GRO5 - Enhancing Plymouth's sporting facilities

Plymouth has a growing reputation for sporting excellence, both in terms of its facilities and in terms of the performance of its teams and individuals. This excellence can be seen in the quality of Plymouth Life Centre (which is one of the premier aquatics centres in the country and was used as an Olympic training venue for London 2012), in the reputation of Plymouth Marjon University (as a specialist sports university training elite athletes), and in the success the city experienced as the host of the America's Cup in 2011. Sport is a key element of the city's offer. Sport England has estimated an annual total direct economic value of sport to the city of £79.3m (2013) and as such sport is seen as a significant contributor to a growing Plymouth.

Plymouth's sporting reputation and its facilities are something which the city will support and enhance through promoting and encouraging the development of further strategic and neighbourhood sports facilities, including encouraging the community use of sport's facilities in local schools. New sporting facilities can be a catalyst to the regeneration of places across the city. For example Plymouth Life Centre and its relationship to Home Park. A strong sporting offer driven by enthusiastic fans and followers can create a strong identity which is attractive to investors. However, the policy also picks up the importance of local sporting facilities which allow teams and organisations to play and host sporting events within the local community.

The Joint Local Plan explains how planning powers will be used in support of this policy.