Planning for Sport and Active Recreation Facilities ... - Brent Council

7
The need for a strategy
In 2006, Sport England’s national Active People Survey identified that
the London Borough of Brent had one of the lowest participation and
volunteering rates for sport and physical activity in the country. This
was despite Brent being a host borough for the 2012 Olympics and
Wembley being recognised as the home of national and international
football.
In 2007 Sport England approached Brent Council to become a
pilot in their Local Sport and Recreation Strategic Planning Support
Programme. This opportunity, together with low physical activity
participation rates, increasing child obesity, anticipated population
growth and aging sports facility stock, indicated that it was necessary
for the Council and key stakeholders in the provision and future
provision of sports opportunities to develop a strategic review of
existing and future provision of sports facilities in Brent.
Producing the Strategy
Supported by Sport England’s London Region planning officer and
consultants - Leisure and the Environment/Genesis, a steering group
was established that included officers from key service areas within
the Council (including Sports Service, Parks Service, Planning Service,
Children and Families, Policy and Regeneration Unit and further
support from the Assistant Director of Environment and Culture who
chaired the steering group) to audit, inform and write this strategy.
Strategy Vision
The overall vision for the Planning for Sport and Active Recreation
Facilities Strategy 2008 – 2021 is:
To ensure the co-ordinated, strategic development of formal and
informal facilities for sport and active recreation within Brent that
meets the needs of a changing multi cultural population and provides
attractive, sustainable, accessible, quality facilities that enhances the
Boroughs natural and built environment. Such provision will increase
opportunities for participation in sport and active recreation by all
sections of the community resulting in improved health, well being
and enhanced quality of life of Brent’s residents.
In order to achieve the vision a number of key objectives have been
identified:
Objectives
Strategic provision -
To ensure there is a planned approach to the provision of a local and
strategic mix of facilities that considers cross boundary issues and
takes account of priorities set out in regional and local sports related
strategies
Meets need of future populations –
To provide an innovative approach to the provision of facilities that
can meet the future needs of a growing population.