Progressive local authorities entrust SLC to help them develop their overarching strategies for sport, leisure, physical activity and increasingly, active wellbeing.
We help develop strategies that are high on evidence, substance, ambition and commitment but low on ‘wooliness’ and ‘fluff.’
Our clients find the whole process a very impactful way of raising awareness of the importance of active wellbeing services and their effect across localities.
We help you set out a compelling vision and roadmap for how to support active communities and prevention. This is shaped through primary research, strategic evidence of need and engagement with stakeholders.
If you are an authority with a Sport England Place Partnership, we can help you integrate this into a sustainable longer-term active wellbeing strategy. This ensures the legacy of place-based working and systems leadership is embedded, not eroded or discarded when the funding runs out.
If you’re facing difficult decisions on what you can afford to provide, we can support the evidence and narrative to help you prioritise what’s really important to your local authority and the communities it serves.
Helping build clear, evidence-led active wellbeing strategies which drive long-term impact and secure place-based buy in.
Sheffield City Council, Bristol City Council, North Yorkshire Council and Horsham District Council have all recently entrusted SLC to help them develop their investment strategies for sport, leisure and active wellbeing facilities.
Our work has enabled c.£700m of investment for new, upgraded or planned facilities.
We use evidence of what is needed, robust commercial and market analysis and collaborative approaches to colocation and integrated services, helping to shape innovative design and sustainable solutions.
We develop business cases that are transparent, easily understood and based on clear assumptions. We do not offer ‘end to end’ delivery or one stop solutions because we believe the advisory support to get you to the point of committing £millions of investment requires independent rigour.
We work with the very best architects and cost consultants – professionals who have the same values and style of working as us. One team delivering consistent high quality.
Helping councils unlock major investment with evidence-led, transparent strategies that deliver sustainable, high-quality leisure and active wellbeing facilities.
Our experienced team have supported a number of high-profile planning developments. We have an unrivalled track record in securing planning permission for our clients, either first time round or at appeal.
SLC’s approach takes full account of Sport England’s planning guidance linked to National Planning Policy.
We provide detailed planning evidence to secure investment in sites, whether it be a leisure specific development, mixed development or alternative use of a former leisure site.
We are also experienced in developing evidence-based arguments to support legitimate reasons for the loss of playing pitches.
If you’re looking for an experienced partner to help you navigate through the challenges of the UK planning system, we could be a good fit for you.
Helping councils secure planning success with robust, policy-aligned evidence whilst navigating complexity and unlocking investment.
“The quality of the strategy was outstanding – well designed, clear, accessible and underpinned by high-quality research and analysis. SLC consistently went above and beyond the original brief, adapting to new circumstances while maintaining a professional and positive approach. Clear communication and a collaborative approach helped us navigate a complex political and operational landscape.
Their experience, flexibility and commitment to delivering the best possible outcome made them a pleasure to work with, and I would not hesitate to recommend them to others.”
Kate Clark, Sheffield City Council
“The quality of the work was excellent, the analysis was thorough and insightful and the overall output perfectly met the brief. SLC have a collaborative and flexible way of working, responsive to the needs of us as a client, but providing appropriate and constructive challenge.
Overall the work helped provide a firm evidence base to secure £36m of investment in our leisure facilities – a very decent outcome! Thank you!”
Jo Ireland
Assistant Director (Culture, Leisure and Libraries)
North Yorkshire Council
