The Institute of Sports, Parks and Leisure (ISPAL) and the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management (ISRM) are to join forces and form an independent chartered institute for the management and development of sport.

In an open letter to ISRM members, the institution’s chair, Marc Newey, said that good progress had been made in forming a project working group with ISPAL to compile an application to the Privy Council for the chartered institute.

According to Newey, the aim of the new association would be to make a major contribution to future national policy on sport, health and active lifestyles agendas across the UK.

“At their last meeting in April, a memorandum of understanding was drawn up by solicitors Farrer and Co on behalf of the project working group, “ said Newey.

“This memorandum records the intentions of ISRM and ISPAL in entering into a joint project for the creation of a Chartered Institute.”

However, Newey emphasised that there were no plans to merge the two industry bodies.

“The institutes are negotiating with each other in good faith but are not entering into any contractual obligations to each other,” he said.

ISRM’s National Strategy Forum has named vice president David Morby, former chair Andy Varnom and Newey to represent ISRM on the working group.