Sports hall and PE facility at St. Marys Christian Brothers Grammar School St Marys Christian Brothers Grammar School 147a Glen Road, Andersonstown

What was proposed

The application proposed a three-storey sports hall, gymnasium and physical education facility, with a footbridge to the existing GAA playing field.

“Planning Committee Development Management Report Summary Application ID: LA04/2025/2113/F Committee Date: 21 st April 2026 Proposal: The construction of a new Sports Hall, Gymnasium and P.E Facility and footbridge connecting to existing GAA playing field…”

“Executive Summary: The application relates to St. Marys Christian Brothers Grammar School St Marys Christian Brothers Grammar School 147a Glen Road. The proposal is for the construction of a new 3 storey Sports Hall, Gymnasium and P.E Facility and footbridge connecting to existing GAA playing field to the rear. The aim of the proposal is to enhance facilities within the school for pupils and staff.”

Officer report

The site

The development would occupy part of the school’s all-weather playing field and an existing grass bank within the school grounds.

“The site is located within the existing grounds of St. Mary’s Christian Brothers’ Grammar School, 147A Glen Road, Belfast, BT11 8NR. The school site is accessed from the Glen Road. The site comprises of a portion of the all-weather playing field and an existing grass bank. The space was previously part of a running track but is no longer used as such as such due to the development of astroturf playing facilities.”

“The proposal is for the construction of a new 3 storey Sports Hall, Gymnasium and P.E Facility and footbridge connecting to existing GAA playing field to the rear of the site. The facility will provide a Sports Hall and Gymnasium, alongside a two-storey Physical Education (P.E.) facility.”

Officer report

Earlier permissions

Earlier permissions covered a sports hall and changing facilities, and a synthetic-surface sports training pitch with changing and ancillary facilities.

“Z/1996/2114 – Erection of sports hall and changing facilities. Permission Granted 11 th April 1996”

“Z/2014/0978/F - Single storey structure containing synthetic surface sports training pitch with changing facilities and ancillary accommodation. Permission Granted 18 th December 2015. 3.0”

Officer report

Officers’ recommendation

Officers recommended approval because the modern facilities would benefit the school, while the remaining campus would retain sufficient informal outdoor recreation space.

“Taking into account the benefits a modern sports facility like this will provide, it is considered that in this specific instance these decisively outweigh the loss of open space. The open space in its current form has lost its primary use as a sports pitch and running track therefore now only exists as an informal area for recreation within the school.”

“It is considered that there is sufficient open space remaining within the wider school campus that allows for informal outdoor recreation.”

Officer report

Consultation and representations

DfI Roads, DfI Rivers, Environmental Health, NIEA, NI Water and Shared Environmental Services raised no objections, and no representation letters were received.

“Environmental Health – No objections subject to conditions Shared Environmental Services (SES) – No objections NI Water - No objections…”

Officer report

What the committee heard

The Principal Planning Officer outlined the key issues, explained the open-space benefits and said the proposal was acceptable and recommended for approval.

The committee’s decision

The committee granted planning permission subject to conditions and delegated authority to finalise their wording and handle non-substantive issues.

“The Committee granted planning permission, subject to conditions and delegated authority to the Director of Planning and Building Control to finalise the wording of the conditions and to deal with any issues that might arise, provided that they were not substantive.”

Minutes