Sports pitches and courts at Rigby Road, Blackpool

What was proposed

The application proposed two seven-a-side football pitches, two padel courts, a MUGA, lighting, landscaping, parking and storage containers.

“Location: LAND BETWEEN SEASIDERS WAY AND CENTRAL DRIVE TO THE SOUTH OF MUDIE PLACE AND JOHNSTON STREET, BLACKPOOL, FY1 5HZ Proposal: Provision of two 7 a-side 3G football pitches, two padel courts and a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) and associated floodlighting, enclosures and boundary treatments, hard and soft landscaping, car parking and installation of two storage containers and associated works.”

“The application proposes two 7 a-side 3G football pitches (which will also be marked out as four, 5 a-side pitches), two padel courts and a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) which will be marked out for tennis, netball and basketball, and associated floodlighting, enclosures and boundary treatments, hard and soft landscaping, car parking and installation of two storage containers and associated works.”

Officer report

The site and its setting

The 1.4-hectare vacant brownfield site was fenced or hoarded and bordered housing, the football ground, roads, parking and commercial uses.

“The application site is a 1.4ha vacant brownfield land which is allocated for housing under the Local Plan: Part 2 and is currently hoarded or fenced off. The site is bound by the Blackpool Football Club ground and car park and an industrial unit to the south, the eastern leg of the Foxhall Village housing estate and the remainder of the housing allocation to the north, a service station and Central Drive to the east and Seasiders Way and public car parking to the west.”

“The site falls within the defined Inner Area and the airport safeguarding zone. The site is within the Climate Change flood zone but other than the housing allocation, no other specific designations or constraints apply.”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered the proposal sustainable because its health, social, regeneration and visual benefits outweighed the loss of allocated housing land.

“Thus, as set out above, the community and regeneration benefits of the scheme weigh considerably in favour of the application in the planning balance. However, in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework, due consideration must be given to whether the harm arising from the loss of site as a housing allocation and the associated potential impact on future housing delivery would weigh significantly and demonstrably outweigh these benefits.”

“Officers recognise that the harm arising from the loss of the housing allocation and the potential impact on future housing delivery is significant. However, given the magnitude of the benefits that would arise to community health and cohesion in one of the most extremely deprived areas of the country, and the visual benefits of bringing a long-derelict site in a prominent location back into active use, the harm is not considered to significantly and demonstrably…”

Officer report

Effects on nearby residents

Conditions would control construction, operating hours, noise, acoustic screening and lighting to protect nearby residential amenity.

“A Noise Impact Assessment supports the application and confirms that the facilities would operate between 09:00 and 21:00, so sporting activities and any associated noise would not extend into the late evening and the potential for sleep or rest disturbance is low.”

“The hours of operation can be controlled by condition in order to safeguard the amenities of nearby residents but this in itself would not prevent harm in terms of noise. A landscaped buffer is proposed along the north of the site along Mudie Place and Johnston Street, and this buffer would include a 2.5m tall living fence, made from willow and ivy which would act as an acoustic screen.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A development management representative summarised the proposal and assessment, and no other speakers addressed the Committee.

What members discussed

Members noted the importance of providing sports facilities on the site and in the surrounding area.

“The Committee discussed the application and noted the importance of sports provision within the site and area.”

Minutes

The committee vote

The Committee resolved to grant planning permission subject to the conditions listed in the officer report.

“Resolved: To grant planning permission subject to the conditions listed in the Officer report.”

Minutes

The decision

Planning permission was granted subject to conditions covering matters including drainage, landscaping, noise, sports facilities, community use and biodiversity gain.

“The Biodiversity Gain Plan required by paragraph 13 of Schedule 7A to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 shall be prepared in full accordance with plans and information approved under condition 2 of this permission. Please note, this condition will have been imposed even if the intention is to meet BNG requirements entirely through the purchase of off-site credits or units.”

“In the event that the on-site habitat enhancement provision is considered to be significant, the following condition shall apply: (A) The development shall not commence until a Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (the HMMP) prepared in accordance with the approved Biodiversity Gain Plan is submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.”

Officer report