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Urgent Government consultation – your voice matters

We urgently need your help on a proposal that could have serious and irreversible consequences for playing fields and the grassroots sports played on them.

On 17 November, the Government (via the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government – MHCLG) launched a consultation proposing changes to the statutory consultee role of Sport England relating to planning applications on playing fields.

If these changes go ahead, a vital safeguarding measure could be severely weakened leading to a catastrophic loss of playing fields.

Why this matters

Without a pitch to play on, there can be no sport.

History shows what happens when playing fields are left unprotected:

  • 1979–1996: over 10,000 playing fields lost before Sport England had a statutory role
  • 2022–2023: Sport England helped save 1,038 playing fields nationally
  • 94% of concluded applications nationally led to improved or safeguarded facilities
  • In London over the last 5 years there have been 398 concluded planning applications, with 90% resulting in improved or protected provision

Sport England is not a blocker to development – it helps secure better outcomes for communities.

The facts

Despite claims from MHCLG:

  • Sport England does not object in 70% of planning applications
  • In two thirds of objections, it later withdraws them after securing improved provision
  • It responds within 21 days in 98% of cases

Removing Sport England’s statutory role risks repeating past mistakes and losing irreplaceable playing fields, forever.

There are better solutions

There are sufficient brownfield sites for the 1.4 million new homes, over half of which already have planning consent, so councils should build on them rather than sacrificing playing fields that support health, wellbeing and community life.

Once a playing field is lost, it is lost forever.

LPFF’s position

London Playing Fields Foundation is:

  • Strongly opposing the Government’s proposals
  • Publicly supporting the continuation of Sport England’s statutory consultee role
  • Encouraging clubs, schools and communities to respond to the consultation
  • Providing draft guidance to help stakeholders frame their responses

We will be writing to all our schools, clubs, partners and supporters to urge them to comment in the strongest possible terms.

Take action now

The consultation opened on 17 November and closes on 13 January 2026.

Your response can help protect playing fields and the future of grassroots sport.

Call to action

Email MHCLG’s Consultation Here
Make your voice heard before it’s too late. REMEMBER TO ADD YOUR NAME, CLUB AND ADDRESS

Download LPFF Response Guidance
Use our suggested answers to help frame your submission.

Together, we can protect playing fields and the communities that rely on them.