Levelling the playing field: How sport can be a catalyst for urban regeneration

Placemaking and revitalisation of urban areas is nothing new in the built environment. However, the lens of regeneration is often not looked at through sector-driven development, outside of the ambition to build houses or residential targets.

Sport has long played an important role in shaping our towns and cities. From community playing fields and grassroots club facilities to leisure centres and stadiums, it has often acted as a social anchor for communities. Yet projects over the past decade have shown us time and time again how sports facilities can be a real driver of economic, social and physical value.

There is now a recognition that sporting venues and events need to be not just about hosting major events but also become a springboard for investment and regeneration. We saw how the 2002 Commonwealth Games transformed east Manchester into a thriving neighbourhood, created jobs, community facilities and reshaped the economic, social and physical regions with the public and private investment exceeded £600m, the equivalent of £1.33bn today.

The London 2012 Olympics, a watermark in ambition and participation for the country, was not just about hosting the Games, it was about unlocking investment, regeneration and creating homes, schools, employment opportunities including over £ 9bn investment and the creation of 110,000 jobs since 2012.

James Saunders from Quintain explained in a recent RLB hosted panel session how the Wembley Park masterplan reimagined not just a stadium, but an entire community. Quintain and Brent council co‑authored an action plan that turned vision into reality, upgrading transport and creating a connected ecosystem of homes, retail, public realm and indoor and outdoor venues. The success of the development relied not on any single asset, but on a shared commitment to put people first.

More recently, Everton FC’s Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, framed from the outset as “the people’s project”, embedded social value and community involvement into its design and delivery. The ambition was simple: with the community playing a key role in the regeneration of the area.

Although it is the major venues and events that often generate the headlines, community grassroots sports facilities can also be instrumental in the renewal of communities, encouraging participation, health and social connection

All this evidence points to sports being a key driver of economic growth. Yet sport can have a wider impact with its unique ability to reinforce identity.

Twickenham is known around the world as the home of English rugby. Many people who have never visited London will still recognise the name because of the stadium. That level of recognition shows the power that sport has to embed a place in the national and international imagination.

Sports bodies increasingly recognise that success is not measured only by what happens inside the venue. It is shaped by how carefully impacts are managed, how local businesses are supported, and how everyday decisions take account of the surrounding community.Alex Cohen from the RFU explains that this mindset now sits at the heart of how the organisation approaches planning and development. “We start by thinking about our neighbours and the local businesses around Twickenham,” he says. “That means understanding the impact of what we do, but also actively looking for opportunities to partner with the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and support the work they are doing to maximise benefits for the local community.

“This isn’t something we do at the end of the process – it informs every decision, and we are also always asking how those benefits can be maximised over the long term.”

Although it is the major venues and events that often generate the headlines, community grassroots sports facilities can also be instrumental in the renewal of communities, encouraging participation, health and social connection. National evidence consistently shows that investment in grassroots sport such as local sports centres or swimming pools creates not just physical regeneration but by supporting social interaction and reducing social isolation has a positive impact on local NHS services.

As we think about placemaking and regeneration, we must consider sports as a driver of change within the built environment. If we are serious about creating places that thrive, we need to move beyond seeing sport as an optional extra.

Whether through major venues or local facilities, it should be recognised as a strategic asset – one that can genuinely level the playing field for towns, cities and communities across the UK.

Steve Gillingham is a regional director at RLB based in Manchester