Telford & Wrekin Council is committed to nurturing green, active, and inclusive communities. Together, we’re investing in quality outdoor spaces that promote informal and formal sport and recreation provision, pitches and recreational spaces, ensuring every area of the borough supports lifelong, active living.

Telford and Wrekin Council’s Playing Pitch and Outdoor Recreation Strategy provides a long-term plan for how outdoor sports pitches, recreational spaces and ancillary facilities across the Borough will be protected, enhanced and developed to meet current and future community demand and need. The strategy is built using a robust assessment of key local sports and is developed in line with Sport England’s national methodology, ensuring that every recommendation is evidence-based and supports the requirements of planning policy, National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGB’s) and community organisations.

Local Policy Context

The Playing Pitch & Outdoor Recreation Strategy (PPORS) is a key evidence base for Telford & Wrekin Council. It sets out how the Borough will protect, enhance, and expand outdoor sports and recreation facilities to meet current and future demand. It aligns with Sport England guidance and supports Local Plan policies on health, well-being, and sustainable communities.
The PPORS evaluates how well existing facilities meet the needs of residents today, as well as projected demand in the future. This includes the full range of outdoor sports:

  • Football including Third Generation Turf (3G) pitches)
  • Cricket
  • Rugby Union
  • Hockey
  • Rugby League
  • Tennis
  • Netball
  • Bowls (Crown green and Flat green)
  • Athletics
  • Golf
  • Outdoor Water Sports
  • Open Water Swimming
  • Cycling
  • Other grass pitch sports such as American Football, Rounders and Baseball/Softball

What is the Playing Pitch Strategy?

Our PPORS is a comprehensive assessment of:

  • Current pitch and recreational sport provision – including pitch type, quality, capacity and availability.
  • Demand across all major pitch sports and recreation – pitch sports including - football, rugby union, rugby league, cricket, hockey and artificial grass pitches (AGPs).
  • Future needs – shaped by population growth, participation trends and club development.
    It provides a framework for planning decisions, funding bids and long term facility management. The objective is to ensure the right pitches are in the right places, offering the right quality for the people who rely on them.

Why the PPORS matters to Telford & Wrekin

1. Protecting valued playing fields
The National Planning Policy Framework requires Council’s to protect playing fields unless an assessment shows they are surplus, replaced with better provision, or redeveloped for alternative sport provision. This strategy is vital in safeguarding Telford and Wrekin’s existing playing fields and using Sport England’s Playing Fields Policy, the Council ensures any planning application that might affect a playing field is thoroughly assessed and must demonstrate no loss of provision or must replace it with equal or better facilities.

2. Improving health, wellbeing and participation
Outdoor sports facilities play a crucial role in enabling local residents to be active. National research shows community sport and physical activity generate over £100 billion in social value each year, including major savings to the health and social care system. 
By investing in quality playing pitches and accessible opportunities, the Council helps support active, healthy lifestyles, mental wellbeing, and community cohesion.

3. Improving quality and capacity
The strategy highlights where improvements are needed—such as pitch drainage, refurbishment, floodlighting, and pavilion upgrades—to ensure pitches can support safe and regular play.
It also reflects Sport England principles to enhance facilities and increase community access, ensuring safe, inclusive and high quality environments.

4. Planning for growth
The PPORS helps the Borough plan for increasing demand as more residents take part in sport. National guidance emphasises the need for robust local assessments to meet future pitch requirements, and our strategy ensures we are prepared for changes through to 2040.

5. Unlocking funding opportunities
Major funders such as Sport England and National Governing Bodies require strong, local evidence before investing in new facilities. Telford and Wrekin Council’s previous Playing Pitch Strategy was used to directly support successful funding bids including:
•    A £765,000 Football Foundation grant for a full-sized 3G pitch at Burton Borough School in Newport
•    Further Football Foundation funding in Newdale, with a new 3G and grass pitches and a sports pavilion aimed to increase Women and Girls participation across the Borough. The project was designed according to Sport England and Football Foundation standards and aligns with PPORS recommendations for expanding local capacity.

Borough priorities within the PPORS

1. Protect
Safeguard existing pitches and prevent loss of space for community sport.

2. Enhance
Improve pitch quality and maintenance.
Upgrade pavilions, changing rooms and lighting.
Encourage community use of school and education sites.

3. Provide
Deliver new pitches or expand capacity where there is a proven need (e.g., for football training slots and AGP availability).

4. Support inclusion
Promote participation opportunities for women and girls, disabled participants and under represented groups.

5. Inspire participation
Using Sport England’s Active Lives insight to help every resident in Telford and Wrekin (Adults, Children Older people, disabled residents and diverse communities) to benefit from being active

Opportunities for residents and clubs

The PPORS helps ensure that clubs have fair access to quality facilities, and residents benefit from well-managed, accessible sports spaces. Telford & Wrekin Leisure Services provides booking access to football and cricket pitches across the borough and work with Leisure partners to ensure accessible facilities for all.

Get Involved

Book a pitch
Find local football and cricket pitch availability and booking information.
[telfordand...sure.co.uk]

Have your say
We regularly consult on new sports facility developments through the Telford & Wrekin Council Newsroom.
https://www.telford.gov.uk/your-views-matter/consultations/