Agenda item

Engineering works to facilitate the creation of phase 1 sports pitches and associated landscaping (approval of reserved matters under Outline permission S.14/0810/OUT).

The Principal Planning Officer (Majors) introduced the application and explained that it was a reserved matters application which related back to the outline consent for the Great Oldbury site (S.14/0810/OUT). He showed the Committee the plans of the site and the proposed works.

The Principal Planning Officer (Majors) drew the Committees attention to the main points of the proposal:

• Earth works would be needed to level the site.
• It was for the creation of 3 sports pitches. 2 smaller pitches 40mx70m and one larger pitch 60mx100m.
• The landscaping areas proposed included various native shrubs and trees which was in response to Biodiversity Officers’ comments.
• The erection of a fence along Great Oldbury Drive to prevent balls from rolling onto the road, was included in response to Highways comments.

The Principal Planning Officer (Majors) explained that this was only the first stage of this development and the next stage would involve a further 3 pitches, 2 buildings and a car park. The site would still retain its public rights of way, although they had been realigned in the proposal.

The Principal Planning Officer (Majors) gave the following answers in response to questions asked:

• The first phase of pitches was likely to be for informal use due to the lack of changing facilities which were included within phase 2.
• To be used for League games the pitches would need to meet the suitable requirements which would likely involve waiting for the changing facilities to be built.
• Highways had confirmed they were content that the surrounding highway had capacity to hold cars for the interim use of the pitches until the car park was built in phase 2.

Councillor Ryder questioned who would be responsible for the booking and the management of the pitches. The Principal Planning Officer (Majors) confirmed there was a management company who would be responsible for the maintenance and could also be responsible for the booking however, in other areas it was the Parish Council who took responsibility for the booking of the pitches.

Councillor Fenton questioned whether the land could be used for a variety of activities or a skatepark and asked why it had just been used for football pitches. The Principal Planning Officer (Majors) explained there was no application for a skatepark and the pitches could also be used for other games when used informally. He also informed the committee that the next stage of the Great Oldbury development included equipped play spaces around the development.

Councillor Ryder proposed and Councillor Gray seconded.

Councillor Brine joined the meeting.

Councillor Hall expressed his support for the application. He also noted that Eastington Parish Council had not sent anyone to object to this proposal.

Councillor Ryder debated the parking and explained in his previous experience, Sports England usually had a ratio of parking spaces to sports pitches which could be included in the plans for phase 2 with the buildings.

Members debated the parking issue at length.

After being put to a vote, the Motion was carried unanimously.