Background

In November 2025, Blackpool Council commissioned SLC to undertake a Strategic Outcomes Planning Guidance (SOPG) diagnostic to inform the development of a Move Together Blackpool Strategy.

The commission responded to significant health inequalities, high inactivity levels and the need for a more coordinated approach to active wellbeing. Using Sport England’s SOPG framework, SLC completed a comprehensive review of strategic plans, leisure provision, parks, green and blue infrastructure and future facility demand. This was complemented with consultation involving more than 20 stakeholders, including senior Council leaders, health partners, Active Lancashire, Move Together Blackpool and community organisations.

 

Our approach

SLC’s approach combined strategic document review, stakeholder engagement, site visits and asset analysis to assess Blackpool’s readiness to plan, invest in and deliver active wellbeing outcomes over the next decade.

The diagnostic identified strong ambitions across the Council and its partners, but also highlighted fragmented strategies, inconsistent evidence and limited alignment between services. SLC found significant opportunities to better connect leisure, public health, regeneration, transport, parks and community assets to address inequalities and improve population health.

 

Recommendations and outputs

Key recommendations included developing a new overarching Move Together Blackpool Strategy, strengthening leadership and governance arrangements  and accelerating Active Blackpool’s transition from a traditional leisure service towards an active wellbeing model.

The diagnostic also produced detailed, costed briefs for future commissions, including a Move Together Blackpool (Active Wellbeing) Strategy, Indoor Leisure Built Facilities Strategy, Playing Pitch Strategy and borough-wide asset review.

As a result, Blackpool now has a clear evidence base, delivery roadmap and investment pipeline to support future funding bids, inform strategic decisions and position the authority as a leading place-based active wellbeing system ahead of Local Government Reorganisation.

TESTIMONIAL

We are delighted with the outcome and quality of work produced by SLC to develop Blackpool’s SOPG diagnostic. They were keen to visit Blackpool and get a feel for the place, understand our needs and see some of our local assets, this helped develop a good working relationship. SLC have a huge amount of experience and knowledge which supported this work, they engaged well with our stakeholders and were clear with the aims and objectives of the work. They were highly professional with a very flexible approach and delivered the project within the desired timescales.

Laura Ivinson, Strategic Programme Lead, Move Together Blackpool

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