Playing Pitch Strategy: Appendix A - Cricket Assessment of Need Report

The findings of the assessment of needs for cricket facilities in Brighton & Hove City Council are summarised in this appendix to the Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS). Affiliated cricket clubs in Brighton & Hove playing their home fixtures in the area have contributed to this assessment either by submitting an online club survey and/or through in person consultation during site visits. The number of clubs that responded to consultation as part of this process represent 94% of teams playing cricket in the area.

The last playing pitch assessment carried out in 2016 recorded 14 fine turf wickets on 12 sites available for community use, the same level of provision recorded for this strategy. There has been a change in supply of Non Turf Cricket Pitches (NTP’s) with the previous strategy recording a total of 14 NTP’s available for community use, which has reduced to just 10 NTP’s, with a number of NTP’s on education sites being no longer available for community use or, have not been maintained or replaced, and are no longer fit for use.

Sussex Cricket Foundation, via its devolved ECB County Grants Fund, has invested almost £35,000 into Brighton & Hove Clubs in the last 3 years, with the aim to create welcoming environments, provide enhanced facilities and playing opportunities, and to tackle [the impact of] climate change. The four club projects were St Peters CC (2021) towards a social space refurbishment, Brighton & Hove CC (2022) for shower and toilet improvements, Rottingdean CC (2023) for electric mower and Scarifier and Brighton & Hove CC for digitalising project.1.

The findings of the assessment of supply of cricket facilities in Brighton & Hove are summarised in this section and detailed by site, both for fine turf pitches and for non-turf artificial grass pitches (NTP’s). The supply side information is generated through standard facility audits based on the visual assessment, grading and playing capacity guidance (as set out by Sport England and the ECB in the national guidance for the development of playing pitch needs assessments) supported by consultation with the Council, Sussex Cricket and user clubs.

1.1 Cricket pitches in Brighton & Hove

A total of 14 fine turf pitches are identified as available for community cricket in the area in 2024, on 12 playing pitch sites.

The Sussex County Cricket Ground and indoor school is also located within the city. The facility provides a base for the Sussex Cricket Foundation whose aim is to actively change lives through cricket and whilst a significant site for Cricket in the area, it is excluded from the data as it is not available for community use.

There are a further 4 fine turf pitches on education sites not available for regular community use (Brighton College x2, Lancing College Prep and Roedean School).

There are 10 non-turf pitches on 9 sites currently available for community use, with a further 5 NTP’s on education sites not available for community use (Brighton College, Longhill Sports Centre (poor condition) Roedean School (x2) and Varndean High School).

Aldrington Recreation Ground (Wish park), BN3 4LN

Owned and managed by Brighton & Hove City Council

Pavilion or changing rooms - 2 changing rooms with 1 open shower block shared between changing rooms. 1 w/c. No accessible or ambulant facilities.

Benfield Valley Recreation Ground, BN3 7GE

Managed by Brighton & Hove City Council and Portslade Cricket Club.

Pavilion with changing, social space bar and kitchen.

Braypool Recreation Ground, BN1 8ZH

Managed by Brighton & Hove City Council.

Pavilion or changing rooms - large changing rooms (x10), open shower room with kitchen and large club room. External male and female toilets.. No accessible or ambulant facilities.

Brighton Aldridge Community Academy, BN1 9PW

Managed by the academy.

High spec gym and indoor cricket facility with changing rooms.

East Brighton Park, BN2 5TS

Managed by Brighton & Hove City Council.

Pavilion or changing rooms - designated male and female changing rooms (2x each) with associated showers and toilets.

Horsdean Recreation Ground

Managed by Horsdean Community Sports Association (Patcham United, Brighton and Hove Cricket Club)

Pavilion with 2 small changing rooms. Recently renovated.

Hove Recreation Ground, BN3 6LL

Managed by Brighton & Hove City Council and Palmers Cricket Club.

Use Hove RFCs pavilion and changing facilities and paying an affiliate fee.

Nevill Playing Fields, BN3 7QD

Managed by Brighton & Hove City Council and Brighton & Hove Cricket Club.

Pavilion with 4 changing rooms, basic recently repainted, separate showers in poor condition. No accessible toilet

Patcham Place Recreation Ground, BN1 8PB

Managed by Brighton & Hove City Council.

Pavilion closed due to damage and vandalism. 4 changing rooms with open shower toilets and officials changing.

Preston Park,BN1 6SD

Managed by Brighton & Hove City Council and St Peters Cricket Club.

Pavilion is dated and in need of improvement. Lack of storage.

Rottingdean Cricket & Football Club, BN2 7DA

Managed by Rottingdean Cricket Club.

Basic pavilion facilities which are not suitable for the women and girls game.

University of Brighton, BN1 9PH

Managed by the university.

Large changing block with 8 changing rooms.

University of Sussex, BN1 9PL

Managed by the university.

9 changing rooms - 4 designated male/female, 5 shared. Part of the Falmer Sports Complex

1.2 Junior pitches

In general, the clubs with junior sections set aside one strip on the main square for junior matches requiring shorter dimensions and/or use of the non-turf pitches where these are available on their grounds. At most sites, Kwik cricket for younger children is generally played on temporary pitches set up on a mown strip in the outfield (or several strips around the outfield in the event of Kwik cricket tournaments and festivals). Most sites with NTP wickets have different markings for each age group to allow for regulation bowling lengths.

1.3 Closed sites

There is one site in the city, at Victoria Rec which previously had a cricket square that was removed prior to 2018.

1.4 Non-turf pitches (NTPs)

In the younger age groups (U10 to U13), some hardball match play takes place on non-turf pitches (NTPs). Currently, all of the clubs with youth sections in the city have access to an NTP wicket to support their youth teams.

NTPs are also used for training and adult play including most short format friendly games between non-traditional single team clubs without a secured home ground. There are 10 NTP’s across the city. The majority are in a good condition allowing up to 60 match equivalent sessions (MES) for adults, with the exception of the NTP at University of Sussex which is in a poor condition and needs upgrading. Not included in the number above is one of the NTP’s at University of Brighton, which is not in use due to its condition and NTP’s at Brighton College, Longhill Sports Centre (poor condition) Roedean School (x2) and Varndean High School which all have no community use.

1.5 Non-turf practice nets

There is a mix in provision of non-turf practice nets which are available at 7 sites in city, a number of these are education sites without a fine turf square or NTP, such as Cardinal Newman Catholic School, Hove Park School – Valley Campus and Patcham High School (where new nets are in development). The nets at Hove Park School – Valley Campus are not ECB approved as they are shorter than the minimum length. Brighton & Hove CC has planning permission to extend their nets at Nevill Playing Fields from 3 to 5 lanes. Clubs without non-turf net systems rely on mobile net cages for practice on the NTP on the square or on one of the fine turf strips. The majority of net systems are in a good or standard condition, however the nets at the University of Sussex are in a poor condition and need upgrading.

Figure 1.2 – Non-turf permanent net systems: locations and quality

1.6 Indoor cricket and practice nets

There is multiple indoor cricket net provision used by clubs throughout the city, based on a mixture of education and council run leisure centre sites (Kings School, Longhill Sports Centre, Portslade Sports Centre, Stanley Deason Leisure Centre and Varndean High School).

Brighton Aldridge Community Academy has an indoor cricket centre with three full cricket lanes, a bowling machine, high specification gym and physio room. The facility is home to the Aldridge Cricket Academy and Sussex Women and Girls Cricket.Indoor sports hall space is in high demand across the area as the main constraint on cricket hires is the competing demand from sports hall team sports and badminton, these are all year-round activities whereas demand for indoor cricket nets is generally limited to peak evening or weekend slots from January to March and therefore disruptive to the core programme and income.

1.7 Facilities for non-traditional forms of cricket

Sussex Cricket is working along with the ECB towards the aim to inspire a new generation to say that ‘Cricket is a game for me’, with one of their aspirations by 2028 to become the most inclusive team sport.

Sussex Cricket Foundation created a 5- year urban plan for cricket in Greater Brighton in 2021, in partnership with B&HCC and Adur District Council. The plan provides a number of strategic action plan priorities including supporting the growth and development of friendly cricket, to improve access to ethnic minority groups, increase the numbers of participants of all ages and to provide additional facilities for summer use.

Non-traditional facilities range from non-turf pitches (NTPs) for organised cup and league 20 over matches and 'Last Man Stands' (games of 75 minutes approximately for teams of 8 players played in public parks) down to hard-court Multi Use Games Areas (MUGAs) for informal games of 'Cage Cricket' using a softball or tapeball (a tennis ball wrapped in tape). There is a ‘Last Man Stands’ league in the city at Hove Rec.

1.8 Ownership and security of access

Cricket pitches in the study area fall into one of two categories of site ownership where community access is considered to be ‘secured’:

Council owned

Grounds owned by the council are considered to be secured for community use and are hired out by the council to clubs and teams either on a match-by-match pre-booked letting basis or under terms of a seasonal agreement.

Council owned with club lease arrangement

Grounds owned by the council leased to clubs. A number of clubs have lease arrangements including Brighton & Hove Crescent CC (25 year joint lease under sports association), Brighton & Hove CC (10 years remaining on pavilion, ground on licence) Portslade CC (2 years on 25 year lease remaining), Rottingdean CC (21 years remaining) and St Peters CC (long lease on pavilion).

Community club access and use of privately owned or education sector playing fields is deemed ‘unsecured’ where a club has no legally enforceable right of access agreement in place for more than a year. None of the educational sites in B&HCC provide a permanent home ground to cricket clubs, however some are available for community bookings, and some provide nets for training.

1.9 At risk sites

There are no pitches in Brighton & Hove deemed to be at risk of being lost.

1.10 Opportunity sites for cricket

B&HCC are working with Sussex Cricket to deliver three new NTPs at Aldrington Recreation Ground, Braypool Recreation Ground, and East Brighton Park. The proposed NTPs at Aldrington Recreation Ground and Braypool Recreation Ground will create new pitch provision. The East Brighton Park NTP will be located at the end of the existing square replacing one of the fine turf strips.

1.11 Pitch quality

The table below shows the quality of pitches within the study area based on their operation.

The cricket pitches (squares) and outfields in the city are, in the main, maintained to a good quality standard (assessed by means of a combination of visual inspection, umpire ratings and club survey feedback) with council managed sites to a standard quality. There is one pitch deemed to be in poor condition at Patcham Place Rec. ground.

Where pitches are good, but outfields are rated as ‘standard quality’ this is partly due to shared use with football or rugby or issues with dogs or other animals or informal use on open access recreation grounds (e.g., Benfield Valley Rec Ground, Horsdean Rec Ground and Hove Rec Ground).

Generally, where clubs are responsible for maintaining a square and have access to a trained professional or experienced volunteer grounds person, the pitch quality tends to be a higher than at council maintained sites. Similarly, the open access / shared use nature of recreation ground sites renders cricket pitches on these sites more vulnerable to incidences of damage and acts of vandalism than at sites where access is controlled.

Pitches rated as poor quality are deemed to not have any capacity for cricket, so it is important these squares are improved. For those pitches that are generally maintained to a standard quality there is some scope to increase the playing capacity of the existing supply by improving the quality of the pitches used by cricket clubs and teams based in Brighton but this would require an increase in maintenance budget which is already under significant pressure due to the wider budget pressures on local authorities.

1.12 Distribution of cricket sites

Figure 1.4 shows the distribution of fine turf and non turf pitch cricket sites across Brighton & Hove which are available for community use. This shows that there are cricket facilities in each of the area analysis areas and most of the residents live within a reasonable distance of a community cricket pitch.

• 1 - Aldrington Recreation Ground (Wish park) - BN3 4LN
• 2 - Benfield Valley Recreation Ground - BN3 7GE
• 3 - Braypool Recreation Ground - BN1 8ZH
• 4 - Brighton Aldridge Community Academy - BN1 9PW
• 5 - East Brighton Park - BN2 5TS
• 6 - Horsdean Recreation Ground - BN1 8UA
• 7 - Hove Recreation Ground - BN3 6LL
• 8 - Nevill Playing Fields - BN3 7QD
• 9 - Patcham Place -BN1 8PB
• 10 - Preston Park - BN1 6SD
• 11 - Rottingdean Cricket & Football Club - BN2 7DA
• 12 - University of Brighton - BN1 9PH
• 13 - University of Sussex - BN1 9PL

1.13 Cricket supply of relevance in neighbouring local authorities

There are a number of other cricket pitches with community access within a 20-minute drivetime (5 mile catchment area) of the B&HCC boundary based on a review of the Active Places Database and these are shown in figure 1.5 below. Some cricket demand from Brighton & Hove is exported to community cricket sites further afield, which is detailed further in Section 2.

Figure 1.5 – Cricket supply in neighbouring local authorities

Southwick Green

• Adur District Council
• 1 pitch
• A council managed site located to the north.

Spen Cama Memorial Ground

• Hassocks Parish Council
• 2 pitches
• A sports club managed site located to the north-west.

Stanley Turner Ground

• Lewes District Council
• 1 pitch
• A council managed site located to the east.

Findings relating to cricket pitch demand in Brighton & Hove are summarised below.

2.1 Cricket clubs and teams

In the 2024 cricket season, 17 clubs were identified through consultation as being active in Brighton & Hove. These clubs, their teams and where they play are shown in figure 2.1.

Figure 2.1 - Open age cricket expressed demand in B&HCC

Alternatives Cricket Club

• 1 male adult team
• No youth teams
• No main site but Adlrington Recreation Ground is preferred.

Brighton Brunswick Cricket Club

• 1 male adult team
• No youth teams
• Home ground: University of Sussex.

Brighton & Hove Crescent Cricket Club

• 6 male adult teams
• No youth teams
• Home grounds: Horsdean Recreation Club

Brighton & Hove Cricket Club

• 6 male and 3 female adult teams
• 13 youth teams, 3 of them girls
• Home ground: Nevill Playing Fields
• Other grounds used: Brighton University, Patcham Place and Horsdean Recreation Ground

Brighton Xiles

• 1 male adult team
• No youth clubs
• Home ground: East Brighton Park

Brighton Malayalee Association

• 5 male adult teams
• No youth teams
• Home ground: Patcham place
• Other ground used: Braypool Recreation Ground

Dome Mission Cricket Club

• 2 male adult teams
• No youth teams
• Home ground: Braypool Recreation Ground
• Other ground used: Aldrington Recreation Ground (Wish Park)

Hove Unicorns

• 2 male adult teams
• No youth teams
• Home ground: Hove Recreation Ground

Palmers Cricket Club

• 10 male and 2 mixed adult teams
• No youth teams
• Home ground: Hove Recreation Ground

Portslade Cricket Club

• 6 male adult teams
• 6 youth teams
• Home ground: Benfield Valley Recreation Ground, Aldrington Recreation Ground (Wish Park) – 3rd & 4th

Preston Park Cricket Club

• 3 male adult teams
• No youth teams
• No home ground as they play away games only.

Rottingdean Cricket Club

• 6 male, 2 female and 5 mixed adult teams
• 11 youth teams, 2 of them girls
• Home ground: Rottingdean Cricket Club and Football Club and East Brighton Park - 3rd and 4th
• Other grounds: Teams, Sussex University

St Matthias Cricket Club

• 5 male adult teams
• 10 youth teams
• Home ground: Horsdean Recreation ground
• Other grounds: Sussex University

St Peter's Cricket Club

• 10 male and 2 female adult teams
• 16 youth teams, 5 of them girls
• Home ground: Preston Park (within the velodrome)
• Other grounds: Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (Junior use), University of Brighton, Braypool Recreation Ground and Patcham Place.

Sussex Ukranians Cricket Club

• 1 male adult team
• No youth teams
• Home ground: A variety of grounds outside Brighton & Hove City Council

The Greys

• 1 male adult team
• No youth teams
• Home ground: St James's Montefiore (Mid Sussex District Council)

Zambuca Tigers

• 1 male adult team
• No youth teams
• Home ground: Hove Recreation Ground
• Other grounds: Wivelsfield Green (Lewes), East Brighton Park, Firle (Lewes), Aldrington Recreation Ground (Wish Park), Patcham Place

Five clubs provide opportunities for juniors to play competitive cricket – Brighton & Hove CC, Portslade CC, Rottingdean CC, St Matthias CC and St Peters CC. Three clubs provide girls specific teams Brighton & Hove CC, Rottingdean CC and St Peters CC. All these clubs provide junior ‘All Stars’ and/or ‘Dynamos’ sessions supported by Sussex Cricket, or a similar club based junior programme.

There has been a decrease in the number of clubs in the area from 25 to 17 however the number of teams across all formats of the game has increased significantly from 92 teams to 149 teams. The number of adult male teams have increased by 23 teams (a 52% increase), there are an additional 5 women’s teams (+250%) and 7 mixed teams, a category not previously recorded in the last Playing Pitch Strategy. The number of youth teams has also growth with an additional 16 boy’s teams (+40%) and 6 girl’s teams (+100%).

In total it is estimated that, in the 2024 season, there were 67 men's teams (aged 18+), 7 women's teams, 7 mixed adult teams, 56 boys’/mixed teams (aged 7-18), and 12 youth girls teams (aged 7-18), playing cricket matches in Brighton & Hove mainly at weekends. A large proportion of these teams also train on a midweek evening in season and most of the senior teams will also train indoors pre-season in January/February.

2.2 Active lives survey

The most recently published findings of the national Active Lives Adult Survey1 showed that self-reported regular participation (i.e., taken part at least twice in the last 28 days) in cricket in England by adults (aged 16+) has decreased from 0.8% in November 2021-2022 to 0.7% in November 2022-2023. If cricket participation in the study area was at the national average (i.e., 0.7%), this would indicate around 1,457 adults (aged 16+) living in the area play cricket out of a 16+ adult population of approximately 208,187. This playing population considers both regular club participation and regular informal recreational play in parks and hired facilities, and Brighton & Hove residents who participate outside of the city.

With approximately 81 adult teams currently, the 'adult' cricket club playing membership in the area is close to 1,215 players (assuming an average of 15 squad players per team). Assuming the total adult cricket participation in Brighton & Hove is in line with the national average of 0.7%, this suggests that approximately 17% of total regular adult cricket participation is either through informal activity outside of a club environment (i.e., through informal games with family, friends and/or work colleagues in parks) or exported to other clubs outside of the city.

2.3 Casual cricket demand

Demand for less formal forms of play - using free to use net systems and non-turf facilities in public parks, as well as the use of hard-surface areas such as MUGAs, streets, footpaths and hard standing areas on housing estates - is a growing feature of cricket demand nationally, particularly among teenagers and young adults in the Black, Black/British, Asian and Asian/British minority ethnic (BME) communities.

Whilst the population of Brighton & Hove is predominately White British (85.4%)2, the provision of facilities for free to access casual play across the area could help to increase cricket activity among all types of diverse participant groups and groups of friends and families. The parks and green spaces across Brighton & Hove provide opportunities for informal cricket participation, with many areas not being marked for sports use such as Withdean Park and Hollingbury Park. There are also areas of public parks that are used for grass pitch sports which are unmarked and provide opportunities for informal use such as Preston Park and Hove Park.

The NTPs and practice net facilities at cricket sites are all owned and operated by either the cricket club or by B&HCC. There is currently provision for informal forms of cricket in the area on NTPs at Benfield Valley Rec Ground, Horsdean Rec Ground, Hove Rec Ground and Preston Park, but these are all clubs’ sites, so availability is limited by club activities. Use of these NTPs can be booked for public use either through B&HCC Sports Bookings or by speaking to the cricket club. The only publicly accessible cricket nets available are at Preston Park, with other provision based on education sites, public use of these facilities would need to be booked directly with the club or school.

It would be worth the council investigating the feasibility of providing more publicly accessible provision for casual cricket particularly in more diverse areas of the City.

2.4 Displaced / Imported demand

From the consultation carried out, it was found that three clubs based in Brighton & Hove are reliant on using facilities outside of the city. Preston Park CC only play away games due to a lack of home ground, The Greys play the majority of games at St James’s Montefiore in Mid Sussex and Sussex Ukrainians CC use a variety of grounds outside of the city. Zambuca Tigers also play some games outside of the city in Lewes.

2.5 Unmet / Latent demand

There was no identified unmet demand in the area, but clubs highlighted ambitions for growth to meet perceived latent demand, e.g., teams that could be created if additional pitch provision was available. This information is drawn from the club consultation surveys carried out from March to July 2024 and therefore only includes those clubs that completed the survey. Conversion of this perceived latent demand into new teams will depend on these clubs engaging sufficient volunteer team managers and coaches as well as securing suitable pitches to play and train on in the peak period.

7 clubs outlined their aspirations to grow their club in the next 3 years. 

Figure 2.2 outlines the growth aspirations of these clubs, and it is apparent that there is latent demand in the city for youth and girls cricket.

Brighton & Hove Crescent Cricket Club

Looking to grow the club in a small way, by increasing players and organising more games.

Brighton & Hove Cricket Club

Growing the Junior Section with teams increasing season on season through good management and coaching of teams.

Brighton Malayalee Association Cricket Club

Planning to add a junior team and women’s team

Preston Park Cricket Club

Aiming to start a second XI.

St Matthias Cricket Club

Looking to start a girls/women's section

No details provided by:

• Palmers Cricket Club
• Rottingdean Cricket Club

2.6 Trends in demand for team cricket

Nationally the ECB has reported significant growth in women and girls participation between 2019-2022, with clubs who have an existing women’s section reporting a growth of 50% and double the amount of fixtures. Sussex Cricket report growth in all areas of the game, including disability cricket.

This is reflected in Brighton & Hove with the increase in teams in the area and several clubs reporting growth in their junior section, including women and girls as well as introducing midweek formats and mixed teams with friendly only fixtures to provide more flexible formats of the game, catering for people’s busy lifestyles. Since the previous strategy there has been a total increase of 57 cricket teams across Brighton & Hove, with the greatest increase being reported in adult women’s teams (growing from 2 teams in 2016 to 7 teams in 2024, a 350% increase) and youth girls teams (growing from 6 teams in 2016 to 12 teams in 2024, a 100% increase).

The fine turf cricket pitches were assessed during the 2024 season. All the sites were assessed using the methodology established by Sport England and the ECB in the published Playing Pitch Strategy Guidance and Appendices (2013) - i.e., a non-technical visual site assessment.

Two sites within the city had a PitchPower assessment by the County Pitch Advisor, Braypool Rec Ground and Aldrington Rec Ground (Wish Park), both were graded as Basic under the PitchPower PQS measurements, equivalent to Standard in the PPS pitch quality rating.

The findings of the site-specific audit assessments were reviewed with representatives of Sussex Cricket and ratings for each agreed as a basis for comparison of the amount of play each site can accommodate (i.e., site carrying capacity) against the amount of play that takes place. Carrying capacity is a measure of the number of match equivalent sessions per season for community use each pitch can take without adversely affecting its quality and use. 

It was agreed with the ECB representative to adopt the following pitch carrying capacities according to each quality rating to be consistent with the approach adopted in similar assessments in other areas.

Carrying capacity means the match equivalent sessions per prepared fine turf wicket (strip) per season).

• Good - 5
• Standard - 3
• Poor - 0

The site-specific audit assessments (figure 1.1) details the situation at each cricket site with regard to:

• Pitch supply (including the quality ratings) and conclusions reached as to the amount of play a site can accommodate (i.e., it’s carrying capacity for community use).
• The amount of play that takes place at each site (i.e., the expressed demand) adjusted to reflect any casual or education use in addition to club use for matches and training.
• The comparison (shown as a RAG rating) as to whether, for each pitch type it contains, a site is:
  • Red - Being overplayed (current use exceeds the carrying capacity)
  • Amber - Being played to the level the site can sustain, or
  • Green - Potentially able to accommodate some additional play (current use falls significantly below the carrying capacity)

Nine sites are highlighted from the audit as a RED rated site where the available fine turf cricket pitches are considered to be played at or over their estimated carrying capacity based on the size of the square (i.e., number of wickets/strips) and the assessed quality of the square.

• Benfield Valley Rec ground
• Patcham Place Rec ground
• Braypool Recreation Ground
• Preston Park
• Brighton Aldridge Community Academy
• Rottingdean Cricket & Football Club
• Horsdean Recreation Ground
• University of Sussex
• Nevill Playing Fields

Two sites from the audit are rated as AMBER indicating that the majority of the available natural turf pitches are played very close to their playing capacity:

• Aldrington Rec ground (Wish Park)
• Hove Rec ground

Overall, the assessment of facility needs shows that the majority of fine turf pitches in the area are largely played at or over their estimated capacity and that clubs require additional facilities to cater for current demand. Only three sites in the city have capacity to cater for additional usage based on current demand and playing facilities available at each site, Aldrington Rec ground (+6 MES), East Brighton Park (+40 MES), Hove Rec ground (+14 MES), although it should be noted this capacity is not available during peak times. The square at Patcham Place was rated as poor and as such is deemed to have no capacity for use, in addition the pavilion on this site is also closed meaning there is no access to toilets or changing rooms. There are also a number of clubs also playing outside of the city highlighting a need for additional cricket facilities in the area to cater for this demand.

The supply of accessible indoor practice nets in the study area is insufficient with a number of clubs identifying a need for more provision and some travelling outside of the city to train (e.g. The Alternatives CC use Newbury Indoor Nets in Lancing). The non-turf practice net systems in the area are generally good, however public access is limited.

Investment into pavilions is required including new or refurbished provision at a number of sites, listed below, where the current provision is inadequate or failing into disrepair. The pavilion at Patcham Place is permanently closed.

• Aldrington Recreation Ground (Wish Park)
• Braypool Recreation Ground
• Nevill Playing Fields
• Patcham Place
• Preston Park (pavilion adjacent to the velodrome / cricket pitch)

Following site visits to assess ancillary facilities, it was identified that many of the ancillary facilities in the area are unsuitable for women’s and girls’ cricket and may be preventing further growth of female cricket at clubs. Some clubs have noted that improvements are needed to their pavilion to accommodate women and girls provision such as providing additional changing rooms to allow men’s and women’s matches to be played at the same time or improved privacy and access to showers and toilet facilities. Pavilions with unsuitable floor plans (e.g. shared shower blocks between changing rooms), unsafe access, or lines of sight from the changing rooms restrict women’s and girls’ teams from using the facilities and prevent clubs from providing equal opportunities for all.

4.2 Future

To estimate the potential impact of population growth over the strategy period to 2041 on the need for cricket pitch capacity in the peak period, Sport England's Playing Pitch Calculator (PPC) tool has been used to determine the demand likely to be generated in the future based on population growth. 

To meet cricket demand from 12,477 additional residents (as currently forecast3) and assuming current levels of cricket demand by age group for matches and training in the peak period, the PPC indicates that the equivalent capacity of 57 MES is needed, equivalent to 1 pitch with 12 wickets of a good quality.

7 of the clubs surveyed during the consultation process stated that they are striving to grow their club over the next 3 seasons, with 3 of these clubs looking to specifically grow their women and girls or junior sections. With many clubs’ aspirations for team growth and the impact of cricket development initiatives with regard to primary age children, women and girls’ cricket and under-represented ethnic minority groups are added, it is noted that there may be higher than expected growth rates in these groups, leading to a greater demand for additional fine turf pitches.

Figure 5.1 - Cricket key findings and issues

The main characteristics of the current supply of and demand for provision

Fourteen grass pitches are identified as available for community cricket across Brighton & Hove in 2024, on 12 playing pitch sites. There are 10 non-turf pitches on 9 sites available for community use. Since the last assessment was carried out in 2016 there has been little change in the supply of cricket pitches in the area, with the same number of fine turf pitches, however the availability of NTP facilities is less with a number of NTP’s on education sites being no longer available for community use or, have not been maintained or replaced, and are no longer fit for use. 

Seventeen clubs were identified in Brighton & Hove through the consultation with a total of 149 teams (67 men’s, 7 women’s, 7 mixed adult, 56 boys/mixed teams and 12 girls’ teams). 

Five clubs provide opportunities for juniors to play competitive cricket:

• Brighton & Hove CC
• Portslade CC
• Rottingdean CC
• St Matthias CC
• St Peters CC.

Three clubs provide girls specific teams 

• Brighton & Hove CC
• Rottingdean CC
• St Peters CC.

Is there enough accessible and secured community use provision to meet current demand?

No - The assessment of facility needs shows that there is not sufficient fine turf pitches in the area to cater for the demand of clubs in the area, with several playing outside of the city and the majority of fine turf pitches in the area being played to their maximum. There are only three sites in the city that have capacity Aldrington Rec ground (+6 MES), East Brighton Park (+40 MES), Hove Rec ground (+14 MES), although none of this capacity is available for peak adult Saturday provision and would only be suitable for midweek or youth cricket. In total an additional 50 MES (for 5 teams) is needed to accommodate current demand which is currently exported outside of the city.

Overall, the cricket provision in Brighton & Hove is secured with 10/12 cricket sites being owned by the council, with some leased to cricket clubs. A number of clubs have lease arrangements in need of review to clarify the maintenance arrangements and some such as Portslade CC, who have only two years remaining, needs review. A few clubs hire annually facilities from the council and the council should look to formalise arrangements to provide clubs longer leases where possible to enable them to grow provision.

Is the provision that is accessible of sufficient quality and appropriately maintained?

No – The cricket pitches (squares) and outfields in the city vary in quality with club sites maintained to a good quality standard in the main and council managed sites to standard quality, there is however one site at Patcham Place rated as poor, which needs improving to at least a standard quality level. The delivery of the grass pitch improvements recommended by the Grounds Maintenance Association through the PitchPower pitch assessment reports would help to improve the playing capacity at the site assessed.

There are some NTPs which have lost community use due to their poor condition (i.e. University of Brighton and Longhill Sports Centre), but those NTP wickets which are available for community use are generally good quality, with 6/10 available being graded as ‘good’ quality, 3 being rated as ‘standard’ and 1 as poor at the University of Sussex.

The non-turf practice net systems are in good or standard condition with only the nets at the University of Sussex in need of upgrading. Patcham High School are in progress of constructing new 3 lane nets and Brighton & Hove CC has planning permission to extend their nets at Nevill Playing Fields to 5 lanes.

Investment into pavilions is required including new or refurbished provision at a number of sites, where the current provision is inadequate or failing into disrepair. The pavilion at Patcham Place is permanently closed.

What are the main characteristics of the future supply and demand for provision?

To meet cricket demand from 12,477 additional residents and assuming current levels of cricket demand by age group for matches and training in the peak period, the PPC indicates that the equivalent capacity of a minimum one additional (12 wicket) cricket pitch will be needed in the study area. 

In addition, club consultation highlighted that seven clubs have aspirations to grow their clubs over the next three years. Should this growth be achieved, future demand for pitches is likely to grow significantly.

Is there enough accessible and secured community use provision to meet future demand?

No - There is not sufficient accessible and secured community use provision in Brighton & Hove to meet future demand.

Pitches rated as poor quality are deemed to not have any capacity for cricket, so it is important the square at Patcham Place is improved to at least standard quality. For those pitches that are standard quality there is some scope to increase the playing capacity of the existing supply by improving the quality of the pitches used by cricket clubs and teams based in Brighton & Hove but these are mainly council sites and would require an increase in maintenance budget which is already under significant pressure due to the wider budget pressures on local authorities. 

PitchPower (and ECB funding) is due to be available to local authorities and cricket clubs, providing potential for funding pitch improvements either through the ECB or the Football Foundation for sites with both football and cricket facilities. This could open an avenue to increased capacity and quality at joint sports sites such as Braypool Rec. ground, Horsdean Rec ground and Rottingdean Cricket and Football Club which are used at or above capacity.

Overall, there is a shortfall of two fine turf pitches, but due to the lack of space in the city to provide additional fine turf pitches the council should seek to try and increase community use at the 4 education sites without community use (Brighton College, Lancing College Preparatory School, and Roedean School).

B&HCC have committed to developing an additional 3 NTP wickets in partnership with the ECB and Sussex Cricket, one at each of Braypool Rec. ground, East Brighton Park, and Aldrington Rec. ground, subject to planning. These developments are expected to be available for use in 2025. The NTP’s at Braypool and Aldrington Rec. ground, subject to planning, will be new pitch provision which will have provision to cater for up to 60 MES for adult use at each site.

There are also opportunities to increase the utilisation of council owned sites for midweek and junior provision such as at East Brighton Park which has a total of 40 MES surplus.