3G artificial grass pitch at Maltings Meadow Sports Ground, Ditchingham

The proposed artificial pitch

Creation of a 3G artificial grass pitch with fencing, hardstanding, a storage container, floodlights, an access footpath, a landscaping bund and overflow parking.

“BA/2026/0116/FUL Maltings Meadow Sports Ground, Pirnhow Street, Ditchingham Creation of a 3G Artificial Grass Pitch (AGP) with perimeter fencing, hardstanding areas, storage container, floodlights, access footpath, landscaping bund and overflow grasscrete parking area.”

Minutes

The agent's case for approval

The agent said the scheme would give the sports club and community an all-weather pitch, with reduced parking and more planting than before.

Members' questions and concerns

Members queried the pitch's necessity, drainage, microplastics and closing times; one councillor spoke in support, citing strong local backing and investment.

“With over 100 positive representations, including from both the Parish and Town Councils, there was strong support for this development which equated to a £1 million plus investment in the area. This facility would satisfy unmet demand in the area as demonstrated by the difficulty in booking training time at the Beccles AGP when the existing pitch was unavailable. The councillor was pleased to see the mitigation taken to address the potential noise and light impacts.”

Minutes

The vote

Members unanimously amended the weekend closing time, then voted five to one, with one abstention, to approve the application.

“In response to a question, the solicitor for the Authority reminded Members that the determination of this application must be in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicated otherwise. The committee had to be guided by expert opinion and that planning law indicated that great weight was to be given to those expert views as Members were potentially not qualified to challenge them.”

“It was resolved unanimously to amend the site-wide hours restriction to impose a closing time of 18:00 for weekends only (the 20:00 closing time would remain for bank holidays or public holidays). A number of Members acknowledged the need for this development however they were concerned by the veracity of the technical fixes required to mitigate the harm from the rubber crumb.”

Minutes

The conditions attached

Approval carries conditions covering hours, lighting, parking, drainage, landscaping, ecology and control of microplastics from the pitch.

“Highways xi. Grasscrete parking delivered before first use. xii. Landscaping and bund planting. xiii. Biodiversity Gain Plan and HMMP. xiv. Ecological mitigation. xv. Tree and Hedgerow Protection and Replacement Planting xvi. Infill retention and microplastic control. xvii. End-of-life recycling plan. xviii. Surface water drainage and maintenance. xix. Construction Environmental Management Plan. xx. Archaeological Written Scheme of Investigation.”

Minutes