Local Football Facility Plan Westminster

Westminster is located in the Greater London region. The current population of the Authority (ONS 2016 Mid-Year Estimate) is 247,614. This is expected to rise to 275,104 by 2039.

Westminster’s ethnic composition is primarily white (61.7%). This level is, however, substantially lower than the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of Westminster’s population represented by the BAME community is 38.3%. This is well above the national average (14.6%).

Westminster contains areas of significant deprivation; it is ranked 46th out of 326 local authorities nationally according to the 2015 index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD). Within the Authority, the areas of highest deprivation are to be found in the north west and south of the City.

Local authority

The City of Westminster Council’s Physical Activity, Leisure and Sport Strategy (2018-2022) aims to engage more people to take part more often in physical activity, leisure and sport based upon a vision to "activate our city, lives and neighbourhoods". Its intention is that this vision will be enacted via application of the PACE principles of Promote, Activate, Collaborate and Enable thus allowing people to be physically active, where, when and how they choose. The strategy also identifies a commitment to secure genuine community use of all sports facilities in schools and colleges in the Borough.

This is accompanied by a commitment to 'Active Spaces' whereby the City of Westminster Council is committed to removing restrictive signage such as 'No Ball Games' and 'No Cycling' (plus the related byelaws) to create a more permissive and supportive environment for physical activity, leisure and sport - where possible and appropriate. Westminster has made significant investment in community facilities over the past decade. This includes a major regeneration of the Paddington Recreation Ground which now includes a full-sized (11v11) 3G FTP.

The local authority is currently in the process of developing a Playing Pitch Strategy. Work is due to start on the PPS in summer 2019.

County football association

Westminster is covered by London 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.

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 offer a variety of programmes and services to support local communities (sporting and non-sporting). Arsenal, Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers CCOs run a variety of health, education, engagement, football and sporting activities in the City.

Local leisure operator

Everyone Active is the key leisure operator in Westminster. It currently operates eight key sites including the full-sized 3G FTP at Paddington Recreation Ground. It also manages the small sided FTP at St Augustine's Sports Centre.

Local consultation

This has taken place with a broad and diverse set of community groups in Westminster. 15 individuals (representing ten local organisations) were spoken to. Agencies consulted include:

• City of Westminster Council
• The Royal Parks
• Queens Park Gardens Community & Sports Hub (Football Academy)
• Camden & Regents Park Youth League
• Everyone Active

(See Appendix B for full list of consultees)

Clubs

There are over 91,000 community football teams in England, spread over an expansive network of clubs and leagues. Westminster has a total of 378* teams, which is comparable to local areas of a similar size.

(*This figure includes 149 teams that are affiliated to the Amateur Football Alliance (AFA).

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 ten years there has been a significant national increase in the number of large multi-team football clubs. In London large clubs are usually made up of eight to nine teams. In Westminster, four clubs have more than ten registered teams, two have nine and a further two have eight. These (based upon 2017-18 affiliation data) are:

• Regents Park (Youth) - 28 teams
• London Soccer Stars FC - 15 teams
• Kentish Town Youth Football Trust - 10 teams
• TG FC - 10 teams
• Sport London E Benfica - 9 teams
• Global Football Academy - 9 teams
• Priory Park FC - 8 teams
• Rugby Portobello Trust - 8 teams

Four leagues operate in Westminster. They offer competitive opportunities for many different players, including women and girls, youth and adults. While there are no specific league opportunities serving disability football within Westminster, provision is made in neighbouring south London Boroughs via the South London Special League.

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

• London County Saturday Youth League – 214 teams – playing at multiple sites
• Regents Park and Camden League – 250 teams – playing at multiple sites
• Greater London Womens League – 61 teams– playing at multiple sites
• Capital Girls League – 90 teams - playing at multiple sites

The County FA reports significant cross boundary migration to/from Westminster. Teams based in the Authority migrate outwards to play in Middlesex leagues and in the Islington areas.

Disability football

There are 9.4million 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 Westminster there is one football team / session 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.

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. Westminster has three FA Wildcats girls football centres and it is a priority to grow this activity.

At five, Westminster’s number of female teams is comparable to 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 Capital Girls League in which matches are played on a home and away basis. It expects to grow provision in future years. The local adult female league is the Greater London Women's League; its matches are played on a home and away basis. It too is expected to grow provision in future years.

For talented players, the most local FA Regional Talent Clubs (RTC) are QPR, Chelsea and Fulham; all located in neighbouring boroughs. 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 teams are QPR and Chelsea both of 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:

• Academy Sport
• Paddington Recreation Ground (Everyone Active)

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 Futsal is available across the country.

There are currently two Futsal teams in Westminster; they play in the BUCS South Eastern League at key site locations including Imperial College. It is a priority for the County FA to grow Futsal for male, female, youth and adult 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 two FA Just Play Centres in Westminster. Walking football sessions are delivered by a community and commercial organisations including Everyone Active. Walking football and Just Play are formats that the County FA has prioritised for further growth and development to be sustained. Other local recreational football programmes include professional club community scheme activity and casual bookings which are delivered by a range of organisations including QPR, Chelsea and Arsenal CCOs and Man vs Fat.

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 Westminster is played across the Authority. Regents Park, Paddington Recreation Ground and Hyde Park are key, heavily used, site locations.

The key strengths of local football in Westminster include youth and adult provision and it is recommended that this is sustained and encouraged to grow further. However, gaps in provision (relative to levels in comparable areas) do exist; these include women and girls football.

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

1. Women & girls
2. Disability

The facilities required to assist this are 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 Westminster. 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.

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.

FA data states that there is currently one full-sized (11v11) 3G FTP in Westminster plus ten small-sided 3G FTPs. This is a shortfall of 10 full size FTPs relative to assessed demand. The shortfall is calculated using FA 3G demand modelling, which in Westminster identifies that the demand for recreational football is higher than that for affiliated football. Existing 3G FTPs in Westminster include:

• Paddington Recreation Ground (11v11) - This site was previously funded by the Football Foundation. The 11v11 3G FTP is due to be resurfaced by the end of May 2019.
• Quinton Knayston School (7v7)
• Churchill Gardens (5v5)
• Marleybone Boys School (5v5)
• St Augustine's Sports Centre (5v5)
• St Joseph's Primary School (5v5)

In addition there are two small-sided 3G FTP centres in Westminster:

• Academy Sport (x2 5v5 & x1 7v7)
• Paddington Recreation Ground (x1 9v9/x2 5v5)
  

Westminster is also home to a significant number of multi sport artificial grass pitches (AGPs) and multi-use games areas (MUGAs). These are heavily used for recreational football.

The following sites are already being planned without funding from the Football Foundation:

• Paddington Green Academy: here there is potential to install a 7v7 3G FTP at the site. Funding for this project is to be provided by City of Westminster Council.
• Lisson Green: There are plans to resurface an existing sand based 5v5 AGP on the Lisson Green Estate. The proposal is to resurface with 3G carpet and slightly increase the size of the venue. The new facility will accommodate two small 5v5 3G FTPs. Funding for this project is to be provided by City of Westminster Council.
• Wilberforce Primary School: There are plans to upgrade an existing concrete MUGA to 3G carpet. Wider community use plans are part of the proposal. The development will potentially come on line in 2019.

All existing FTPs are available for community use. No pitches in Westminster are on the FA Register for 3G FTPs (this would mean that they were quality checked and suitable for use for football match play). It is strongly recommend that, as appropriate, existing and planned new FTPs are assessed and placed on the Register to enable more match play on 3G.

The geographic spread of existing facilities is uneven; there are provision gaps in the south, east and central areas of the Authority despite high levels of population, significant planned regeneration & housing growth; it is recommended that these are addressed. Within Westminster, space for new facilities is limited therefore an approach based upon developing predominantly small sided (rather than full-sized) 3G pitches has been adopted to help alleviate the Authority-wide shortfall. Local consultation reveals common issues with low availability and lack of match play on 3G and it is recommended that these are addressed.

Four priority projects for potential investment have been identified, comprising one 7v7 and seven 5v5 3G FTPs. In addition, the exisitng 3G FTPs at Academy Sport require refurbishment. As noted earlier, undersupply was calculated using the FA 3G FTP demand and supply model. Whilst these proposals do not meet the identified total shortfall of full size FTPs based on recreational demand, it is recommended that future iterations of the plan address this when additional land / development opportunities become available. Proposed sites were determined on the basis of a rationale that takes account of the level of access, high population, geographic spread, the quality of existing facilities, high levels of deprivation, and the high proportion of people from lower social economic groups:

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.

Pitchfinder indicates that there are currently three grass pitch sites in Westminster with three or more full-size pitch equivalents containing 14 grass pitches.

One, Westminster School currently offers no community access. This site has three full-sized pitches and one junior grass pitch which are considered to be of high quality. It is highly recommended that community use options are actively explored at this site.

The other site is Regents Park, where the pitches are considered to be of good quality.

There are also a large number of full size equivalent pitches at Hyde Park (Old Football Pitches), these pitches are currently heavily used for informal and recreation football. There is no affiliated use at this site, however, there may be potential to improve the grass pitches for future use. The number of grass pitches to improve at Hyde Park is to be confirmed.

Regents Park is a strategically important site, as it caters for affiliated demand not just for Westminster based teams but for teams across Central and North London. Whilst its grass pitches are currently considered to be in a suitable condition it is imperative for affiliated football in London that this site is retained at a high quality and that the required pitch improvement is specified and acted upon - on an ongoing basis. Additionally, Sport England is currently one year into the trial of a hybrid pitch at Regents Park. Early results are very positive and it is presently accommodating 25-30 hours usage per week (some adult, some junior football). There is potential for further hybrid pitch development at this site where it would, in any event, be very difficult to obtain planning consents for FTPs. It should be noted that hybrid pitches are not currently eligible for funding from Football Foundation until further research/outcomes are determined from the ongoing trials.

Consultation with City of Westminster Council identifies potential to explore the development of hybrid pitches at Paddington Recreation Ground. There are currently no formal marked out pitches. The large grassed area at the site is used for cricket and also see's high levels of informal football use. There is potential here to develop hybrid pitches (x1 11v11 & x1 mini). Any potential development would be subject to full feasibility and would need to retain multi sport usage.

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 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 three key sites with three or more full-size pitch equivalents in Westminster, all have suitable changing room pavilions/clubhouses.

Through consultation it has been identified that the changing facilities at Academy Sport are in need of improvement. Academy Sport is a site which consists of one 7v7 and two 5v5 3G FTPs.

One priority project for potential investment is, thus, 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.

Local consultation reveals one indoor facility that requires improvement to develop small-sided football. Jublilee Sports Centre is due to be rebuilt and has potential to accommodate futsal in the sports hall design specification (see project listing below).

Over the last 10-15 years the City of Westminster Council has invested in its MUGA stock, resulting in good quality provision across the majority of the local area. Additionally, as noted earlier, it has in its Physical Activity, Leisure & Sport Strategy committed to remove restrictive signage and byelaws related to the imposition of restrictions such as 'No Ball Games' to create a more permissive and supportive environment for informal football. It should also be noted that City of Westminster Council are in the process of developing a Playing Pitch Strategy and Indoor and Built Facilities Strategy, a full quality assessment of all MUGAs will be included in this.

Sport England recreational football mapping suggests that in Westminster, there are ‘hotspot’ areas in terms of recreational football demand in the west of the local area. These correspond with the location of projects 9 and 11 (see full detail below) which are identified as possible refurbishment options for small sided football.

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, high levels of deprivation, a substantial proportion of people from lower social economic groups and corresponding high local demand for informal football (see project listing below).

Following local consultation, three locations have 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 (see project listing below):

• Chair – Age UK Westminster
• Contract Manager – Everyone Active
• General Manager (Paddington Recreation Ground) – Everyone Active
• Relationship Manager (Leisure) – City of Westminster Council
• Football Development Officer - London Football Association
• Head of Delivery - London Football Association
• Head of Physical Activity, Leisure & Sport –City of Westminster Council
• Director - Queens Park Gardens Community & Sports Hub (Football Academy)
• Camden & Westminster lead – Arsenal in the Community
• Trust CEO – QPR in the Community
• Secretary – Camden & Regents Park Youth League
• CEO – The Royal Parks
• Corporate Partnering Manager – The Royal Parks
• Sports Development Officer – The Royal Parks
• Co-ordinator – Healthy Schools Partnership

Club survey responses received from:

- PwC City FC

- Daryl’s Dragons FC

- Sport London e Benfica