Agenda item

To consider planning application 20/0564 for the erection of a single-storey building to provide changing facilities and social room for use in conjunction with sports pitches; provision of 3G sports pitch; provision of grass pitch; provision of training area; reconfiguration and extension to existing car park; provision of associated hard-standing, fencing and landscaping; improvement works to the access from Common Edge Road/Queensway including the creation of a new footway and cycleway.

At land to north of Division Lane, Blackpool.

The Planning Committee considered planning application 20/0564 for the erection of a single-storey building to provide changing facilities and social room for use in conjunction with sports pitches; provision of 3G sports pitch; provision of grass pitch; provision of training area; reconfiguration and extension to existing car park; provision of associated hard-standing, fencing and landscaping; improvement works to the access from Common Edge Road/Queensway including the creation of a new footway and cycleway.

Ms Clare Johnson, Principal Planning Officer, provided an overview of the application and outlined the relevant planning history of the site.  The application site was currently designated as both green belt and public open space, although these designations were not proposed to be carried forward when the Blackpool Local Plan, Part 2: Site Allocations and Development Management Policies (Part 2) is adopted.  Part 2 allocates this site within the Enterprise Zone, flood zone 1 and fell within the designated airport safeguarding zone.  The site was within the impact zone of the Ribble and Alt Estuaries Special Protection Area and straddled the Fylde Borough Council boundary, with the site also accessed from the Fylde.  Land to the north of the application site was intended for employment used under a third phase planning application.

Ms Johnson outlined the requirements of Paragraph 97 of the National Planning Policy Framework and the criteria under which existing open space, sports and recreational buildings could be built upon.  Concerns had been raised by Blackpool Rugby Club/Blackpool Scorpions, who were based at the adjacent South Shore Cricket and Squash Club, regarding the application.  The scheme had been amended to slightly re-position the main pitch to accommodate the new footpath and cycleway on the southern boundary.

Sport England had initially objected to the application, however that application had now been withdrawn subject to clarification from the Council as to the status of the current Playing Pitch Strategy and written confirmation from the Rugby Football League that the artificial grass pitch did not need to be rugby compliant.  In addition, Sport England had requested conditions relating to pitch specification, technical design and construction of the artificial grass pitch, a Management and Maintenance Plan and a Community Use Agreement.  Ms Johnson confirmed that Sport England had been sent the adopted Planning Pitch Strategy and that the Rugby Football League had confirmed that the artificial grass pitch at the Enterprise Zone was required for football only.  Written confirmation of this had been requested and the conditions, should the application be approved, had been amended accordingly.

Ms Johnson outlined the responses from statutory consultees.  Natural England had removed its objection to the application, following submission of further information and subject to appropriate mitigation to be set out in a Flood Risk and Drainage Strategy, to be secured by condition.  Lancashire County Council had made further comments and suggested a number of amended or additional conditions.  In terms of parking, the application would provide 194 marked spaces with accessible spaces, coach spaces and cycle stores.  To mitigate and discourage ad-hoc parking on the site, an interim policy had been agreed in principle and a Car Parking Management Strategy would be required.

In terms of water management, the site was not served by a foul sewer and the Environment Agency had offered no comment on the proposed surface water drainage system.  United Utilities had agreed that foul water could be treated and drained on site until such time that the facilities to connect to a foul sewer, as the site to the north is developed.  United Utilities had requested that this be mitigated by a condition requesting submission of a final sustainable drainage scheme.  This condition had been incorporated into the report at proposed condition three.

Ms Johnson outlined other objections that had been received which raised concerns regarding litter and increased hire charges; however these were not material planning considerations and a Community Use Agreement would be secured by condition, as requested by Sport England.

The application was recommended for approval.  As the Rugby Football League had not yet confirmed the 3G pitch issue in writing, it was recommended that the Planning Committee resolved to support the application and delegate the Head of Development Management to grant planning permission and if planning permission were granted, this would be subject to the conditions and amended conditions as set out in the committee report and update report.

Ms Claire Parker, who was the applicant’s agent, spoke on the application and stated that this was a significant step forward in the development of the Blackpool Enterprise Zone and would enable the replacement of existing sports pitches.  She noted that although the land was on green belt and public open space, this was not proposed to be carried forward on adoption of the Blackpool Local Plan Part 2.  The concerns of objectors were noted and Miss Parker stated that work had been undertaken to mitigate these issues.  Extended discussions had taken place with Lancashire County Council Highways and revised drawings had been submitted with regards to drainage.  She stated that the Enterprise Zone Team were keen to push ahead with the proposal to provide new sports facilities to support the future development of the area.

Members discussed the item and noted that concerns regarding congestion on Common Edge Road would be mitigated by the provision of a detailed Car Park Management Strategy.

Resolved:

That planning application 20/064 is approved in principle, subject to written confirmation from the Rugby Football League regarding the 3G pitch, and that the Head of Development Management is delegated to grant planning permission subject to the conditions and amended conditions set out in the committee report and update report.