Issues To Consider
This section contains some important issues that you will need to consider when developing your ideas for a community sports facility.
The Disability Discrimination Act
This law requires that anyone providing a service to the general public has a duty to make reasonable adjustments to their property, business or service to anticipate the needs of people with disabilities. The word 'reasonable' is the key word here for organisations acquiring an existing building. It means the emphasis is not on an organisation to provide what people with disabilities need but what it itself can do as an organisation once budgets, size of organisation and other factors are taken into account.
In terms of a new build, it is important for an organisation to do what they can in order for its disabled service users and potential service users to have access. Your architect or surveyor will advise you about what arrangements will need to be made to fulfil access requirements. The focus needs no longer simply to be on toilets for people in wheelchairs but on broader access issues for people with a range of mobility problems and visual impairment, hearing impairment and so forth. The earlier the discussions can take place the easier it will be to incorporate ideas about access seamlessly into the design.
Environmental Considerations
It is in everyone’s interest that environmental considerations should be taken into account in any development. As well as ‘doing our bit’ to protect the environment, we can also reduce our costs in the long-term.
Some environmental considerations can be very expensive in terms of the short-term initial investment. Solar panels are a prime example of this. Others, such as smaller heat-saving windows may actually represent a short-term saving as well as a longer term one.
Don't forget the relatively easy (although unexciting) measures such as servicing the central heating boiler regularly to ensure that it always runs at maximum efficiency.
A good architect will be able to talk through your options in terms of improving energy efficiency in a design.
Leasehold vs. Freehold
The Publics Sector Organisation (PSO) which owns the asset may make the decision for you about whether a particular piece of land or a building is offered to your organisation on a rental basis or whether it is offered for sale (leasehold or freehold). Occasionally, as a voluntary sector organisation, you may be able to select which option you want. The issues for consideration include:
|
Leasehold (rented) |
Freehold (owned) |
| Initial cost | An ongoing rent (eg ground rent). Community sports organisations could be able to negotiate a low or nominal rent. Rent will have to be fundraised for continually. |
A one-off capital payment: while this may be hard work to raise in the short-term, after this the organisation will be free of the burden of rent. Alternatively, the finance may be raised through a loan or mortgage which will, of course, mean monthly repayments |
| Fundraising | Many funding organisations will not fund refurbishment and other building work if the lease is for less than 20 years |
The building itself and any improvements to the building you make form part of the assets of your organisation |
| Community confidence | The idea that a property is owned temporarily can mean a reduced sense of confidence as a community fears that the resource could be taken away |
Owning a successful resource can be a morale boost for an organisation |
| Development | The freeholder may impose restrictions on what changes can be made to the building |
While planning permission still has to be gained, there may be greater freedoms to make changes to the building than in a leased property |
| Risk | A leased building represents a lesser risk although the lease agreement may tie the organisation in for many years |
An owned building comes with responsibilities for as long as it is owned. It may not be possible to sell a specialist building for its real value. |