Aiming to boost sports facilities and unlock funding

Harborough District Council agreed its Built Sports Facilities Strategy on 14 December 2020 after comprehensive consultation with parish councils, village halls committees, clubs, site owners, community groups, cross-boundary partners and others.

It aims to provide more opportunities for people across the district to enjoy sports and leisure, in the best facilities, as demand and population grows over the coming decade.

It also supports one of the Council’s key priorities to promote healthy lifestyles.

The strategy will provide evidence for communities, clubs and the Council to support improvement of built sports facilities and unlock funding opportunities, including developer contributions (Section 106 agreements).

Cllr Phil King, Leader of Harborough District Council said: “It’s important to say this isn’t just about what the Council can deliver, it’s about how we can work in partnership to maximize opportunities for new and improved community facilities. This strategy is for the entire community and will ensure a proactive, consistent, and evidence-based approach to supporting community facilities across the district, and I’d like to thank all those people in the district who have helped shape it.”

The main facilities considered as part of the strategy are sports halls, swimming pools, health and fitness, athletics, squash, dedicated gymnastics centres, indoor bowls, indoor tennis, netball, and table tennis. It also includes archery, cycling and walking routes, air sports and other countryside sports – eg. gliding, equestrian facilities, and sailing clubs.

The Strategy, which will be reviewed every 3 to 5 years and is supported by Sport England, National Governing Bodies and others, will feed into the Council’s Physical Activity Strategy, Local Plan and complement other strategies.

View the Built Sports Facilities Strategy in full on the Council’s website.

View a summary of the Built Sports Facilities Strategy here.