New figures released today show Sport England have protected more than 1,000 playing fields in England between April 2021 and March 2022.
Sport England’s role as a statutory consultee on planning applications means work to protect playing fields, which are vital spaces for communities to get active in, is part of its mission to get the nation more active.
This continued commitment to protect and enhance playing fields across the country resulted in 1,073 being protected. For the period in question, 95% of all concluded planning applications involving a playing field resulted in the protection or improvement of facilities.
As part of planning processes, councils are required to refer cases to Sport England when any proposed development would affect or lead to the loss of a sports playing field.
Source: Sport England