New:Gen Tracks
We are pleased to introduce the New:Gen facility concepts to inspire a new generation to enjoy athletics and running; PlayTrack, CompactTrack, ActiveTrack and MiniTrack.
Oval running tracks originated in the 1800s and have changed very little over the past two centuries. There are currently 270 standard 400m tracks in England and these will always have an important part to play in athletics – particularly when it comes to competitive track and field. However, people’s habits, perceptions, and ambitions have moved on. As the governing body for Athletics in England we recognise that we need to reflect these changes and actively encourage the development of a new generation of innovative, affordable, and accessible facilities.
We will continue to update this website section with case studies in England, to stimulate your imagination and help you to develop exciting and affordable facilities in your local community.
Priority areas for New:Gen tracks
England Athletics used specialist sports facility planning consultants ORH to carry out an analysis of the current supply and demand for existing outdoor synthetic athletics facilities and – using 20 minute (urban) / 30 minute (rural) drivetime catchment zones. The following 48 New:Gen priority areas were identified:
| Midlands | North | East | South West | South East |
| BassetLaw | Cumberland | Breckland | Cotswold | Arun |
| Blaby | East Riding of Yorkshire | Broadland | Dorset Council | Chichester |
| Derbyshire Dales | Hartlepool | East Suffolk | East Devon | East Hampshire |
| East Lindsey | Northumberland | Fenland | North Somerset | New Forest |
| Harborough | North Yorkshire | Maldon | South Hams | Swale |
| High Peak | Ribble Valley | Mid Suffolk | Stroud | West Oxfordshire |
| Hinckley and Bosworth | South Lakeland | North Norfolk | Teignbridge | |
| North Kesteven | Westmorland and Furness | South Norfolk | Torridge | |
| North West Leicestershire | Wyre | Tendring | ||
| Rutland | Uttlesford | |||
| South Holland | ||||
| West Lindsey | ||||
| Forest of Dean | ||||
| Shropshire | ||||
| Staffordshire Moorlands |
These priority locations will be reviewed on a regular basis to reflect (amongst other factors):
- Emerging strategic housing developments that are approved and may alter the original demographic assumptions in each priority location
- The development of new athletics facilities not included or known about in the original mapping analysis.
If you have a potential project within one of the 48 priority locations, we would like to hear from you. Please email: newgentracks@englandathletics.org and include a brief overview of your project and we will be in touch to discuss in more detail with you.