A coalition of elite athletes and national sports bodies has issued a stark warning that England's playing fields and community sports facilities face being built over "en masse" due to proposed government planning reforms.
Open Letter Sounds Alarm on Statutory Protections
In an open letter organised by the charity Fields in Trust, 88 signatories have expressed they are "deeply concerned" that reforms could remove Sport England's statutory right to be consulted on housing developments on playing fields. This measure is a key part of the government's drive to build 1.5 million new homes.
The letter's high-profile signatories include Olympic legends Mo Farah, Sir Matthew Pinsent, and Alex Yee, alongside former England footballer Jill Scott. They are joined by major governing bodies such as the Football Association, the Rugby Football Union, the Lawn Tennis Association, and UK Athletics.
"Playing fields are irreplaceable. Once built on, they are gone forever," the letter states, emphasising that these spaces are vital infrastructure for health, community sport, and children's play.
A Matter of Social Justice and Lost Heritage
The campaigners argue the potential loss is fundamentally an issue of social justice. "The people who need green space the most often have the least access," the letter adds, warning that without protections, community health and wellbeing will suffer.
This fear is backed by research from Fields in Trust, which found that almost half of Britain's population already lives more than a ten-minute walk from a playing field. The charity notes that the poorest areas continue to lose the most green space to development.
The threat evokes memories of the widespread sell-offs of the 1980s and 90s, where an estimated 10,000 playing fields were lost before protections were introduced in 1996 and 2001. Sport England's own data shows the importance of its role, having protected over 1,000 playing fields in the 2021-2022 period alone.
A Final Chance to Influence Policy
The government's public consultation on the proposed planning changes runs until 13 January, giving campaigners a final window to persuade ministers to reconsider.
Fields in Trust President Jill Scott made a personal plea, citing her own childhood experiences. "I wouldn't be where I am today without that green space in Sunderland," she said. "Every child deserves that same chance. We're asking [the government] to protect what already exists, for the generations who will come after us."
In response to previous enquiries, a government spokesperson said: "There are already strong protections in place for playing fields which we are proposing to keep and we are investing £400m into grassroots sport." Sport England declined to comment on the ongoing consultation.
