3G pitch, car park and gym at The Hill Centre, Upton upon Severn, Worcester

What was proposed

The application proposed a new floodlit 3G pitch, a car park extension and a single-storey community-centre extension for a gym and reception.

“This application relates to the Upton Hill Community Centre in open countryside but within the locality of Upton upon Severn. The proposal entails a new 3G pitch with lighting and fencing, a car park extension, and a single-storey extension to the front of the building to create gym space and a reception area.”

Officer report

Earlier applications

The site has a history of educational, recreational, community-centre, sports-court and car-park applications dating from 1979 to 2002.

“97/01008/FUL. Demolish existing centre provide new community centre tennis courts and car parking - APL. Sep 24 1997”

“97/01009/FUL. Demolish existing centre provide new community centre sports hall tennis court and car parking - APL. Sep 24 1997”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval, finding significant community, social and economic benefits that outweighed limited visual harm, subject to conditions.

“Whilst the proposed fencing and floodlighting would have a small impact on the character and appearance of the area due to their height, form and materials, this impact would be limited and overall officers are satisfied that these features would largely be viewed within the back drop of the community centre building. The development would have an acceptable impact on neighbour amenity, highway safety, drainage/flood risk and ecology, subject to conditions.”

“There are significant social and economic benefits to the provision and enhancement of these community facilities and the proposal is supported by Local and National Planning Policies. Therefore, any limited harm identified is outweighed…”

Officer report

What people said

There were 22 objections, seven concerns and 26 supporting communications, covering transport, amenity, ecology, landscape, facilities, health and sporting benefits.

“Highway Safety • Traffic generation • Dangerous junction • Lack of parking provision • Impact of on street parking • Submitted Transport Technical Note underestimates the parking requirements for the development • Impact on wildlife and biodiversity • Light pollution • Impact on neighbour amenity due to noise, light pollution and traffic movements • Impact on existing users – such as dog walkers – due to formalisation and reduced usability of the site for other purposes •…”

“Community facility will be beneficial to the area and its residents • Provision of a valuable community amenity/asset • Health and wellbeing benefits • Community hub providing social support • Need for the facility in this area • Will allow all year round training and reduce missed matches/training due to the weather • Grass roots sporting investment • Reduced maintenance requirements • Improve travel sustainability due to being closer for users to get to • Sporting…”

Officer report

Who spoke at the meeting

An objector and a Freedom Leisure area manager spoke, while the two ward councillors and five other councillors spoke to the item.

The committee vote

A motion to approve in line with the officer recommendation, updates and additional conditions was carried by seven votes to none, with three abstentions.

“A motion to APPROVE planning permission, in line with officer recommendation, and the updates and additional conditions to be agreed in consultation with the ward members was proposed by Councillor B Nielsen, seconded by Councillor J Owenson, and voted upon.”

Minutes

The decision

The committee approved the application and delegated authority to grant permission with the reported conditions and additional measures on travel, parking and microplastic pollution.

“That the decision to APPROVE the application and to delegate authority to the Director of Planning and Infrastructure to grant planning permission subject to the planning conditions set out in the committee report (as set out below) and update, and also additional conditions to be agreed in consultation with the ward members in respect of:”

“A provision of an updated Travel Plan to promote Sustainable Transport • A Parking Management Plan • Mitigation of Micro Plastic Pollution and Modification of Condition 3”

Minutes