Floodlit sports play zone at Tennis Courts King George V Playing Field, Stevenage

What was proposed

The applications proposed a floodlit 3G play zone with hard standing, sports fencing and 13 non-illuminated vinyl banners.

“Proposal : 1. Construction of 3G non-infill floodlit play zone, including hard standing area and sports fencing…”

“Display of 13no. non illuminated vinyl banners to play zone…”

Officer report

The site

The site was a vacant tennis court within the King George V Playing Fields, near residential gardens and the Old Town Conservation Area.

“DC88 1. SITE DESCRIPTION 1.1 The application site comprises a vacant tennis court within the King George V Playing Fields which is situated to the north of the Town Centre and is bounded by Fairlands Way to the south, Sish Lane to the north, Ditchmore Lane to the west and Popple Way to the east. The northern and eastern sides are bounded with the rear gardens of residential dwellings located in the respective roads detailed previously.”

“King George V Playing Fields as a whole, lies adjacent to the Old Town Conservation Area, whilst the red line boundary of the application site itself is approximately 60m to the east of the conservation area boundary.”

Officer report

Planning history

There was no relevant planning history for the site.

“The red line boundary of the planning application includes a small area of grassland in the park and footpaths to temporarily enable construction. These areas will be returned to their existing condition upon completion of the construction works. 2. RELEVANT PLANNING HISTORY 2.1 NONE. 3. THE CURRENT APPLICATIONS 3.1 The full planning application seeks planning permission for the construction of a 3G, floodlit PlayZone, including hard standing area and sports fencing.”

Officer report

Visual and residential effects

The PlayZone would cause very low-level conservation-area harm, while its noise, lighting and signage effects were considered acceptable with controls.

“The proposal, whilst an acceptable use of the land, would nevertheless have an impact on the visual amenities of the area, and on the adjacent conservation area. The proposed fencing would be green which will mitigate the visual appearance through ‘blending in’ with the surrounding soft landscaping and is a standard paint colour for this type of development. The non-illuminated vinyl signage on the fencing will also be highly visible in the immediate area.”

“The Council’s Heritage Advisor has reviewed the application and advised that the proposed PlayZone will result in very limited harm to the significance of the conservation area, described as being ‘very low level of less than substantial harm’. They go on to advise that the associated signage would be visually acceptable in this instance and would have a neutral impact.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Highways officers raised initial information concerns but later reported no objection subject to construction controls, while Environmental Health supported conditions for lighting, noise and contamination.

“The applicant has failed to provide information on trip generation; the applicant has failed to provide car parking details; the applicant has failed to provide the number of construction vehicles expected and the turning facilities for large vehicles is not specified in the Construction Management Plan.”

“SBC Environmental Health 5.4.1 9 th January 2025: The Noise Impact Assessment concludes the site will likely fall within “no observed adverse impact”, however, it does recommend a Noise Management Plan and we have no disagreement to these points subject to a condition requiring submission prior to first use. The assessment of the flood lights is not undertaken to recommended guidance; once updated e will be happy to comment further.”

Officer report

Public views

Supporters welcomed safer inclusive activity and better sports provision, while Cycling UK objected over cycle access and requested a new route.

“A summary of the comments received are set out below: • Great opportunity for safe, inclusive, accessible outdoor activities; • Will improve use of sport and physical activity, especially for deprived communities;”

“No direct cycle access to the application site; • No explanation of the number of Sheffield Stands provided; • Dismounting and walking through the park to the site is contrary to LTN 1/20; • The provision of a new high quality cycle route to the site is required.”

Officer report

Recommended conditions

The recommended permission included controls on lighting hours, noise, cycle storage, contamination and construction traffic.

“5 No demolition or construction work which is audible at the site boundary relating to this permission shall be carried out on any Sunday, Public or Bank Holiday nor at any other time, except between the hours of 07:30 and 18:00 on Mondays to Fridays and between the hours of 08:00 and 13:00 on Saturdays. REASON:- To safeguard the amenities of the occupiers of neighbouring properties.”

“DC88 9 No development shall commence until a Construction Traffic Management Plan has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority in consultation with the highway. Thereafter the construction of the development shall only be carried out in accordance with the approved Plan. The Construction Traffic Management Plan shall include details of: a. Construction vehicle numbers, type, routing. b. Access arrangements to the site. c.”

Officer report

The decision

“that advertisement consent be GRANTED subject to the following conditions: 1. The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans: MCA-MUK3521-01-D; MCA-MUK3521-02; MCA-MUK3521-03-A; MCA-MUK3521- 04; MCA-MUK3521-05; MCA-MUK3521-06; MCA-MUK3521-07-A; MCA-MUK3521- 08; MCA-MUK3521-09-A; MCA-MUK3521-10; 2. A. No advertisement is to be displayed without the permission of the owner of the site or any other person with an interest in the site entitled to grant permission. B. No advertisement shall be sited or displayed so as to:- i) endanger persons using any highway, railway, waterway, dock, harbour or aerodrome (civil or military); ii) obscure, or hinder the ready interpretation of, any traffic sign, railway signal or aid to navigation by water or air; or iii) hinder the operation of any device used for the purpose o”

Minutes, 12 Feb 2026