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Local Football Facility Plan Redbridge

Introduction

01

This is the Local Football Facility Plan (LFFP) for Redbridge. It was prepared by Knight, Kavanagh

and Page (KKP) with support from local partners, including:

  • London Borough of Redbridge
  • Rebridge cultural and Leisure (Vision)
  • Essex Football Association
  • West Ham Foundation
  • London Sport
  • Football Foundation
  • Sport England

What is the goal?

Every local area in the Country will have a LFFP to enable investment in football facilities to be accurately targeted.

Who is behind this?

The Football Association, the Premier League and Sport England (on behalf of Government). This partnership finances the National Football Facility Strategy (NFFS) and commissions the Football Foundation to deliver it.

What is the purpose of this plan?

The national funding partners have significantly increased investment to accelerate efforts to deliver more and better football facilities for the grassroots game. The purpose of this plan is to identify the priority projects for potential investment in [add local area].

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Why invest in football facilities?

As the nation’s most popular team sport, football has the power to contribute positively to vital social outcomes and health priorities. To maximise this power, facilities have to be welcoming environments to attract first-time users and repeat visits, whether for informal, recreational or competitive football.

Research clearly and continually demonstrates the positive impact high-quality football facilities, in the right locations, can have on participation and enjoyment. Latent demand exists, but facility quantity and quality has to ‘step up’ if football is to reach out to everyone.

How are we going to do it?

£1.3billion has been spent by football and Government since 2000 to enhance existing football facilities and build new ones. However, more is needed if football and Government’s shared objectives for participation, individual well-being and community cohesion are to be achieved.

Nationally, direct investment will be increased – initially to £69 million per annum from football and Government (a 15% increase on recent years). Locally, the work has already started* - this LFFP will guide the allocation of 90% of national funds and forge stronger partnerships with local stakeholders to develop key sites. This, together with local match-funding will deliver over one billion pounds of investment into football facilities over the next 10-years.

What are the priorities for investment?

This LFFP, with guidance from local partners, has developed a list of high level projects for potential investment. Each is aligned to the investment priorities set out in the National Football Facilities Strategy, which include:

  • 1,000 new 3G football turf pitches (FTPs): in a mix of sizes and settings, dependent upon local needs. All aimed at enhancing the quality of the playing experience.
  • 20,000 improved natural-turf pitches: to help address drop-off due to a poor playing experience.
  • 1,000 new changing pavilions / clubhouses: all linked to priority sites.
  • Small-sided facilities: to grow the small-sided game for teams & leagues, recreational and informal play.

What outcomes will be achieved?

The priority projects for potential investment identified in this plan will help develop a sustainable network of quality facilities to drive participation across all parts of the game. Central to this are five key success factors: quality, inclusivity, sustainability, engagement and usage. Each identified project takes account of these factors.

How should this plan be used?

This LFFP will, in effect, be the go-to document for football facility investment in Redbridge.

Whilst it identifies priority projects for potential investment, it does not guarantee the success of future funding applications. Each project must still follow an application process to show how it will deliver key participation outcomes, become a quality & sustainable facility and demonstrate suitable match-funding.

When each project is in a position to proceed, the Football Foundation will determine a suitable timeframe to submit a grant application and pre-application support will be provided by Essex County FA and the Football Foundation.

Set a 10-Year vision to transform local football facilities
Identify priority projects to be delivered
Act as an investment portfolio for projects that require funding

How should this plan NOT be used?

A LFFP is an investment portfolio of priority projects for potential investment - it is not a detailed demand and supply analysis of all pitch provision in a local area. It cannot be used as a replacement for a Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS) and it will not be accepted as an evidence base for site change of use or disposal.

A LFFP will however build on available/existing local evidence and strategic plans and may adopt relevant actions from a PPS and/or complement these with additional investment priorities.

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Redbridge

02

Local area

Redbridge is in the London region.

The current population of the Authority (GLA 2016 Round Mid-Year Estimate) is 301,356. This is expected to rise to 379,786 by 2039.

26.8% of the Redbridge population is within NS SEC classification 6-8 (lower socio-economic groups). This is lower than the national average (30.6%).

Redbridge’s ethnic composition is primarily BAME (57.5%) and this is much higher than the national average (14.6%).

The proportion of Redbridge’s population represented by the White ethnic group is 42.5%. This is below the national average (85.4%).

The main ethnic group of the BAME community is Asian, which accounts for 41.8% of the total population.

Demographics

  • 299,249 Current population (2016)
  • 363,159 Projected population (2039)
  • 21st most deprived out of 33 local authorities in the region
  • 121st most deprived out of 326 local authorities in England

Ethnicity data

  • Asian (41.76%)
  • Black (8.91%)
  • Mixed (4.11%)
  • Other (2.7%)
  • White (42.53%)
29%
25%
26%

% of people that are inactive

  • Redbridge
  • Region
  • England

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Local partners

Local Authority

Redbridge Council is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of all its residents. Its latest Health and Wellbeing Strategy (2017-21), aims to ensure that people in Redbridge are able to live long, happy and independent lives throughout all communities.

To achieve this, the Authority will invest in sports facilities to ensure that residents continue to enjoy these facilities. In addition, the Local Authority will work with local communities to guarantee facilities and community assets are maximised to support residents, helping them to enjoy a good quality of life and remain healthy and independent.

County Football Association

Redbridge is covered by Essex 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. The County FA 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.

Football Foundation Investment

3 Total grants
  • £280,025 Total project cost
  • £146,518 Total grant value
  • 3 Sites improved
  • 2 New 3G FTPs
  • 0 Changing rooms / pavilions
  • 0 Grass pitches improved

See Football foundation website for more info (http://www.footballfoundation.org.uk/impact/where-our-money-goes)

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)

These continue to expand and enhance their range of community delivery, offering a variety of programmes and services to support local communities (sporting and non-sporting). The West Ham Foundation runs a variety of health, education, engagement, football and sporting activities within the local area. It also works with a number of schools to deliver numeracy, literacy, sport and teacher development programmes.

Local leisure operator

Vision-Redbridge Culture and Leisure is the local leisure and cultural operator in Redbridge. It aims to increase participation and accessibility across its services, developing partnerships and sharing best practice throughout the facilities it manages.

Vision is responsible for managing a range of sites, which include Wanstead and Loxford leisure centres. With reference to football pitches, it currently manages the 3G FTP at Loxford Leisure Centre (Loxford School) and from September 2018 onwards, it will also manage Mayfield School 3G FTP on a dual use agreement. Vision also manages the Local Authority’s stock of grass pitch sites, which accounts for the majority of provision in the Borough.

Local consultation

This has taken place with a broad and diverse set of community groups in Redbridge. A total of 15 individuals (representing 13 local organisations) were consulted. These include:

  • London Borough of Redbridge
  • Vision-Redbridge Culture and Leisure
  • West Ham Foundation
  • Muslima Sports Foundation
  • She Can Play

(See Appendix B for full list of consultees)

Local Partners 3
Local Partners 4

Local football

Clubs

There are over 91,000 community football teams in England, spread over an expansive network of clubs and leagues. Redbridge has a total of 390 teams, which is higher than local areas of a similar size.

The FA is investing to support clubs both on and off the pitch which includes an aim 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 Redbridge, 8 clubs have more than 10 registered teams. The largest of these (based upon 2017-18 affiliation data) are:

  • Bealonians FC / Vets / Youth - 31 teams
  • East Ham Rovers Youth - 11 teams
  • Hornchurch Urchins Youth - 12 teams
  • Old Parkonians FC / Youth - 12 teams
  • River Hawks Youth - 12 teams
  • Romford Borough Youth / Girls - 12 teams
  • Senrab Youth - 29 teams
  • Shield Academy FC / Youth - 13 teams

Affiliated Teams

389 Teams
  • 144 Adult male teams
  • 4 Adult female teams
  • 155 Youth male teams
  • 1 Youth female teams
  • 5 Disability teams
  • 78 Mini-soccer teams

The Whole Game System- season 2017/18

Leagues

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

Note: the Essex County Girls League, Womens League, Greene King Veterans League and the Essex Soccability League is county wide, potential need in the future for localised league.

Redbridge largest local leagues (2017-18) include:

  • Echo Junior Football League – 732 teams– home and away
  • Essex Alliance Football League– 53 teams– home and away
  • Essex Sunday Corinthian Football League – 49 teams– home and away
  • East London and Essex Junior Football League – 161 teams – home and away / central venue

The County FA reports that there is some cross boundary migration in Redbridge due to teams migrating inwards to Wanstead Flats (operated by the City of London).

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 Redbridge there are 2 football teams / sessions specifically for people with a disability. It is a priority of the County FA to grow this provision. For talented players the FA run Regional Centres and England national squads.

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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. Redbridge has 1 FA Wildcats girls football centre and the priority is to grow this activity.

At 5, Redbridge’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. The local girls league is the Essex County Girls Football League and matches are played on a home and away basis. The league is expected to grow its provision in future years. The Echo Junior Football League is piloting girls teams playing a year down in the 18/19 season. The local adult female league is the Essex County Womens Football League and matches are played on a home and away and the league is expected to sustain its provision in future years.

For talented players, the most local FA Regional Talent Club (RTC) is the Essex Regional Talent Club which is located in Colchester along with the Millwall RTC, Arsenal RTC and Charlton RTC in London. A Player Development Centre (PDC) takes place in Havering. 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 West Ham United Ladies which provides player pathway opportunities for gifted and talented female players and a spectator interest for fans.

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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.

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Small-sided teams & 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

  • Powerleague Fairlop

Futsal is an exciting, fast-paced, small sided team game that is widely played across the world. Typically it’s 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 Futsal is available across the country.

There are currently 3 futsal teams in Redbridge that play at key site locations including Seven Kings High School. . It is a priority for the County FA to grow Futsal for youth inclusive of boys and girls players .

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Summary

The key strengths of local football in Redbridge include adult male and youth provision and it is recommend that this is sustained and also encouraged to grow further. However, there are aspects of football provision that lower than local authorities of a similar size, these include women and girls, recreation and disability.

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

  1. Increase women and girls opportunities
  2. Increase the number of disability teams
  3. Develop a network of recreational opportunities
  4. Support the club network in achieving and sustaining the charter standard award
  5. Support the retention of adult affiliated football

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

Additionally, 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.

Assets and Opportunities

03

This section reviews existing football facility assets in [add area]. 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 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.

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3G Football Turf Pitches (FTPs)

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Improved Grass Pitches

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Changing room pavilions/ clubhouses

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Small-sided facilities

3G Football Turf pitches (FTPs)

04

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.

The national ‘Mini Pitch’ programme delivers small 3G FTPs at primary school sites to provide a high quality introduction to football and get children more physically active. While mini pitches are reviewed in this section, they are not included in the demand and supply analysis for 3G FTPs.

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Assets and opportunities

FA data states that there are currently five 3G FTPs in Redbridge, of which three are available for community use. A shortfall of six pitches relative to assessed demand has been identified based on FA training model (1:42) and the number of affiliated teams. This differs from the published PPS (2016) which stated a shortfall of 3 pitches.

Existing 3G FTPs in Redbridge :

  • Caterham High School
  • Loxford School
  • Seven Kings School
  • Valentines School
  • Mayfield School

In addition, Woodbridge High School has a 45m * 27m small 3G FTP which is used for football training and recreational use.

Additionally, there are currently two small-sided 3G FTP centre in Redbridge:

  • Powerleague (Fairlop Oaks)
  • Frenford Youth Club

Three 3G FTPs are currently available for community use, Mayfield School, Caterham High School and Loxford School. The latter two pitches are not on the FA Register for 3G FTPs (meaning they are quality checked and can be used for football match play) and it is strongly recommend that both pitches are on the Register to enable more match play on 3G.

Frenford Youth Club has recently had an application approved for a full size 3G FTP from the Football Foundation. It is anticipated that the development will be completed in 2019. This will be in addition to the current small sided provision at the site. Therefore, this plan assumes a remaining shortfall of five additional full size FTPs.

Both Seven Kings School and Valentines School have no floodlights and are currently unavailable for community use. Both pitches were funded by the respective schools and have no current or future plans to allow community use. Therefore, these are excluded from the current supply of pitches when determining the shortfall.

The geographical spread of existing facilities is fairly even across the Borough. However, provision which is unavailable for community use is located in the Central area, meaning that this is actually an area of shortfall. There are also significant provision gaps to the west of the Borough. Further to this, local consultation also reveals common issues with high pricing, low availability and long travel distances.

5 current 3G FTPs
4 more 3G FTPs required
1 More small-sided 3G FTPs required

Priority projects

Priority Projects

Three priority projects for potential investment have been identified. Undersupply was calculated using the FA 3G FTP demand and supply model. Each site was selected by local partners based on a rationale of good access, high population, geographical spread, high levels of deprivation and high levels of lower social economic groups.

1- Wanstead Flats: Three new floodlit 11v11 3G FTPs (potential multi hub site)

  • Existing facilities: 36 full size pitch equivalents and three changing pavilions
  • Current users: Senrab Youth FC, Rippleway Youth, Frenford Youth
  • Rationale: Large area comprising of three sites on the western side of the Authority. Consultation indicates poor quality pitches, with the potential to develop one site as a multi pitch hub (Aldserbrook Road or Harrow Road). See notes in appendix for more details. Investment will support junior, women and girls, BAME communities, disability, over 50s, recreational and senior football.

2- Hainault Recreation Ground:. Two new floodlit 11v11 3G FTPs

  • Existing facilities: 10 full size pitch equivalents
  • Current users: Kitroom Youth, Royal Forest First, Uplands Town
  • Rationale : Large grass pitch site on eastern side of the Authority. Potential to create a football hub, alongside Fairlop Oak, which is managed by London Playing Fields Association. Investment will support junior, senior, over 50s football, woman and girls and recreational football.

Current 3G provision, and sites identified for investment

Pitchfinder

Improved Grass Pitches

05

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 1 in 6 games are cancelled. As such, poor pitch quality is consistently cited as the number one issue for players.

The priority is, therefore, to 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 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.

In many local areas the key challenge is to create a sustainable approach to provide good quality football pitches for the long-term. Many local authorities (78%) intend to increase pitch hire fees in the future. However, many 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.

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Assets and opportunities

There are currently 20 grass pitch sites in Redbridge with three or more full-size pitch equivalents containing 112 grass pitches. Of these, 12 sites are considered to have good quality pitches, and eight have poor quality

pitches.

Local consultation shows common issues with poor quality and it is recommended that this is addressed.

20 key grass pitch sites
7 sites prioritised for improvement
47 full-sized pitch equivalents at these sites

Priority projects

Eight priority projects for potential investment have been identified. Each site has three or more full-size pitch equivalents of poor quality. Pitch quality rating was evidenced by FA data and qualified by local partners.

The prioritisation was made by local partners with the rationale of selecting sites in the poorest condition that are well utilised and have a strategic importance for developing football:

2- Hainault Recreation Ground: Works to natural grass pitches

  • Existing facilities: 10 full size pitch equivalents. Changing provision.
  • Current users: Kitroom Youth, Royal Forest First, Uplands Town.
  • Rationale: Large grass pitch site on eastern side of the Authority. Grass pitches need to be upgraded to support potential 3G FTP hub site development. Investment will support junior, senior and women and girls’ football.

4- Ashton Playing Fields: Works to natural grass pitches

  • Existing facilities: Three full size equivalents with changing facilities
  • Current users: Epping Forest Falcons, Brooks City First
  • Rationale: Support grass route football at the site. Investment will support junior and senior football.

5- Clayhall Park: Works to natural grass pitches

  • Existing facilities: Three full size pitch equivalents. Changing provision.
  • Current users: River Hawks FC
  • Rationale: Poor quality grass pitches. Investment will support junior, senior and women's and girls football.

6- London Marathon Playing Fields: Works to natural grass pitches

  • Existing facilities: Four full size pitch equivalents. Changing provision.
  • Current users: Manford Way FC
  • Rationale: Poor quality grass pitches. Investment will support junior, senior and women's and girls’ football.

8- Wanstead Flats (Aldersbrook Road): Works to natural grass pitches

  • Existing facilities: 14 full size pitch equivalents. Changing pavilion.
  • Current users: Senrab Youth FC, Rippleway Youth, Frenford Youth
  • Rationale: Consultation indicates poor quality pitches. Potential Parklife Hub site but grass pitch improvements are also required. Investment will support junior, senior, women and girls’ and recreational football.

9- Wanstead Flats (Harrow Road): Works to natural grass pitches

  • Existing facilities: 11 full size pitch equivalents. Changing pavilion (good quality).
  • Current users: Senrab Youth FC, Rippleway Youth, Frenford Youth
  • Rationale: Consultation indicates poor quality pitches. Potential Parklife Hub but grass pitch improvements are also required. Investment will support junior, senior, women and girls’ and recreational football.

25- Frenford Youth Club: Works to natural grass pitches

  • Existing facilities: Two full size pitch equivalents. Changing provision.
  • Current users: Frenford FC
  • Rationale: Consultation indicates poor quality pitches. Investment will support junior, senior and women's and girls football.

Current grass pitch sites, and sites identified for investment

Pitchfinder

Changing room pavilions / clubhouses

06

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, focus is given to sites with three or more full-size pitch equivalents. However, as pitch quality is the number one priority for players this is prioritised before 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.

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Assets and opportunities

Of the 20 key sites with three or more full-size pitch equivalents in Redbridge, 15 have suitable changing room pavilions/clubhouses and five have facilities that need improvement/ replacement.

15 key sites have suitable changing rooms/pavillions/clubhouses
5 require improvement / replacement
0 have no facilities and require new builds

Priority projects

Five priority projects for potential investment have therefore been identified. Each project has three or more full-size pitch equivalents and has either no facilities or was assessed against a standard criteria to have an unsuitable pavilion:

2- Hainault Recreational Ground: Refurbished changing pavilion

  • Existing facilities: Five full size pitch equivalents. Changing provision.
  • Current users: Kitroom Youth, Royal Forest First, Uplands Town.
  • Rationale: Large grass pitch site on eastern side of the Authority with poor quality changing provision. Investment will support junior, senior and women's and girls football.

4- Ashton Playing Fields: Refurbished changing pavilion

  • Existing facilities: Three full size pitch equivalents. Changing provision.
  • Current users: Epping Forest Falcons, Brooks City First.
  • Rationale: Poor quality changing provision. Investment will support junior and senior football.

6- London Marathon Playing Fields. Refurbished changing pavilion

  • Existing facilities: Four full size pitch equivalents. Changing provision.
  • Current users: Manford Way FC
  • Rationale: Poor quality changing provision. Investment will support junior, senior and women's and girls football.

8- Wanstead Flats (Aldersbrook Road): Refurbished changing pavilion

  • Existing facilities: 14 full size pitch equivalents. Changing pavilion.
  • Current users: Senrab Youth FC, Rippleway Youth, Frenford Youth
  • Rationale: Consultation indicates poor changing provision. Whether this becomes a Parklife hub or not, changing facilities will need to be upgraded as they are currently poor. Investment will support junior football , women and girls, recreational football, and senior football.

Current changing provision and sites identified for investment

Pitchfinder

Small-sided facilities

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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 & 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 & 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.

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Priority projects

3 better indoor spaces
9 MUGAs
1 better parks / open green spaces

Indoor

Local consultation reveals there are three indoor facilities that require improvement to develop small-sided football:

11- Palmer Catholic School: Sports hall upgrade

  • Existing facilities: Four court sports hall
  • Current users: Muslima Sports, She can play, recreational use.
  • Rationale – Refurbishment of poor quality sports hall to support futsal development in the Authority. Upgrade required will include futsal goals and line markings. Investment will support women and girls, recreational football, BAME communities.

13- Loxford School: Sports hall upgrade

  • Existing facilities: Four court sports hall
  • Current users: Recreational use, junior football
  • Rationale: : Refurbishment of poor quality sports hall to support futsal development in the Authority . Upgrade will include futsal goals and line markings. Investment will support women and girls, recreational and disability football, BAME communities.

14- Wanstead Leisure Centre: Sports hall upgrade

  • Existing facilities: Four court sports hall
  • Current users: Recreational use, junior football
  • Rationale: Refurbishment of poor quality sports hall to support futsal development in the Authority. Upgrade will include futsal goals and line markings. . Investment will support women and girls, recreational and disability football, BAME communities.

Indoor halls identified for investment

Pitchfinder

Multi-use Games Areas (MUGAs)

Nine 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, limited green space , high levels of deprivation, high levels of lower social economic groups and corresponding high local demand for informal football:

15- Manford Way: MUGA upgrade

  • Existing facilities: MUGA
  • Current users: Recreational use
  • Rationale : Poor quality MUGA. Investment will support recreational and informal football.

16- Broadmead Estate: MUGA upgrade

  • Existing facilities: MUGA
  • Current users: Recreational use
  • Rationale: Poor quality MUGA. High levels of anti social behaviour in the community. Investment will support recreational and informal football.

17- Valentines Park: MUGA upgrade

  • Existing facilities: MUGA
  • Current users: Recreational use
  • Rationale : Poor quality MUGA. Investment will support recreational and informal football.

18- Goodmayes Park: MUGA upgrade

  • Existing facilities: MUGA
  • Current users: Recreational use.
  • Rationale : Poor quality MUGA. Investment will support recreational and informal football.

19- Clayhall Park: MUGA upgrade

  • Existing facilities: MUGA
  • Current users: Recreational use
  • Rationale : Poor quality MUGA. Investment will support recreational and informal football.

20- Loxford Park: MUGA upgrade

  • Existing facilities: MUGA
  • Current users: Recreational use
  • Rationale : Poor quality MUGA. Investment will support recreational and informal football.

21- South Park: MUGA upgrade

  • Existing facilities: MUGA
  • Current users: Recreational use.
  • Rationale: Poor quality MUGA. Investment will support recreational and informal football.

22- Brocket Way: MUGA upgrade

  • Existing facilities: MUGA
  • Current users: Recreational use.
  • Rationale: Poor quality MUGA. Investment will support recreational and informal football.

23- Seven Kings Park: MUGA upgrade

  • Existing facilities: MUGA
  • Current users: Recreational use.
  • Rationale : Poor quality MUGA. Investment will support recreational and informal football.

Parks and open green spaces

Following local consultation, one location has been identified to support small-sided informal football. Here, the rationale is based on highly popular local parks and open green spaces with suitable space / areas to increase informal football:

24- Tipree Estate: Informal football

  • Existing facilities : Open green space
  • Current users: Recreational football
  • Rationale: popular recreational sport for football. Green space on estate heavily used for informal football. Investment will support recreational football.

Recreational sites identified for investment

Pitchfinder

Appendix A: Priority Project List

08

This list compiles all of the priority projects for potential investment. Each project has been scored against two principle factors: deliverability and outcomes (quality, inclusivity, sustainability, engagement and usage).

The list will be used flexibly; a projects ‘rating’ does not determine the exact order that it will progress to a funding application to the Football Foundation as we understand there are many factors that influence this. The process for moving a project from this list and into the ‘pre-application stage’ will be managed by the Football Foundation.

8

8. Wanstead Flats (Aldersbrook Road)

Location

WANSTEAD FLATS (ALDERSBROOK ROAD) ALDERSBROOK ROAD, LONDON, Greater London Authority, E12 5DY

Facilities
  • New 11v11 Floodlit 3G FTP (1)
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (14)
  • Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)
Owner

Other

Deliverability score

High (3/4)

NFFS outcome score

4.0/4

Overall score

92% (11.0/12)

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Youth female; Youth male

9

9. Wanstead Flats (Harrow Road)

Location

WANSTEAD FLATS (HARROW ROAD) ACACIA ROAD, LONDON, Greater London Authority, E11 3QQ

Facilities
  • New 11v11 Floodlit 3G FTP (1)
  • New 11v11 Floodlit 3G FTP (1)
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (11)
Owner

Other

Deliverability score

High (3/4)

NFFS outcome score

4.0/4

Overall score

92% (11.0/12)

2

2. Hainault Recreation Ground

Location

HAINAULT RECREATION GROUND Forest Road, Fairlop, Ilford, Greater London Authority, IG6 3HJ

Facilities
  • Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (10)
  • New 11v11 Floodlit 3G FTP (1)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

4.0/4

Overall score

83% (10.0/12)

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

25

25. Frenford Youth Club

Location

FRENFORD YOUTH CLUB JACK CARTER CENTRE THE DRIVE, ILFORD, Greater London Authority, IG1 3PS

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (2)
Owner

Other

Deliverability score

High (3/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.0/4

Overall score

75% (9.0/12)

14

14. Wanstead Leisure Centre

Location

WANSTEAD LEISURE CENTRE WANSTEAD LEISURE CENTRE REDBRIDGE LANE WEST, WANSTEAD, LONDON, Greater London Authority, E11 2JZ

Facilities
  • New Indoor Football Facility (1)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Low (1/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.6/4

Overall score

68% (8.2/12)

Project Focus

BAME; Disability; IMD / lower social economic groups; Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

5

5. Clayhall Park

Location

CLAYHALL PARK Lord Avenue, Ilford, Greater London Authority, IG5 0HL

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (3)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.0/4

Overall score

67% (8.0/12)

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Youth female; Youth male

6

6. London Marathon Playing Fields

Location

LONDON MARATHON PLAYING FIELD REDBRIDGE FOREST ROAD, ILFORD, Greater London Authority, IG6 3HJ

Facilities
  • Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (4)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.0/4

Overall score

67% (8.0/12)

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

4

4. Ashton Playing Fields

Location

ASHTON PLAYING FIELDS 598 CHIGWELL ROAD, WOODFORD GREEN, Greater London Authority, IG8 8AA

Facilities
  • Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (3)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.8/4

Overall score

63% (7.6/12)

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Youth female; Youth male

11

11. Palmer Catholic School

Location

PALMER CATHOLIC ACADEMY Aldborough Road South, Seven Kings, Ilford, Greater London Authority, IG3 8EU

Facilities
  • New Indoor Football Facility (1)
Owner

Education

Deliverability score

Low (1/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.9/4

Overall score

57% (6.9/12)

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Youth female; Youth male

13

13. Loxford School

Location

LOXFORD SCHOOL OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Loxford Lane, Ilford, Greater London Authority, IG1 2UT

Facilities
  • New Indoor Football Facility (1)
Owner

Education

Deliverability score

Low (1/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.6/4

Overall score

52% (6.3/12)

Project Focus

BAME; Disability; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues

18

18. Goodmayes Park

Location

GOODMAYES PARK 68 ABERDOUR ROAD, ILFORD, Greater London Authority, IG3 9PG

Facilities
  • Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.0/4

Overall score

50% (6.0/12)

Project Focus

BAME; IMD / lower social economic groups; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues

21

21. South Park

Location

SOUTH PARK South Park Road, Ilford, Greater London Authority, IG1 1XU

Facilities
  • Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

1.9/4

Overall score

49% (5.9/12)

Project Focus

Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational

19

19. Clayhall Park

Location

CLAYHALL PARK Lord Avenue, Ilford, Greater London Authority, IG5 0HL

Facilities
  • Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

1.7/4

Overall score

44% (5.3/12)

Project Focus

BAME; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues

22

22. Brocket Way

Location

Location details: Brocket Way

Facilities
  • Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

1.6/4

Overall score

43% (5.2/12)

Project Focus

Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational

24

24. Tipree Estate

Location

Location details: Tipress Estate

Facilities
  • Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

1.4/4

Overall score

41% (4.9/12)

Project Focus

Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational

17

17. Valentines Park:

Location

VALENTINES PARK Perth Road, Ilford, Greater London Authority, IG2 6BX

Facilities
  • Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

1.4/4

Overall score

40% (4.8/12)

Project Focus

Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues

15

15. Manford Way

Location

Location details: Manford Way

Facilities
  • Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Low (1/4)

NFFS outcome score

1.7/4

Overall score

37% (4.4/12)

Project Focus

Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues

20

20. Loxford Park

Location

LOXFORD PARK Loxford Lane, Ilford, Greater London Authority, IG1 2PJ

Facilities
  • Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Low (1/4)

NFFS outcome score

1.6/4

Overall score

36% (4.3/12)

Project Focus

IMD / lower social economic groups; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational

16

16. Broadmead Estate

Location

Location details: Broadmead Estate

Facilities
  • Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

1.1/4

Overall score

35% (4.2/12)

Project Focus

Mini-soccer; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

23

23. Seven Kings Park

Location

SEVEN KINGS PARK Aldborough Road South, Ilford, Greater London Authority, IG3 8HE

Facilities
  • Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Low (1/4)

NFFS outcome score

1.6/4

Overall score

35% (4.2/12)

Project Focus

Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational

A project's overall score provides an indication of its potential outcomes and deliverability only (weighted twice as much towards the outcomes score). It does not impact the likelihood or level of any potential investment.

Appendix B: Consultation List

09

  • Health & Sports Development Co-Ordinator: Havering Council
  • Health and Wellbeing Manager: Havering Council
  • Senior Community Safety & Development Officer: Havering Council
  • School Games Coordinator: Havering Council
  • Planning Officer: Havering Council
  • Contract Manager: Everyone Active
  • Head of Football Development: West Ham United Foundation
  • Managing Director: Centric Sports Management
  • Club secretary- Woodford Town FC
  • Club secretary- Bealonians FC
  • Programme manager- Fit for fun
  • Site manager- Frenford Club
  • Team manager- District Football Manager
  • League Secretary: Essex Alliance League
  • League Secretary: Echo Junior League

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