Latest Updates

In April 2023, we will begin a project to redevelop the Active Places Ecosystem on new technologies. This exciting project will lead to improved data discovery and analysis in a modern mapping interface. It will also provide the foundation from which we can continue to build and enhance the data and tools provided by Active Places Power. 

The redevelopment will be inclusive and transparent. In addition to regularly sharing information on the project and progress, we will seek to include users in the development process. 

More information on the project can be found in this FAQ

Known Issue: As at 15th Dec. 2022, the SFC was updated to reflect Q3 2022 costs. Due to a technical issue, costs for Artificial Grass Pitches (if 3G) are parameterised at £999,999.00. This is lower than the published cost of £1,100,000.00. When working with this tool, please use the outputs with caution. We are hoping to resolve this issue in January 2023. Note this issues impacts only 3G Artificial Grass Pitches.

On the 15th December 2022, the following updates were released:

The way in which Areas of Interests are described in each of the tools has been updated to ensure consistency and make Local Authorities easier to find.

Population data has been updated to 2022 projections in the Sports Facility Calculator, Playing Pitch Calculator, Catchment Profile and Area Access reports.

Costs have been updated to Q3 2022 figures in the Sports Facility and Playing Pitch Calculators.

Modification have been made to the field headings/fields included in the Playing Pitch Strategy report. These minor changes seek to improve ease of use and data clarity.

Facility specifics have been added to capture how gymnastic/trampoline equipment is used in Sports Halls and Fitness studios. See the associated FAQ.

Pool hoist information is no longer a site level attribute. This information is now captured as a facility specific. See the associated FAQ.

Changes have been made to the way Site Equipment is recorded. See the associated FAQ.

Map layers have been updated. Layers updated include Sport England Investments, Local Authority, and Postcode boundaries

To support ongoing development in the tools that can support you in developing an audit of facilities, when undertaking an assessment of need, changes have been made to the Active Places Menu.

The menu item “Playing Pitch Strategy” has been updated to read “Assessments of Need” and the “Audit Report” button updated to read “PPS Audit Report”.

Changes are restricted to the menus and at present there will be no changes to the underlying Playing Pitch Strategy Audit Report. These small changes are paving the way for future developments which will increase the facility types and supplementary data available to support assessments of need.

Spectator accommodation has been added to Athletic and Swimming facilities. Please read the associated FAQ for details on this facility specific and advice on how to use the data.

Update to the Studio facility type which now includes two subtypes; Fitness Studios and Cycle Studios. Improved population profile functionality within the Playing Pitch Calculator. Updates to the population data underlying the Area Access and Single Catchment Profile tools. Implementation of enhancements to ensure the site achieves the highest password security and Web Content Accessibility Guidance standards.

Active Partnership data update to reflect name and boundary changes.  Also introduction of a News banner informing users to use data with caution due to the impact of Covid-19.  Find out more.

Updates to aerial photography map service URL, open data Open Active spec. version, PPC report bug fix, backend batch processing for Area Access report and email notifications and user page GDPR info.  

Road and path network data updated from Ordnance Survey ITN to OS Highways.  Please see the FAQs for more details.  Grass pitches "Mini Soccer" now split into "Mini Soccer 7v7" and "Mini Soccer 5v5".

Map Layers display improvements to make report results clearer and more distinct.

Data updates to catchment report network data (ITN and Urban Path), Sport Facility Calculator parameter data and Facilities Planning Model Report. 

Data update to the Integrated Transport Network (ITN) and Urban Path used for catchment analysis and hosting location for contextual maps.

API updates have been made following feedback from the ODI (Open Data Institute).  They include error message format, user control of page sizing, JSON disability field fixes.

Indices of Deprivation (2015) with 9 sub domains are available as map layers.  Sport Facility Calculator (SFC) data has been updated and search result details are included in the Detailed Report. 

Cycling facilities will appear as an option within reports.  Note, cycling data collection is in progress with completion by end February 2017.  Catchment Report now has chart outputs.

The Facility Planning Model (FPM) Report, only accessible to Sport England staff and selected contractors, now includes an automatically populated report template.  An Detailed Report operator function issue has also been fixed.

New Map Identify tool, catchment report enhancements, network data updates and fixes, along Sport Facility Calculator data updates all form part of several releases during the summer months.

Sport England lauched it's new strategy "Towards an Active Nation" on Thursday 19th May.  It is available from https://www.sportengland.org/activenation.  Also follow via #ActiveNation.

The Active Places Open Data (CSV) download has been restored and is updated on a daily basis.  See page footer for download link.  No login required.  

A new service for facility owners and managers (“site owners”) to have greater control over information held on their site records within Active Places by self-maintaining the information online launched on Tuesday 12^th April.

Enhancements introduce a new Sport Hall facility sub type of “Barns”, add fields to distinguish between record “Last updated” and “Last full audit” dates, display Ordnance Survey “UPRN” and “TOID” values and also “latitude” and “longitude”.

April and May website updates apply a default filter to the Facility Operational Status and provide enhancements to a report presently only accessible by Sport England staff.  A Detailed Report facility count issue has also been resolved.  

Recent updates introduce: a new map layer transparency slider for FPM map layers (Sport Engladn only) and basemaps/aerial photography, updated County Sport Partnership (CSP) data and new fields (address details) to report downloads.

Sport England has developed an online tool called the Active Places Data Platform (https://dataplatform.activeplacespower.com) to maintain Active Places data in real-time.  See FAQs for more details.

Adetiq have been appointed as Active Places Data Validation Team to collect, validate and maintain the Active Places database.  For more details see FAQs.  Adetiq replace The Leisure Database Company. 

NEW REPORT -  quantify the additional demand generated by populations of new growth, development and regeneration areas for key community sport facilities.  See Reports > Sport Facility Calculator.  

April 2015 updates include an Open Data download (see page footer – no login required) in addition to a number of smaller fixes to the map and report functions. 

March 2015 website updates add several enhancements to report CSV downloads including facility specific details, facility disability details, closed dates (also within web pages) and improved display of report search terms. 

Autumn (Sept to Nov) website updates introduce dedicated facilities and clubs map layers with improved map marker symbols for Search and Report result map layers.  A collection of smaller fixes have also been released.

On Thursday 10th July 2014 Active Places celebrated it’s 10th birthday.  Establishing the facility database enabled the creation of websites and tools that revolutionised how Sport England delivers Facilities and Planning services. 

Two new report capabilities established. 1) - ability to select any combination of facility type or sub type 2) - ability to compare the area of interest against any other AOI, including by hierarchical, geographical, or CIPFA relationship. 

Active People Survey 6 data has been included within Area Profile and 18 other fixes ranging from bugs to cosmetic enhancements are now live as part of the August/September website update.   

Maps can now be exported to jpeg, png and pdf formats and more than 25 fixes of varying significance have been resolved in the July website update.  

Ordnance Survey have created an case study highlighting the importance of geospatial data within APP.  To read the case study see http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/business-and-government/case-studies/index.html. 

A major update to Active Places Power is now available, which includes new analytical tools (catchment and summary reports) as well as several improvements to the existing site (mapping, CSP geographies, interface enhancements).

On Monday 5th November Sport England launched a new version of the Active Places Power website, which sees a completely new interface, improved functionality and significantly an extended data model to include club data for the first time.  

For the first time Active Places Power references affiliated club data, including: Basketball, Fencing, Handball, Hockey, Swimming and Table Tennis.  New sports are being collected and will be added to the database when the required standards are met.