Draft Playing Pitch Strategy 2025-2041

Background

A Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS) is a local plan that assesses current and future needs for sport pitches and outdoor facilities, e.g. playing courts, and aims to create a network of high-quality, accessible pitches for football, rugby union, hockey, cricket, tennis, netball, and lacrosse.

To produce a detailed and evidence-based strategy on how best to supply sports pitches and courts in the district, existing facilities are audited, and usage and demand is analysed. An action plan is developed alongside the sport National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and Sport England to detail how to improve offered facilities, and provide opportunities for leisure and sport. We will follow the statutory planning public consultation process as appropriate for individual projects.

A PPS is recommended as part of the National Planning Policy Framework and follows guidelines set out by Sport England.

The current PPS was adopted in February 2020 and is due for review.

How we developed our draft Playing Pitch Strategy

In developing our draft PPS, a steering group was formed, consisting of officers from West Berkshire Council, NGBs for the sports and Sport England.

Data was gathered from local clubs, parish councils, schools, private facilities and other pitch/court holders and users. The district-wide response to the surveys was excellent and provided a clear picture of the demand and supply for pitches in the district, evidencing the passion for pitch sports across a very active West Berkshire.

We also considered numerous policies and strategies, including Football Foundation Local Football Facility Plan, Sport England's playing field policy and National Planning Policy Framework.

The draft PPS outlines three approaches to achieve the best quality and availability of sports pitches and courts throughout West Berkshire. The strategy will outline a plan to 'protect, enhance and provide' pitches, based on the supporting evidence.

Protect - looks to ensure that any current capacity on pitches already in use, is protected to enable clubs and sports to grow in the area.

Enhance - looks at how to improve the pitches and facilities that are currently not to the required standard, through improved maintenance and scheduling of use, where possible.

Provide - recommends the best locations to build new facilities, including grass pitches, artificial grass pitches, and ancillary facilities.

You can view/download the draft PPS and summary document through the links below:

•     Draft Playing Pitch Strategy 2025-2041 [896KB]
•     Summary document [334KB]

Why we want your views

We'd like to hear from people who formally participate or have an interest in any or all the following sports: football, rugby union, hockey, cricket, tennis, netball and lacrosse, and whether you feel:

• your experience and requirements in your area are represented in the draft PPS
• our recommendations would enhance your opportunities to participate
• we've provided solutions when barriers to participation have been identified
• the draft PPS is clear and easy to understand 

How to take part

If you'd like to comment on draft PPS, please complete our survey by midnight on Sunday, 4 January 2026. It should take about 10-15 minutes. 

Complete our survey

If you have any questions about the survey, please email our Sports and Leisure team

For general enquiries about sports and leisure services, please visit our webpage.

What happens next

All feedback we receive will be reviewed, and inform the final strategy, which will be included in a report submitted for consideration by elected members in spring 2026.

Once approved, the final strategy will be published on our Strategies, Policies and Plans webpage, usually within three months.

We aim to publish a summary of the responses we received, and the decisions taken within three months of the consultation closing on this page.