Community recreation hub at Land At (Os 7833 5108), Leigh Sinton

What was proposed

The application proposed a community centre, parking, football pitches, a games area, outdoor gym, public space and drainage features.

“The application is for new community facilities comprising a community centre, car parking and public space including 3 grass football pitches, hard surfaced multi-use games area, outdoor gym and attenuation pond.”

“- A single storey community centre (29.2m by 11.6m by 7.5m maximum height) with 265 sqm of gross internal floorspace, red brick walls and dark grey roofing, windows and doors and solar panels – with an 87 sqm main hall, a meeting room, a kitchen, changing facilities with showers, plant room and storage space; - A car park with 65 parking spaces including 7 disabled spaces, grasscrete covered overflow parking with about 40 spaces, a motorcycle bay and a cycle shelter with…”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site was 5.5 hectares of grass fields beside housing, a primary school, the A4103, houses and an equestrian centre.

“The application site is 5.5 hectares of relatively level grass fields, bounded by trees and hedges, at the north-east end of the village.”

“Directly to the south is an allocated residential development site of 52 dwellings and opposite is Leigh and Bransford Primary School. The A4103 runs along the eastern boundary and there is a pair of houses (1 Orchard Farm Cottage and Hop Cottage) next to the north-east corner. Further to the north is the Guinness Park Equestrian Centre.”

Officer report

Why officers recommended approval

Officers found significant community benefits and acceptable effects on neighbours, highways, drainage and ecology, while limited landscape harm could be controlled by conditions.

“Whilst the proposed fencing and loss of hedgerow would have an adverse impact on the character and appearance of the area, this impact would not be severe and there are a number of amendments and mitigations which can be secured by condition. Officers consider that the development would have an acceptable impact on neighbour amenity, highway safety, drainage/flood risk and ecology, subject to conditions and amendments.”

“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 by the public benefit of the scheme and is supported by the relevant policies of The South Worcestershire Development Plan Review.”

Officer report

Residents’ views

Twelve objections cited consultation, noise, lighting, landscape, the footpath, amenity, maintenance, funding and highways, while 51 communications supported the proposal.

“- Lack of public consultation prior to making the application - Adverse visual impacts and erosion of the character of the area - Investment in existing village hall would be better than providing new community building - No information on floodlighting or timing of such lighting - Noise impact on local residents - Diverted public footpath will impact neighbouring property privacy and safety…”

Officer report

Who spoke

A parish council representative, an objector and two ward members addressed the committee; neither the applicant nor agent spoke.

Committee discussion

The case officer reported a further representation and recommended extra controls for boundary treatment, landscaping, existing trees and hedges.

“M/26/00885/FUL - Land At (Os 7833 5108), Leigh Sinton Anna Priestley-Clarke, Case Officer, presented the report and presentation to members of the Committee and advised that, since publication of the agenda, a further representation had been received which raised no new material planning considerations beyond those set out in the report, and that an additional condition relating to boundary treatment and an amendment to Condition 5, relating to landscaping, to require the…”

“Simon Jones, Development Manager, advised that a further amendment to the recommended conditions was proposed, as the financial contribution in condition a) had already been secured through the adjacent housing development. The requirement for a mechanism to secure the contribution was therefore no longer necessary and had been removed.”

Minutes

The committee vote

A motion to approve in line with the officer recommendation was proposed, seconded and passed unanimously, with 11 votes for and none against.

“A motion to APPROVE planning permission, in line with officer recommendation, was proposed by Councillor D Clarke, seconded by Councillor L Bruton and unanimously…”

Minutes

The final decision

Planning permission was granted subject to the report’s conditions and additional controls requiring approved boundary treatment and protection of existing trees and hedges.

“Unless indicated on the approved landscaping plans to be removed, all existing trees and hedges on the application site, or branches from trees on adjacent land that overhang the application site, shall be retained and shall not be felled or pruned or otherwise removed within the construction period and then for a period of five years from the completion of the development without the previous written consent of the local planning authority.”

Minutes