SPORTS FACILITIES TECHNICAL PAPER

PART OF DARTFORD’S LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK

July 2010

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Contents

1 Introduction 4

Purpose 4

Content 4

2 Policy Context 5

National policy context 5

Regional policy context 6

Sub-regional and county policy context 7

Local policy context 8

The Development Plan and emerging policy 8

Main findings – policy context 9

3 Evidence 10

Dartford’s evidence base 10

Other relevant work 12

Table 1: Adult participation in 3 sessions of 30 minutes of moderate 14 intensity sport per week

Main findings – evidence base 14

4 Assessment 15

Stage 1 - identifying the current level of provision by auditing the existing 15 sports facilities

Table 2: Existing sports sites 16

Stage 2 - assessing the current level of provision against the current 18 population demand

Swimming pools 18

Table 3: Dartford’s swimming pools 18

Table 4: Comparison of swimming pool supply 19

Table 5: Comparison of swimming pool demand 20

Sports halls 20

Table 6: Dartford’s sports halls 20

Table 7: Comparison of sports halls supply 21

Table 8: Comparison of sports hall demand 22

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Stage 3 - predicting the additional demand for sports provision generated 22 by the future population in 2026

Stage 4 - specifying where new/enhanced provision can contribute to 23 meeting demand

Main findings – assessment 24

5 Appendices 27

Appendix 1: Type of Sports Included Within the Audit 27

Table 9: Audited Facilities 27

Appendix 2: Audit of Existing Sports Facilities 29

Tables A – S: List of facilities by each type of sport 29

Appendix 3: Spatial Distribution of Existing Indoor Sports Facilities 42

Appendix 4: Spatial Distribution of Existing Outdoor Sports Facilities 43

Appendix 5: Spatial Distribution of Existing Sports in Parks and Open Spaces 44

Appendix 6: Spatial Distribution of Countryside Pursuits 45

Appendix 7: Enhanced and New Sports Facilities by 2026 46

Appendix 8: Sports Facilities Catchment Areas 47

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Sports Facilities Technical Paper

1 Introduction

Purpose

1.1 This paper has been prepared to inform, and support the preparation of, Dartford’s Local Development Framework. In particular, it will contribute towards the development of a sports policy in the Core Strategy.

Content

1.2 This paper focuses on sports facilities within the borough of Dartford including: indoor facilities - swimming pools, health and fitness centres, leisure centres and sports

halls/clubs (including badminton, squash, basketball and indoor tennis courts), judo and combat sports halls, indoor bowls, dance studios;

outdoor facilities – outdoor courts, outdoor bowls, athletics tracks, football stadium, sports pitches/playing fields, golf courses;

sports in parks and outdoor spaces – outdoor fitness trails, multi use games areas, skate parks, BMX/karting, high wires/climbing walls;

countryside pursuits - horse riding, recreational lakes with sailing/rowing and fishing, motor sports, shooting ranges.

1.3 All facilities have been included in this paper regardless of their accessibility, including facilities that are: publicly available and free to use; public pay and play facilities; commercial facilities that are for use by private members only; sports clubs that are used by sports club members only; school and college facilities that can be used by sports clubs or the public in addition to

students; community facilities that can be used by sports clubs and well as the general public. All facilities have been included regardless of whether they are in purpose built sports buildings with full time sports use or community buildings with occasional, part time sports use.

1.4 In order to provide a comprehensive picture of facilities whilst avoiding duplication and over-counting of supply, some facilities are acknowledged in this paper but not included within the assessment in section 4. This includes: playing pitches – as they have already been assessed as part of Dartford’s Playing Pitch Study.

New grass pitches, synthetic turf pitches and the Princes Park Community Stadium will be taken into account in a future update of the Playing Pitch Study;

parks, greenspaces, equipped play spaces and walkways that provide venues for physical activity, where children go to play and where people go to carry out active pursuits (walking, running, cycling) as well as informal recreation and relaxation – as they have already been assessed in Dartford’s Open Space Technical Paper;

commercial facilities that people use in their leisure time including going to cinemas, theatres, bowling alleys, bingo halls, nightclubs, pubs and cafes/restaurants – as they have already been assessed in Dartford’s Retail and Leisure Study.

1.5 The remainder of this paper: considers the planning policy context relating to sports – see section 2; provides an overview of the evidence collected to date and identifies specific local level

characteristics that will impact on the demand for sports facilities in the future – see section 3; evaluates the current and future supply and demand for key sports facilities, identifies if

deficiencies exist and suggests specific locations where new facilities could be located in order to help meet demand – see section 4.

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2 Policy Context

National policy context

2.1 PPG17 Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation1 and its companion guide Assessing Needs and Opportunities2 are the main planning policy documents at the national level. Both documents emphasise that Local Authorities should undertake robust assessments of the existing, and future, needs of their communities for sports and recreational facilities, taking account of the differing and distinctive needs of the population. Quantitative and qualitative audits should include existing sports facilities and their usage, access in terms of location and costs and opportunities for new facilities. Local Authorities should then identify deficits or surpluses of sports facilities and use this information to set locally derived standards for the provision of sports facilities including quantitative (how much new provision may be needed), qualitative (to measure enhancement of existing facilities) and accessibility (including distance thresholds and costs).

2.2 Once adopted, a new PPS on Planning for a Natural and Healthy Environment3 will replace PPG17. It seeks to provide a single, streamlined PPS covering policies related to the natural environment, green infrastructure, open space, sport and recreation. Policy NE1 encourages Local Authorities to undertake, and keep up-to-date, assessments of existing and future community needs and audits of the existing provision. Policy NE5 suggests that Local Authorities should identify: sufficient high quality sports facilities to meet the needs of local communities, taking account of

the differing needs of those living, working in and visiting the area; priorities for protection, investment, rationalisation and reallocation for different types of sport

facilities; local standards for the quantity, quality and accessibility of sports facilities; opportunities to enhance existing areas or facilities, or to create new ones where deficiencies

are identified; opportunities for the co-location of facilities, so that different types of open space, sport and

recreation, can be located next to each other and in proximity to other community facilities.

2.3 The elements of other PPS/PPGs that are also relevant are summarised below: PPS1 Delivering Sustainable Development4 focuses development that attracts large amounts

of people in existing centres and seeks to provide improved access for all to leisure, sport and recreation, by ensuring that new development is located where everyone can access facilities on foot, bicycle or public transport;

PPS2 Green Belts5 steers inappropriate development away from the Green Belt, although essential facilities for outdoor sport and recreation are classed as appropriate. Green Belt land also has a positive role to play in providing opportunities for outdoor sport near urban areas;

PPG3 Housing6 seeks to ensure that housing is located close to community facilities; PPS4 Planning for Sustainable Economic Growth7 promotes regeneration, vitality and

viability in town centres, with main town centre uses focused in existing centres. These uses include leisure, entertainment facilities and intensive sport uses (cinemas, restaurants, pubs, night-clubs, casinos, health/fitness centres, indoor bowling and bingo halls). It also acknowledges that more space extensive sports uses may not be appropriate in town centres;

PPS7 Sustainable Development in Rural Areas8 seeks to protect the countryside whilst recognising its importance as the nearest/most accessible countryside to urban residents, making it a location for appropriate sports facilities;

PPS13 Transport9 focuses major generators of travel demand in accessible locations.

1 CLG (2002) PPG17: Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation 2 CLG (2002) Assessing Needs and Opportunities 3 CLG (March 2010) Consultation on a New Planning Policy Statement: Planning for a Natural and Healthy Environment4 CLG (January 2005) PPS1 Delivering Sustainable Development 5 CLG (January 1995) PPS2 Green Belts6 CLG (November 2006) PPS3: Housing 7 CLG (December 2009) PPS4 Planning for Sustainable Economic Growth 8 CLG (August 2004) PPS7 Sustainable Development in Rural Areas

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2.4 Sport England, a statutory agency responsible for providing services and funding to sport in England, has published numerous guidance documents to help raise the profile of sports including: Sport England Strategy 2008-201110 commits to delivering one million people doing more

sport by 2013. It aims to address the challenges facing community sport including increasing participation in sport, tackling drop off and developing talent. It focuses on creating a) a world leading community sports system, b) a modern network of sports clubs, c) substantial and growing numbers of people from across the community playing sport, d) talented people having the opportunity to progress to the elite level and e) everyone who plays sport having a quality experience;

Spatial Planning for Sport and Active Recreation11 recognises how sport has a role to play in: a) environmental sustainability, b) community safety, c) local economic viability, d) quality of life and well-being, e) health improvement and f) raising standards in schools;

Game Plan12 sets a target of 70% of the population being reasonably active by 2020; The Framework for Sport in England13 seeks recognition for sport as a way to help deliver

sustainable communities, with funding secured from new housing developments for investment in sport;

Active Design14 seeks to ensure that physical recreation becomes a fundamental consideration in new developments, through the design and layout of new developments, open spaces and sports facilities. It identifies three key objectives to be promoted in designs – improving accessibility, enhancing amenity and increasing awareness.

2.5 The Government recognises the benefits arising from the 2012 Olympics and the way it can impact positively on other Government agendas such as sports participation and healthy living. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has approved three facilities in the Pre-Games Training Camp Guides: Dartford Judo Centre as a training facility for judo for both the Olympics and Paralymics; Princes Park Community Stadium as a training facility for football and archery for both the

Olympics and Paralymics; Arrow Riding School for the Disabled as a training facility for equestrian events for the Olympics.

Regional policy context

2.6 Sport England has also prepared specific documents related to the South East including: Mission Possible: The South East Plan for Sport (2004-2008)15 puts sport at the heart of the

planning process. It stresses that developer contributions should contribute fairly to sport and active recreation facilities;

The Economic Importance of Sport in the South East: 2000-200516 considers the economic value of sport to the region. It identifies that consumers spent £2,784m on sport in 2005, amounting to 2.5% of total consumer expenditure. It also identifies that sport related economic activity generated £2,640m in 2005, equivalent to 1.6% of total value added in the region. Additionally, 71,600 people were employed in sport related employment in 2005, corresponding to 1.7% of total employment in the region.

9 CLG (April 2001) PPS13 Transport 10 Sport England (2008) Sport England Strategy 2008-2011 11 Sport England (2005) Spatial Planning for Sport and Active Recreation 12 Sport England (2002) Game Plan: A Strategy for Delivering Government’s Sport and Physical Activity Objectives13 Sport England (2004) Framework for Sport in England: Making England an Active and Sporting Nation: A Vision for 2020 14 Sport England (2006) Active Design 15 Sport England (2004) Mission Possible: The South East Plan for Sport (2004-2008) 16 Sport England (2000) Economic Importance of Sport in the South East: 2000-2005

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Sub-regional and county policy context

2.7 The Thames Gateway Delivery Plan17 identifies a CLG supported programme in North Kent which includes new outdoor sports and leisure facilities as part of the expansion of Central Park.

2.8 Creating Sustainability Communities: Greening the Gateway18 advocates a functional green infrastructure offering a range of benefits including recreation, relaxation, outdoor sport and healthy exercise, promoting play and sport in open spaces.

2.9 The Single Sport Facilities Deficiencies in Kent19 considers the present situation of 35 different types of sports, identifies specification standards relating to each sport and identifies the need for further facility development within Kent. In particular it identifies a number of sports development requirements for Dartford and these have already taken place such as: upgrading the track, floodlighting and facilities at Central Park Athletics Track; new gymnastics facility at Sutton-at-Hone gymnastics club, who have now been accommodated

within Dartford Grammar School for Girls; a centre of excellence for Judo at Dartford, which is now running successfully; a number of new centres of performance for a variety of sports such as archery, badminton,

outdoor bowls, disability sports, petanque, with a preferred location somewhere in North West Kent. A new outdoor bowls facility has been built adjacent to the indoor bowls at Stone Lodge, petanque competitions are held in the Princes Park Community Stadium car park and archery takes place at Hesketh Park Pavilion and Acacia Hall.

2.10 The Strategic Framework for Sport 2009-201320 contains a number of strategic priorities for Kent including the following recommendations: enhancing school sports - through the Building Schools for the Future programme,

rationalising/updating the facility stock, providing greater shared community use of school facilities and developing links with sports clubs and the wider community;

raising Kent’s sporting profile – by developing an multi-sport arena for international competitions, by submitting more Kent bids for international events and utilising the post-2012 Games re-locatable sports equipment and facilities;

increasing participation – by targeting facilities and resources based on participation rates, with a focus on young, old and disabled people, catering for the needs of all to residents to be physically active at whatever level they determine, using concessionary pricing to widen access, making facilities available at appropriate times of the day, increasing participation in a wide range of formal and informal activities not just ‘traditional’ sports, ensuring minority sports, extreme sports and newer street sports receive more equitable support, increasing volunteering, giving rate relief and grant aid for clubs which support local community aims, working with non-sport partners (health agencies, adult education, community safety and regeneration partners);

embracing rural sports – with standardised design for rural recreation centres/halls and floodlighting, areas allocated for noisy sports/water sports and encouraging clustering of facilities in rural villages;

planning – with sports facilities complying with sustainability principles and DDA requirements, no built sports within floodplains, using sport to meet the ambitions of Local Area Agreements, ensuring that sporting need receives equal weighting to social and economic deprivation, including revenue streams for sport in planning agreements and ensuring that the provision of ancillary accommodation receives funding.

17 CLG (2007) Thames Gateway Delivery Plan 18 ODPM (2005) Creating Sustainability Communities: Greening the Gateway: Implementation Plan 19 Kent Sports Development Unit, Kent County Council (August 2008) Single Sport Deficiencies in Kent: Governing Body of Sports Perceptions on their Sports Major Facility Needs 20 Kent and Medway Sports Board (2009) The Strategic Framework for Sport 2009-2013

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Local policy context

2.11 The Dartford and Gravesham Sustainable Community Strategy 2008-201121 includes strategic objective HW2 to increase opportunities for sport.

2.12 Dartford’s Corporate Plan 2009-201222 contains an overall vision for the area “To make Dartford… a place where people choose to live, work and enjoy their leisure time”. It recognises that: Dartford Town Centre does not presently fulfil its potential as a centre for community life

although new developments, environmental improvements and the refurbishment of Central Park will help to regenerate the town centre;

there are lower levels of adult physical activity with 8.9% of the population undertaking at least 30 minutes of physical activity three times per week, compared to 11.2% in Kent as a whole, and 11.6% in England. Childhood obesity rates in Dartford, at Reception year are 11.6% compared to 9.4% for Kent as a whole;

sport and leisure activities can have major health benefits. The Council has made large scale investments in sport and leisure facilities across the Borough, including Princes Park Community Stadium, Acacia Hall Complex including sports centre, and Dartford Judo Centre, the skatepark in Central Park and ongoing support to the Orchard Theatre. The Council will continue to promote sport, culture and leisure as ways of engaging the community in positive activity and further improvements are planned, including a new swimming pool and sports hall, improvements and additions to Central Park and the creation of footpaths and cycleways;

there are opportunities presented by the 2012 Olympics that benefit Dartford, with three venues to be used as pre-games training facilities including Princes Park Community Stadium, Dartford Judo Centre (where the British Judo Team train) and Arrow Riding Centre;

the Orchard Theatre is an important community asset that adds to the variety of attractions and complements the town centre’s overall evening offer.

2.13 The Corporate Plan identifies a number of strategic objectives and actions including: HW 1 to reduce overall health inequality in the Borough by introducing campaigns to encourage

greater participation in sport and leisure activities and to help people manage their weight; HW 2 to increase the opportunities for participating in sporting, cultural and leisure activities by

a) using community facilities such as Princes Park and Acacia Hall to encourage people to become involved in sport, b) expanding schemes such as the Dartford Heath, Darenth Country Park and Darenth Wood volunteering schemes and c) improving the integration of the Orchard Theatre within the life of the Town Centre. Target NI 8 seeks an increase in adult participation in sport, from 17% in 2009/10 to 30% in 2011/12;

SC 2 to reduce anti-social behaviour by improving provision for teenagers and young people by providing suitable youth equipment such as multi use games areas;

ET 3 to manage transport demand in a sustainable way by promoting a pattern of development which ensures close links between homes and facilities;

HS 2 to promote self reliant communities by a) promoting volunteering activity such as the restoration of Central Park and the use of facilities such as Princes Park, Acacia Hall and the Judo Centre and b) including community development programmes as part of the community element of Section 106 agreements on major developments.

The Development Plan and emerging policy

2.14 The Borough of Dartford Adopted Local Plan23 has a number of saved policies that relate to sports provision including: RT1 Stone Lodge which is identified for major recreational, leisure and associated

development; RT3 Sports Pitches where provision will normally be permitted on suitable sites; RT4 Golf Courses where provision will normally be permitted on appropriate sites.

21 DBC and GBC (2008) Dartford and Gravesham Sustainable Community Strategy 2008-2011 22 DBC (2008) Dartford Borough Council Corporate Plan 2009-2012 23 DBC (1995) The Borough of Dartford Adopted Local Plan

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2.15 The responses received so far during consultation of the Core Strategy show considerable support for improving existing sports facilities, encouraging new facilities at major development sites in scale with the needs of the community, delivering an expanded sporting offer at the Acacia Hall Complex, developing centres of excellence for sport at Stone Lodge and Swanscombe Peninsula and nurturing community-based organisations to encourage increased local participation rates. The responses emphasise that there is a need: to recognise the important sporting roles of Princes Park Community Stadium and Central Park

and the cultural roles of Dartford Museum and the Orchard Theatre; for greater protection to be given to existing facilities, with the loss of existing facilities resisted

unless it can be demonstrated that it is no longer needed or that the facility can be more accessible by locating it elsewhere;

a mix of sporting facilities, determined at the local level based on local needs; for criteria to assess sports development proposals; a spatial hierarchy that prioritises provision in Dartford town centre and acknowledges the roles

Bluewater and Ebbsfleet have to play; to identify specific sites for sporting use including a centre of excellence at Stone Lodge with

both indoor and outdoor sports, watersports at Thames Europort and a centre of excellence/visitor destination at Swanscombe Peninsula;

to secure opportunities to increase participation in sport, with new community sports and cultural facilities in major sites, facilities that cater for all types of users, facilities that are DDA compliant and community based facilities that are easily accessible;

to identify opportunities related to the 2012 Olympics and Kent-wide or regional sports.

2.16 Although the Dartford Town Centre Area Action Plan has been withdrawn, the document reflects the current aspirations of the Council. Policies and proposals within it relating to sports facilities gained support including: improving the leisure/recreational offer in Dartford town centre, particularly in the evenings and

at weekends, with a broader range of facilities catering for a wider range of people and families; the creation of a leisure quarter around the Orchard Theatre; new and enhanced sporting, recreation, cultural and leisure facilities at Acacia Hall, including

the relocation of Fairfield Pool; improvements to Central Park and Darent Valley Path.

Main findings – policy context

2.17 Some of the main findings arising from the policy context include the need to: provide new sports facilities, based on local assessments of need, and in locations where they

will contribute to sustainable communities; protect and enhance sports facilities, especially at Acacia Hall, Stone Lodge, Dartford Town

Centre and Swanscombe Peninsula; develop new sports facilities particularly at Stone Lodge and Swanscombe Peninsula; work towards increasing participation in sports by all sections of the community; ensure greater shared use of improved school facilities; grasp the opportunities associated with the Olympics and develop elite sports that enhance

the sporting profile of the Borough; secure better funding for sports facilities through section 106 agreements.

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3 Evidence

Dartford’s evidence base

3.1 Groundwork and Sport England assisted the Council in preparing a Playing Pitch Study24 to identify the current supply of, and demand for playing pitches. An audit assessed the amount and quality of playing pitches and ancillary facilities and consultation took place with local clubs, schools and colleges, pitch providers, governing bodies and league secretaries through questionnaires and telephone interviews. Population projections and Team Generation Rates were used to determine the demand for additional pitches by 2011. The main findings show that: there are currently 67 football pitches, 11 cricket pitches, 5 rugby pitches and 2 hockey pitches

for community use; if protected, there will still be a sufficient supply of existing cricket pitches, adult football pitches

and rugby pitches in 2011 to cater for future demand; by 2011 there will be a deficit of junior pitches, mini soccer pitches and grass and astroturf

hockey pitches and by 2011 new pitches will be required to cater for future demand; all parts of the borough will experience a shortfall in at least one type of playing pitch provision,

and the wards of Castle, Joyce Green, Littlebrook, Newtown and Stone will experience multiple shortfalls in rugby, hockey, senior football, junior football and mini soccer;

a lack of appropriate local facilities is one of the main barriers to playing sports; there is a need to focus on improving the quality of existing provision, providing additional

pitches to cater for future demand, increasing participation in sports, and securing further community use agreements.

3.2 As part of the evidence base for the Core Strategy, the Council has prepared an Open Space Technical Paper25. The main findings show: a higher population density than the national average and population growth will put pressure

on existing open spaces and generate additional demand – see also 3.4 below; there will also be an increased demand near to Ebbsfleet International Station, employment

hubs such as Crossways and leisure attractions such as Bluewater due to the growth in jobs and visitors;

there is a total of 1,704 hectares of open space, including a variety of types of open space. In general open space is dispersed well across the Borough;

a number of wards do not meet the hectares of open space per 1000 population standard. In particular, Castle, Littlebrook Newtown and West Hill do not meet the standards for both children’s playing space/outdoor sports provision and natural greenspaces;

parts of the borough fall outside catchment areas and have poor access to more than one type of open space, although this is compensated by proximity to the general countryside;

on the basis of proposed open space between 2006 and 2026, only the ward of Greenhithe will experience an increase in publicly accessible open space per 1000 population, with all other wards either maintaining a static amount or a experiencing a slight reduction.

3.3 The Open Spaces Technical Paper identified a number of policy implications: maintaining the existing supply of open space, and protecting the variety of open spaces will be

important. Improving the quality of open spaces and removing barriers will increase the use of open spaces;

the development of sites provides the opportunity to reduce the current open space deficits by creating a significant amount of new publicly accessible open space provision. It is estimated that 327 hectares of new and existing open space will be created on development sites by 2026 and this will help to enhance the Green Grid and help to meet the needs of new communities as well as existing ones;

24 DBC / Groundwork (2005) Playing Pitch Study 25 DBC (2008) Open Space Technical Paper

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it will be more difficult to address deficiencies in areas where no new significant development is planned. In these areas, small cumulative developments should contribute to the enhancement of existing open spaces;

to ensure communities with deficiencies have access to open space, it will be important to maintain a usable supply of existing open spaces, especially within rural villages. Also to compensate for the lack of formal open space, the Green Grid should seek to provide access to the countryside;

sufficient open space is required in Dartford to address recreational demand from the growth in population, so as to protect designated European nature conservation sites outside the borough from adverse impacts.

3.4 SEEDA commissioned Donaldsons to conduct a Dartford Retail and Leisure Study26, which considered the potential for additional commercial leisure development. Although this study has now been superseded, some of its findings remain relevant:

respondents prefer to visit local cinema, nightclub, café/restaurants and gym facilities than travelling further afield. The exceptions to this are theatres where Central London attracts a larger proportion of respondents and bowling facilities where Bexleyheath and Gravesend attract higher proportions of respondents because Dartford does not have this type of facility;

3.5 The Council has commissioned GVA Grimley to prepare a more up to date Dartford Retail and Commercial Leisure Study27. It provides an indication of the capacity for additional commercial leisure facilities taking account of: existing facilities - Showcase Cinema at Bluewater, Gala Bingo in Dartford town centre, Orchard

Theatre in the town centre, Miskin Theatre at North West Kent College and Mick Jagger Centre and a range of commercial leisure, health and fitness facilities;

existing facilities outside of the Borough - Vue and Odeon at Lakeside and Cineworld at Bexleyheath, Superbowl at Bexleyheath and AMF Bowling at Gravesend;

planned leisure commitments - events and exhibition hall at Bluewater (5,200 sqm) and new sports/leisure facilities at Station Quarter North, Ebbsfleet (24,700 sqm), Station Quarter South, Ebbsfleet (3,000 sqm), Eastern Quarry (24,000 sqm) and Northfleet West Sub Station (500 sqm).

3.6 The study concludes that: the borough has a reasonable range of commercial leisure facilities, with a focus especially at

Bluewater but also in Dartford town centre; there will be a quantitative need for four new cinema screens by 2016 and ten by 2026 -

equivalent to one large multiplex or two smaller ones located in the borough by 2026; there is also a qualitative need for a ten pin bowling facility in the Borough; there is capacity for privately operated health and fitness facilities from mid range or budget

operators, directed to the town centre first; there is a qualitative need to improve Dartford’s evening economy with more quality, family

orientated eating and drinking venues and better linkages between eating/drinking outlets and the theatre, to increasing restaurant/café expenditure;

the approach taken when determining new leisure floorspace should be firstly to direct new provision to Dartford town centre to enhance the day and evening economy, help improve Dartford’s offer and enliven the town centre. This will be complemented by leisure provision at Bluewater, which as a unique high quality leisure destination should be sustained, and the significant amount of committed leisure floorspace at Eastern Quarry/Ebbsfleet.

3.7 The Council carried out a Residents Satisfaction Survey28 during the June/July of 2005, in order to understand the issues and determine how successful five modern housing estates are. 569 (equating to 31%) responses were received from the 1855 postal questionnaires. Residents from Bexley Park,

26 Donaldsons (2006) Dartford Retail and Leisure Study 27 GVA Grimley (July 2010) Dartford Retail and Commercial Leisure Study 28 DBC (July 2005) Residents’ Satisfaction Survey: Cabinet Report

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Waterstone Park, Ingress Park, Worcester Park and Braeburn Park (located on the eastern edge of the Borough of Bexley) were asked: “What do you think about the type and quality of community facilities and services accessible to

you?” Respondents were less satisfied with sports facilities than other types of community facilities. Out of 20 types of community facilities assessed, indoor sports facilities scored a mean average of 21, ranking joint 15th and outdoor sports facilities scored a mean average of 19, ranking 18th. Only youth centres and elderly centres scored lower;

“Are you part of any local community groups?” Only a limited proportion of respondents are part of local community groups despite there being a range of groups in existence. At least 80% of respondents from each of the housing estates do not participate in local community, neighbourhood, sports and childrens’ groups.

Other relevant work

3.8 Dartford’s Play Strategy29 audits the current local provision, determines demand for play facilities via a range of consultations and identifies ways in which play provision can be improved. It identifies: that generally there is a good geographical distribution of play facilities within the borough, but

with some deficiencies in the wards of Heath, Joydens Wood, Longfield, New Barn and Southfleet and Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley;

an action plan to improve fixed play by a) providing safe play space for young children which provides types of play not currently catered for in the borough, b) improving provision in the wards of Heath and the intersection of Town, Joyce Green, Littlebrook and Newtown wards and c) improving provision for teenagers and young people through the creation of hang out/chill out areas;

an action plan to improve organised play activities by a) improving provision for older children and teenagers outside of school holidays, b) improving provision for younger children in Joyce Green, Littlebrook, Swanscombe and Greenhithe and c) promoting activities to traditionally excluded groups;

an action plan to improve casual, child-led play activities by a) improving safety in the borough’s open spaces, b) improving provision in Longfield, New Barn and Southfleet and c) explore ways to widen the appeal of Darenth Country Park.

3.9 A number of enhancements have been made recently, in line with the Play Strategy including the provision of: a water play area at Central Park during 2009/10; a natural play area within Darenth Country Park during 2009/10; the provision of chill out zones in Hesketh Park and Atlee Park during 2008/9; extension to the skate park in Central Park during 2009.

3.10 The Council carried out a Place Survey30 between September and December 2008, designed to look at how the work of public agencies is improving resident’s perceptions of the area as a place to live and asks people to define those issues which they believe are most in need of improvement. 2,124 (equating to 42%) responses were received from 5,000 postal questionnaires. The findings show: satisfaction with sport and leisure facilities has fallen by over 20% since the 2006 General User

Satisfaction Survey, and this fall in satisfaction is not reflected nationally. Overall, only 38.4% of respondents were satisfied with sports and leisure facilities, rising to 59.5% in the ward of Brent and falling to 26.2% in the ward of Town. Dartford’s average score of 38.4% is lower than the averages for Kent (45%), the South East (49.4%) and England (46.2%);

satisfaction with theatres and concert halls was higher, with 59.4% of Dartford’s respondents being satisfied compared to 36.4% in Kent, 46.7% in the South East and 43.2% in England;

overall, 43.6% of the respondents said activities for teenagers needed to be improved, rising to 52.7% in Littlebrook and falling to 31.2% in Longfield, New Barn and Southfleet;

for overall health and wellbeing, Dartford scored 75.4% and this is lower than the averages for Kent (76.1%), South East (79.3%) and England (76.6%);

29 DBC (2007) Play Strategy 2007-2010 30 DBC (December 2009) Place Survey Results: Quality Services Committee Report

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in Dartford, 52.8% of the respondents felt they belong to their neighbourhood and again this is lower than the averages for Kent (58.4%), South East (58.3%) and England (59.7%).

3.11 The health and wellbeing of people living and working in the borough has improved since January 2009 as a result of the successful take up of the joint Council and NHS West Kent Get Active Campaign. There is an emphasis on sharing the experience with friends and family, tailoring activities to individuals who are inactive and live sedentary lives, providing affordable sessions that can be easily accessed in the local area and encouraging people of all ages to sample a wide variety of activities through taster sessions. Some of the activities that currently take place in the Borough include: a programme of sports and fitness activities (such as aerobics, supple strength, yoga, women’s

health group, aero-tone) available at existing facilities as well as creating new community outreach facilities including at Acacia Fitness, Living Well Healthy Living Centre at Temple Hill, Children’s Centres, Church Road Hall, Swanscombe, Peppercorns Hall, Orchard Street, Dartford Judo Centre, Tree Community Centre, Beckets Sports centre, Fairfield Pool and Swanscombe Leisure Centre;

Central Park has a green gym, with eight outdoor pieces of gym equipment where people can exercise in a natural environment;

the Health Matters Lifestyle Programme is a 12 week course at Acacia Fitness which provides specialist support to become more active;

Acacia Fitness also offers a GP Referral scheme with Phase 4 Instructor to help with rehabilitation and cardiac patients;

the Play4Life Summer Fun programme encourages families to play together as a way of being more active. It allows children aged 5 to 11 to participate in a range of free activities such as treasure hunts, multi-sports, drama and dance throughout the school holidays at a number of locations across the Borough;

community gardens at Stone, Greenhithe and Dartford allow local communities to get involved in gardening activities.

3.12 There are a number of additional schemes run by other bodies: the North West Countryside Partnership runs the Naturally Active programme and the Health

Walks programme which encourage people to use their local green spaces and countryside for healthy activities, with Group Walks around Central Park, Dartford Heath and other countryside destinations every Wednesday;

Temple Hill Trust manages the Temple Hill’s Enchanted Woodland and holds volunteer woodland ranger activities that take place three times a week to help to maintain the woodland.

3.13 Sport England’s has carried out a variety of research studies to understand participation in sport and identify trends in participation, for instance by children and young people, disabled people and ethnic groups. Active People Survey 331identifies how participation varies from place to place and between different groups and also identifies the overall satisfaction levels of sporting provision in the local community. The results of the survey show that in England, the majority of adults (57.1%) do not participate in any physical activity, whilst 26.3% participate in less than 3 sessions per week and only 16.6% participate in more than 3 sessions of 20 minutes physical activity per week. The overall satisfaction level with local sports provision across England is 68.4%. Table 2 provides some further key statistics arising from the survey and highlights where there is a difference between Dartford, Kent and England. Of particular note is the lower than average participation in Dartford for 16-34 year olds and non white groups.

31 Sport England (December 2009) Active People Survey 3 for 2008/09 13

Table 1: Adult participation in 3 sessions of 30 minutes of moderate intensity sport per week Category England Kent Dartford Difference Overall 16.6% 15.5% 17.0% Dartford is higher than Kent and England Males 20.6% 23.1% 21.4% Females 12.7% 19.6% 18.0% Ages 16-34 27.0% 31.3% 24.8% Dartford is lower than Kent and England Ages 35-54 16.2% 23.1% 24.5% Dartford is higher than Kent and England Ages 55+ 7.6% 12.5% 8.8% White 16.5% 21.5% 20.0% Non White 17.0% 23.4% 15.7% Dartford is lower than Kent and England Limiting Disability 6.1% 9.3% 6.5% No Limiting Disability 18.5% 23.5% 21.3%

3.14 Sport England’s General Household Survey Participation in Sport32 identified a number of trends including larger numbers of people undertaking health and fitness activities but less organised sport, an overall decline in sports participation but this is offset by older people remaining active for longer and larger amounts of women participating in sport.

Main findings – evidence base

3.15 A number of findings can be drawn from the evidence, and these are targeted towards both residents and workers/visitors. In particular there is a need to: For Residents provide play areas, playing pitches and outdoor sporting facilities for the use of adults and

children; increase access to sports facilities, so that everyone, including disabled and elderly people

can use them; locate facilities close to where people live so that everyone, including residents without a

private garden and residents with poor health, has somewhere to exercise and so that residents without a car can access them easily;

provide sports facilities that are open during the day, evening and at weekends so that everyone can visit, regardless of whether they are economically active or inactive;

encourage a varied mix of sports facilities including elite sports that will help to increase participation rates;

provide new facilities on-site in large developments in the wards of greatest population growth in a manner so that they are accessible by both the new residents and the existing surrounding communities;

seek contributions for off-site enhancements to existing facilities to meet the demand generated by small cumulative sites;

maintain existing facilities in areas with little population growth or a declining population, including in rural villages; and

ensure access to appropriate sports facilities in the countryside, for people living in both urban and rural areas.

For Workers and Visitors protect existing sports facilities close to employment hubs for employees to use; maintain and enhance the town centre’s provision including sports facilities at Central Park and

Acacia Hall, to cater for town centre users; maintain and enhance the leisure offer at Bluewater, to cater for visitors at Bluewater; cater for commercial leisure facilities in central locations as demand grows in line with

population growth; and ensure the development at Ebbsfleet Valley includes sports facilities, to cater for employees,

business, leisure, domestic and international travellers.

32 Sport England (2001) General Household Survey Participation in Sport 14

4 Assessment

4.1 This section provides an assessment of the borough’s sports provision. It has been carried out in a number of stages: Stage 1 - identifying the current level of provision by auditing the existing sports facilities; Stage 2 – assessing the current level of provision against the current population demand, using

Sport England’s Facilities Planning Model (FPM); Stage 3 – predicting the additional demand generated by the future population in 2026, using

Sport England’s Sports Facilities Calculator (SFC); Stage 4 - identifying where new/enhanced provision can contribute to meeting demand and

identifying the type and location of sports facilities that should be secured or aspired towards.

Stage 1 - identifying the current level of provision by auditing the existing sports facilities

4.2 PPG17 Companion Guide suggests that audits of provision should include as a minimum a range of “core” facilities including: all sport and recreation facilities irrespective of ownership and the extent of public access (which

are large, bulky buildings that require a sizable site and are likely to generate high levels of use including swimming pools, indoor sports halls and leisure centres, indoor bowls centres, indoor tennis centres and ice rinks);

all primary, secondary and other educational institutions; community centres and village halls that have sporting uses; sports and recreational facilities outside the borough boundary but likely to be used by

residents.

4.3 A desk top study compiling a range of existing data held by the Council33, together with site surveys carried out in April 2010 have been used to create a comprehensive database of all sports facilities within the borough. Appendix 1 lists the facilities that have been included in the audit and those that have not.

4.4 Appendix 2 provides an assessment of audited sites, looking at: quantitative supply – by identifying the individual facilities that include a specific type of sport. In

addition, some sports have been measured in terms of their “useful area” such as number of pitches, number of courts, number of lanes, area m2, number of stations etc;

management and access - by identifying whether the facility is managed by a public company, commercial company, sports club, school or college and whether it is free public access, whether the public can turn up then pay and play without having to enter into membership agreements, whether a facility can solely by used by sports club or registered members, whether a facility is purely for private use such as school students or scouts. Some sites have a mix of the above;

type of facility – by identifying whether the facility is a purpose built sports facility with full time use or a flexible, shared community space that is used only part-time or occasionally for sporting uses. It also lists whether the facility has multi-sports usage which caters for different types of sport on one site or is a singular use sport. For built sports facilities it also identifies the year the facility was built;

spatial distribution – by identifying the location of the facility by ward.

4.5 Table 2 provides a quantitative summary of the sites containing sports facilities, excluding private facilities. It includes: sports sites that are publicly accessible on a full time basis, either as a free or pay and play

facility;

33 Data held by the Council includes Strategic Leisure/Scott Wilsons 2003 audit, Sport England’s National Facilities audit dataset January 2010, Planning Policy/Project Delivery 2006 audit, Groundwork’s open space audit, Groundwork’s playing pitch audit and Planning Policy Community Infrastructure Maps

15

sites that can be accessed by the public on a partial basis - sites that have public free or pay and play access only part-time, e.g. evening use of a schools facility by the general public or part time use of a community hall;

sites that can be accessed by the public on a limited basis – sites where people have to be a registered sports club member to use the facility or where private facilities such as school facilities are used part-time by sports clubs34.

Table 2: Existing sports sites Type of sports Number of sports

sites that are either publicly accessible or

have partial/limited public access

See relevant table in

Appendix 2 for more details

Indoor Sports Swimming pools 5 Table A Sports halls 14 Table B Indoor bowls 1 Table C Gyms and fitness suites 23 Table D Judo halls 8 Table E Dance studios 27 Table F Sub total indoor sports 78

Outdoor Sports Outdoor courts 12 Table G Outdoor bowls 6 Table H Athletics tracks 1 Table I Golf courses 4 Table J Sub total outdoor sports 23

Sports in Parks Outdoor fitness courses 3 Table K Multi use games areas (MUGAs) 13 Table L Skate/BMX tracks/Cycling 8 Table M Climbing walls 2 Table N Sub total sports in parks 26

Countryside Pursuits Horse riding schools 2 Table O Recreation fishing lakes 4 Table P Motorcross tracks 2 Table Q Shooting ranges 2 Table R Archery 2 Table S Sub total countryside pursuits 12

Total 139

4.6 Table 2 shows that there is a total of 78 sites containing indoor sports facilities. Appendix 2 shows that there is one public pay and play swimming pool at Fairfield Pool as well as three commercial swimming pools used by registered members at Next Generation, Hilton Hotel and Rowhill Grange. There is one school swimming pool for use by after-school sports clubs. There are three sports hall facilities with public pay and play access at Acacia Hall, Fairfield Pool and Swanscombe Centre. There is also part-time public pay and play access to sports halls at two schools, one sports club and one village hall. There are additional facilities for registered sports club members including one commercial facility, five school facilities and one sports club facility.

4.7 The map in Appendix 3 shows the location of indoor sports facilities in the borough. Although these are predominantly in the urban part of the borough. The majority of the sports hall sites are located in the northern, urban part of the borough there is a range of publicly accessible provision in the south of the borough provided as school sports facilities, sports club facilities or as part of flexible shared community space.

34 Facilities that require membership are classed as limited access because.not everyone would wish or could afford to sign up to regular membership subscriptions.

16

4.8 Table 2 and Appendix 2 also shows a range of other indoor sports facilities including one indoor bowls centre available to club members at Stone Lodge, six sites contain gyms at Acacia Hall, Swanscombe Centre, Dartford Health and Fitness Centre, Fairfield Pool, Reflexions Muscle and Fitness Centre, Beefs and Babes Fitness Centre, all of which can be accessed as either public pay and play or as registered members. Three schools also provide public pay and play access to gyms outside school hours at Leigh Technology Academy, North West Kent College (Dartford Campus and Beckets Sports Centre. Registered members also have access to three commercial gyms located in within sports clubs. In addition to gym facilities there are eight health suites, of which two are available for public pay and play. There are also five community facilities that run part-time group fitness sessions. There is one purpose built Judo Hall available for use by sports club members at Stone Lodge in addition to one school, one sports club, one social club, one community hall and two churches that accommodate occasional martial arts and kick boxing sessions for sports clubs. The public can access occasional pay and play dance sessions at one publicly accessible pay and play indoor sports facility, ten community halls, five churches/charity halls, two social clubs and one school. Members of specific dance clubs also have access to seven purpose built dance studios.

4.9 Table 2 identifies a total of 23 sports sites that contain outdoor sports facilities. Appendix 2 shows that there are four sites containing outdoor courts at Hesketh Park, Swanscombe Park, Temple Hill Outdoor Court and Longfield Community Park, that are free for the public to use, as well as two outdoor court facilities with public access pay and play at Acacia Hall and Swanscombe Centre. There are six other outdoor court facilities that are for use by sports clubs either at commercial facilities, sports club facilities or schools. There are also six outdoor bowls facilities (all of which can only be used by sports club members), one athletics track at Central Park for use by club members and three golf sites at Princes Golf Club, Dartford Golf Club and Birchwood Golf Club (all of which offer public access pay and play, in addition to sports club membership). There is also a public pay and play pitch and put facility at Bluewater.

4.10 Appendix 4 shows that the distribution of the built outdoor sports facilities is concentrated in the urban, northern part of the borough, with 24 out of the 27 sports sites being located in the north. The three remaining sites located in the rural southern part of the borough are all purpose built sports facilities for use by sports clubs.

4.11 The Open Spaces Technical Paper recognised the ancillary role of open spaces and parks as locations where a range of sporting activities can be carried out, usually free of charge. The Open Spaces Technical Paper, Play Strategy and the Corporate Plan recognise the need to tailor sports provision for children and youths and parks provide an additional supply of free sporting activities specifically targeted towards these priority groups. Table 2 shows that currently there are a total of 26 sports sites where people can enjoy sports in parks and the majority are free for the public to use. Appendix 2 lists three outdoor gyms located at Central Park, Acacia Hall and Bluewater, MUGAs spread across 13 different locations, one skate park at Central Park as well as additional skate/BMX tracks located in six additional parks, one public pay and play cycling facility at Bluewater, one free climbing wall at Central Park as well as public pay and play climbing walls at Bluewater. Appendix 5 shows that these sports sites are mostly located in the northern, urban part of the borough.

4.12 Lastly, Table 2 and Appendix 2 shows that there are a total of 12 locations across the borough where a range of countryside pursuits take place, including horse riding, recreational fishing, open water swimming/triathlon, motorcross and shooting. Archery is also included in this category as it is traditionally a countryside activity but in Dartford borough, this currently takes place in indoor sports facilities. All of these countryside pursuits are for use by registered club members. Five of the sites are located in the southern part of the borough. Seven sites are located in the northern part of the borough, of which two are located outside of the urban part of the borough at Dartford Marshes and the other two are located away from residential areas, as shown on the map in Appendix 6.

4.13 Table 2 shows that there are 139 sports sites, which includes sites that have been double counted because they contain multiple types of sports. In total there are 91 sports sites. This is also apparent in Appendices 2-5, where many of the indoor, outdoor and park facilities are used for multiple sports.

17

Swimming

pools that are too small 36

Stage 2 – assessing the current level of provision against the current population demand

4.14 A number of assessment techniques have been used to assess the extent to which sports facilities within the borough meet current demand. The audit in Appendix 2 and Table 2 identify that various types of sports facilities exist in the borough, at 97 sports sites. The maps in Appendices 3-6 show that overall there is a relatively good spatial distribution of purpose built sports facilities across the northern part of the borough, with some clustering in the west of the borough but few purpose built sports facilities in the rural part of the borough. This supply is supplemented by flexible community space that can be used on a part time basis for sporting activities – and this is particularly important in providing access to sporting facilities for rural communities. However, by just looking at the spread of sports sites, it is difficult to determine whether the borough has sufficient sports facilities to meet current demand.

4.15 The 2010 Profile Reports for Swimming Pool Provision in Dartford and Sports Hall Provision in Dartford35 provide an in-depth assessment of the two Facilities Planning Model (FPM) exercises that Sport England undertook in August 2010. The FPM is a theoretical, computer based supply/demand model to help assess the strategic provision of community sports facilities in an area. It estimates strategic gaps in the provision of sports facilities and identifies the level of sports facility provision needed to meet local needs. To gain a detailed understanding of the FPM methodology carried out by Sport England, the two FPM Reports should be read in conjunction with this paper. The main findings from each of the FPM Reports are incorporated into the analysis of the two key sports types below.

Swimming pools

4.16 Appendix 2, Table 2 and paragraph 4.6 above provide an analysis of the supply of swimming pools and Table 3 breaks down the supply further into full time facilities and partial access facilities. It shows that Dartford has one full time community pool located at Fairfield Pool which is a local authority owned but commercially managed facility. In addition, two facilities are available for partial community use, with the swimming pool at Dartford Grammar School for Girls being used after school hours by sports clubs and the commercial swimming pool at Next Generation being used on a full time basis but only by registered members. Two small swimming pools at Dartford Hilton and Rowhill Grange have partial public access for use by hotel guests and registered members but have not been included within the assessment as they fall below the size standard used by Sport England.

Table 3: Dartford’s swimming pools Borough Publicly

accessible full time pay +

play swimming

pools

Limited/ partial public

access for registered

members or sports clubs

Total supply of publicly

accessible swimming

pools (full and partial access)

Private facility with no publicly

accessible swimming

pools

Dartford 1 facility with 3 pools equating to 775 m2

2 facilities with 2 pools equating to 525 m2

3 facilities with 5 pools equating to 1,300 m2

2 facilities with 2 pools equating to 182 m2

4.17 The FPM provides a comparison against the supply of swimming pools in neighbouring boroughs by modelling the number of pools, sites and water space in m2, the estimated visits made to the swimming pool and the supply of water space per 1000 population. Table 4 replicates the FPM findings and shows that in comparison with neighbouring boroughs Dartford has: a lower number of pools, sites and water space in m2;

35 Sport England (2010) Swimming Pool Provision in Dartford – 2010 Profile Report and Sports Hall Provision in Dartford – 2010 Profile Report 36 Small scale facilities relate specifically to swimming pools below 130 m2 and sports halls below 459 m2, that are not included within Sports England’s calculations.

18

a similar amount of local authority owned facilities; a lower estimated visits per week in the peak period (VPWPP); water space per 1000 population, which is similar to the South East average, above Bexley and

Thurrock but below Gravesham, Sevenoaks and Bromley. These figures suggest the Dartford supply of swimming pools is lacking compared to surrounding boroughs but in fact the smaller population in Dartford provides a rationale that not so much water space is needed in Dartford.

Table 4: Comparison of swimming pool supplyD

artfo

rd

Gra

vesh

am

Seve

noak

s

Bro

mle

y

Bex

ley

Thur

rock

Sout

h Ea

st

Total main 3 5 facilities, 9 facilities, 13 4 facilities, 5 facilities, 380 supply: facilities, 6 pools, 14 pools, facilities, 7 pools, 8 pools, facilities, publicly 5 pools, 1607 2843 22 pools, 1655 1496 548 pools, accessible 1,300 water water 6461 water water 117,485 facilities water supply in supply in water supply in supply in water (full +partial supply in m2 m2 supply in m2 m2 supply in access) m2 m2 m2

Publicly Fairfield Cascades Whiteoak Crystal Crook Log Impulse N/A owned Pool LC37 LC, LC, Palace LC, Leisure swimming Cygnets Eden- National Erith LC, Black-pools LC bridge LC,

Sevenoak LC

Sports Centre, Pavilion LC, Spa at Becking-ham, Walnuts LC, West Wickham LC

Sidcup LC shots, Impulse Leisure Corring-ham, Belhus Park

VPWPP 9,026 9,311 17,659 47,319 13,369 9,577 801,962 Waterspace per 1000 population

13.84 16.24 24.29 21.44 7.59 9.66 13.81

4.18 The FPM assesses the geographical spread of swimming pools including those in the borough and those outside but near to the borough boundary, which is also shown in Appendix 3. It shows that the three community access pools are clustered in the main urban area, near to the town centre in the west of the borough. Map 1 in the FPM shows each of the swimming pools and a 20 minute walking catchment ring surrounding them. The swimming pools have overlapping catchments but some parts of the borough fall outside of the catchments, including the wards of Stone, Greenhithe, Swanscombe, Joyce Green, Littlebrook, Heath, Joydens Wood and the villages in the southern part of the borough.

4.19 The FPM identifies Fairfield Pool as the largest facility in the borough with 775 m2 of water space and a 25 metre length pool. However, being built in 1976, it is also the oldest swimming pool in the borough. This facility is 34 years old and is now outdated, not up to modern sports standards and areas such as the changing rooms, reception, health suite are functional but not of a high quality standard. This reduces it’s attractiveness to people using this facility.

37 LC means Leisure Centre 19

Facilities that are too

small 38

4.20 The FPM considers the demand for swimming pools arising from Dartford’s 2009 population of 93,900 and estimates a simplistic current supply/demand balance for Dartford, which should be used with caution as it does not take account of the location, nature, quality, accessibility of facilities nor the facilities in the adjoining boroughs. Table 5 shows that Dartford has: the lowest demand for estimated visits per week in the peak period (VPWPP) and water space

in m2 compared to all of the surrounding boroughs; a positive supply/demand balance figure of 153 m2 of water space (calculated by subtracting the

957 m2 of water space demanded from the community use supply of 1,110 m2 water space); a comparable supply/demand balance to Gravesham and a figure that is above Bexley and

Thurrock but below Sevenoaks and Bromley. The lack of quality and unattractiveness of Fairfield Pool and the smaller population compared to surrounding boroughs are factors affecting the low demand for swimming pools in the borough. It can be speculated that if new, modern facilities were provided, the demand for water space would increase.

Table 5: Comparison of swimming pool demand

Dar

tford

Gra

vesh

am

Seve

noak

s

Bro

mle

y

Bex

ley

Thur

rock

Sout

h Ea

st

Swims demanded (VPWPP)

5,446 5,576 6,421 17,173 12,543 9,053 474,051

Water space in m2

demanded

957 980 1,129 3,019 2,205 1,592 833,350

Supply/ demand balance m2

water space

153.35 165.5 1044.47 2804.49 -560.01 -412.97 15,353.4

Sports halls

4.21 Appendix 2, Table 2 and paragraph 4.6 above provide an analysis of the supply of sports halls and Table 6 breaks down the supply further into full time facilities and partial access facilities. It shows that Dartford has two full time sports hall facilities at Acacia Hall Sports Centre and the Swanscombe Leisure Centre, which are both local authority owned but commercially managed facilities. The other six community facilities are all educational facilities with shared community use at Becket Sports Centre, Dartford Technology College, North West Kent College, Swan Valley Community School, Leigh Technology Academy and Wilmington Enterprise College. Eight sports hall sites have not been included within the assessment as they are private facilities or they fall below the standard used by Sport England (3 or more sports courts). For instance, the sports halls at Fairfield Pool have been excluded from this assessment because it contains only two courts.

Table 6: Dartford’s sports halls Borough Publicly

accessible full time pay + play facility

Limited/ partial public

access for registered

members or sports clubs

Total main supply: publicly

accessible facilities (full and partial

access)

Private facility with no public access

Dartford 2 facilities with 6 facilities with 8 facilities with 5 facilities with 3 facilities with

38 Small scale facilities relate specifically to swimming pools below 130 m2 and sports halls below 459 m2, that are not included within Sports England’s calculations.

20

7 courts equating to 1,080 m2

26 courts equating to 3,888 m2

33 courts equating to 4,968 m2

8 courts equating to 1,323 m2

10 courts equating to 1,485+ m2

4.22 The FPM provides a comparison against the supply of sports halls in neighbouring boroughs by identifying the number of halls and courts, the estimated visits made to the sports halls and the courts per 1000 population. Table 7 replicates the FPM findings and shows that that in comparison with neighbouring boroughs Dartford has: has a lower number of public sports halls and publicly available hall space in courts; a lower number of public owned sports courts; the lowest visits per week in the peak period (VPWPP); 3.68 courts per 1000 population, which is similar to Sevenoaks, Bromley and Thurrock but lower

than the South East average, Bexley and Gravesham. These figures suggest the Dartford supply of sports halls is lacking compared to surrounding boroughs but in fact the smaller population in Dartford provides a rationale that not so many courts are needed in Dartford.

Table 7: Comparison of sports halls supply

Dar

tford

Gra

vesh

am

Seve

noak

s

Bro

mle

y

Bex

ley

Thur

rock

Sout

h Ea

st

Total main supply: publicly accessible facilities (full +partial access)

9 sports halls, 27.68 courts

13 sports halls, 41.46 courts

11 sports halls, 41.46 courts

31 sports halls, 98.24 courts

27 sports halls, 76.04 courts

16 sports halls, 36.98 courts

925 sports halls, 2,870.2 courts

Names of public sports halls

(LC means Leisure Centre)

Acacia Hall Sports Centre

Cascades LC, Cygnets LC

Whiteoak LC, Eden-bridge LC, Sevenoak LC

Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, Pavilion LC, Walnuts LC,

Crook Log LC, Danson Youth Trust, Erith LC, Sidcup LC

None N/A

Hall Space VPWPP

5,605 8,395 7,763 19,894 15,399 7,489 581,216

Sports courts per 1000 population

3.86 5.46 3.85 3.79 4.24 3.28 4.14

4.23 The FPM assesses the geographical spread of sports halls (both inside and outside of the borough’s boundary), and this is also shown in Appendix 3. It shows that the community access sports halls are located in the main urban area, near to Dartford Town Centre and close to the boroughs of Bexley and Gravesham. Map 1 in the FPM shows each of the sports halls and a 20 minute walking catchment ring surrounding them. The sports halls have overlapping catchments and the majority of the populated urban area falls within the 20 minute catchments with the exception of parts of the wards of Stone, Joyce Green, Littlebrook, Joydens Wood and the villages in the southern part of the borough.

4.24 The FPM acknowledges that all of the sports hall facilities contain four court halls with the exception of Swanscombe Leisure Centre which has a three court hall. Swan Valley also has an ancillary hall with a further two courts. Both of the local authority owned facilities were built over 20 years ago, with Acacia Hall being built in 1991 and Swanscombe Leisure Centre being built in 1989, with some

21

refurbishment in 2007. Both are now starting to become outdated and although functional they lack a high quality standard, which in turn impacts on attractiveness of these facilities. Three of the educational sports halls are recent, being built between 2002 and 2009 but others are much older and in particular the facility at North Kent College is 45 years old. This facility is now being upgraded.

4.25 The FPM considers the demand for sports halls arising from Dartford’s 2009 population of 93,900 and estimates a simplistic current supply/demand balance for Dartford, which should be used with caution as it does not take account of the location, nature, quality, accessibility of facilities nor the facilities in the adjoining boroughs. Table 8 shows that Dartford has: VPWPP demanded, and a demand for courts similar to Gravesham but lower than the other

boroughs; a positive supply/demand balance figure of 0.5 courts (calculated by subtracting the 27.09

courts demanded from the community use supply of 27.68 courts); a supply//demand balance figure that is below the surrounding boroughs except Thurrock. Once again, it is the lack of quality and unattractiveness of the public owned sports halls and the smaller population compared to surrounding boroughs that result in low demand for sports halls in the borough. It can be speculated that if these sports halls were refurbished and upgraded, the demand for sports halls would also increase.

Table 8: Comparison of sports hall demand

Dar

tford

Gra

vesh

am

Seve

noak

s

Bro

mle

y

Bex

ley

Thur

rock

Sout

h Ea

st

Visits demanded (VPWPP)

4,389 4,484 5,113 13,856 10,115 7,220 383,423

Courts demanded

27.09 27.68 31.56 85.53 62.44 44.57 2,366.81

Supply/ demand balance

0.59 13.78 6.77 12.71 13.6 -7.59 503.39

4.26 For both swimming pools and sports halls, the FPM uses a number of assumptions to model the theoretical demand and estimate the degree to which facilities are used, covering aspects such as satisfied demand, unmet demand, used capacity and relative share. Overall it shows that Dartford is similar to the national situation, that the majority of the demand is being met by existing swimming pools and sports halls, and that the small amount of unmet demand arises due to residents living outside of sports facilities catchment areas rather than due to lack of capacity. It also estimates that there may be a lower level of demand at Fairfield Pool due to the age and quality of the facility making it less attractive to use. Other public owned facilities at Acacia Hall and Swanscombe Leisure Centre are running at full capacity. The maps in the FPM also demonstrate that there are locations within the borough where the provision of a new swimming pool and/or sports courts could capture much of the unmet demand, including locations such as Eastern Quarry, Swanscombe Peninsula, Stone Lodge and Acacia Hall.

Stage 3 – predicting the additional demand for sports provision generated by the future population in 2026

4.27 Sports England’s Sports Facility Calculator (SFC) has been used to estimate the demand that will be generated by the increase in residential population between 2009 and 2026. The SFC automatically calculates the profile of usage, based on user survey data to estimate who uses the different types of facilities and how often. This profile is then used to estimate the demand that the population will generate by taking into account the national average usage rates then converting this estimated demand into actual facilities, expressed as swimming pools, lanes and square metres of water, sports

22

halls and courts. The SFC has limitations and should only be used as an indicative tool39. The SFC indicatively shows that in 2026, with a population increase of approximately 42%, amounting to 32,10040 more residents than as at 2009, there will be an additional need for: 1.5 swimming pools, equivalent to 318 m2; 2.27 sports halls, equivalent to 9.09 courts.

4.28 An additional 318m2 of water space and 9 sports courts will be required to satisfy demand arising from the growth in resident population in the Borough, alongside the need to reduce the qualitative deficiencies in the existing supply and the unequal spatial distribution across the borough. Further demand may arise from workers and visitors to the area.

Stage 4 - specifying where new/enhanced provision can contribute to meeting demand

4.29 To assess the extent to which future sports facility demands will be met, the location of likely future provision of new or enhanced sports facilities by 2026 has been estimated. This has been calculated using: sports development projects that seek to enhance existing facilities; commitments for new on-site provision, taken from existing planning permissions; estimates of the other likely sports provision based upon the developable and deliverable sites

in the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessments (SHLAA), proposals in existing planning applications and by identification of other large development sites which could contribute to on-site sports provision, given their size, scale, characteristics and location.

4.30 A number of sports development projects are already committed. They will enhance both the quantity and/or the quality of the existing supply and include: a consolidation of Central Park and Acacia Hall to form a larger, combined publicly accessible

site and further enhancements to outdoor facilities as part of Dartford’s Greenheart project; 2 mini soccer floodlit synthetic turf pitches at Princes Park Community Stadium; the Pavilion Project at Stone Recreation Ground, which will replace the existing pavilion and

Council Offices with a new building encompassing community space, Council Offices, Stone Cricket Club, changing facilities, showers, bar and kitchen. Building work has started on-site with some funding secured via the s106 agreement on the Waterstone Park development.

4.31 There are also aspirations to improve a number of existing sports facilities but this will be dependant upon gaining planning permission and securing funding. They include: a new cricket pavilion and sports rehabilitation centre at Hesketh Park; a floodlit football pitch, club house and changing facilities to replace existing facilities at

Longfield Community Park; possible further enlargement of the skate park at Central Park; floodlighting at Central Park Athletics; enhanced sports facilities at North West Kent College; new Angling Academy at Littlebroook Lakes, part of The Bridge development; public pay and play boxing sessions for the community at Tree Estate Community Centre; replacement for the Fairfield Leisure Centre and swimming pool at the Acacia Hall Complex.

4.32 There are commitments to provide a range of new on-site sports facilities in new development sites (with planning permissions and section 106 agreements approved or being currently considered) including: a leisure complex, community centre and three grass pitches, one synthetic turf pitch, five dual

use playing pitches, outdoor courts, MUGAs and pitches and a sports hall provided as part of the primary and secondary schools at Eastern Quarry;

39 The SFC cannot identify specific geographical areas of deficiency, nor calculate the actual provision in the area. It only calculates theoretical requirements and does not take into account cross-boundary facilities and visits.

40 Based on Kent County Council’s September 2009 Strategy Based Forecast 23

a multi-purpose sports centre and playing pitches provided as part of the primary school at Ebbsfleet as well as a new commercial leisure centre with a proposed small gym and swimming pool, located just across the borough boundary;

a community centre, one grass and one synthetic turf pitch in addition to playing pitches provided as part of the primary school at Northfleet West Sub Station;

a Community Resource Centre and pitches and gym hall provided as part of the primary school at The Bridge;

a community hall as part of the last phase of development at Ingress Park.

4.33 There are also a number of other development sites that will create sizable populations, generating need for new sports facilities within their site boundaries. These sites are large enough to accommodate some form of sports provision on-site and include: potential for sports facilities including playing pitches for community use, provided as part of a

possible primary school and community centre on the Swanscombe Peninsula site. This site is also large enough to accommodate a large scale built indoor and outdoor sports facilities. Sports facilities can complement the economic and transport hub to be created at Ebbsfleet and can help to make the area more attractive to major employers, employees and new residents. Public transport links between Swanscombe Peninsula and Ebbsfleet International Station and the strategic road network will be crucial, to ensure connectivity and sustainable transport usage. The benefits for local communities will need to be maximised by introducing community participation programmes, working with local sports clubs, ensuing good access by public transport and green walking and cycling routes, implementing travel plans to ensure that increased traffic generated from the facility does not impact negatively on local people. Partnership working with Sport England and Governing Bodies of Sport will be needed to secure regional facilities;

Stone Lodge could accommodate a variety of large scale built indoor and outdoor sports facilities, to complement the centre of excellence for Judo and the indoor, outdoor and short mat bowls clubs that already exists on the site. The facilities could cater for the regional demand for specialist, elite sports and will help to provide a higher profile for sports in the borough. Provision will be required for community use alongside the specialist provision, so as to encourage improved participation rates and sporting excellence by borough residents;

a primary school is proposed at the Northern Gateway and playing pitches will be provided as part of the school. The southern part of the Northern Gateway may also be able to accommodate a commercial gym or fitness centre or indoor sports hall, helping to meet the demand arising from the residential population but also the commuters using Dartford train station;

the Dartford Retail and Leisure Study identifies the need for a mix of commercial leisure uses such as bowling alley, cinema etc in Dartford Town Centre. There are a number of sites in the centre which could accommodate these requirements. This would accommodate demand from across the rest of the borough due to its town centre location.

4.34 Appendix 7 provides a visual representation of where new/enhanced sports facilities could be provided in the future. It also plots the 1.6 km walking catchment rings of existing swimming pools and sports halls, both those in the borough and those near to the borough’s boundary. It shows that some parts of the borough currently lie outside the catchments of existing facilities. It also shows the catchment rings of new proposed or committed provision of sports halls and/or swimming pools at Swanscombe Peninsula, Eastern Quarry, Ebbsfleet, Stone Lodge and Acacia Hall. This demonstrates that by 2026, these new catchments will reduce the current gaps and result in the majority of the urban population falling within a catchment of at least type of sports facility. Only the eastern part of the ward of Stone, Castle, the southern parts of the wards of Joyce Green and Littlebrook and the southern rural wards will fall outside of the sports facilities catchments by 2026.

Main findings – assessment

4.35 A number of findings can be drawn from the four stage assessment provided above. The results of the audit suggest that:

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approximately one third of the sports sites are publicly accessible facilities that are free to use or are full-time pay and play publicly accessible facilities. This is supplemented by publicly accessible facilities for pay and play that can only be used either for limited amounts of time or sports facilities that can only be accessed if you are a registered member or part of a sports club;

31 sports sites offer a multiple number of sports uses; the majority of the activities take place in purpose built sports facilities and the majority of

these are located in the northern part of the borough, within the built-up urban area; 14% of the sports sites are located in shared community facilities that are used on a part-time

or occasional basis. This includes community centres, village and parish halls, scouts huts, church halls, charity halls, social clubs and pavilions. This type of flexible community resource is important in enhancing access to sports and encouraging participation of local residents. They are particularly important in rural areas, where fewer purpose built sports facilities exist;

the borough now has a number of elite sporting venues which have won design and sports awards. The Judo Centre at Stone Lodge has world class facilities and holds international camps. The Princes Park Community Stadium is the home of Dartford Football Club, a training ground for Charlton’s Under 18’s and caters as a conference and wedding venue. The Judo Centre at Stone Lodge has world class facilities and hold international camps. The Judo Centre, Princes Park Community Stadium and Arrow Riding School for the Disabled have been identified as Pre-Games Training Venues for the 2012 Olympics. Elite sports should continue to be supported in the borough. Princes Park Community Stadium has recently been included as a training ground in the bid for the England World Cup Bid 2018 or 2022. These kind of elite sporting venues are important because they develop local excellence in sport, raise the borough’s profile, encourage regeneration, help to increase sports participation levels generally and get children and youths motivated which in turn can lower anti-social behaviour;

there are a variety of sports present in the borough, with competing teams/professional competitors participating in athletics, bowls, football, judo, weightlifting, swimming, basketball, archery, cricket, cycling, equestrian, gymnastics, pentathlon, netball, orienteering, squash, trampoline, triathlon and volleyball;

Dartford hosts a number of annual sporting events including Triathlon at The Bridge, Dartford Half Marathon starting from Central Park Athletics Arena, Dartford 10K Run starting at Bluewater and Dartford 10 Mile Run starting from Princes Park Community Stadium;

out of the 35 types of sports assessed in The Single Sport Deficiencies in Kent, there is an absence in the following sports: canoeing, korfball, lawn tennis, petanque, rowing, skiing and snowboarding and water skiing. The following sports are under represented: badminton, climbing, disability sports, sailing and boating, table tennis;

the skate park in Central Park is very popular with youths and has scope for further enlargement/enhancement. There are a number of other skate parks/BMX tracks but they are small scale facilities which are undersized.

There is a lack of modern sports such as adventure and extreme sports (watersports, adventure trails, paintballing, laser shooting), urban street sport (various street, racing, trial riding) and commercial leisure (bowling alley, ice rink);

temporary sports facilities are provided during the Dartford Festival and as part of the Summer Sizzlers and Change 4 Life programmes which incorporate sports and dance zones and sports coaching courses and there is often additional outdoor leisure facilities at Bluewater during the summer such as a children’s beach, carousel etc;

community sessions that take place in commercial, sports club or school facilities enable the general public to access a greater range of sports, thereby helping to increase participation rates. Securing shared use agreements, nominal membership fees, short term contracts and concessions for specific groups such as the elderly or disabled can also encourage greater participation in sport;

the existing sports facilities provide a number of benefits such as increasing sports participation in the area, enhancing community spirit, promoting active and healthy lifestyles, motivating people especially children and teenagers, enhancing people’s well being and quality of life and creating sustainable developments by locating facilities in accessible locations close to where people live and work.

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4.36 The results of the FPM and the SFC suggest that there is a need to: protect existing facilities (especially purpose built public pay and play facilities and shared use

community facilities in central locations with good access to public transport) and to enhance the quality of existing sports facilities which in turn will increase their attractiveness and encourage higher usage. Qualitative enhancements or replacement provision with new modern facilities will be particularly important for Fairfield Pool. Quantitative enhancements at Acacia Hall and Swanscombe Leisure Centre, or additional provision close by, would also be beneficial;

secure community sports use in community facilities, sports clubs and schools through section 106 agreements and shared use agreements, in order to make sports facilities more accessible to residents;

provide a quantitative increase in publicly available sports provision, of at least 318 m2 water space and 9 sports courts, by 2026;

locate new facilities outside of existing catchments in the northern part of the borough, in locations such as Stone Lodge, Eastern Quarry and Swanscombe Peninsula.

4.37 A number of ways have already been identified to help meet the demand for sports facilities arising from a growing population including:

maximising new sports provision within development sites, especially on sites where proposals have not been firmly drawn up such as at Stone Lodge and Swanscombe Peninsula;

enhancing the quality of sports facilities such as those at Acacia Hall and Central Park; ensuring the replacement of the out-dated Fairfield Leisure Centre with a new facility built to

high quality and modern sporting standards; attracting regional scale sports facilities to the borough at Stone Lodge and Swanscombe

Peninsula; maximising the sporting and community benefits of elite sports centres at the Judo Centre,

Stone Lodge and Princes Park Community Stadium.

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Appendix 1: Type of Sports Included Within the Audit

In line with PPG17 and the Companion Guide, the audit encompasses all sport and recreation facilities within the local area, irrespective of ownership and the extent of public access. The facilities that have been audited include: all facilities that require large bulky buildings and are intended to generate high levels of use; community centres, village halls and other community and club buildings, but only where

sporting activity is evident on a regular to occasional basis and it forms one of the building’s main functions41;

primary and secondary schools and other educational institutions with purpose built indoor or outdoor sports facilities;

sport and recreation facilities outside the local authority’s area likely to be used regularly by its residents.

Table 9 shows the types of sports facilities that have been audited and those that have not.

Table 9: Audited Facilities

Type of facility Included in audit Excluded from audit Indoor sports PPG17 “core” facilities including: Facilities that do not currently facilities A swimming pools,

B health and fitness including gyms, health suites and group fitness studios,

C sports halls/leisure centres and indoor sports courts,

D indoor bowls rinks.

Other indoor facilities such as: E halls for judo and combat sports, F dance/theatre studios.

exist in the borough: ice rinks, ski slopes.

Outdoor sports Facilities that form part of PPG17’s definition of Facilities already assessed in facilities outdoor sports facilities including:

G outdoor courts, H outdoor bowls rinks, I athletics track, J golf, driving ranges and pitch and putt,

Other outdoor physical activity that take place in parks and open spaces such as: K outdoor fitness course, L skate, BMX, cycling and karting, M climbing wall and high wires, N multi use games areas (MUGA).

Other countryside pursuits including: O horse riding schools, P recreational lakes for angling and sailing/

rowing, Q motorsports tracks, R shooting ranges.

Dartford’s Open Spaces Technical Paper, Dartford’s Play Strategy and Dartford’s playing Pitch Study: children’s equipped play

spaces, green areas for walking,

running and cycling, playing pitches.

Indoor Facilities already assessed in commercial Dartford’s Retail and Leisure leisure facilities Study:

cinemas, theatres, bowling alleys,

41 Facilities where sporting activity is not evident, takes place infrequently or is ancillary to it’s main social function have not been included in the audit. This includes scouts, girls/boys brigade and cadet clubs, youth clubs, social clubs, working mens clubs, ex-servicemen, veterans, British Legion clubs, Salvation Army, St Johns Ambulance, masonic lodges, other religious halls, day centres, children’s centres and Sure Start, meeting rooms etc.

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Appendix 1: Type of Sports Included Within the Audit bingo halls, pubs/nightclubs, café’s/restaurants

Other leisure activities such as: bookmakers, amusement arcades, pools/snooker, darts, dominoes and koyts.

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Appendix 2: Audit of Dartford’s Existing Sports Facilities

Coloured cells have been used to differentiate between different types of facilities: cells coloured purple are publicly accessible free to use facilities; cells coloured green are publicly accessible pay and play facilities; cells coloured orange are publicly accessible pay and play facilities but only on a part-time or occasional basis; cells coloured yellow are flexible shared community facilities

Private facilities that have been identified in the audit but not assessed in this paper are shown as grey text.

INDOOR SPORTS

A Swimming pools (excluding Lidos) ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward

18 Next Generation Health Club (David Lloyd)

1 pools consisting of 325 m2, including 25m length and 5 swimming lanes

Commercial facility used by registered members

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility, built in 2003

Brent.

83 Fairfield Pool 3 pools consisting of 775 m2, including 25m length and 6 swimming lanes

Commercial facility with public pay and play and also used by registered members and sports clubs

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility, built in 1976

Princes

89 Dartford Hilton Livingwell Health Club

1 pool consisting of 105 m2 Commercial facility used by hotel guests and registered members

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility, built in 1998

Stone

145 Dartford Grammar School for Girls

1 pool consisting of 200 m2, with 4 swimming lanes

School facility used by sports clubs and students

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility, built in 2001

West Hill

160 Rowhill Grange Utopia Health and Leisure Spa

1 pool consisting of 77 m2 Commercial facility used by hotel guests and registered members

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility, built in 2007

Wilmington

B Sports halls and leisure centres (includes indoor sports courts for badminton, tennis, squash and basketball)

ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward

17 Acacia Hall Sports Centre 4 indoor badminton courts, totalling 594 m2.

Public facility with public pay and play

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility, built in 1991

Brent

18 Next Generation Health Club (David Lloyd)

6 indoor tennis courts. Commercial facility used by registered members

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility, built in 2003

Brent.

21 Leigh Technology Academy 4 indoor badminton courts, totalling 594 m2

School facility with public pay and play and also used by sports clubs and students

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility, built in 2007 and refurbished in 2009

Brent

29

Appendix 2: Audit of Existing Sports Facilities

ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward

33 Swanscombe Centre 3 indoor badminton courts totalling 486 m2

Commercial facility with public pay and play and also used by registered members and sports clubs

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility, built in 1989 and refurbished in 2007

Greenhithe

64 Longfield Academy 4 indoor badminton courts, totalling 594 m2

School facilities used by students Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility

Longfield, New Barn and Southfleet

83 Fairfield Pool 2 indoor squash court Commercial facility with public pay and play and also used by registered members and sports clubs

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility, built in 1976

Princes

84 North West Kent College (Dartford Campus)

4 indoor badminton courts, totalling 594 m2

School facility with part-time public pay and play and used by sports clubs and students

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility, built in 1965 but now with a replacement facility built

Princes

115 Swan Valley Community School 6 badminton courts totalling 918 m2

School facility used by sports clubs and students

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility, built in 2002

Swanscombe

138 Becket Sports Centre 4 indoor badminton courts, totalling 594 m2

School facility with part-time public pay and play and also used by registered members, sports clubs and students

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility, built in 1994 and refurbished in 2006

West Hill

144 Dartford Technology College 4 indoor badminton courts, totalling 594 m2

School facility used by sports clubs and students

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility, built in 2009

West Hill

165 The Grammar School for Girls, Wilmington

1 badminton court totalling 180 m2

School facility used by sports clubs and students

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility, built in 1955

Wilmington

166 Wilmington Grammar School for Boys

1 badminton court? School facility used by students Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility, built in 1963

Wilmington

262 Wilmington Enterprise College 4 indoor badminton courts, totalling 594 m2

School facility used by sports clubs and students

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility,

Wilmington

270 Bexley Park Sports and Social Club

1 indoor squash courts Sports club facility used by club members

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility

Joydens Wood

405 Sutton-at-Hone Village Hall Occasional use of 1 badminton court

Public facility with occasional public pay and play

Flexible shared community space Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley.

408 Swanscombe and Greenhithe Association Sports and Social Club

2 squash courts Sports club used by club members and also occasional public pay and play

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility

Swanscombe

30

86

C

Appendix 2: Audit of Existing Sports Facilities

Indoor bowls rinks

ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward

Dartford Stone Lodge Indoor Bowls Club

7 indoor bowls rinks and short mat bowls

Bowls club facility used by club members

Multi-sports, Purpose built, full-time facility

Stone

406 Scout Hall Short mat bowls Scout club facility with occasional use by scouts

Multi-sports, Part-time flexible shared community space

Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley.

D Health and fitness (including gyms, health suites and group fitness studios) ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward

17 Acacia Hall Sports Centre Gym with 56 fitness stations and group fitness sessions

Public facility with public pay and play

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility

Brent

18 Next Generation Health Club (David Lloyd)

Gym with 125 fitness stations, health suite and group fitness sessions

Commercial facility used by registered members

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility

Brent

21 Leigh Technology Academy Gym with 15 fitness stations and group fitness sessions

School facility with part-time public pay and play and also used by registered members and students

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility

Brent

33 Swanscombe Centre Gym with 47 fitness stations and group fitness sessions

Commercial facility with public facility and also used by registered members

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility

Greenhithe

45 Dartford Health and Fitness Studio/Temple Hill Gym

Gym with 32 fitness stations Commercial facility with public pay and play and also used by registered members

Purpose built, full-time facility Joyce Green

52 Birchwood Park Golf Club Gym with 56 fitness stations, health suite and group fitness sessions

Golf club facility used by registered members and club members

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility

Joydens Wood

53 Reynolds Fitness Gym with 42 fitness stations, health suite and 6 group fitness sessions

Commercial facility used by registered members

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility

Joydens Wood

83 Fairfield Pool Gym with 50 fitness stations, health suite and group fitness sessions

Commercial facility used by registered members but also public pay and play

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility

Princes

84 North West Kent College (Dartford Campus)

Gym with 5 fitness stations and group fitness sessions

School facility with part-time public pay and play and also

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility

Princes

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Appendix 2: Audit of Existing Sports Facilities

ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward used by registered members and students

89 Dartford Hilton Livingwell Health Club

Gym with 26 fitness stations and health suite.

Commercial facility used by hotel guests and registered members

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility

Stone

90 Dartford Judo Centre Gym with 7 fitness stations Judo club facility used by club members

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility

Stone

137 Reflexions Muscle and Fitness Centre

Gym with 10+ fitness stations Commercial facility used by registered members but also public pay and play

Purpose built, full-time facility West Hill

138 Becket Sports Centre Gym with 28 fitness stations and group fitness sessions

School facility used part-time by registered members and students

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility

West Hill

160 Rowhill Grange Utopia Health and Leisure Spa

Gym with 19 fitness stations, health suite and group fitness sessions

Commercial facility used by hotel guests and registered members

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility

Wilmington

261 Beefs and Babes Fitness Centre Gym with 75 fitness stations Commercial facility with public pay and play and registered members

Purpose built, full-time facility Stone

270 Bexley Park Sports and Social Club

Occasional group fitness sessions

Sports club facility used by club members

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility

Joydens Wood

373 St Edmunds Church Living Well Occasional group fitness sessions

Church facility used by church members but also with part-time public pay and play

Part-time flexible shared community space

Joyce Green

395 Temple Hill Baptist Church Hall Occasional group fitness sessions

Church facility used by church members but also with part-time public pay and play

Multi-sports, Part-time flexible shared community space

Littlebrook

397 Cabrini Children’s Society Occasional group fitness sessions

Church facility used by church members but also with part –time public pay and play

Multi-sports, Part-time flexible shared community space

Littlebrook

406 Sutton-at-Hone Scout Hall Occasional group fitness sessions

Scouts club facility used by scouts but also part –time public pay and play

Multi-sports, Part-time flexible shared community space

Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley.

415 Brent Methodist Church Hall Occasional group fitness sessions

Church facility used by church members but also with part –time public pay and play

Part-time flexible shared community space

Newtown

280 Molton Brown Spa at Bluewater 1 health suite Commercial facility with public pay and play and registered

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility

Stone

32

Judo club facility used by club

members and sports clubs

Dartford Grammar School for Girls

Sports club used by club members and martial arts club

Appendix 2: Audit of Existing Sports Facilities

ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward members

410 TB Fitness 1 health studio and physio rooms Commercial facility used by registered members

Purpose built, full-time facility Town

E Halls for judo and combat sports

ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward

90 Dartford Judo Centre Judo hall with 2 dojo mats and temporary structure accommodating fitness equipment for use by the Judo Performance Institute

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility

Stone

145 Occasional martial arts sessions School facility used by martial arts club

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility

West Hill

302 Longfield and New Barn Community Hall and Park

Occasional martial arts sessions Public facility used by martial arts club

Multi-sports, Part-time flexible shared community space

Longfield, New Barn and Southfleet

374 Royal British Legion Hall Occasional martial arts sessions Social club used by martial arts club

Part-time flexible shared community space

Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley

395 Temple Hill Baptist Church Hall Occasional kick boxing sessions Church facility used by sports club

Multi-sports, Part-time flexible shared community space

Littlebrook

398 St Vincents Parish Centre Occasional martial arts sessions Church facility used by martial arts club

Part-time flexible shared community space

Littlebrook

408 Swanscombe and Greenhithe Association Sports and Social Club

Occasional martial arts sessions Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility

Swanscombe

17 Acacia Hall Sports Centre Occasional martial arts sessions Public facility with public pay and play

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility

Brent

F Dance/theatre studios

ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward

17 Acacia Hall Sports Centre Dance school sessions Public facility with public pay and play

Multi-sports, purpose built, full-time facility

Brent

83 Fairfield Pool Dance school sessions Commercial facility used by Multi-sports, purpose built, full- Princes

33

The Goodman Dance Centre

Irish Dancing

Appendix 2: Audit of Existing Sports Facilities

ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward

registered members but also public pay and play

time facility

53 Reynolds Fitness Occasional dance sessions Commercial facility with registered members and dance club members

Multi sports, purpose built, full-time facility

Joydens Wood

268 Dance school sessions Dance school facility used by dance club members

Purpose built, full-time facility Town

269 The Edge Theatre and Dance School

Dance school sessions Dance school facility used by dance club members

Purpose built, full-time facility West Hill

288 St George's Field and Hawley Pavilion

Occasional dance sessions Public facility used by dance club members and also public pay and play

Part-time flexible shared community space

Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley.

353 Dance school sessions Dance school facility used by dance club members

Purpose built, full-time facility West Hill

355 Paula Gosnell Dance School Occasional dance school sessions

Public facility used by dance club members

Part-time flexible shared community space

Brent

356 Birchwood Drive Community Centre

Occasional dance sessions Public facility used by dance club members and also public pay and play

Part-time flexible shared community space

Joydens Wood

357 The Mick Jagger Centre Dance/drama school sessions School facility used by dance club members and students

Purpose built, full-time facility West Hill

302 Longfield and New Barn Community Hall and Park

Occasional dance school sessions

Public facility used by dance school members and also public pay and play

Multi-sports, Part-time flexible shared community space

Longfield, New Barn and Southfleet

360 St Michaels Church Hall Occasional dance sessions Church facility used by dance club members and also public pay and play

Part-time flexible shared community space

Wilmington

361 Leyton Cross Social Club Occasional dance sessions Social club facility used by dance club members and also public pay and play

Part-time flexible shared community space

Wilmington

362 Stone Community Hall Occasional dance sessions Public facility used by dance club members and also public pay and play

Multi-sports, Part-time flexible shared community space

Stone

363 Bean Village Hall Occasional dance school sessions

Public facility used by dance club members

Part-time flexible shared community space

Bean and Darenth

368 Darenth Village Hall Occasional dance sessions Public facility used by dance club Part-time flexible shared Bean and Darenth 34

Appendix 2: Audit of Existing Sports Facilities

ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward

members and also public pay and play

community space

396 St Vincents Catholic Church Occasional dance sessions Church facility used by dance club members and also public pay and play

Part-time flexible shared community space

Littlebrook

397 Cabrini Children's Society Occasional dance sessions Charity facility used by dance club members and also public pay and play

Multi-sports, Part-time flexible shared community space

Littlebrook

400 Sedley's C of E Primary School Dance sessions School facility used by dance club members and also public pay and play

Purpose built, part-time facility Longfield, New Barn and Southfleet

403 Wilmington Memorial Hall Occasional dance sessions Public facility used by dance club members and also public pay and play

Part-time flexible shared community space

Wilmington

406 Sutton-at-Hone Scout Hall Occasional dance sessions Public facility used by dance club members and also public pay and play

Multi-sports, Part-time flexible shared community space

Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley.

407 St Paul's Church Centre Occasional dance sessions Church facility used by dance club members and also public pay and play

Part-time flexible shared community space

Swanscombe

408 Swanscombe and Greenhithe Association Sports and Social Club

Occasional dance sessions Sports Club facility used by club members and dance club members

Multi-sports, purpose built, part-time facility

Swanscombe

409 Heathfields Hall Dance/drama school sessions Dance/drama school facility used by dance club members

Purpose built, full-time facility West Hill

412 St Anselms Church Parish Hall Occasional dance sessions Public facility used by dance club members and also public pay and play

Part-time flexible shared community space

West Hill

413 Greenhithe Community Centre Occasional dance sessions Public facility used by dance club members and also public pay and play

Part-time flexible shared community space

Greenhtihe

417 Fleetdown Community Centre Occasional dance school sessions

Public facility used by dance club members and also public pay and play

Part-time flexible shared community space

Brent

35

Appendix 2: Audit of Existing Sports Facilities

OUTDOOR SPORTS

G Outdoor courts (including tennis and basketball) ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward

8 Hesketh Park 4 outdoor tennis courts Public facility with free public access

Multi-sports, purpose built facility Brent

17 Acacia Hall Sports Centre 1 netball court Public facility with public pay and play

Multi-sports, purpose built facility Brent

18 Next Generation Health Club (David Lloyd)

5 outdoor tennis courts Commercial facility used by registered members

Multi-sports, purpose built facility Brent

21 Leigh Technology Academy 3 outdoor tennis courts School facility used by sports clubs and students

Multi-sports, purpose built facility Brent

33 Swanscombe Centre 1 outdoor basketball court Public facility with public pay and play and also used by registered members and sports clubs

Multi-sports, purpose built facility Greenhithe

89 Dartford Hilton Livingwell Health Club

1 outdoor tennis court Commercial facility used by registered members and hotel guests

Multi-sports, purpose built facility Stone

115 Swan Valley Community School 2 outdoor basketball courts School facility used by sports clubs and students

Multi-sports, purpose built facility Swanscombe

265 Hayden Scouts Sports Club 1 outdoor court Scouts club facility used by sports clubs and scouts

Purpose built facility Joydens Wood

270 Bexley Park Sports and Social Club

2 floodlit tennis outdoor courts Sports club facility used by club members

Multi-sports, purpose built facility Joydens Wood

272 Swanscombe Park 1 outdoor tennis court Public facility with free public access

Multi-sports, purpose built facility Swanscombe

276 Temple Hill Outdoor Court 1 outdoor basketball court Public facility with free public access

Purpose built facility Joyce Green

279 Air Training Corps Hall 1 outdoor basketball court Air Corps club used by club members

Purpose built facility West Hill

302 Longfield Community Park 1 outdoor basketball court Public facility with free public access

Multi-sports, purpose built facility Longfield, New Barn and Southfleet

303 Langafel C of E Primary School 1 outdoor basketball court School facility used by students Purpose built facility Longfield, New Barn and

36

1 outdoor bowls rink

1 outdoor bowls rink

1 outdoor bowls rink

1 outdoor bowls rink

1 outdoor bowls rink

I

Appendix 2: Audit of Existing Sports Facilities

ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward Southfleet

317 Temple Hill Community Primary School and Nursery

1 outdoor basketball court School facility used by students Purpose built facility Joyce Green

H Outdoor bowls rinks

ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward 8 Hesketh Park Bowls club facility used by club

members Multi-sports, purpose built facility Brent

414 Empire Bowls Club Bowls club facility used by club members

Purpose built facility Greenhithe

270 Bexley Park Bowls Club Bowls club facility used by club members

Multi-sports, purpose built facility Joydens Wood

86 Halls Outdoor Bowls Bowls club facility used by club members

Multi-sports, Purpose built facility Stone

272 Swanscombe Downs Bowls Club 2 outdoor bowls rinks Bowls club facility used by club members

Multi-sports, purpose built facility Swanscombe

285 Invicta Pavilion Bowls club facility used by club members

Purpose built facility Town

Athletics tracks

ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward

73 Central Park Arena 6 athletics lanes and 8 straight lanes

Athletics club facility used by club members and also public pay and play

Purpose built facility Princes

J Golf (including golf courses, driving ranges and pitch & putt)

ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward

16 Princes Golf and Leisure Club 9 hole golf course Golf club facility used by club members and sports clubs as well as public pay and play

Purpose built facility Brent

38 Dartford Golf Club 18 hole golf course Golf club facility used by club members and sports clubs as

Purpose built facility Heath

37

L

Appendix 2: Audit of Existing Sports Facilities

ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward

well as public pay and play 52 Birchwood Park Golf Club 9 and 18 hole golf courses and

41 driving range bays Golf club facility used by club members and sports clubs as well as public pay and play

Multi-sports, purpose built facility Joydens Wood

280 Bluewater Pitch and put Commercial facility with public pay and play

Multi-sports, purpose built facility Stone

PARKS AND OPEN SPACES

K Outdoor fitness courses

ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward 17 Acacia Hall Sports Centre Purpose built outdoor fitness

course with 7 fitness wooden stations

Public facility with free public access

Multi-sports, purpose built facility Brent

267 Central Park Multi-sports, purpose built outdoor fitness course with 8 fitness stations

Public facility with free public access

Multi-sports, purpose built facility Princes

280 Bluewater Outdoor wooden gym/play equipment

Public facility with free public access

Multi-sports, purpose built facility Stone

Multi use games areas (MUGA) ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward 298 High Street Bean Purpose built MUGA Public facility with free public

access Purpose built facility Bean and Darenth

386 Queens Gardens Purpose built MUGA Public facility with free public access

Purpose built facility Brent

384 Joyce Green Lane Playground Purpose built MUGA Public facility with free public access

Multi-sports, Purpose built facility Joyce Green

378 Atlee Drive Purpose built MUGA Public facility with free public access

Multi-sports, Purpose built facility Littlebrook

302 Longfield Community Park Purpose built MUGA Public facility with free public access

Multi-sports, Purpose built facility Longfield, New Barn and Southfleet

394 The Oval Playground Purpose built MUGA Public facility with free public Purpose built facility Longfield, New Barn and

38

Appendix 2: Audit of Existing Sports Facilities

ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward access Southfleet

267 Central Park Purpose built MUGA Public facility with free public access

Multi-sports, Purpose built facility Princes

380 Cedar Road Purpose built MUGA Public facility with free public access

Multi-sports, Purpose built facility Princes

362 Stone Parish Council Recreation Ground

Purpose built MUGA Public facility with free public access

Multi-sports, Purpose built facility Stone

310 Broomfield Road Recreation Ground

Purpose built MUGA Public facility with free public access

Purpose built facility Swanscombe

274 Willow Walk Purpose built MUGA Public facility with free public access

Multi-sports, Purpose built facility Town

387 Wilmot Road Purpose built MUGA Public facility with free public access

Multi-sports, Purpose built facility West Hill

8 Hesketh Park Purpose built MUGA Public facility with free public access

Multi-sports, Purpose built facility Brent

M Skate, BMX, Cycling and Karting

ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward

267 Central Park Concrete skate bowl and ramps in stand alone facility with seating and ancillary facilities

Public facility with free public access

Multi-sports, Purpose built facility Princes

381 Hill Rise Green Skate ramps included within playground

Public facility with free public access

Purpose built facility Bean and Darenth

384 Joyce Green Lane Playground Skate ramps included within playground

Public facility with free public access

Multi-sports, Purpose built facility Joyce Green

380 Cedar Road Skate ramps included within playground

Public facility with free public access

Multi-sports, purpose built facility Princes

274 Willow Walk Skate ramps included within playground

Public facility with free public access

Multi-sports, Purpose built facility Town

387 Wilmot Road Skate ramps included within playground

Public facility with free public access

Multi-sports, Purpose built facility West Hill

280 Bluewater Cycle, tandem and kart route around the lake with hire shop

Commercial facility with public pay and play

Multi-sports, purpose built facility Stone

39

4 lakes with angling and sailing

5 lakes with angling

Appendix 2: Audit of Existing Sports Facilities

ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward

8 Hesketh Park Skate ramps included within playground

Public facility with free public access

Multi-sports, Purpose built facility Brent

N Climbing walls and high wires ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward 267 Central Park Climbing wall Public facility with free public

access Multi-sports, purpose built facility Princes

280 Bluewater Climbing wall and high wires and also 1 indoor climbing wall

Commercial facility with public pay and play

Multi-sports, purpose built facility Stone

411 5th Scout Group 2 climbing walls Scouts club facility used by scouts

Purpose built facility West Hill

COUNTRYSIDE PURSUITS

O Horse riding schools

ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward 364 Warrigal Farm Stables Stables and riding school Riding school facility used by

club members Purpose built facility Bean and Darenth

418 Arrow Riding School Stables and riding school Riding school facility used by club members

Purpose built facility Longfield, New Barn and Southfleet

P Recreational lakes (includes angling, sailing/rowing)

ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward 277 Brooklands Lakes Angling club facility used by club

members and sailing by sea scouts only

Purpose built facility Princes

278 Crossways Lakes Angling club facility used by club members

Purpose built facility Stone

367 Sutton at Hone Lakes 1 lakes with angling Angling club facility used by club members

Purpose built facility Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley

422 Littlebrook Lakes at The Bridge Southern lake used for open Dartford and Whiteoak Triathlon Purpose built facility Littlebrook

40

Motorcross tracks

Motorcross tracks

Gun club facility used by club

members

Gun club facility used by club members

Cricket pavilion used by archery club members

Appendix 2: Audit of Existing Sports Facilities

ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward water swimming and triathlon club members

Q Motorsports tracks

ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward 281 Joyce Green Motocross Track Motorcross club facility used by

club members Purpose built facility Joyce Green

264 Canada Heights Motorcross Motorcross club facility used by club members

Purpose built facility Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley

R Shooting ranges

ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward 401 JJs Clay Shooting Club Shooting range and club house Purpose built facility Bean and Darenth

375 Dartford Gun Club Shooting range and club house Purpose built facility Joyce Green

S

Archery

ID Site name Quantity Management and accessibility Type of facility Ward 8 Hesketh Park/Pavilion Archery Multi sports, purpose built facility

but use on part time basis for archery

Brent

17 Acacia Hall Sports Centre Archery competitions Public facility with public pay and play and also used by archery sports club members

Multi-sports, purpose built facility used on a part time basis for archery

Brent

41

Appendix 3: Spatial Distribution of Existing Indoor Sports Facilities

42

Appendix 4: Spatial Distribution of Existing Outdoor Sports Facilities

43

Appendix 5: Spatial Distribution of Existing Sports in Parks and Open Spaces

44

Appendix 6: Spatial Distribution of Countryside Pursuits

45

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Appendix 7: Map showing Commitments for Enhanced Sports Facilities and Development Sites with the Potential to Provide New Sports Facilities

46

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1:60,000@ A4 2010

1.6 km Walking Catchment

Residential Areas Not Covered

Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey map with the permission of the Controller of Her Majestys Stationery Office © Crown Copyright 2010

Unauthorised reproduction Infringes Crown Copyright and May lead to prosecution or civil Proceedings Dartford Borough Council 100025870 2010

1:60,000@ A4 2026

1.6 km Walking Catchment

Residential Areas Not Covered

Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey map with the permission of the Controller of Her Majestys Stationery Office © Crown Copyright 2010

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