Sports clubhouse and pitches at St Teresa's GAC, Belfast

What was proposed

The application sought clubhouse facilities, relocated and new pitches, an annex, and associated parking, fencing, floodlighting and paths.

“Summary Committee Date: 17 th February 2025 Application ID: LA04/2023/2633/F Proposal: Proposed extension to existing clubhouse to provide indoor sports hall, changing rooms, reception, and fitness suite. Proposed relocation of grass pitch and new 3G training pitch with integrated ball walls. Proposed annex building with club store and matchday shop. Site works including increased parking, fencing, catch nets, floodlighting, dugouts, paths, and other associated amenities.”

“The application seeks full planning permission for a proposed extension to the existing clubhouse to provide indoor sports hall, changing rooms, reception, and fitness suite. Proposed relocation of grass pitch and new 3G training pitch with integrated ball walls. Proposed annex building with club store and matchday shop. Site works include increased parking, fencing, catch nets, floodlighting, dugouts, paths, and other associated amenities.”

Officer report

The site

The site contains playing fields, a clubhouse, nursery and parking, and is surrounded by housing, a church, open space, fencing and vegetation.

“The site is approximately 4.1 hectares (ha) in size and relatively flat. It is bounded with residential development to the southeast, southwest (as well as the Holy Spirit Church) and northwest of the site. There is open space to the northeast and north of the site. The land surrounding the site rises to the northwest. The immediate site boundaries are charactered by fencing and vegetation.”

“The clubhouse, nursery and area for car parking lie to the south of the site adjacent to the entrance. In dBMAP 2015, the site is zoned as an Area of Existing Open Space designated, with a very small area of car parking as undefined white land. In dBMAP (v2004), the southern half of the site is designated as an Area of Existing Open Space, whereas the northern half is unzoned white land. The land is unzoned white land in Belfast Urban Area Plan (2001) BUAP.”

Officer report

Earlier permissions

Earlier permissions covered the clubhouse, playing fields, clubhouse changing rooms and a modular daycare building; community consultation was also undertaken.

“- Z/1991/2146 – Construction of clubhouse and provision of car park and playing fields – Permission granted 11/04/91 - - Z/1995/2628 – Extension to existing clubhouse building to provide changing room accommodation. – Permission Granted 27/09/95”

“- Z/2014/0209/F – Erection of modular building and associated site works (daycare facility)- Permission Granted 11/08/14”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the recreational use, design, amenity effects, access, health benefits and environmental measures were considered acceptable with conditions.

“In assessing these impacts, Environmental Health (EH) has been consulted with noise and lighting assessments submitted by the applicant. Environmental Health Officers also engaged directly with consultants and additional information was submitted throughout the assessment.”

“Officers are therefore satisfied that on balance, the loss of open space would not result in detriment to the overall green infrastructure provision. There would be no adverse landscape or biodiversity impacts, and the proposal would have minimal impact on SuDs given the large areas of surrounding grassed open space. In addition, a condition is recommended to require the incorporation of additional SuDS measures in the design of the building and landscaping.”

Officer report

Residents’ objections

Fourteen local residents objected on grounds including noise, traffic, parking, floodlighting, safety, loss of green space, wildlife and overdevelopment.

“The application has been advertised in the newspaper and neighbours notified. A total of 14 representations were received have been received from local residents, raising the following issues (summarised):”

“Out of character for residential area • Noise • Traffic and parking • Access for emergency vehicles • Floodlighting • Impact on children’s health and safety • Impact on mental health • Loss of green space and views • Impact on wildlife and biodiversity • No community consultation • Overdevelopment • Air pollution • Blocking natural light…”

Officer report

Who spoke

The Principal Planning Officer gave the committee an overview, outlined the issues and explained the recommendation and consultation position.

Committee discussion

A member raised the condition requiring gym windows to remain closed, and officers agreed to explore removing it or return the application.

“In response to concern from a Member with regard to a condition which required the windows of the gym to be closed during operating hours, the Principal Planning Officer advised that she would explore the removal of the condition and should removal of Condition 10 not be viable, that she would bring the application back to the Committee for further consideration.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee granted permission subject to conditions, including removal of Condition 10, and delegated authority to resolve outstanding and non-substantive matters.

“The Committee granted planning permission, subject to conditions to include the removal of Condition 10, and delegated authority to the Director of Planning and Building Control to resolve a response from SES, finalise the wording of the conditions and to deal with any other issues that might arise, provided that they were not substantive.”

Minutes