The Facilities Development team undertakes research and advises local authorities, governing bodies and clubs on the planning, development and use of sports facilities and on planning for countryside sport.

sportscotland has developed a number of planning models to measure supply and demand for different types of sports facilities.

The models take into account factors like the distribution of the local population and its demographic structure, along with the capacity and availability of facilities in the area.

The models provide objective input to the planning process, helping to inform important decisions on the provision, upgrading and replacement of sports facilities. sportscotland can use this information to work with partners to develop a strategic approach to the provision of facilities.

We also maintain a database of sports facilities for use in planning assessments.

We are carrying out a national audit of sports facilities to assess the condition of the country’s sports facilities. The audit will assemble information on the current condition of a selection of sports facilities and the capital costs needed to upgrade, maintain or replace them until 2025. This will help us to prioritise investment in facilities.

sportscotland safeguards and promotes the interests of sport through the statutory land use planning system. We also work to ensure that local government development plans and government legislation, policies and programmes take account of the interests of sport.

sportscoltand plays an important role in the protection of playing fields and works with partners to improve the quality of our playing fields. We are a statutory consultee on planning applications affecting playing fields.

Planning applications involving development on playing fields must be referred to sportscotland. We will generally resist such proposals unless the playing fields are shown to be surplus to requirements or adequate replacement facilities are provided.

sportscotland recommends that every local authority should produce a playing field strategy to ensure the long-term protection and impact of playing fields in an area and we have published guidance on how to prepare a strategy.

The countryside and natural environment play an important role for sport and recreation in Scotland.

sportscotland is involved in a number of natural resource-based sport and recreation initiatives. We are represented on national and regional forums, and work with agencies and partner bodies on a range of strategies, projects and plans relating to countryside sport and recreation.

sportscotland was closely involved in the development of the National Parks and access legislation in Scotland including the development of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and we are represented on the National Access Forum.