Needs Assessment Guide

A needs assessment is the vital first step in the planning process for a facility. This guide will assist facility planners in determining whether a proposed facility is needed by the community.

Related topics: None

A needs assessment is a comprehensive information gathering process to identify and analyse whether a new facility is required or whether the need can be satisfied in some other way. If it is determined that a new facility is required, the needs assessment will provide clear direction with regard to the most appropriate scope, scale, component parts and the timing of the proposed facility. Such a concept can then be tested in a feasibility study which is the second stage in the facility planning process.

A needs assessment study will essentially be undertaken to determine:

• the potential need for a project which has been proposed or is being discussed within the community;
• to assess the sport and recreation needs of a community within a particular area. The size of the area being studied may be a single suburb, a local authority or a region comprising several local authorities.

Where would you like to go next?

• Asset Management Guide
• Community consultation
• Decision-making guide
• Design consultancy
• Emerging Constraints for Public Open Space
• Facility Planning Guide
• Feasibility Study Guide
• Focus papers
• Guide to the WA Planning System
• Life Cycle Cost Guidelines
• Management Plan Guide
• Project design brief
• Natural Grass vs Synthetic Turf Decision Making Guide