Introduction for planners

The toolkit will help planners bridge gaps between cultural planning and spatial planning processes and it will enable planners to align the two so that benefits can be secured from growth and development by the effective delivery of cultural resources. This is an important part of helping present and future communities thrive and foster their own identities.

Each section of the toolkit provides information and guidance to help planners to:

• recognise opportunities to integrate culture and sport into spatial planning
• recognise community needs from development and growth
• recognise public and private funding possibilities and opportunities
• support the development of partnerships
• develop effective culture and sport planning policies
• develop robust evidence of provision and needs
• deliver successful schemes
• make use of existing planning tools and guidance
• learn lessons from around the English regions.

“Planning has a key role to play in the creation of sustainable communities: communities that will stand the test of time, where people want to live, and which will enable people to meet their aspirations and potential”.

(Planning Policy Statement 1, 2005)