About us
belap was founded by Jacqueline Bennett and Kevin Bennett in 1991. We offer extensive expertise in sport and recreation planning, having served numerous local authorities alongside public, voluntary and private sector clients across the South West (where we are based) and throughout the UK.
belap has been a part of Sport England’s Active Environments Framework for Assessment of Needs. We operate both independently and collaboratively with other consultancies, fostering shared research, information exchange, and best practice, to ensure that the best use is made of everyone’s expertise and experience. Since 1994, we’ve pioneered new guidance, methodologies and analytical techniques to advance planning in this sector.
belap is deeply committed to safeguarding and improving open spaces and sports facilities for communities, and to expanding opportunities for everyone, especially young people, to engage in physical activity.
We hold a particular interest in protecting playing fields and ensuring their adaptability to evolving participation trends in pitch-based sports. We are also committed to raising the profile of integrated planning for sport, recreation and health, while also strengthening the vital links between sport and overall health and well-being.
The range of facilities that we plan for encompasses all types of open space, sport and recreation facilities including:
- Parks and gardens
- Grass playing fields and playing pitches
- Artificial grass pitches for hockey, football and rugby
- Tennis courts and bowling greens
- Footpaths, bridleways, route-ways and green corridors
- Cycle paths and cycling facilities
- Children’s play areas
- Multi use games areas and playzones
- Skate parks and BMX tracks
- Allotments and community gardens
- Sports centres and sports halls
- Swimming pools
- Specialist facilities such as indoor tennis centres
- Educational sports facilities
- Village and community halls
- Lakes, rivers and the coast
We possess a range of skills and expertise ·
- Action planning and recommendations
- Assessment of the need for sports facilities
- Consultation and survey techniques
- Database set up and management
- Digital Mapping
- Lecturing and training
- Modelling of scenarios
- Market research and analysis
- Monitoring and review
- Presentations and promotional work
- Report drafting and preparation
- Section 106 Agreements and CIL
- Site and facility audits and assessments
- Strategic planning
- Use of Sport England tools and analytical techniques
Before establishing belap, Jacqueline was employed as a planning officer with Sport England. She has over 30 years’ experience in planning for sports facilities and has a strong track record of managing complex projects, leading stakeholder consultations, and developing strategic recommendations that inform policy and investment decisions.
More recently, she served as a Specialist Expert in open space, sport and recreation for the Design Council and in 2021, she was selected as one of 58 ‘Women of Influence’ by ‘The Planner’ magazine for her work keeping sports strategies on track during Covid and for promoting the importance of sport in planning for health and well being.
Jacqueline delivers talks and seminars on planning for sport and healthy lifestyles, including on the MSc course in Town Planning at Plymouth University and at Royal Town Planning Institute (South West) events and to local organisations and has contributed articles to the RTPI SW’s regional Branchout magazine and other publications.
Kevin has over 30 years’ experience in designing and managing data collection and analysis for needs assessments, including questionnaire surveys and site audits. He has carried out thousands of site assessments across a range of playing fields, built facilities and open spaces throughout the country. His expertise in capturing and interpreting usage and participation data, as well as his collaborative approach to site evaluations with various stakeholders (grounds maintenance, NGBs), ensures a robust evidence base for belap’s studies. His proficiency in digital data management and analysis directly supports efficient and high-quality project delivery and he has perfected methods of recording and analysing site data.
For more information on what we do, see About Us and Case Studies or please get in touch via our Contact Us page.