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The Purple Guide
  • The Purple Guide
  • Purple Guide Lite
  • Other Guidance
    • THE WELFARE HANDBOOK
    • Introduction
    • Part One – Planning & preparing to provide a welfare service
    • Part Two – Welfare team guidelines
    • Part Three – Forms
    • FURTHER READING
    • The Circus Safety Toolkit
    • Martyn's Law
    • Ban on Single Use Plastics and Polystyrene
    • Making Sure Those Working for You are Allowed to Work
  • FAQs
  • Subscribe
  • Login

Venue & Site Design

Updated: 8 December 2025

Please note: The information contained in this guide provides pointers to legislation and good practice that should be considered by event organisers. However, it is industry guidance and does not necessarily cover everything that organisers need to consider for a particular event.

The general principle behind venue design is to provide an arena or location in which the audience can enjoy the entertainment in a safe and comfortable atmosphere, and to ensure that the health, safety and welfare needs of the workforce are also met.

Key Points

 

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Introduction

 

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Knowing the Event

 

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Pre-site Design Data Collection

 

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Assessing Site/Venue Suitability

 

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Venue Capacity

 

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Roads & Bridges

 

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Local Amenities

 

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Underground and Overhead Dangers

 

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Ground Conditions

 

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Topography of the Site

 

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Distances between Structures

 

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Standing or Seated?

 

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Space for Toilets, Drainage & Waste

 

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Car Parks & Vehicles

 

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Signage

 

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Camping & Caravanning

 

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Animal Droppings

 

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Existing Structures/Features

 

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Lighting

 

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Site Plans

 

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Final Site Design

 

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In this chapter

  • Key Points
  • Introduction
  • Knowing the Event
  • Pre-site Design Data Collection
  • Assessing Site/Venue Suitability
  • Venue Capacity
  • Roads & Bridges
  • Local Amenities
  • Underground and Overhead Dangers
  • Ground Conditions
  • Topography of the Site
  • Distances between Structures
  • Standing or Seated?
  • Space for Toilets, Drainage & Waste
  • Car Parks & Vehicles
  • Signage
  • Camping & Caravanning
  • Animal Droppings
  • Existing Structures/Features
  • Lighting
  • Site Plans
  • Final Site Design
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Acknowledgements

Andy Grove - Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (LAEOG)
Luke Cowdell - Festival Republic/CPA
Connor Moss - Derby University (NOEA)
Gary Lathan -Safety First Solutions
Jeremy Stout - New Forest District Council
Jim Hammett - CCI
Steve Heap The Association of Outdoor Event Managers

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