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The Building Control team deals with safety at sports ground issues at:

  • Blackpool Football Club 

To fulfil these functions the team: 

  • Carry out mandatory inspections of designated stands
  • Carry out during performance inspections
  • Chair safety advisory groups
  • Issue the General Safety Certificate

Application for safety at sports grounds certificate [PDF 40KB]

Background to regulations

Following various major accidents at sports grounds, the need to control the fabric and management of sports grounds became apparent and the provisions of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 placed this control with local authorities. The Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sports Act 1987 made it a duty of local authorities to enforce the Acts.

Following the fire at Bradford City Football Club's Valley Parade stadium in 1985, covered stands which accommodate over 500 spectators came under a similar control to that afforded to major football grounds and large stadia.

Lord Taylor, in his report on the Hillsborough disaster, recognised the need for building control to take a major role in the safety of sports grounds and went on to lay down procedure to make sure of the participation of all emergency services and other interested parties.