belap was commissioned to develop a Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS) for Exeter to provide a robust evidence base for their new Local Plan, aligning with its vision to be the most physically active city in England. Significant housing developments on the outskirts of the city and growing demand and proposals for 3G AGPs were important driving factors.
Our approach involved extensive stakeholder consultation through a dedicated Steering Group comprising representatives from the City Council, Sport England, National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of Sport, local sports clubs, education providers and other key facility owners, notably the University, the sixth form college and Exeter City FC.
This collaborative process ensured buy-in from all key stakeholders and informed the development of practical recommendations and actions that are now informing policy development within the City Council’s leisure and planning sections.
We meticulously assessed the quantity, quality and accessibility of existing provision, alongside projected future needs (informed by robust population data and stakeholder engagement), clearly identifying surpluses and shortfalls to produce an evidence-based plan.
We carried out scenario testing, such as analysis of the transfer of youth football activity to artificial grass pitches and the potential loss of access to educational sports facilities.
Successful outcomes include:
- A clear plan for and implementation of two new 3G artificial grass pitches (AGPs) addressing identified shortfalls in provision. A World Rugby Compliant (WR22) 3G AGP will be managed by Exeter College; the other is to be provided on a former local authority playing field site (together with other major improvements arising from the PPS) which has been transferred to Exeter City Community Trust.
- Facilitating the return to use of playing fields for baseball and junior football, increasing overall capacity.
- The ongoing development of multi-sport playing fields as strategic hubs for sport, health, and well-being, aligning with broader health and leisure objectives.
belap's recent re-commissioning to establish a Stage E forum and update the PPS further demonstrates our ongoing support and expertise in keeping strategies up-to-date and relevant.
“We were very pleased to commission belap to deliver our Exeter City Council Playing Pitch Strategy, which was produced and approved by Council Members in November 2023. Jacky and Kevin worked diligently to deliver a robust strategy using the Sport England methodology. The team are excellent at engaging with Sport England, NGBs and local stakeholders. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend BELAP for their thorough, detailed approach and ability to deliver high quality reports in agreed timescales.”
– James Bogue, Place Partnership Manager for Exeter City Council
