Committee publication · Correspondence · 17 June 2025
Letter from Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive, Football Foundation, regarding oral evidence follow-up , dated 5 June 2025
From: Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Inquiry: Game On: Community and school sport
Summary
Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, follows up on oral evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's Game On Inquiry. The letter details six policy areas where government intervention could strengthen grassroots sport: multi-year funding certainty, planning process reform, asset transfer support, VAT exemptions for community sports projects, school facility optimisation, and place-based community engagement. The Foundation highlights £1.2 billion invested over 25 years and argues its partnership model effectively unlocks private investment.
Key findings
- Planning delays are acute: 3G pitch projects average 22 weeks, almost double the 13-week statutory period, adding material cost burdens.
- Biodiversity Net Gain requirements have cost the Foundation £1.8 million across 28 projects (averaging £68k each), threatening smaller project viability.
- Multi-year government funding with matched private investment commitment would unlock additional resources; Foundation-backed projects have already leveraged £1.5 billion in matched funding from local stakeholders.
- VAT on community sports projects is disproportionate and at odds with new build housing exemptions; zero-rating would allow public money to stretch further.
- School sports facilities receive £350 million (one-fifth of total grant investment), but are often funded post-opening rather than integrated into initial design; community usage via Foundation terms guarantees maximum benefit.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Robert Sullivan, Football Foundation, Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Premier League, The FA, Sport England, Active Partnerships
Notable line
“… to go through the planning process was 22 weeks, almost double the 13-week statutory period for the determination of major applications.”
Key Quotes
“Thanks to this continued support of our funding partners, the Foundation has invested £1.2 billion over the last 25 years towards achieving our missing of giving every community a great place to play.”
“Over last year, the average time taken for one of our 3G pitch projects to go through the planning process was 22 weeks, almost double the 13-week statutory period for the determination of major applications.”
“Since BNG was introduced, the Foundation has been quoted over £1.8 million to meet the necessary requirements across 28 projects, averaging at an £68k for each project .”
“… we've learnt that the traditional "build it and they will come" approach to tackling inequalities in physical activity levels can only do so much.”
“Not only is this at odds with the broader construction industry, in which new build houses are exempt from VAT, it also means a significant proportion of the government investment we receive is being recycled back into the tax system.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗