MCRactive logo

SPORTS NEEDS ASSESSMENTS

2022-2031 PLAYING PITCH & OUTDOOR SPORT STRATEGY
Manchester City Council with partners have produced a Needs Assessment, Strategy and Action Plan for outdoor sports facilities to guide the future provision and management of playing pitch and outdoor sport facilities in Manchester Local Authority area. Manchester’s Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sport Strategy and Action Plan (2022-2031) is now live and provides the evidence base of current and future needs for outdoor sports facilities, using national Sport England Guidance.

Strategy findings will help inform planning policy and other relevant corporate strategies to enable the recommendations and site-specific actions contained within the Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sport Strategy to be effectively and efficiently implemented. The documents have been informed by extensive national and local stakeholder consultation and community engagement, and data analysis review to provide the facility needs and recommendations for action.

The Playing Pitch & Outdoor Sport Needs Assessment Report sets out the up-to-date supply and demand information and considers the future demands arising from the planned level of growth proposed up to 2031, alongside increases in participation from targeted sport specific programmes. The Strategy and associated Action Plan recommends the priority projects to be realised over the Local Plan period to ensure there is a sufficient supply to meet current and projected demand, responding to the issues arising from the assessment report.

Together, these will be the key documents to inform planning applications for development of playing field land in consultation with Sport England as a statutory consultee, and National Governing Bodies of Sport as appropriate.

See links to Playing Pitch & Outdoor Sport Needs Assessment Report and Strategy Documents for information;

This Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) sets out the changes in the demand for and supply of pitches and outdoor courts in Manchester during the 2022/2023 season. The baseline data is taken from the 2022 Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sport Strategy (PPOSS) with audits carried out during the 2021/2022 season.  Each AMR will set out the changes a year in arrears to account for the differences annually when National Governing Bodies of Sport collect and analyse their affiliation data.

INDOOR BUILT FACILITY STRATEGY

Working with partners, we have produced a Needs Assessment, Strategy and Action Plan for indoor sports facilities to guide the future provision and management of indoor sport facilities in the Manchester local authority area. Manchester’s Indoor & Built Facility Sport Strategy and Action Plan (2022-2031) is now live and provides the evidence base of current and future needs for indoor sports facilities, using national Sport England guidance.

OUTDOOR ACTION SPORT NEEDS ASSESSMENT 2023

This report analyses the current state and future needs for outdoor action sports facilities in Manchester, focusing on skateboarding, BMX freestyle, inline skating, and scootering, and aims to guide investment and development across the city. It identifies gaps in provision, accessibility, and quality, highlights priority sites for improvement, and recommends strategic actions to ensure equitable access, community involvement, and inclusive design for all user groups.

The report also provides cost estimates, site designs, and an action plan to support Manchester’s ambition to be a leading city for action sports, with facilities accessible within a 20-minute travel time for every resident.

MANCHESTER OUTDOOR LEARNING & OUTDOOR ADVENTUROUS ACTIVITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT MARCH 2025

The purpose of the “Outdoor Learning and Outdoor Adventurous Activity Needs Assessment March 2025” report is to update Manchester’s 2017 strategy titled “Learning Through Adventure, 2017 – 2020” to address significant social, political, and environmental changes since 2017. The updated strategy aims to ensure every Manchester household has access to at least one outdoor learning and/or adventurous activity facility within a 20-minute active travel and public transport catchment. The assessment, conducted by Sheffield Hallam University, includes demand and supply analysis and extensive stakeholder engagement to support the development of this strategy. The goal is to create inclusive, sustainable, and community-oriented outdoor spaces and activities while addressing structural and cultural barriers to participation.

These documents will remain live and will be monitored, implemented, and updated annually throughout the lifespan of the Strategy (2022 – 2031)

Thank you.