Help safeguard places people play

We are asking clubs and other organisations to respond to consultation that could see Sport England lose its role in planning decisions.  

Take the consultation 

The Government is proposing the removal of Sport England as a statutory consultee for applications involving playing fields. 

YSF CEO Carl Hawkes said: “We encourage everyone with an interest in active lives and thriving communities to join the consultation and show the government why playing spaces need protecting.  

“We all need places that help us live happy, healthy and active lives, and that means balancing the pressures on housing and leisure spaces. 
 
“Sport England’s statutory role has been a safeguard against the pressure of competing priorities.  

“We support a continued role for Sport England and improvements to the current system to protect essential community spaces for generations to come, while responding more effectively and efficiently to evolving needs and priorities locally. 

“This consultation will help government ensure that planning rules improve and are more efficient and dynamic whilst also protecting places where people can live active and healthy lives.” 

The latest data saw 94% of all concluded planning applications involving playing fields see protection or improvement of facilities with statutory consultation with Sport England. This meant 1,038 playing fields were protected in 2024-25. 

• 94% (1038 out of 1104) of concluded planning applications affecting playing fields resulted in improved or safeguarded sports provision 

• In 60% of the cases where Sport England originally objected to an application, further negotiations led to development being approved with improved or safeguarded sports provision 

• Of the 145 applications where Sport England maintained its objection, 79 (55%) were either withdrawn by the applicants or refused planning permission. 

The Sport + Recreation Alliance has launched a campaign to Protect where we play which includes how to get involved, and they have started a Parliamentary petition which has over 11,000 signatures.   

YSF encourage all our partners, both individuals and organisations, to complete the consultation and share it widely within their networks. It's important that the sport and physical activity sector speak up and have their voice heard at this important time so that we can protect the spaces that support communities to move more. 

The consultation can be found below, and closes on 13th January, the number of responses will be important in how the Government reacts. 

Take the consultation