return notes that they will only retain 2 of their

senior teams at the Oxford RFC site from September 2015 onwards. Their mini and junior teams will be playing at Marston Ferry Road in Oxford.

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Figure 61: Rugby site and pitch capacity assessment

Club Mini Midi

Teams

Youth Teams U13-18

Adult teams

Midweek Match

Equivalents

No. Floodlit Pitches

Midweek Training Capacity

Full size Pitches

Match Play Demand

(Weekend)

Match Play Capacity

(Weekend)

Overall Site

Capacity

Pitch Deficit or Surplus

Abingdon RFC 5 4 2 4.25 1 -2.25 3 4.25 1.75 -0.5 -0.25 Faringdon RFC 5 2 1 2.75 0 -2.75 2 2.75 1.25 -1.5 -0.75 Grove RFC 6 5 2 5 0 -5 3 5 1 -4 -2 Harwell RFC 0 0 2 1 0 -1 2 1 1 0 0 Oxford Harlequins RFC 0 0 4 2

1 -3 4 2

3 0 0 Oxford RFC 6 2 1 3 3 Totals 22 13 12 18 2 -14 13 18 8 -6 -3

Mini/Midis - 6 Teams - 3 at home per week - one mini team = 0.5 of a match Youth - 4 teams - 2 at home per week = 2 matches Adult - 3 teams - 1.5 at home per week = 1.5 matches MTE - 6 at home every week = 3 matches 6 matches carrying cap (3pitches x2 matches per week) - 8 matches per week (1.5 mini/mini matches +3.5 Youth/adult matches +3 mid week match equivs)

= - 2

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Recent consultation findings Club comments 7.10 All of the rugby union clubs responded to the club survey, giving a return rate of

100% of the teams. The key points from the web based survey returns are:

• Catchment areas o The catchment for minis is up to 5 miles. o The catchment for youth players for most clubs is 5 miles but can be up to

10 miles. o The catchment for seniors is mainly to up 10 miles.

• None of the clubs have an AGP.

• Most clubs have stayed fairly static in terms of the numbers of teams over the

past 3 years. Only Oxford RFC and Oxford Harlequins have increased their senior team numbers.

• 4 out of the 6 clubs hope to increase their team numbers in the next 5 years.

• None of the clubs have waiting lists.

• Issues associated with access to facilities, lack of facilities or cost of facilities

were only flagged as issues by 2 clubs for each.

• The home location of players reflects the location of the clubs. Oxford RFC and Oxford Harlequins both draw a high percentage of their players from Oxford itself 50 and 62 % respectively. Harwell has an approximately even split between the Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire. Faringdon, Abingdon and Grove all draw the majority of their players from within the district.

• Five of the six clubs have need of additional training facilities as all train and

play on their main site.

• Most of the club sites are leased, though one rents and one owns their site.

• The pitches are all rated either good or standard quality. On most sites the quality has remained unchanged over the last year.

• The changing rooms are all rated either good or adequate with the exception of

Oxford RFC’s where the interior is assessed as poor.

• The sites all currently meet league requirements and are expected to continue to do so for the next 2 years.

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• Four of the six clubs have suffered from vandalism in the past year.

• The Oxford RFC’s and Abingdon RFC’s sites flood regularly, meaning that pitches

can be regularly unplayable.

• All of the clubs are generally happy with the provision for rugby in the district. National Governing Body comments and strategies 7.11 The RFU National Facilities Strategy 2013-2017 summary provides an overview of

the facility priorities for the sport. The detailed specific investment decisions are made by the RFU County Board, together with the Regional Development Officer and with support from the RFU Facilities Team. Each scheme is assessed against the specific needs of the club, within the context of the national priorities. The justification for funding in the summary is provided as:

There is a continuing need to invest in community club facilities, in order to: • Create a platform for growth in club rugby participation and membership,

especially with a view to exploiting the opportunities afforded by Rugby World Cup 2015.

• Ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of rugby clubs, through supporting not only their playing activity but also their capacity to generate revenue through a diverse range of activities and partnerships.

The priorities for investment are: • Increase the provision of integrated changing facilities that are child-friendly

and can sustain concurrent male and female activity at the club. • Improve the quality and quantity of natural turf pitches (this includes support

for enhanced pitch maintenance programmes). • Improve the quality and quantity of floodlighting. • Increase the provision of artificial grass pitches that deliver wider game

development outcomes. • Social, community and catering facilities, which can support diversification and

the generation of additional revenues. • Facility upgrades, which result in an increase in energy-efficiency, in order to

reduce the running costs of clubs. • Pitch furniture, including quality rugby posts and pads.

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Modelling Market Segmentation and sports development 7.12 Rugby is a relatively small sport and does not appear in Sport England’s market

segmentation model. Playing pitch model 7.13 The Sport England Guidance sets out the required approach towards modelling of

grass pitch sports, using Team Generation Rates (TGR), the temporal demand for the sport (the number of matches at peak time), and the availability of pitches of the required size. This section provides a detailed assessment using this methodology. It uses as the baseline the number of pitches recorded by the RFU. The rugby pitches on school sites with no community use are excluded from the analysis, as are the Harwell pitches as these do not have security of use.


Guidance 2013, including Team Generation Rates (TGR), forecast demographics for the Vale of White Horse, and a forecast growth in the game of 0.5% per annum across the age groups. With the growth in the population of the district planned up to 2031, there will be an increasing demand for all sizes of pitch. The modelling is based on the July 2014 demographics provided by the Vale of White Horse District which take into account the housing at the strategic sites, but excludes the larger number of houses now planned for Valley Park and other smaller housing developments which have arisen outside of these planned sites.

7.15 This suggests that there is likely to be an increase in demand for rugby across all of

the sub areas, with every sub area having at least one extra senior team by 2031, and up to 3 additional youth teams. The number of mini teams will also grow, but although the numbers are relatively higher, the impact of the younger game on the club sites is not very significant, with 6 teams equating to one senior team, so this would be the equivalent of about 0.5-1 additional senior team across each sub area.

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Age Groups


2015 2021 2026 2031 Mini/midi -rugby - mixed 7-12yrs 22 30 35 37

Junior rugby - boys 13-18yrs 10 11 14 15 Junior rugby - girls 13-18yrs 3 3 4 5 Men’s rugby 19-45yrs 11 15 16 16 Women’s rugby 19-45yrs 1 1 1 1


Age Groups





Age Groups




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Age Groups




Figure 66: Forecast team numbers – Didcot Leisure Sub Area, Vale part (population forecasts based on July 2014 Vale housing projections)

Age Groups




7.16 The following tables use the team numbers above and the RFU model approach in

Figure 61 to consider the impact of this growth on the balance of supply and demand across the authority. The 2 pitches used by Harwell RFC are not in secure community use so have been excluded from the analysis.

7.17 This modelling suggests that the deficit in overall pitch supply rises from 8.75

pitches in 2021 to 14 pitches by 2031, primarily because of the need for training (a deficit of 23 pitches) although the lack of match pitches in secure community use in the Didcot Leisure Sub Area rises to 5 pitches, and for the South East Vale to 1.75 pitches.

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Figure 67: Rugby union supply and demand modelling 2021

Club Mini Midi

Teams

Youth Teams

Adults (inc

Vets)

Midweek Match

Equivalents (Demand)

Floodlit Pitches


Full Size

Pitches

Match Play

Demand (Weekend)

Match Play

Capacity (Weekend)

Overall Site

Capacity

Pitch Deficit

or Surplus

Abingdon RFC 5 4 2 4.25 1 -2.25 3 4.25 1.75 -0.5 -0.25 Oxford Harlequins RFC 0 0 2 1

1 -2 4 1

4 0 0 Oxford RFC 6 2 1 3 3 Ab & Ox team growth to 2021 3 0 1 1.25 -1.25 1.25 -1.25 -2.5 -1.25 Sub area total 14 6 6 9.5 2 -5.5 7 9.5 4.5 -3 -1.5

Faringdon RFC 5 2 1 2.75 0 -2.75 2 2.75 1.25 -1.5 -0.75 Western Vale team growth to 2021 2 0 1 1 -1 1 -1 -2 -1 Sub area total 7 2 2 3.75 0 -3.75 2 3.75 0.25 -3.5 -1.75

Grove RFC 6 5 2 5 0 -5 3 5 1 -4 -2 South East Vale team growth to 2021 2 0 1 1 -1 1 -1 -2 -1 Sub area total 8 5 3 6 0 -6 3 6 0 -6 -3

Harwell RFC 0 0 2 1 0 -1 0 1 -1 -2 -1 DLSA Vale team growth to 2021 2 1 1 1.5 -1.5 1.5 -1.5 -3 -1.5 Sub area total 2 1 3 2.5 0 -2.5 0 2.5 -2.5 -5 -2.5

Whole Authority totals 31 14 14 21.75 2 -17.75 12 21.75 2.25 -17.5 -8.75

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Club Mini Midi

Teams

Youth Teams

Adults (inc

Vets)

Midweek Match


Floodlit Pitches


Full Size

Pitches

Match Play

Demand (Weekend)

Match Play

Capacity (Weekend)

Overall Site

Capacity

Pitch Deficit

or Surplus


1 -2 4 1

4 0 0 Oxford RFC 6 2 1 3 3 Ab & Ox team growth to 20015-2026 3 1 1 1.75 -1.75 1.75 -1.75 -3.5 -1.75 Sub area total 14 7 6 10 2 -6 7 10 4 -4 -2

Faringdon RFC 5 2 1 2.75 0 -2.75 2 2.75 1.25 -1.5 -0.75 Western Vale team growth 2015-2026 2 1 1 1.5 -1.5 1.5 -1.5 -3 -1.5 Sub area total 7 3 2 4.25 0 -4.25 2 4.25 -0.25 -4.5 -2.25

Grove RFC 6 5 2 5 0 -5 3 5 1 -4 -2 South East Vale team growth 2015-2026 4 1 2 2.5 -2.5 2.5 -2.5 -5 -2.5 Sub area total 10 6 4 7.5 0 -7.5 3 7.5 -1.5 -9 -4.5

Harwell RFC 0 0 2 1 0 -1 0 1 -1 -2 -1 DLSA Vale team growth to 2015-2026 4 2 1 2.5 -2.5 2.5 -2.5 -5 -2.5 Sub area total 4 2 3 3.5 0 -3.5 0 3.5 -3.5 -7 -3.5

Whole Authority totals 35 18 15 25.25 2 -21.25 12 25.25 -1.25 -24.5 -12.25

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Club Mini Midi

Teams

Youth Teams

Adults (inc

Vets)

Midweek Match


Floodlit Pitches


Full Size

Pitches

Match Play

Demand (Weekend)

Match Play

Capacity (Weekend)

Overall Site

Capacity

Pitch Deficit

or Surplus


1 -2 4 1

4 0 0 Oxford RFC 6 2 1 3 3 Ab & Ox team growth 2015-2031 3 1 1 1.75 -1.75 1.75 -1.75 -3.5 -1.75 Sub area total 14 7 6 10 2 -6 7 10 4 -4 -2

Faringdon RFC 5 2 1 2.75 0 -2.75 2 2.75 1.25 -1.5 -0.75 Western Vale team growth 2015-2031 2 1 1 1.5 -1.5 1.5 -1.5 -3 -1.5 Sub area total 7 3 2 4.25 0 -4.25 2 4.25 -0.25 -4.5 -2.25

Grove RFC 6 5 2 5 0 -5 3 5 1 -4 -2 South East Vale team growth 2015-2031 5 1 2 2.75 -2.75 2.75 -2.75 -5.5 -2.75 Sub area total 11 6 4 7.75 0 -7.75 3 7.75 -1.75 -9.5 -4.75

Harwell RFC 0 0 2 1 0 -1 0 1 -1 -2 -1 DLSA Vale team growth to 2015-2031 6 3 2 4 -4 4 -4 -8 -4 Sub area total 6 3 4 5 0 -5 0 5 -5 -10 -5

Whole Authority totals 38 19 16 27 2 -23 12 27 -3 -28 -14

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Meeting the needs of the future 7.18 The RFU based model in Figures 67 – 69 above demonstrates that there are two

key issues, a lack of secure community use pitches in the Vale part of the Didcot Leisure Sub Area, and a general lack of floodlit training facilities. The issue with a lack of training opportunities also emerged as the most important issue in the club consultation.

7.19 Although there are planned to be two rugby pitches at the Boundary Park site in

Great Western Park in Didcot, this site is already identified as being for the large Didcot RFC club which runs a number of teams and draws all of its members from South Oxfordshire. For the purposes of the modelling, this site has therefore been discounted from the assessment.

7.20 The top priorities for the future are therefore to develop a new secure community

use site for Harwell RFC and new emerging demand, and to address the lack of training opportunities elsewhere. In addition, at Grove RFC, the club is proposed to expand onto the existing adjacent football pitch once football moves across into the planned new development at Grove Airfield.

7.21 The table in Figure 71 uses the RFU model with team numbers as at 2031, new

floodlit facilities at Abingdon, Faringdon and Grove (shown highlighted in yellow), and a new site for Harwell. This approach maximises the use of the existing clubs and reduces the number of new pitches which would be needed if the training needs were not met through floodlighting. However floodlighting of pitches should be concurrent with improved drainage to ensure that the pitch carrying capacity is also increased.

7.22 In the short term, the pitch at Faringdon RFC which does not overlap with the

cricket outfield should be floodlit, and in the longer term the second pitch should be floodlit. However, the second pitch lights must be demountable and the outfield managed so that it does not compromise the cricket use. A good practice example is Old Albanian Rugby Club in St Albans whose site at Woollam’s Playing Fields is shared with cricket. The pitches will also be likely to require improved drainage to enable the carrying capacity of the site to be increased.

7.23 The scenario test is based on the following improvements (Figure 70).

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Figure 70: Proposals to meet future rugby union needs to 2031

• Abingdon RFC: Floodlighting increased from 1 pitch to 3 pitches at Southern Town Park. Improve drainage of the pitches.

• Oxford RFC:

Improve pitch drainage.

• Grove RFC: Convert 3 football senior pitches plus 2 mini football pitches to rugby when Grove Airfield is developed for football. Floodlight 3 of the full size pitches. Improve pitch drainage on all pitches.

• Faringdon RFC: Floodlight 2 full size pitches and improve pitch drainage to minimise impact on cricket outfield. The pitch overlapping with cricket should have dismountable lights, and be managed as a shared site.

• Harwell RFC:

Develop 3 pitch site for Harwell RFC as secure community use venue, with two of the pitches floodlit.

7.24 These proposals leave a slight shortfall in the mid-week training capacity, but this

may in part be met through the availability of the proposed new 3G pitch sites. The rugby specification pitch proposed to be developed at Tilsley Park athletics track does not have a community use agreement for rugby, so the amount of future club use for either training or matches is uncertain.

7.25 At the present time rugby specification artificial grass pitches meeting the IRB 22

[WR 22] criteria are not a high priority for the district for the community game. However as the sport grows following the Rugby World Cup of 2015 then there may be justification for such a pitch. If so, the options for provision should be discussed with the RFU at an early stage, including the best potential location, as well as ownership, management and programming of the proposed pitch.

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Figure 71: Rugby union scenario to 2031

Club Mini Midi

Teams

Youth Teams

Adults (inc

Vets)

Midweek Match


Floodlit Pitches


Full Size

Pitches

Match Play

Demand (Weekend)

Match Play

Capacity (Weekend)

Overall Site

Capacity

Pitch Deficit

or Surplus

Abingdon RFC 5 4 2 4.25 3 1.75 3 4.25 1.75 3.5 1.75 Oxford Harlequins RFC 0 0 2 1

2 0 4 1

4 0 0 Oxford RFC 6 2 1 3 3 Ab & Ox team growth 2015-2031 3 1 1 1.75 -1.75 1.75 -1.75 -3.5 -1.75 Sub area total 14 7 6 10 5 0 7 10 4 0 0

Faringdon RFC 5 2 1 2.75 2 1.25 2 2.75 1.25 2.5 1.25 Western Vale team growth 2015-2031 2 1 1 1.5 -1.5 1.5 -1.5 -3 -1.5 Sub area total 7 3 2 4.25 2 -0.25 2 4.25 -0.25 -0.5 -0.25

Grove RFC 6 5 2 5 3 1 4 5 3 4 2 South East Vale team growth 2015-2031 5 1 2 2.75 -2.75 2.75 -2.75 -5.5 -2.75 Sub area total 11 6 4 7.75 3 -1.75 4 7.75 0.25 -1.5 -0.75

Harwell RFC 0 0 2 1 2 3 3 1 5 8 4 DLSA Vale team growth to 2015-2031 6 3 2 4 -4 4 -4 -8 -4 Sub area total 6 3 4 5 2 -1 3 5 1 0 0

Whole Authority totals 38 19 16 27 12 -3 16 27 5 -2 -1 Changes highlighted in yellow: additional floodlights and associated drainage works at each site.

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Development of a planning standard 7.26 The planning standards for playing fields needs to cover all of the grass pitch sports

of football, cricket and rugby. Planning standards are therefore developed at the end of this report section on grass pitches.

Conclusions and Recommendations Current supply and demand 7.27 There are six rugby clubs in the Vale of White Horse district which are

geographically spread across the authority. Most of the clubs draw a high proportion of their members from the district, although Oxford RFC and Oxford Harlequins have at least 50% of their members living in Oxford.

7.28 The club sites are mostly well used and none have sufficient training capacity mid

week as they have no or only one floodlit training pitch. At the present time there is sufficient match day capacity.

7.29 All of the clubs have secure community use other than the two senior team Harwell

RFC, which uses Harwell Labs. If this site is excluded from long term consideration, there are no rugby pitches currently in or planned for the Vale part of the Didcot Leisure Sub Area other than the pitch(es) at Boundary Park, which are already justified and allocated to Didcot RFC who draws its members from South Oxfordshire.

Future requirements 7.30 The two priorities are:

• Development of a 3 pitch site in the Didcot Leisure Sub Area

• More floodlighting and associated pitch drainage at all rugby club sites to enable the training needs to be met.

7.31 In the longer term, the need for an IRB 22 [WR22] compliant artificial grass pitch to

help maximise the growth in the game should be kept under review. If there is potential justification, then the options of providing such a pitch need to be discussed with the RFU at an early stage to identify the best potential option for maximising the growth in the game.

Recommendations 7.32 The recommendations for community rugby are:

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Figure 72: Recommendations for rugby

Sub Area Proposal Abingdon & Oxford Abingdon RFC:

Floodlighting increased from 1 pitch to 3 pitches at Southern Town Park. Improve pitch drainage Oxford RFC Improve pitch drainage

South East Vale Grove RFC: Convert 3 football senior pitches plus 2 mini football pitches to rugby when Grove Airfield is developed for football. Floodlight 3 of the full size pitches. Improve pitch drainage.

Western Vale Faringdon RFC: Floodlight 1 full size pitch Floodlight 2nd pitch but managed as shared site with cricket. Review and improve drainage if required.

Didcot Leisure Sub Area (Vale part)

New site: Develop 3 pitch site for Harwell RFC as secure community use venue, with two of the pitches floodlit. Two of the pitches to be available in period up to 2026, with further pitch up to 2031. Preferred site: East of Harwell Campus

7.33 Keep the need for a rugby specification IRB22 [WR 22] compliant surface under

review and discuss with the RFU the options of providing such a facility at an early stage, should there be demand for a community facility within the district.

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SECTION 8: PLANNING STANDARDS FOR GRASS PLAYING FIELDS

8.1 A key output of the playing pitch study, in relation to grass pitches, is the

development of proposed planning standards for the Vale of White Horse for the period up to 2031. These standards are required to both guide developers’ contributions prior to the introduction of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), and in the longer term as part of the CIL justification. There are three elements to the proposed standards and the recommendations are based on the sport specific assessments in the preceding sections of this report:

• Quantity – a rate of provision of a facility per 1000 people, based on a

combination of the current amount of provision, the policy principle of increasing participation rates by 0.5% per annum across all sports, plus the findings from various modelling, and wide ranging consultations.

• Accessibility standard – based on the catchment area for each facility type.

• Quality standard – for both new build and refurbishment.

Standard for quantity 8.2 Wherever possible, the pitch area for each sport should remain separately provided

in order to reduce the conflicts with extended seasons, and to ensure quality. The provision per 1000 standards are therefore based on separate provision for each sport.

8.3 Figures 73 and 74 calculate the standard of provision per 1000 based on the

amount of pitch area required for each of football, cricket and rugby, with an additional allowance for the ancillary facilities including pavilion/clubhouse, car parking etc. For football and rugby this is taken to be 150% of the pitch area alone, and for cricket, 2ha per site.

8.4 Figure 73 assumes that community accessible 3G pitches with football turf are

provided in the Didcot Leisure Sub Area and in Wantage and that most of the football teams across the district are able to access an artificial grass pitch for their training needs. If so, this would have the effect of reducing some of the need for grass football pitches, primarily to matches.

8.5 If the new community 3G pitches are FA register compliant, are accessible at

weekends, and have comparable match hire fees to grass pitches, then some of the match needs for football may also be able move onto these facilities. Figure 73 also assumes that each of the rugby clubs are better provided with floodlit facilities and improved drainage so that their pitches can be used more effectively across the week.

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8.6 Figure 73, gives a total playing field space standard for new developments of 0.75 ha per 1000, with a split of 25% football, 43% cricket, and 32% rugby.

8.7 Figure 74 assumes that 3G AGPs are not developed although the rugby clubs are

provided with floodlighting and improved pitch drainage. This gives a total provision requirement of 1.16 ha per 1000, with a split across the sports of 52% football, 27% cricket, and 21% rugby. As there are no full size 3G pitches with community use agreements confirmed, this is the playing field standard which should be applied to all new developments across the authority.

8.8 Developers’ contributions from new housing should contribute towards both new

provision where required and towards the agreed prioritised list of improvements at the existing playing field sites.

8.9 It is clear that the costs of the works required is often more than can be generated

from developers’ contributions alone, so the priority list will also inform other external partners including Sport England and the national governing bodies in relation to their grant aid.

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Figure 73: Provision per 1000 for playing field space with AGPs

2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031Number of cricket grounds/senior rugby pitches 19 24 26 27 20.8 20.8 20.8 20.8 127354 154168 165335 170140TOTAL PITCH AREA Hectares 13.4 17.5 19.8 21.0 24.7 31.2 33.8 35.1 27.0 27.0 27.0 27.0 65.1 75.7 80.6 83.2TOTAL PLAYING FIELD AREA in hectares (@ 150% OF PITCH AREA), for football and rugby, 2 ha per site for cricket 20.1 26.2 29.7 31.6 38 48 52 54 40.6 40.6 40.6 40.6 98.6 114.8 122.2 126.1% of playing field area for this sport 20 23 24 25 39 42 43 43 41 35 33 32Equates to ha per 1000 of playing field space for this sport 0.16 0.17 0.18 0.19 0.30 0.31 0.31 0.32 0.32 0.26 0.25 0.24

Population as at

Cricket: grounds required in secure community use at

peak time in hectares (based on 9 strips) @ 1.3 ha,

with 2ha per site

Football: playing pitch area required to be in secure community use in hectares: Mini (u10): 0.3 ha;

Junior (u11-u16): 0.5 ha; Senior (16+ yrs): 0.7 ha

Rugby; playing pitch area required to be in secure community use

@ 1.3 ha per senior pitch to cater for

matches and training. Assumes additional

floodligting or access to suitable AGP.

Total area of playing fields required to be in secure

community use

0.77 0.74 0.74 0.74

Playing field provision per 1000 ha

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Figure 74: Provision per 1000 for playing field space with no extra AGPs

2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031 2015 2021 2026 2031Number of cricket grounds/senior rugby pitches 19 24 26 27 20.8 20.8 20.8 20.8 127354 154168 165335 170140TOTAL PITCH AREA Hectares 43.8 57.2 64.7 68.8 24.7 31.2 33.8 35.1 27.0 27.0 27.0 27.0 95.5 115.4 125.5 131.0TOTAL PLAYING FIELD AREA in hectares (@ 150% OF PITCH AREA), for football and rugby, 2 ha per site for cricket 65.7 85.8 97.1 103.2 38 48 52 54 40.6 40.6 40.6 40.6 144.2 174.4 189.6 197.8% of playing field area for this sport 46 49 51 52 26 28 27 27 28 23 21 21Equates to ha per 1000 of playing field space for this sport 0.52 0.56 0.59 0.61 0.30 0.31 0.31 0.32 0.32 0.26 0.25 0.24

Population as at Playing field provision

per 1000 ha

1.13 1.13 1.15 1.16

Football: playing pitch area required to be in secure community use in hectares: Mini (u10): 0.3 ha;

Junior (u11-u16): 0.5 ha; Senior (16+ yrs): 0.7 ha

Cricket: grounds required in secure community use at

peak time in hectares (based on 9 strips) @ 1.3 ha,

with 2ha per site

Rugby; playing pitch area required to be in secure community use

@ 1.3 ha per senior pitch to cater for

matches and training. Assumes additional

floodligting or access to suitable AGP.

Total area of playing fields required to be in secure

community use

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Standard for accessibility 8.10 15 minutes drive time for football and cricket, 20 minutes drive time for rugby. 8.11 Developments within each sub area as defined by this study should generally

contribute towards the schemes within that sub area. The notable exception is the Challow and Childrey Cricket Club which is in Western Vale but primarily caters for residents of Wantage and Grove.

Standards for quality 8.12 There is now an extensive set of sports facility design advice available from Sport

England and the major national governing bodies of sport. The planning policies for the district in relation to the quality standards for sports facilities should therefore refer back to this guidance, both for design and layout. However there are specific aspects of design which should be taken into account in the Vale of White Horse’s policy framework guiding the provision of community playing field space. These are summarised below.

Multi-pitch sites 8.13 In planning the future sports provision in the Vale of White Horse, the objective will

be to provide high quality sites to ensure the long term success of the major pitch sports; football, cricket and rugby.

8.14 The most useful sites for football development and the best for efficient long term

maintenance are those which are ideally at least the equivalent of 4 senior pitches (3 ha) in area, or a minimum playing field size of 4.5 ha where all of the site is usable. New sites should therefore be developed with this minimum size in mind.

8.15 The most useful sites for cricket development and the best for efficient long term

maintenance are those which are at least the equivalent of 2 pitches in area (minimum site size of 3.3 ha). The development of multi-pitch sites is therefore a priority.

8.16 The most useful sites for rugby are those which have an area equivalent to at least

3 senior pitches and cater for all ages, usually linked to a club. The minimum pitch area is 3.69 ha, or a playing field space of 5.5 ha.

Quality and design

8.17 All pitches and ancillary facilities should meet the specifications of Sport England

and the relevant national governing body, whether this is for grass pitches or artificial grass pitches.

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8.18 All artificial grass pitches (AGPs) should have dedicated changing facilities, which should not be shared with grass pitch changing. There must be a “clean” path between the changing and the AGP to prevent surface contamination.

8.19 For football, all senior grass pitch sites should have good quality changing facilities

that meet FA guidelines. Whilst changing facilities for minis and juniors is a desirable rather than an essential FA requirement, all mini/junior sites (not associated with senior pitches) should have access to at least basic toilet/wash facilities.

8.20 For cricket and rugby all sites should have good quality changing and club house

facilities that meet the national governing body guidelines. Grass Pitch Quality 8.21 All grass pitches should be well-drained and well-maintained, avoiding over-use.

The pitch quality guidelines are those provided by Sport England and the relevant National Governing Body, but each site will have its own specific maintenance requirements.

8.22 Pitches should be allowed to fully recover at the conclusion of the season.

Significant extensions to the playing season into late spring/early summer for football and rugby should be avoided if possible.

8.23 Cricket pitches should be allowed to fully recover at the conclusion of the season

and sites should not be shared with other sports or used for informal recreation. If sites are shared, the cricket square should be protected, particularly at the start of the cricket season when there is often an overlap with winter sports.

8.24 All new sites should be located in areas not prone to flooding. 8.25 All new sites should be drained and laid out in accordance with the NGB guidelines. Floodlighting 8.26 All rugby clubs and some football clubs also require at least some floodlit grass

training areas or pitches areas unless they have good access to an appropriate floodlit artificial grass pitch

8.27 Artificial grass pitches require floodlighting to the relevant NGB standards.

Site Security 8.28 Where possible, and where they are not public open space, sites should be secured

(fenced) to reduce/prevent unofficial use of pitches, vandalism of changing facilities and dog fouling.

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SECTION 9: RECOMMENDATIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION Introduction 9.1 The implementation of the study will be achieved through a combination of

approaches, by the Vale of White Horse District Council and its partners. There are a number of recommendations emerging from the study which require specific actions and investment, and others which are more a matter of ensuring the protection of the existing network of sites and opportunities for sport and active recreation. The formal planning standards and policies can be used as guidance for the negotiations of developers contributions linked to new housing.

Priorities for investment 9.2 The Vale of White Horse District Council and its partners will treat this Study as a

live document and will aim to undertake a number of action points arising from it. The first priority for implementation will therefore be an action plan which is led and coordinated by the Council on an interdepartmental basis, and will involve the key stakeholders. This will be based around the project specific proposals set out in Figures 75 - 78 which have been widely consulted upon with appropriate parties e.g. sports representatives, users, and providers. These proposals:

• Set out sport and site specific actions, with clear priorities; • Indicate who is responsible for the delivery of each action and facility priority,

and who else can help with its implementation; • Provide challenging but realistic and deliverable actions; • Provide an indication of the resource implications of each action, including

where possible any associated financial costs, and how these resources could be secured;

• Set timescales for the delivery of each action. 9.3 Where the primary need is for the improvement of pitches or ancillary facilities,

these have not been costed because it will depend upon the specific factors at each site. Sites that require pitch improvements will require inspection by specialist sports turf agronomists to determine improvements and costs. However reference can be made to the costs schedule produced by Sport England as part of their Protecting Playing Fields programme. Copies of these are provided as Appendix 4, or see http://www.sportengland.org/funding/our-different-funds/protecting-playing-fields/budget-costs/.

9.4 The facility proposals will be phased over time as there are some urgent and high

priorities, and others which will require attention in the longer term or are a lower priority.

http://www.sportengland.org/funding/our-different-funds/protecting-playing-fields/budget-costs/

http://www.sportengland.org/funding/our-different-funds/protecting-playing-fields/budget-costs/

DRAFT


Figure 75: Study Summary: Site priorities for Abingdon & Oxford Fringe Sub Area

Site Name Site control Pitch Type

Secu

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of

com

mun

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Pitch quality

Quality of ancillary facilities

Spare capacity ref current use Key issues Proposal Cost Date

Priority and CIL

or S106

New sites WEST OF ABINGDON ROAD, DRAYTON

Football, cricket

Major new housing development

New playing field site with overlapping pitches: 1 adult football, 1 mini soccer, 1 cricket, plus pavilion

Pitches: cost met by developer. Pavilion: funding shortfall of approx 75% (£550,000 estimated)

2018-19

H S106 CIL

Existing sites ABINGDON TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB

Sports Club Adult Football

Y Good Good Stadia pitch with floodlighting.

Retain and maintain site

APPLEFORD-ON-THAMES SPORTS FIELD

Parish Adult Football

Y Standard Good Fields In Trust protected site. Site being used beyond capacity both for matches and training. Site mainly being used by youth teams.

Consider remarking to youth pitch size(s). Improve pitch quality to enable greater capacity on site.

See Appendix 4

2016-17

M

APPLETON WITH EATON


Y Standard Standard Overmarked pitches. Youth team using

Retain and maintain site. Consider

2016-17

M

DRAFT



Secu

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of

com

mun

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Pitch quality



Priority and CIL

or S106

SPORTSFIELD Cricket (grass)

Y Standard football adult pitch. remarking adult pitch to youth size(s).

BARROW HILLS, ABINGDON

VOWHDC Youth Football

Y Poor No changing

Single pitch site with no changing.

Consider not marking out pitch in future if existing users can be relocated.

BOXHILL RECREATION GROUND, ABINGDON

Town Council

Youth Football

Y Standard Standard Fields in Trust protected site. Pitches not maintained well. Site has capacity for matches but only limited for training.

Improve pitches to enable greater capacity on site.

See Appendix 4

2016-17

M CIL

Youth Football

Y Standard

CALDECOTT RECREATION GROUND, ABINGDON

Town Council

Adult Football

Y Poor Standard Fields in Trust protected site. Site has capacity for matches but only limited for training.


See Appendix 4

2016-17

M CIL

Adult Football

Y Standard

CLOSES FIELD CUMNOR

Parish Youth Football

Y Standard Standard Site over use for both matches and training. Pitch maintenance insufficient


See Appendix 4

2016-17

M CIL

Youth Football Y Standard

Mini Soccer Y Standard


DRAFT



Secu

rity

of

com

mun

ity u

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Pitch quality



Priority and CIL

or S106

CUMNOR CRICKET CLUB

Sports Club Cricket (grass + artificial)

Y Good Good Club and OCB consider site to be at capacity

Provide 2nd ground for the Cumnor CC.

£245,000 2021-26

M CIL

CUMNOR PRIMARY SCHOOL

School Mini Soccer

No Standard No changing

Explore securing community use.

2016-17

L

DRAYTON RECREATION GROUND


Y Standard No changing

Capacity for matches but not also training.

Consider remarking to youth pitch size(s) or mini once new site at Abingdon Road with changing is constructed.

2021 L

EAST HANNEY PLAYING FIELD


Y Poor Standard Capacity for matches but not also training. Club considers pitches to be of poor quality.

Improve maintenance of site in line with IOG report of April 2015

2015-16

Youth Football

Y Poor

Mini Soccer

Y Poor Artificial strip: £15,000

2017-18

H CIL

Cricket (grass)

Y Standard Ground over used. 2 nets need replacing

Nets: £10,000 2016-17

H CIL

FOGWELL ROAD RECREATION GROUND, BOTLEY


Y Standard Standard Poor maintenance of facilities especially parking.

Improve maintenance of football pitches. Improve car parking.

See Appendix 4

2017-18

M CIL

Youth Football

Y Good

Youth Y Good Car park: tbc

DRAFT



Secu

rity

of

com

mun

ity u

se

Pitch quality



Priority and CIL

or S106

Football Mini Soccer Y Good

FOREST SIDE, KENNINGTON

Playing Fields Assn

Youth Football

Y Standard Standard Retain and maintain.

Youth Football

Y Standard

Mini Soccer

Y Standard Site used just over capacity.

HALES AND HALES MEADOW, CULHAM RD, ABINGDON

Sports Club Cricket (grass + artificial)

Y Standard Good Retain and maintain.

Cricket (grass + artificial)

Y Standard

DRAFT



Secu

rity

of

com

mun

ity u

se

Pitch quality



Priority and CIL

or S106

KENNINGTON PLAYING FIELDS

Playing Fields Assn


Y Standard Standard Site has overlapping pitches. Sufficient capacity for football adult and youth matches, but not also for training.

Improve quality of pitches to reduce impact of winter sports on cricket. Consider remarking adult pitch to youth if club can be relocated elsewhere.

See Appendix 4

2018-18

H CIL

Adult Football

Standard

Youth Football

Standard

Mini Soccer

Standard

KINGSTON BAGPUIZE SPORTS GROUND

Cricket (grass)

Y Standard Poor Overlapping pitches. Cricket ground appears to be at capacity but club membership struggling. 4 nets required plus artificial strip. Site requires fencing. Clubhouse improvements needed for cricket.

Improve quality of pitches to reduce impact of winter sports on cricket. Consider remarking adult pitch to youth if club can be relocated elsewhere. Provide 4 nets and artificial turf strip for cricket. Fence site.

Nets: £45,000 2018-19

H CIL

Adult Football

Y Poor Standard Artificial strip: £10,000

Youth Football

Y Standard Site fencing: £27,000

Youth Football

Y Standard See Appendix 4 for pitch costs

Mini Soccer

Y Standard

Mini Soccer

Y Standard

LONG FURLONG, BOULTER DRV, ABINGDON

VOWHDC Youth Football

Y Standard Standard Single youth football pitch with changing.

Retain and maintain unless club can be relocated.

DRAFT



Secu

rity

of

com

mun

ity u

se

Pitch quality



Priority and CIL

or S106

LOUIE MEMORIAL (UPPER) RECREATION GROUND, BOTLEY


Y Standard Good Retain and maintain.

MARCHAM RECREATION GROUND

Trust Adult Football

Y Standard Standard Review current usage of site and determine future provision of sport. Consider remarking adult pitch to youth or mini to reduce conflict with cricket.

2018-19

M

Cricket (grass)

Y Good Cricket ground may be used to capacity.

RADLEY COLLEGE SPORTS CENTRE (x8 pitches)

Independent School

Cricket (grass)

No Good Standard School control and use means no further capacity assumed. Site not secure for community use.

Seek to secure community use

2018-19

L

SOUTHERN BYPASS GROUND, NORTH HINKSEY

Sports Club Mini Rugby

Y Poor Poor Site used by Oxford RFC and Oxford Harlequins (2 teams). Site floods regularly so pitches downgraded from standard to poor.

Improve drainage to enable site to recover more quickly from wet weather. Improve clubhouse.

See Appendix 4

2018-19

H CIL

Mini Rugby

Y Poor

Mini Rugby

Y Poor

Mini Rugby

Y Poor

DRAFT



Secu

rity

of

com

mun

ity u

se

Pitch quality



Priority and CIL

or S106

Mini Rugby

Y Poor

Mini Rugby

Y Poor

Mini Rugby

Y Poor

Senior Rugby Union

Y Poor Clubhouse improvements: £tbc

Senior Rugby Union

Y Poor

Senior Rugby Union

Y Poor

Senior Rugby Union

Y Poor

Adult Football

Y Poor

SOUTHERN TOWN PARK, ABINGDON

Sports Club Youth Football

Y Poor Poor Pitches considered by club as poor; unlevel and undrained. Matches often cancelled. Sufficient capacity for youth matches but not for training in addition.

Improve drainage and pitch quality. Improve changing used by football. Floodlight 3 rugby pitches.

See Appendix 4

2017-18

H CIL

Youth Football

Y Poor

Youth Football

Y Poor

Mini Soccer

Y Poor Changing improvements:

DRAFT



Secu

rity

of

com

mun

ity u

se

Pitch quality



Priority and CIL

or S106

Mini Soccer

Y Standard Poor changing. tbc

Mini Soccer

Y Standard

Junior Rugby Union

Y Standard Standard Insufficient training capacity makes overall site deficit.

Floodlight 3 pitches: £150k to training pitch standards. Improve pitch maintenance.

2019-21

M CIL

Junior Rugby Union

Y Standard

Junior Rugby Union

Y Standard

SUNNINGWELL CRICKET CLUB

Other Cricket (grass)

Y Good Standard Site used beyond capacity.

Install artificial strip. Install artificial strip: £15,000

2017-18

H CIL

THE NORTHCOURT, ABINGDON


Y Good Good Stadia pitch with floodlighting.


Mini Soccer

Y Standard

THRUPP LANE, ABINGDON

Commercial Youth Football


Commercially owned site.

Enable development of clubhouse facilities

Cost to be met by site owner.

Youth Football

Y Standard

Mini Soccer

Y Standard

Mini Soccer

Y Standard

TILSLEY PARK Independent AGP Y Good Standard Site transferred to Support improvements Cost to be met

DRAFT



Secu

rity

of

com

mun

ity u

se

Pitch quality



Priority and CIL

or S106

LEISURE CENTRE

School AGP Y Good independent school control.

to AGPs and development of new AGP. Retain community access for all sports at an affordable price, and at weekends for matches.

by school.

AGP Y Good AGP Y Good

AGP Y Good

WESTMINSTER COLLEGE (OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY BOTLEY)

University Youth Football

No Standard Standard Site also used by Uni. No spare capacity


Youth Football

No Standard

Adult Football

No Standard

Adult Football

No Standard

WOOTTON & BOARS HILL CRICKET CLUB

Parish Cricket (grass + artificial)

Y Good Good Close to capacity even with use of artificial strip


WOOTTON & DRY SANDFORD COMMUNITY CENTRE


Y Standard Good Fields in Trust protected site.


WYTHAM VILLAGE HALL

Local Authority

Cricket (grass)

Y Standard Good Retain and maintain site

DRAFT


Figure 76: Study Summary: Site priorities for South East Vale Sub Area


Secu

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Pitch quality



Priority and CIL or S106

New sites GROVE AIRFIELD

Developer Football grass


Development of 11.25 ha of playing field for football with associated ancillary facilities. 1st tranche of playing fields (3.35ha) available for use from 2019

Cost to be met by developer

2019-31

H S106

CRAB HILL Developer Football grass


Development of 2.64ha of playing fields with pavilion


2026 H S106

MABLY WAY, GROVE

Local authority

3G AGP

Proposed replacement leisure centre site

Development of full size 3G football turf AGP at specification to be accredited on FA register.

3G AGP full size: £965,000

2021 H CIL

Existing sites ALFREDIAN PARK, WANTAGE


Y Standard Standard Club considers pitches to be poor and under pressure, which is caused in part by training.

Pitch improvements. 3G stadia pitch

See Appendix 4 Club to meet costs

2016-17

H CIL -

Adult Football

Y Standard Standard

DRAFT



Secu

rity

of

com

mun

ity u

se

Pitch quality




Adult Football

Y Standard Standard Stadia pitch with floodlights. Club wishes to develop 3G stadia pitch

ARDINGTON AND LOCKINGE SPORTS CLUB


Y Good Standard Retain and maintain.

Youth Football

Y Good Standard

Youth Football

Y Good Standard

Mini Soccer

Y Good Standard

EAST HENDRED SPORTS GROUND


Y Poor Standard Pitches overmarked, football and cricket. Pitch improvements needed. New ball protection fence required. Disabled access to pavilion required.

Improve pitch quality and erect ball fence to side of playing field.

Pitch improvements See Appendix 4

2017-18

M CIL

Cricket (grass)

Y Standard Standard Ball fence: £2000

Mini Soccer

Y Poor Standard Enable disabled access to pavilion and refurbishment

Pavilion works: £5000

DRAFT



Secu

rity

of

com

mun

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Pitch quality




GROVE RECREATION GROUND


Y Standard Standard Part or all of club to move to Grove Airfield on construction of pitches. Loss of training pitch area shared with rugby to road.

Move onto Grove Airfield site when constructed.

Costs of pitch works and ancillary to be met by developer.

2019-31

H S106

Youth Football

Y Standard Standard

Youth Football

Y Standard Standard

Youth Football

Y Standard Standard

Mini Soccer

Y Standard Standard

Mini Soccer

Y Standard Standard

Mini Soccer

Y Standard Standard

Mini Soccer

Y Standard Standard

Sports Club Senior Rugby Union

Y Standard Good Club will lose training area shared with football to road. Mitigation is permanent floodlighting of part of the existing pitch area. Club will gain some additional pitch space when football clubs

Floodlights to full size pitch to replace training area.


2019 H S106 H CIL

Senior Rugby Union

Y Standard Good Convert football pitches to rugby when football moved to Grove Airfield. Floodlight and improve pitch drainage.

Floodlights: £50,000 per pitch Pitch improvements: see Appendix 4

2019-31

Senior Rugby Union

Y Standard Good

DRAFT



Secu

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of

com

mun

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Pitch quality




move off site.

KING ALFRED'S ACADEMY (CENTRAL SITE)

School Youth Football

No Standard Standard Community uses school pitches on non secure basis. No spare capacity either at peak time or overall. However if 3G pitch developed on adjacent site should reduce pressures on existing pitches.

Retain and maintain

Youth Football

No Standard

Mini Soccer

No Standard

Mini Soccer

No Standard

Mini Soccer

No Standard

Mini Soccer

No Standard

Mini Soccer

No Standard

STEVENTON VILLAGE GREEN


Y Poor Poor Pitches overmarked. Cricket square needs significant work and artificial strip requested by club. Football pitch has sufficient capacity for matches but not for training.

Improve pitch quality both of football and cricket square, and refurbish artificial strip.

Pitch improvements See Appendix 4 Refurbishment of artificial wicket £7,000.

2017-18

H CIL


Y Standard Poor Refurbish pavilion. Pavilion refurbishment: £35,500.

2017-18

H CIL

DRAFT



Secu

rity

of

com

mun

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Pitch quality




Pavilion refurbishment required.

THE HEIGHTS, MILTON HEIGHTS

Sport Club Adult Football

Y Good Poor Good site, previously Oxford United training site. Main pitch has floodlights but quality of pitches is declining. Poor changing and clubhouse and temp planning permission has expired. Club owns land proposed for new primary school.

Develop new 4 changing room clubhouse. Improve pitch maintenance

£745,000 2016-18

H CIL or S106 Adult

Football Y Good

Youth Football

Y Good

Youth Football

Y Good

TUGWELL PARK WANTAGE

VOWHDC Mini Soccer

Y Poor No changing

No changing and club

Club take over management of

Wash facilities: tbc

2017-18

L CIL

DRAFT



Secu

rity

of

com

mun

ity u

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Pitch quality




Mini Soccer

Y Poor No changing

unhappy with pitch management. Negotiating with VOWHDC to take control of site.

pitches. If possible, provide access to basic wash facilities, possibly in association with adjacent site users. Improve pitch maintenance in line with IOG report of April 2015

WANTAGE AND GROVE CRICKET CLUB

Local Authority

Cricket Y Standard Standard Site also used for croquet. Investment in site due from Crab Hill housing development.

Improve clubhouse as needed. Retain and maintain ground.

Developer funding

Date M S106

DRAFT


Figure 77: Study Summary: Site priorities for Western Vale Sub Area


Secu

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of

com

mun

ity u

se

Pitch quality

Quality of

ancillary facilities

Spare capacity

ref current

use Key issues Proposal Cost Date


New sites FARINGDON AND STANFORD IN THE VALE

Major new housing developments

Development of minimum of 5 ha of playing field for football with associated ancillary facilities. Preferred sites: south of Faringdon and Stanford-in-the-Vale. 2 team changing rooms on each.

Pitches: £337,000. Pavilion: 2 x £275,000.

2021-2026

H CIL

Existing sites AIREY NEAVE MEMORIAL GROUND


Y Standard Good Retain and maintain

Youth Football

Y Standard

BUSCOT PARK Sports Club Cricket (grass)

Y Good Good Retain and maintain

DRAFT



Secu

rity

of

com

mun

ity u

se

Pitch quality

Quality of


Spare capacity

ref current



CHALLOW & CHILDREY CRICKET CLUB

Sports Club Cricket (grass)

Y Good Good Club at capacity. Takes players from Wantage and Grove. Requires additional ground. Needs artificial strip as interim measure to provide additional capacity.

Develop artificial strip on existing ground. Develop second ground - site to be identified and secured.

Artificial strip: £15,000. Second ground: £245,000 plus site.

2017-18 2021-2026

H CIL

CHILDREY PLAYING FIELD

Playing Field Assn

Adult Football

Y Standard Good Retain and maintain

CRAVEN PLAYING FIELDS, UFFINGTON


Y Standard Poor Stadia pitch with floodlights. Floodlights need replacing.

Retain and maintain pitch. Replace football floodlights

Floodlights: £30,000. Refurbishment of clubhouse: tbc

2016-17

M CIL

Adult Football

Y Standard Pitches overmarked. Pitch side safety netting required. Clubhouse requires structural works and refurbishment.

Refurbish clubhouse 2018-19

M CIL

Cricket (grass)

Y Good

DRAFT



Secu

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of

com

mun

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se

Pitch quality

Quality of


Spare capacity

ref current



FARINGDON COMMUNITY COLLEGE

School Adult Football

No Standard Standard Occasional use for football of school pitches. School pitches used to capacity.

Develop part of grass pitch area as AGP. Surface and size to be agreed based on both school and community needs.

£965,000 max, dependent on size surface

2017-18

H CIL

Mini Soccer

No Standard

Senior Rugby Union

No Standard Available but not used for community. Pitches used to capacity by school.

Senior Rugby Union

No Standard

FOLLY PARK FARINGDON

Sports Club Cricket (grass)

Y Standard Good Ground overmarked with senior rugby.

2017-18 2021-26

H CIL H CIL

Senior Rugby Union

Y Standard Pitches overmarked with cricket. New pitches but no floodlights so club lacks training capacity.

Floodlight 1 full size pitch and seek further floodlit training facilities off site. Floodlight 2nd pitch but with demountable lights and pitch management to limit impact on cricket.

Floodlights for training: £50,000 Floodlights for training: £50,000

Senior Rugby Union

Y Standard

LETCOMBE RECREATION


Y Good Good Stadia pitch but not floodlit.

Retain and maintain

DRAFT



Secu

rity

of

com

mun

ity u

se

Pitch quality

Quality of


Spare capacity

ref current



GROUND AND VILLAGE HALL

Cricket (grass)

Y Standard

PINEWOOD SCHOOL

Independent School

Cricket (grass)

No Good No changing

No security of use.

Seek to secure long term community use for cricket

Cricket (grass)

No Good

SHRIVENHAM RECREATION GROUND


Y Good Standard Stadia pitch with floodlights. Social area of clubhouse is wooden and needs replacement.

Replacement social area for football club.

TBC 2018-19

L CIL

Cricket (grass)


Club uses Memorial Hall but no changing is available. Club running at capacity on its grass strips.

Add changing to Memorial Hall. Provide artificial turf strip to increase capacity.

Changing: £84,000. Artificial strip: £15,000.

2017-18

M CIL

STANFORD IN THE VALE RECREATION GROUND

Sports Club Youth Football

Y Good Standard Changing area needs improvements

Improve changing TBC 2018-2019

M CIL

Adult Football

Y Good

TUCKER PARK RECREATION GROUND

Town Council

Adult Football

Y Poor

Standard

Sufficient capacity for matches but not also for training.

Improve regular pitch to improve quality in line with IOG report of April 2015.

2015-16

H CIL

Adult Football

Y Poor

Youth Y Poor Insufficient

DRAFT



Secu

rity

of

com

mun

ity u

se

Pitch quality

Quality of


Spare capacity

ref current



Football capacity for either matches or training.


DRAFT


Figure 78: Study Summary: Site priorities for Vale Didcot Leisure Sub Area


Secu

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of

com

mun

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Pitch quality




New sites EAST OF HARWELL CAMPUS

Football, cricket, rugby

New site required to meet needs of major new housing growth plus replacement for unsecure playing fields at Harwell Labs.

New multi sports hub site of 12 - 13.3 ha site comprising: 4.5 ha football, 1 x cricket ground (2 ha) (plus potentially additional ground at 1.3 ha, if not deliverable at Valley Park, 3 pitch site for rugby (5.4 ha). Clubhouse. Floodlighting for rugby pitches.

Football: £303,500. Cricket: £245,000. Rugby: £315,000 + training floodlights £150,000. Shared 6 team changing plus social area: £1,117,500.

2021-2026

H S106/ CIL

VALLEY PARK New provision required to meet needs of major new housing growth.

Football: either 7.5 ha of grass playing fields or 4.5 ha playing fields plus large size FA match specification AGP. Cricket: 1 ground with 2 ha with clubhouse and car

Without AGP: football: £505,400. Cricket: £245,000. Shared 4 team changing plus social area: £745,000.

2021-26

H S106

DRAFT



Secu

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of

com

mun

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Pitch quality




parking. With AGP: AGP £965,000, football grass pitches £303,500. Cricket: £245,000. Shared 4 team changing plus social area: £745,000.

Existing sites BLEWBURY RECREATION GROUND

Parish Cricket (grass + artificial)

Y Standard Good Overlapping pitches. Club at capacity even with artificial strip.

Maintain and retain

Adult Football Y Standard Good

DIDCOT CRICKET CLUB

Commercial Cricket (grass)

No Standard Standard Site on short term lease and within the power station site so access very restricted. Club moving to Boundary Park (2 grounds).

Establish Boundary Park for Didcot Cricket Club.

2016 H

DRAFT



Secu

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Pitch quality




HARWELL LABS RECREATIONAL ASSOCIATION

Commercial Cricket (grass + artificial)

No Standard Standard High quality of site and lightly used. Security of use unachievable and long term use may be lost. Rugby pitches on separated sites.

Establish alternative secure sites for each of the sports. Proposed to be at East of Harwell Campus

See above: East of Harwell Campus

2021 H S106

Adult Football No Standard Standard

Senior Rugby Union

No Good Good

Senior Rugby Union

No Good Good

HARWELL RECREATION GROUND

Parish Mini Soccer Y Standard Standard

Too little parking and improved access required. Equipment shed needed. Pavilion needs repairs and renovation.

Repair and renovate pavilion. Provide equipment shed. Improve access and car parking.

Pavilion: £49,500. Equipment shed: £10,000. Improve access onto site: £9,500.

2017-18

M CIL

Mini Soccer Y Standard Standard

Mini Soccer Y Standard Standard

Youth Football Y Standard Standard

Youth Football Y Standard Standard

OLD WALLINGFORD WAY RECREATION GROUND, SUTTON COURTENAY

Parish Adult Football Y Standard Poor Overlapping

pitches. Pavilion refurbishment required. Pitches may require additional drainage.

Refurbish pavilion. Consider improved drainage to pitches.

Pavilion: tbc. Pitches improvement: See Appendix 4.

2018-19

H CIL

Adult Football Y Standard Poor

Cricket (grass) Y Standard Poor

DRAFT


Funding 9.5 It is important to ensure that all of the available resources are carefully targeted

and tailored to meet the needs of the whole community so any initial capital investment and long term revenue commitments can be fully justified.

9.6 The proposals arising from the study are likely to be funded and supported by a

range of partners and new facility provision might be via a mix of public and private sources. There are likely to be an increasing number of innovative partnership arrangements over the next few years both in relation to capital and revenue projects, and consideration should be given by the Council to exploring all of the available options to enable the delivery of the study’s proposals.

9.7 Funding sources and programmes vary significantly over time, and there is limited

benefit in exploring in detail all of the funds available at this point. As each facility is considered, a variety of options for funding will need to be explored by the Council and the potential developers of each project. These might include, in no particular order:

• Mixed development – perhaps delivering community sports facilities as part of a

wider regeneration scheme; • Developers’ Contributions – by locking the study into planning policy; • Land disposals and partial land development – where agreed as surplus to need; • Partnership delivery and joint funding - by working with key partners such as

schools; • Partnership funding - with major sports clubs and their National Governing

Bodies of Sport (NGBs), Football Foundation and others; • Sport England/UK Sport funds; • Lottery Funds; • Government funding.

Procurement and management 9.8 The nature and process of the procurement of the facilities covered by this study

and their long term management will fundamentally depend upon the type and scale of facility. It is likely that many sports and recreation facilities will increasingly become the responsibility of a sports club(s), either directly or indirectly.

DRAFT


Review and Monitoring 9.9 There should be an annual review of the study which will help to maintain the

momentum and commitment to its implementation. This will also help to ensure that the original supply and demand information is no more than two years old without being reviewed. If significant changes emerge, then an interim update should be undertaken.

9.10 There should be a full review of the study within 5 years to take account of:

• Anticipated housing growth within the district and on its boundaries; • General changes in participation and attractiveness of individual sports; • Technical changes to sport facility requirements; • The development of new or loss of existing facilities since the study was

completed; • Facilities developed or lost to community use within the adjacent authorities; • Cross-boundary co-ordination between local authorities; • Facility investment decisions by the Council and its partners.

Nortoft Partnerships Limited 2 Green Lodge Barn, Nobottle, Northampton NN7 4HD

Tel: 01604 586526 Fax: 01604 587719 Email: [email protected] Web: www.nortoft.co.uk

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

VALE OF WHITE HORSE DISTRICT COUNCIL Playing Pitch Study …democratic.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/documents/s41085/2017_01... · 2017-02-10 · Rugby Football Union, England Hockey, and