Local Football Facility Plan Newcastle upon Tyne

Newcastle upon Tyne is located in the North East region.

The current population of the Authority (ONS 2017 Mid-Year Estimate) is 295,842. This is expected to rise to 317,100 by 2039.

Newcastle’s ethnic composition is primarily white (85.4%). This is directly comparable to the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of Newcastle’s population represented by the BAME community is 14.5%. This is comparable to the national average (14.6%)

Local authority

The Newcastle City Council Core Strategy and Urban Core Plan is a strategic planning framework that will guide development in Newcastle and Gateshead to 2030. It recognises that provision of open space, sport and recreation facilities is an important factor in the health and wellbeing of communities. The accessibility, quality and quantity of these facilities will be addressed and monitored through the Local Plan.

Along with Northumberland and North Tyneside, Newcastle is one of three local authorities which will form the North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA) as part of devolution within the North East by 2020. The NTCA will be led by an elected Mayor and will bring new powers to the region which amongst them will allow greater control over development of land for economic growth and regeneration. NCTA development is the result of them choosing to break away from the North East Combined Authority (NECA) after a devolution deal involving all seven of the region’s local authorities was discontinued in 2016.

The Newcastle Parks and Allotments Trust will assume responsibility for the management, maintenance and development of the parks and allotments in the City by April 2019. This will be on a long-term lease with the Council remaining as landowner. This arrangement will see 33 parks and most of the allotment sites transferring to the Trust.

The CEO and Board of Trustees are in place and over the forthcoming months, the Trust will develop its identity, Vision, Mission, Values and Objectives. The Trust will also be resolutely focused on creating and enhancing public benefit particularly residents and visitors to the city and surrounding areas. To ensure these benefits, the Trust will provide, maintain, protect, improve and equip parks and allotments and other land within the Trust’s scope. The Trust has a key role to play to advance health and wellbeing by promoting participation in activities, providing or assisting in the provision of facilities in the interest of social welfare, improving the lives of residents of the City and promoting and protecting the natural environment we are so lucky to have on our doorstep.

The Newcastle Open Space Assessment (2016 - 2030) provides an assessment of needs and deficiencies in open space in order to establish local provision standards and provide an evidence base for planning policy. Some key observations related to the assessment are:

• in every ward (with the exception of Castle), there is a deficiency in at least one typology of open space
• the importance of providing high quality provision and maintenance of formal facilities such as parks and recreation grounds
• the need for additional and improved facilities for young people
• the role of private sport spaces to some local communities and the need to provide opportunity for investment

Newcastle City Council is presently reviewing its Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS), the key driver being to inform its planned application for Football Foundation support to develop two Parklife football hubs in the City. The PPS identifies that full-sized (11v11) 3G FTPs are running at or near to capacity and that there is a need for more. The PPS review also identifies shortfalls in capacity for grass pitches and highlights the poor quality of much of the existing changing pavilion stock, particularly at Council owned municipal pitch sites.

The Council and Active Newcastle are engaged in a Sport England funded project with regard to behavioural change modelling and how to best design interventions in order to actively engage people to take part in physical and social activity. This is formed around a pathway approach via which participants progress on to take part in other activities including those driven by other local partners. A key part of this project is engagement with local businesses and the Council reports this to be a priority. So far approximately 60-70 businesses have been involved and it is believed that there is significant opportunity to further engage the working sector, particularly middle aged men, in activities such as recreational or walking football.

County football association

Newcastle is covered by Northumberland County FA which provides governance and development support to all aspects of local football including coaches, referees, volunteers, clubs and leagues; supporting football for all. It has a designated facilities investment lead officer who works to ensure the right facilities are located in the right locations.

Football Foundation

The Regional Engagement Manager and Regional Technical Project Manager at the Football Foundation work collaboratively with the County FA to provide pre-application support to priority projects for potential investment.

Sport England

Has a network of planning managers who have a statutory role in the planning system to protect playing fields and provide consultation responses to planning applications relating to sporting facilities . They also play a key role in strategic planning for sports facilities, providing advice and support to local authorities to assess need for facilities in their local area.

Professional club community organisations (CCOs)

The Newcastle United Foundation runs a variety of programmes and services to support local communities (sporting and non-sporting). This includes a variety of health, education, engagement, football and sporting activities in the City.

Local leisure operator

Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) is the key leisure operator in Newcastle. It currently runs six sites; most of the remaining leisure facilities and sports halls are located at school sites. The six GLL managed sites are:

• Eldon Leisure Centre
• East End Pool
• Newcastle Trampoline Park & Gym (formerly Centre for Sport - grass pitches x3, full size sand based artificial grass pitch)
• Gosforth Leisure Centre
• Walker Activity Dome (full-sized 3G FTP, small sided 3G FTPs x10)
• West Denton Leisure Centre (Allsaints Sports Centre - grass football pitches x5, small sided 3G FTP)

Local consultation

This has taken place with a broad and diverse set of community groups in Newcastle. Nineteen individuals (representing 18 local organisations) were spoken to. Agencies consulted include:

• Hat-trick project
• Kids Kabin
• Newcastle United Foundation
• Patchwork project
• Pinpoint Recruitment Leagues
• St John's Primary School
• University of Newcastle

(See Appendix B for full list of consultees)

There are over 91,000 community football teams in England, spread over an expansive network of clubs and leagues. Newcastle upon Tyne has a total of 274 teams; this is comparable to local areas of a similar size.

The FA is investing to support clubs both on and off the pitch. One of its aims is to have a qualified FA coach with every youth team by 2020/21. In addition, it will support 1,000 clubs to create full player pathways from youth to adult teams and develop 150 community football hubs with male and female pathways, disability and recreational playing opportunities.

Over the last 10-years there has been a significant national increase in the number of large multi-team football clubs. In Newcastle, 16 clubs have more than 10 registered teams. The largest of these (based upon 2017-18 affiliation data) are:

• Newcastle East End - 42 teams
• Newcastle Benfield Juniors - 32 teams
• Montagu and North Fenham B.C - 36 teams
• Newcastle Benfield Juniors - 35 teams
• Red House Farm - 27 teams
• Newcastle City Juniors - 21 teams
• Heaton Hawks Juniors - 20 teams

Eight leagues operate in Newcastle. They offer competitive opportunities for many different players, including women and girls, disability, youth and adults.

Newcastle's largest local leagues (2017-18) include:

• Pinpoint Recruitment Junior League - 106 divisions - 1,022 teams - central venues/home and away dependent on age group
• Pinpoint U19 League - 2 divisions - 17 teams - home and away
• Pinpoint Recruitment Junior Girls League - 89 teams - central venue up to U13 then home and away
• Northern League – 2 divisions - 20 teams (across northern counties)
• Northern Football Alliance League – 3 divisions - 48 teams (across northern counties)
• Corinthians League – 3 divisions – 26 teams
• North East Sunday League - 3 divisions - 32 teams
• Newcastle Academy League - 4 divisions - 32 teams

The County FA reports some cross boundary migration to/from neighbouring Gateshead, Northumberland and North Tyneside to play at central venues within the Pinpoint Recruitment Junior leagues and the Pinpoint Recruitment Junior Girls League.

Disability football

There are 9.4 million people in England with a long-standing limiting disability, illness or condition which equates to 18% of the population – almost one in five. Football playing opportunities should be flexible, inclusive and accessible for everyone, whatever their level of ability. This could entail inclusion in mainstream activity or teams / sessions specifically for people with a disability.

In Newcastle, there are 16 football teams / sessions run specifically for people with a disability. It is a priority of the County FA to grow this provision. For talented players the FA runs regional centres and England national squads. A participation league is delivered on a monthly fixture basis at Cramlington Learning Village (Northumberland), delivered by the Newcastle United Foundation and the Pinpoint leagues. A specific girls league is delivered monthly at Walker Activity Dome as part of the Disability Workforce Fund programme.

Women and girls

The FA has big ambitions for the female game and aims to double levels of participation by 2020. To achieve this requires a combined effort across four pathways: education, recreation, competition and talent.

Education environments have a huge impact on the first experience of football for young girls. This pathway can offer many opportunities for females of all ages to develop and grow a lifelong interest in football.

FA Wildcats girls football centres provide the first step on the recreational pathway, the programme provides girls aged 5-11 with regular opportunities to play football in a fun and engaging environment. Newcastle has 3 FA Wildcats girls football centres and the priority is to grow this activity.

At 17, Newcastle’s number of female teams is lower than local areas of a similar size. The County FA’s priority is to support existing clubs to grow and encourage more clubs to develop playing opportunities for females. As noted above, the local girls league is the Pinpoint Recruitment Junior Girls’ League in which matches are played on a home and away and central venue basis. It expects to grow provision in future years. The local adult female league is the Pinpoint Recruitment Women’s League; its matches are played on a home and away basis and it too expects to grow provision in future years.

For talented players, the most local FA Regional Talent Club (RTC) is Sunderland located in Durham County FA’s area. Higher level talent pathway opportunities are also provided regionally and nationally by the FA, culminating in the England Women’s national squads. The most local Women’s Super League team is Durham Wildcats which provides player pathway opportunities for gifted and talented female players and a spectator interest for fans.

Small-sided football

Many different types of small-sided football are played in England, from teams and leagues to recreational and informal. It is an established and important part of the modern game.

Small-sided teams and leagues are organised and competitive activities; typically with players registered to clubs and affiliated to leagues and their County FAs. Examples include Futsal and local small-sided leagues running at venues such as sports halls, 3G FTPs or small-sided 3G centres.

Key local providers include:

• Newcastle United Foundation (various)
• Eldon Leisure
• Westgate Centre for Sport
• Walker Activity Dome

Futsal is an exciting, fast-paced, small sided team game that is widely played across the world. Typically it is played on an indoor surface with hockey-sized goals and a size 4 football with reduced ball bounce. It is the FA’s aim to ensure that Futsal is available across the country.

There are currently six futsal teams in Newcastle. They play in the local league at key site locations. It is a priority for the County FA to grow Futsal for all players.

Recreational football

Recreational football is played where facilities are typically booked and there might be someone to help organise. Examples include FA Just Play sessions, walking football and casual pitch hire for small-sided match play.

There are currently five FA Just Play centres across Newcastle, but over 30 additional turn up and play activities across the County. Walking football sessions are delivered by a range of community organisation including the Newcastle United Foundation, Active Newcastle, Newcastle City Council and some private providers. Walking football and Just Play are County FA priorities for further growth and development.. Other local recreational football programmes include Friday Night 11’s, a new Veterans League (2019 and the KICKS Programme; these are delivered by a range of organisations including Newcastle United Foundation, Northumberland FA & Goals Newcastle.

Informal football

Informal football is played in local parks and green spaces – it is free, open access and often played spontaneously (normal clothing is worn). Common examples include a kick-about at a local park or on a multi-use games area (MUGA).

Currently, informal football in Newcastle is delivered across a range of key sites utilised for delivery, both private and publicly owned. These include those run by the Newcastle United Foundation at various locations, Eldon Leisure, Westgate Centre for Sport and the Walker Activity Dome. There are also informal football sessions delivered by Man vs Fat at St John's Primary School and by the Newcastle United Foundation linked to the achievement of improved physical and mental health outcomes.

The key strengths of local football in Newcastle include mini soccer, youth male & female and disability provision and it is recommend that this is sustained and encouraged to grow further. However, certain aspects of provision are less prevalent or not as strong as within local authorities of a similar size , these include adult male & female participation.

It is therefore recommended that the future football development priorities for Newcastle are:

1. Parklife Project Delivery (Jan 2019)
2. Improvement in natural turf pitches across the City
3. Additional recreation spaces
4. Limited number of clubhouse/changing pavilions

The facilities required to assist this are now set out in the Assets and opportunities section.

Each priority project that progresses to a funding application via the Football Foundation will produce a detailed ‘site development plan’ specifying all football development activity, usage and key partner engagement. .

This section reviews existing football facility assets in Newcastle. It identifies current issues and presents opportunities for improvements, including a list of priority projects for potential investment.

Local assets and opportunities have been reviewed inline with four investment priorities:

1. 3G FTPs
2. Improved grass pitches
3. Changing room pavilions / clubhouses
4. Small-sided facilities

To ensure a consistent and high quality approach, each local authority area has been reviewed applying a standard approach, supplemented by input from consultation with local partners and stakeholder organisations.

While each investment priority is reviewed individually, it is understood that they can be inter-reliant; account is, thus, taken of these potential connections.

3G FTPs are a high quality and indispensable part of modern football facilities; their impact cannot be underestimated. In recent years the industry has seen major innovations and improvements to artificial surfaces (and sports lighting). This has created playing surfaces that replicate a good standard natural turf pitch whilst significantly increasing levels of use (x20). All FTPs must have sports lighting to achieve this.

The high quality, consistent playing surface is the ideal environment to play the game and for young people to learn. With regular maintenance programmes, FTPs can be heavily used all year round with no decline in quality. They almost completely negate annoying fixture cancellations during winter months, helping football to be a key part of a regular physical activity habit.

High capacity levels offer a great opportunity to embrace all formats and engage all participants. A full-sized 3G caters for an average of 1,200 participants per week and is suitable for various location types. That means being fully inclusive to all sections of the community, with a particular focus on under-represented groups such as women and girls, people with a disability, BAME communities and people from lower socio-economic groups.

The way 3G FTPs are used is rapidly changing; current line-marking systems allow for match play across all formats of football (5v5, 7v7, 9v9 and 11v11). This enables significant levels of match-play to be transferred from grass to 3G.

FA data states that there are currently ten full-sized (11v11) 3G FTPs in Newcastle; this is a shortfall of five full-sized pitches based on the FA Parklife model.

The current full-sized 3G FTPs in Newcastle are:

• Benfield Centre for Sporting Excellence
• Blakelaw Park
• Complete Football Centre (Gosforth)
• Excelsior Academy
• Gosforth Academy
• Kenton School
• Longbenton Sports Ground
• The Wheatshead Ground (Druid Park)
• Walker Activity Dome
• Walker Technology College

There are two further full-sized artificial grass pitches; one is a 3G FTP located at the Newcastle United Academy (the professional club private training ground) and one is a rugby-based surface at Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club (the stadium pitch) which offer little or no capacity for community football, with no current community use of these sites. On this basis, neither is considered to offer capacity for football within the broader supply.

In addition, there are currently three small-sided 3G FTP centres in Newcastle:

• Walker Activity Dome (x10)
• Soccerworld Newcastle (x9)
• Complete Football (x6 small sided plus one full-sized FTP)

The following sites are already being developed:

• Cochrane Park - development of three full size 3G FTPs by Easter 2019, predominantly for use by the University of Newcastle
• Kingston Park Stadium - development of a second full size World Rugby compliant 3G artificial grass pitch; this will be used almost entirely for rugby activity

Nine of the ten accessible full-sized 3G FTPs are available for community use. It is recommended that community use opportunities are also explored at Excelsior Academy which is the only full-sized FTP not presently available on this basis. Until such time as this is resolved, this site is being regarded as part of the local full-sized 3G FTP supply and demand and no replacement pitches will be identified in lieu of this.

Eight of the ten pitches are on the FA Register for 3G FTPs (meaning they are quality checked and can be used for football match play). It is strongly recommended that the remaining two; at Blakelaw Park and the one at Gosforth Academy (which was previously registered) are assessed and placed on the Register to enable more match play on 3G.

The geographic spread of existing facilities is relatively even. There are no provision gaps in what is a relatively dense city. Current 3G FTP supply is considered to be reasonably accessible to users.

Local consultation reveals no common issues with regard to 3G FTPs other than the fact that a large proportion of matches are played on 3G as central venues within the Pinpoint Leagues which service the sub-region beyond the City, attracting a significant level of imported demand from neighbouring authorities. Consequently, the requirement for more 3G FTPs in Newcastle is driven as much by match play demand as it is by the need for more training facilities.

The Council believes there is substantial potential for the growth of walking football in the City from the current baseline. Active Newcastle presently delivers walking football sessions on small sided 3G FTPs during the daytime at Walker Activity Dome and Soccerworld. Opportunities for more daytime walking football should be explored at the proposed Parklife sites.

Six priority projects for potential investment have been identified. Each site was selected based upon a rationale of good access, high population, geographic spread and the quality of existing facilities.

Undersupply for development of new full size 3G FTPs was calculated using the FA Parklife demand and supply model, also meeting the requirement evidenced through the PPS by the FA model for affiliated team training. Though a shortfall of five 11v11 3G FTPs, four new 11v11 3G FTP projects have been identified as delivery of a supersized 11v11 3G FTP at Bullocksteads Sports Ground supplemented with two new 5v5 3G FTPs at Blakelaw Park is deemed equivalent to two 11v11 3G FTPs.

Playing fields are one of the most important resources for sport in England. All football players should have the opportunity to play on good quality grass pitches. However, FA data shows that 63% of pitches in England are poor / low standard and one in six games is cancelled. As such, poor pitch quality is consistently cited as the number one issue for players.

The priority is, therefore, to sustainably improve grass pitch quality across all main pitch owners (local authorities, education establishments and clubs). However, the level of maintenance required to obtain good quality standards is regularly affected by restricted budgets and limited knowledge/ training. Compaction and grass coverage are two key causes of poor quality pitches. Both are commonly treated via a maintenance driven solution (and do not necessarily require costly drainage schemes).

Playing fields are also a valuable resources for informal play and open-access sites are encouraged but, for many, problems such as dog fouling and vandalism mean that they need to be protected with mitigation measures such as fencing.

Often the key challenge is to create a sustainable approach to provide good quality football pitches for the long-term. Most local authorities (78%) intend to increase pitch hire fees in the future. However, the majority of players (63%) believe facilities are already expensive and some (16%) believe prices are prohibitive. A sustainable solution should, therefore, carefully balance pitch quality and affordability.

While the education sector (37%) and local authorities (32%) are still the principal asset owners of grass pitches, clubs / leagues own or maintain an increasing share (currently 25%). Assets and opportunities have been considered across each sector.

Although large (3+ pitch) strategic sites are important and make up much of the project list within the LFFPs, this does not mean that other club, league and community/voluntary sites are not important or eligible for funding. These sites are key to the Football Foundation's Grass Pitch Programme to deliver 20,000 good quality pitches.

For more information click here.

PitchPower

The PitchPower app is the gateway to any grass pitch improvement funding. It is the tool that will allow clubs and organisations to complete pitch inspections and access funds.

If you haven't signed up and completed a PitchPower pitch inspection, you will need to do this before you can apply for the Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund.

Learn more by clicking here.

There are currently 30 key grass pitch sites in Newcastle with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three pitches but deemed to be of strategic importance). Between them they contain 106 grass pitches. Across the 30 sites, 14 pitches are considered to be good quality, 52 are of standard quality and 40 are poor quality.

Local consultation confirms the poor quality at certain local authority managed sites; a view endorsed by the Council which reports that the extent of maintenance works and personnel resource has reduced significantly in recent years. Some Council-managed sites are to be transferred to management by the newly formed Parks Trust and the Council reports that the Trust has plans to re-establish more robust maintenance regimes moving forward.

The following sites are already being developed:

• Throckley Recreation Ground - currently closed due to water sewer works onsite. Two new pitches and new changing facilities to be developed.
• Brunswick Pavilion - S106 contribution secured to improve pitch quality
• Allendale Road - extra pitch to be developed
• Dinnington Recreation Ground - new pavilion recently developed and further S106 contribution secured to improve provision onsite.
• Gosforth Central Middle School Field (Christon Road) - S106 contribution secured to improve site, currently no access to changing rooms.
• Hazelrigg - S106 contribution secured to improve site.

Northumberland FA set up the Pitch Perfect pilot scheme in 2015 in partnership with selected clubs and leagues to support them with grass pitch maintenance. The project was supported by the Football Foundation and was set up with the support of Northumberland County Council's Social Enterprise team. The scheme covers sites in all three Northumberland FA local authority areas. As part of the initiative, a range of new grounds maintenance equipment was purchased from two local companies, to assist those working with limited resources and training was delivered to the club volunteers responsible for this work in their organisations. The aim was to provide supplementary maintenance to clubs operating within local communities, with a view to extending this to incorporate a wider network of sites in the longer term. Pitch Perfect is a case study example of how the County FA and partners may have to think differently about pitch maintenance challenges and develop innovative and new solutions to existing issues.

Of the eight initial hub locations for the Northumberland FA Pitch Perfect initiative, Swan Hunter Recreation Ground (Newcastle East End FC) is the only one in Newcastle, although the City may offer greater potential to expand the network in future, possibly in partnership with the new Parks Trust.

18 priority projects for potential investment have been identified. Each either has three or more full-size pitch equivalents or is smaller but of strategic importance. The poor quality of the pitches at the sites to be targeted was evidenced by PPS data and qualified by local partners. Although there is a significant number of grass pitch sites in Newcastle the LFFP has prioritised only 18 at this point (these contain 64 full-size pitch equivalents). The process was informed by local partners based upon the rationale of selecting sites in the poorest condition, that had the most pitches or were important in servicing football but are not encompassed by Parklife hub proposals.

These can provide a number of different benefits. While the primary function is normally the provision of changing rooms to accommodate match-play and training (for players and officials), there can be equal value in facilities such as community and education rooms, catering facilities and spectator toilets.

Each project will take a progressive approach to pavilions and clubhouses (beyond the provision of changing rooms) and be open to new opportunities to engage the whole community. That means, creating environments that are welcoming to players, spectators, volunteers, officials and all sections of the community.

Such assets should support other investment priorities (e.g. 3G FTPs and grass pitches) and be located at sites that will have the greatest impact on local communities. To ensure this, there is a focus on sites with three or more full-size pitch equivalents. However, as pitch quality is the number one priority for players this is prioritised ahead of investment in changing room pavilions /clubhouses.

Clearly, facilities need to be well managed and maintained to keep them in a good state of repair. Consideration will be given to reviewing the best operator solution for key sites and the installation of revenue generating features such as catering facilities and community rooms. To achieve this, business plan support will be given to each priority project as it progresses to an application to the Football Foundation.

Of the 30 key grass pitch sites in Newcastle with three or more full size pitch equivalents (or fewer than three pitches but deemed to be of strategic importance), all but one (Allendale Road) have some form of changing provision. Whilst there are plans to develop an additional pitch onsite at Allendale Road, this plan does not propose development of changing provision at this venue.

Three sites have changing rooms which need to be replaced and three require refurbishment. A further two sites are identified as proposed Parklife hubs will, as a consequence, require new ancillary building provision with changing rooms to service multiple 3G FTPs. In addition, the proposed new building project led by Newcastle United Foundation will need new changing facilities.

Throckley Recreation Ground is to be developed without funding via the Football Foundation. The site is currently closed due to onsite water sewer works; two new pitches and new changing facilities are to be developed.

Gosforth Central Middle School has fewer than three full size pitch equivalents but the Council plans to invest further in the site using S106 contributions. It is serviced by changing rooms within the school building, however these are reportedly inaccessible to community users at present and further work is required to secure access to these to support any future investment in the site.

Nine priority projects for potential investment are, therefore, identified:

Good facilities are important to all small-sided football players, but it is important to understand the different formats of the small-sided game and the various facility types they relate to.

Research suggests that small-sided players in teams and leagues, and in recreational sessions, prefer a 3G surface type because it replicates a good standard natural turf pitch. These facilities have already been covered in the 3G FTP section of this LFFP.

Indoor environments currently accommodate 20% of football participation and are also popular with players in teams and leagues and recreational sessions . Indoor sports halls are most popular, along with some community halls and indoor 3G centres. Environments need to be engaging, have clear line-marking and the correct size goalposts.

Informal players require facilities that are open and free to access as this enables play opportunities that are often spontaneous. In these circumstances multi-use games areas (MUGAs) can be effective in areas of high urban population and limited green space. Such facilities can be modern, bright, creative and engaging. While this plan will identify suitable locations for such facilities, the design and specifics of the facility type can be agreed at a later stage with Football Foundation staff when projects are ready to progress to pre-application stage.

Parks and open green spaces are also important to informal play and require goalposts and zones that are free from litter and dog fouling.

Consultation with the County FA reveals that competition for indoor sports hall capacity is a key issue in Newcastle and that it has a significant impact on the ability to deliver growth in programmes focused on increasing both disability and futsal participation. Most football in Newcastle is played outdoors including most small-sided football. This is reportedly due to both a reported general preference to play and train outdoors and strategic direction from the City Council in respect of its indoor halls giving preference to indoor sports hall sports.

Access to indoor facilities for disability football would be aided by development of a new centre by Newcastle United Foundation which leads on much of the delivery of disability football across the County region, in part because it hosts a county FA part-funded post. As a consequence, this is identified as a priority project.

There is however a key challenge around access to indoor capacity for futsal in which most activity takes place in North Tyneside and Gateshead at present. Newcastle Futsal Club has seven teams, one of which plays within the National Futsal leagues and therefore has greater facility requirements. Its need cannot presently be met at accessible venues in Newcastle so, as a result, the Club plays at Gateshead International Stadium. Potential has been identified for the Walker Activity Dome to become a futsal development hub moving forward and the facilities there are considered to be best placed and best able to meet National Futsal League requirements particular given the existing spectator area. An alternative may be facilities at Northumbria University (Sport Central) which already plays within the League. It may be in a position to offer further capacity should the proposed relocation of Newcastle Eagles Basketball to a new purpose built venue elsewhere take place.

Furthermore, the Pinpoint Junior League aspires to develop futsal by switching to play it within U10 age group leagues throughout December each season, in part to avoid the impact of poor weather on outdoor pitches whilst offering a different type of football opportunity. This would require access to indoor space but also futsal goals, of which the County FA believes there are only two pairs across the three local authorities in the County FA area.

On the basis of the aforementioned issues, three priority projects for the improvement of indoor spaces have been identified, based upon the need to improve facilities to develop disability football and futsal participation. In some additional instances, this may be also achievable via the purchase of goalposts and installing futsal line markings.

Four potential opportunities for MUGAs have been identified. In each case the rationale is based on the site being in an area of high urban population, with limited green space, a high proportion of people from lower social economic groups and corresponding high local demand for informal football.

None of the MUGAs in Newcastle are floodlit. The Council reports that they are targets for misuse and delinquency and that not floodlighting these facilities is part of a concerted way to reduce levels of misuse and vandalism.

The Council is currently preparing its Play Investment Plan which will set out how it intends to invest in play space across the City; this includes MUGAs. This work is emerging and will be reported to the Council’s Cabinet next year. The emerging Development & Allocations Plan identifies 18 wards with a deficiency in youth play facilities against recommended accessibility standards. Wards with notable deficiencies both in terms of quantum (provision per 1000 population) and accessibility include:

• Fawdon and West Gosforth
• Kenton
• Lemington
• Manor Park
• North Jesmond
• Parklands
• South Jesmond
• West Fenham
• Wingrove

In November 2017 Newcastle City Council established a new Parks Trust in partnership with the National Trust and Heritage Lottery England, in response to budget cuts following a 90% reduction in funding over the last seven years. The charitable trust is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK and will take over the running of a number of parks and allotments in 2019. Two of the sites (Walker Park and Paddy Freemans) have formal football pitches and are amongst those which will be managed by the new trust.

Given the change in future direction of the parks and open space portfolio because of the change of management vehicle, no priority projects for development in parks and open spaces have been noted in this LFFP process. The Council has currently identified 30 informal football sites through its Open Space Assessment that provide opportunities for the development of informal football. The management of these sites will be a mixture of the Council and the Trust whilst some informal football sites owned by other organisations have also been identified. It is recommended that the potential for improvement of formal and informal football sites is explored further once the Trust takes over management and that the County FA and Football Foundation work further with the new Trust and the Council to identify all appropriate sites, opportunities and improvements, so that a list of priorities can be identified and investment proposals included within update of the LFFP.

The Council would like to explore opportunities for Street Play in Newcastle in order to promote informal physical activity participation and great social interaction. It is recommended that possible locations and how this might be delivered is further explored in lieu of including possible capital investment proposals in a future iteration of this plan.

• Newcastle City Council
• Tyne & Wear Sport
• Newcastle United Foundation
• University of Newcastle
• Northumbria University
• St Johns Primary School
• Newcastle Benfield Juniors
• Hat-trick Project
• Patchwork Project
• Monkchester Community Centre
• Kids Kabin
• Red House Farm FC
• Kingston Park FC
• Pinpoint League U19 League
• Pinpoint Junior Saturday League
• Newcastle City Juniors
• Newcastle East End
• Newcastle Corinthians League
• Newcastle Futsal Club
• Heaton Hawks FC
• West Denton JFC
• Newcastle Westgate JFC