The UK faces a growing health crisis: according to the government’s 2022 report Physical Activity: Applying All Our Health*, physical inactivity is associated with 1 in 6 deaths across the UK. Defined as doing less than 30 minutes of moderate activity per week, far below the recommended 150 minutes, physical inactivity costs the UK an estimated £7.4 billion annually, including £0.9 billion to the NHS.

While life expectancy has increased by nearly 30 years over the past century, people are living longer in poor health. On average, men in England spend 16 years of their later lives - and women nearly 20 - with chronic, often preventable conditions such as arthritis, back pain, depression, and anxiety. Regular physical activity has been proven to reduce the risk of some of these major conditions by 30-40%*.

Access to space for movement is a growing challenge. According to Sported**,  68% of community sports groups report greater difficulty accessing facilities now than before the pandemic, especially in densely built-up areas.

But the built environment tells a different story: towns and cities across the UK are home to thousands of underused or vacant spaces. Savills*** reports that London alone has 25,000 empty commercial properties, with roughly half vacant for more than two years, equating to 70 million square feet of unused space. These sites represent not just economic underperformance, but missed opportunities for public health and community wellbeing.

To address this, the newly formed Active Meanwhile Working Group, chaired by Andrew Link, founder of Feat Factory and the Property Sports Network, brings together senior leaders from British Land, Related Argent, Hadley Property Group, and Places for London, alongside experts in health, planning, sport, and regeneration.

With a background in major development project delivery and elite and grassroots sport (including roles at AECOM, Lendlease, London 2012 as well as GB Taekwondo and the National Indoor Climbing Awards), Andrew Link, CEO of Feat Factory and Chair of the Working Group, said:

“When I worked with GB Taekwondo ahead of the Beijing Olympics we trained first in a vacant factory, and later in an unused bay at the Asda Eastlands Supercentre in Manchester. Both were meanwhile spaces—and both played a part in helping us secure our first Olympic medal. Not every space will create Olympic champions, but every space can create a positive impact.”

“This is a fantastic group, united by a belief in the power of physical activity to combat a range of wellbeing challenges. This imbalance of lack of space for sports and recreation and the increase in vacant space provides a great opportunity. We’re identifying barriers to open up more opportunities, and looking to promote best practice across the sector. The goal is simple, give communities more chances to be active in the shortest possible timeframe.”

Matt Griffiths-Rimmer, Communications and Impact Director, Hadley Property Group, added:

“We’re pleased to join a group that asks the right questions and is prepared to act.
Regeneration is rarely quick or simple, but that’s no excuse to wait. Whether through the temporary activation of spaces or longer-term policy change, there are always ways to make positive, meaningful change along the way. The development industry has both a responsibility and an opportunity to leave communities healthier than we found them.”

Georgina Weller, Development Manager at British Land, says:

“Meanwhile use – particularly sporting amenity like Padel and climbing – has been a vital pillar in activating spaces at our Canada Water development, alongside supporting our community partners with additional sporting facilities for all ages such as tennis, cricket, and football. The Working Group aligns closely with what we’re aiming to achieve across our campuses like Canada Water, and we’re confident it will help create meaningful change that will benefit all communities.”

Rob Prescott, Head of Sports, Leisure & Wellbeing from DB3 Group commented:

“Activating Meanwhile Spaces is a great initiative to help deliver additional activity spaces to our communities within accessible and affordable locations. Bringing much needed activation to areas of sites otherwise under used.”

The Active Meanwhile Working Group will explore barriers to access, identify best practices, and advocate for policy changes that embed physical activity into everyday environments. By championing 'Active Meanwhile' approaches, the group aims to inspire lasting change not just in how we use space, but in how we value community health, inclusion, and wellbeing.

Working Group Members

• Andrew Link, Feat Factory / Property Sports Network (Chair)

• Alastair Close, Planning Potential

• Georgina Weller, British Land

• Jamie Quinn, Related Argent

• Katia Clarke, Planning Potential

• Kevin Bundy, Murray Twohig / Padel Social Club

• Manuel Nogueira, AndArchitects

• Maria Diaz, Places for London

• Matt Griffiths-Rimmer, Hadley Property Group

• Michael Delfs, British Land

• Robert Prescott, DB3 Group

• Sam Szczurek, Places for London

• Sizi Sibanda, Related Argent

* Physical activity: applying All Our Health - GOV.UK

** Lack of facilities failing community sports groups - Sported

*** Savills Blog | From vacant spaces to meanwhile places: transforming cities through temporary developments

Contact

For further information, or to express interest in supporting the Working Group’s efforts, please contact:

Andrew Link
CEO, Feat Factory
andrew.link@featfactory.com