An Analysis of the Sports Facilities in Letchworth Garden City

The provided content discusses the population growth of Letchworth Garden City, which is a unique town in England with a population that is 45 years older than the national average. The town has a lower proportion of people in the economically active age range (16-64) compared to the national average. Additionally, it highlights the importance of considering factors such as facility location, capacity, and availability when planning for sports facilities. The content also provides information on various private clubs and local authorities that operate sports facilities in Letchworth, including their usage patterns and limitations.

1. INTRODUCTION
http://spatialagency.net/database/how/networking/garden.cities
1.1. Letchworth Garden City started in 1903 in Hertfordshire, UK was one of the first new towns and is an early
example of urban planning considered alongside strategies of community management and economic
sustainability. Letchworth Garden City has a relatively strong provision of local sporting facilities in the town.
The Development Foundation in Letchworth is therefore considering the potential to create a sports hub or
sports village to serve the town. They have identified a site at Baldock Road in Letchworth and will shortly be
engaging with local clubs and stakeholders to identify whether they are supportive of the project and would
like to participate.
2. CONTEXT
2.1. The Baldock road site for the development of the Letchworth sports hub is located on the eastern edge of
the Letchworth Garden city, surrounded by the Employment Areas(ETC1) to the north, the Schoolfields and
Quinnway residential area along the south-western edge, and the western, south-western edges mostly
covered by the Greenbelt zone.
2.2. As per the Local plan 2011-2031 proposals of the North Hertfordshire Council, the Baldock road site of an
area of 34.5 acres for the development of the Letchworth Sports hub consists of the sports ground and the
existing North Herts leisure centre which fall under the district boundary towards the western end and the
remaining area along with the Letchworth Garden city Rugby club fall under the Green Belt zone.

2.3. The North Hertfordshire District Council’s Policies for planning and development sets out the principle for
developing the site. The key elements of the policy are summarised on the left. The full policy wording is
provided at the end of this document.
2.4. This document covers all the development site. The Development Foundation in Letchworth is considering
the potential to create a sports hub or sports village to serve the town. They will shortly be engaging with
local clubs and stakeholders to identify whether they are supportive of the project and would like to
participate. There are a number of challenges that have been identified by staff at the Development
Foundation as part of initial internal discussions like the the type of facilities that should be provided, the
impact of development in the Greenbelt zone in acceptance with policy terms, possible solutions to issues
such as accessibility, car parking, safety and methods to make the proposed facilities sustainable in the
medium and longer terms.
3. EXISTING SPORTS FACILITIES IN LETCHWORTH
SPORT AND RECREATION FACILITIES IN LETCHWORTH
S.NO SITE NAME FACILITIES AVAILABLE TYPE OF OWNERSHIP
1. Baldock Road  Basketball Court
 Football – 2
 Play area – junior & Senior
 Wheeled sport facility
 Youth shelter
 Fitness Trail
2. Grange Recreation
Ground
 Basketball Court
 Football - 6
 Play Area (Junior and Senior)
 Exercise Equipment
 Exercise Zone
 Wheeled Sport Facility
 Pavilion
3. Grange Central  Play area – junior
 Combination goal
 Youth shelter
4. Hillbrow  Basketball Court
 5-A-Side Football
 Play area – junior & Senior
5. Howard Park and
Gardens
 Bowling Green
 Play area – junior & Senior
 Paddling pool
6. Jackmans Creamery
Floodlit MUGA
 Basketball Court
 Football – 2
 5-A-Side Football
 Play area – junior
 Youth shelter

7. Jackmans Central  Play area – junior & Senior
 BMX Gravel Track
8. Linnet Close  Play Area - Junior
9. Norton Common  Tennis x 2
 Mini-tennis x 3
 Floodlit MUGA
 Bowling Green x 2
 Play Area (Junior and Senior)
 Wheeled Sport Facility
 Exercise Zone
10. Oak Tree Close  Play Area - Junior
11. Temple Gardens  Play area – junior
 Combination goal
 5-A-Side Football
12. Wilbury Recreation
Ground
 Archers Way
 Play Area (Junior and Senior)
 Exercise Zone
 Football Pitch x 2

RECREATIONAL SPACE IN LETCHWORTH GARDEN CITY (Source: NLP analysis)
3.1. The sports, leisure and recreation facilities in Letchworth Garden City are extensive. The main facility is the
North Hertfordshire Leisure Centre which is located on Baldock Road and is operated by Stevenage
Leisure Ltd. The Leisure Centre has a conventional facility mix including a leisure pool, sports hall, gym,
studios and four squash courts and is used by a number of local clubs and the local community. Despite
refurbishment in 2006, the Leisure Centre will need to be replaced in the medium term. The land
surrounding the Leisure Centre consists of a range of playing pitches including Baldock Road
Recreation Ground, Pixmore Playing fields (Letchworth Eagles FC) and Letchworth Garden City
RUFC.
3.2. Leisure Centre Use - total floor space = 4,500sqm (approx): This facility has a mix of sports facilities
within it.
3.3. Football Club - including proposed changes = 3 full size and 5 junior pitches: The standard sets out a
maximum of 125 spaces, applying the 25% reduction as above, leads to a maximum provision of 83 spaces.
3.4. Rugby Club - including proposed changes = 5 full size and 2 junior pitches: The standard is not clear as
rugby pitches are not mentioned, but applying 30 spaces per full size pitch and 15 per junior pitch leads to a
maximum provision of 165 spaces and applying the 25% reduction leads to a maximum provision of 124
spaces.

3.5. CRICKET
A cricket field appeared on some of the very earliest plans for the town, and the town's Letchworth Garden
City Cricket Club was established within two years of the foundation of the Garden City. Based for many
years at Muddy Lane, the club moved to the former ICL sports field in Whitethorn Lane in 1996, a move that
has allowed it to expand its junior section significantly. The growth of the club resulted in the opening of a
second ground in 2006 – the restored former Fairfield Hospital cricket ground in nearby Arlesey.
3.6. HOCKEY
Letchworth Hockey Club runs a number of adult teams, and the Women's 1st XI have reached the
Women's National Premier League. A number of bowls clubs are based in the town, including Whitethorn
Bowls Club, Norton Bowls Club, Letchworth Garden City BC, Willian BC and Howard Garden. The
Letchworth Sports and Tennis Club in Muddy Lane is home to Letchworth Tennis Club and Letchworth
Croquet Club. There are two golf clubs, the Family Golf Centre and Letchworth Golf Club.
3.7. RUGBY
Formed in 1926, Letchworth Rugby Club is one of the oldest rugby union clubs in the county.
3.8. SWIMMING
The town's first outdoor pool opening in 1908, but was replaced by a lido on Norton Common in 1935. Prior
to this, in 1932, Letchworth Amateur Swimming Club was formed. It continues to use the lido, as well as
the public indoor pool which was opened as part of the North Herts Leisure Centre in the early 1980s. The
leisure centre is also the home of Letchworth Roller Hockey Club, winners of the 2008-09 National Division 1
championship.
4. ISSUES AND OPTIONS
4.1. Types of Facilities required
4.1.1. Population – demand
The population is broadly evenly distributed across each of the five wards that make up Letchworth Garden
City; Letchworth East (17.5%), Letchworth Grange (21.4%), Letchworth South East (22.8%), Letchworth
South West (22.6%) and Letchworth Wilbury (15.7%). The Letchworth South East ward is the largest while
Letchworth Wilbury has the smallest resident population.
Letchworth’s population is ageing, with fewer than average 16-44 year olds.
There is a growing elderly population which is placing demand on elderly persons accommodation and
cemetery and crematorium provision. This is common across developed countries. However, Letchworth
has fewer people in the 20 – 45 year age group than the average in England (30% against 34%).
Letchworth has 3.35% fewer people than the national average in the economically active range of 16 – 64.

POPULATION GROWTH OF LETCHWORTH GARDEN CITY
As it can be observed from the above graphical data that the majority age-groups of the total population of
Letchworth is from 0-
Sports Facilities Calculator
The Sports Facilities Calculator (SFC) has been created by Sport England to help local planning authorities
quantify how much additional demand for the key community sports facilities, is gererated by populations of
new growth, development and regeneration area.
Whilst the SFC can be used to estimate the facility needs for whole area populations, such as for the whole
of North Hertfordshire District Council, there are dangers in how these figures are subsequently used. The
SFC should not be used for strategic gap analysis as it has no spatial dimension. It is important to note that
the SFC does not take account of:
 Facility location compared to demand
 Capacity and availability of facilities – opening hours.
 Cross boundary movement of demand
 Travel networks and topography
 Attractiveness of facilities

Facilities Planning Model
Sport England uses the Facilities Planning Model (FPM) to calculate supply and demand for sports hall
accommodation. The analysis is based on data contained in the Sport England Strategic Assessment of
need for Sports Hall Provision in North Hertfordshire, FPM National Run 2014 Profile Report. The model is
relatively sophisticated and takes account of factors including opening hours, quality and management to
estimate the Relationship between supply and demand. The FPM includes sports halls of 3 courts or more
and also includes smaller sports halls based on the same sites as main sports halls. The FPM takes into
account all facilities that fit the parameters of the model, regardless of those that participated in the study.
4.2. Participation & Involvement of Private Clubs
4.2.1. Fearnhill Sports Centre - is a dual use site with Fearnhill School. The school is run by Hertfordshire
County Council, indoor sports facilities are managed on evenings and weekends by SLL. No community
use of outdoor facilities as this is not in SLL contract. Revenue from community use paid to SLL, school
pays for refurbishment and breakages of facilities. Sports hall floor varnished and new lighting installed
in 2012. Cricket nets are available.
4.2.2. Letchworth Settlement - Independent adult education centre. The hall is used by a variety of special
interest groups including dance, social, gardening, guitar, wine appreciation society, history, poetry,
music, embroidery. Weekend opening is by special arrangement.
4.2.3. North Hertfordshire Leisure Centre - Local authority facility, operated by SLL since 2005. Sports hall
has viewing and storage areas as well as cricket nets. Sports hall floor requires replacement (which is
due imminently). Lighting also in need of replacement and is not currently in line with badminton courts.
Sports hall barrier reduces ‘run off’ from courts. The operator has a contractual obligation to ensure that
50% of space is available for casual use. Well used for badminton (including Cam Gears Badminton
Club), gymnastics, trampolining (Richards Trampoline Club), roller hockey (Letchworth Roller Hockey
Club), football, basketball, netball. Bowls group now operates from a local community centre. The
Centre runs casual sessions and courses for trampolining and gymnastics. Roller hockey in particular is
a group keen to expand but unable to gain additional sports hall space. The operator restricts five a side
football to late evening booking slots. The Centre also tries to avoid block bookings during the peak
period.
4.2.4. St. Christopher School - An independent school for children from 3-18 years. It is understood that the
school shows commitment to community use, but no formal community use agreement in place.
4.2.5. St. Francis College - A day and boarding school for girls age 3-18, run by a Trust. The hall is available
and used by the community and is currently operating at near capacity during the week. There is a site
manager/live in caretaker operating bookings.
4.2.6. The Highfield School - Local authority school. Due for a rebuild under the Priority School Building
Programme – existing sports hall will be retained. Available for community use on week day evenings
only. Access via caretaker. Cricket nets available. Well used by Hitchin Kings Basketball Club and North
Herts Knights Basketball Club. Activity halls will be demolished in new build but the sports hall will
remain. School commitment to community use, but no formal community use agreement in place.
4.3. Greenbelt zone – Land-use & Development
'Planning permission should be granted in Green Belts for proposals to establish or to modernise
essential facilities for outdoor sport and recreation where the openness of the Green Belt is

maintained. Development should be the minimum necessary and non-essential facilities (eg
additional function rooms and indoor leisure) should be treated as inappropriate development.'
4.4. Accessibility & Car parking
4.4.1. The maximum standard suggests that for such a facility should be based on 1 car parking space per 15
sqm of gross external floor space. Applying the standard to the Leisure Centre reveals a maximum
provision of 300 spaces. The guidance suggests that since the site is within the lowest restraint zone a
reduction of 25% should be applied and this should be the overall maximum provision. Reducing the
300 space absolute maximum by 25% leads to a provision of 225 spaces. There are at present 168 car
parking spaces available in the Leisure Centre car park which is considerably below the maximum
provision.
4.4.2. Increasing walking and cycling in Letchworth, whilst reducing use and reliance on the car for local
journeys. Letchworth was designed on the principle of access to facilities and the countryside, and
before the widespread advent of the car. It is relatively flat, and has a network of rural paths and
cycleways.
4.5. Medium & long term objectives
5. POLICIES
5.1. Central Government Policy Guidance
Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 1 'Delivering Sustainable Development'
Planning Policy Guidance note (PPG) 2 'Green Belts'
Planning Policy Guidance note (PPG) 13 'Planning and Transport'
Planning Policy Guidance note (PPG) 17 'Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation'
5.2. East of England Plan
Policy SS7 'Green Belt'
Policy SS8 'The Urban Fringe'
Policy T14 'Parking'
5.3.North Hertfordshire District Local Plan
Policy 2 'Green Belt'
Policy 21 'Landscape and Open Space Pattern'
Policy 39 'Leisure Uses'
Policy 51 'Development Effects and Planning Gain'
6. CONCLUSION
7. REFERENCES
8. APPENDIX