With a strong commitment to supporting the health and wellbeing of our residents, our Strategic Outdoor Play and Recreation Specialist works closely with a wide range of partners to protect, enhance, and deliver high quality, accessible spaces for everyone. Our vision is to inspire active lifestyles for people of all ages and abilities, strengthen grassroots sport, and help create vibrant, healthy communities for generations to come.

Actively engaged with supporting the development process our Specialist is also responsible for the delivery of a range of strategies and policies which support and influence the delivery of these services.

The Playing Pitch and Outdoor Recreation Strategy was developed in close consultation with Sport England, National Governing Bodies, local clubs, schools, and community stakeholders. This comprehensive Strategy sets out an ambitious long term plan to safeguard and develop outdoor sports pitches, recreational spaces, and ancillary facilities across the Borough, ensuring they can meet both current and future community needs.
Similarly, the Play Strategy was shaped through extensive collaboration across Council directorates and local partners, including Parish and Town Councils, voluntary sector organisations, community groups, and schools. It provides an evidence-based framework that guides the development of play in all its forms—formal, informal, and incidental—ensuring that children and families throughout the Borough have access to engaging, inclusive, and inspiring places to play.

The service continues to secure significant external investment to enhance local facilities. One major achievement includes the successful use of a £765,000 Football Foundation grant to create a full sized 3G pitch at Burton Borough School in Newport. Further Football Foundation funding has supported the development of new 3G and grass pitches and a sports pavilion in Newdale, designed to increase participation among women and girls through the Lioness Futures Fund. All projects are delivered in line with Sport England and Football Foundation standards, directly reflecting the priorities set out in the Playing Pitch and Outdoor Recreation Strategy and expanding local capacity for sport and recreation.

In addition to external funding, the service oversees Section 106 planning contributions from new developments. By applying evidence-based Strategies, the Specialist secures financial contributions to enhance and expand existing play and outdoor recreation facilities. These contributions are often combined with external grants to maximise community benefit, as demonstrated through recent projects at Burton Borough School in Newport and Newdale. This strategic approach ensures that new developments positively contribute to the wellbeing, activity, and connectedness of the Borough’s communities.