61m x 49m MUGA at St Peter and St Paul School, Hady, Chesterfield

What was proposed

A 61m by 49m MUGA, engineering works, a 24-space car park, access route and four 12m lighting columns were proposed.

“The originally submitted scheme included the proposed Multi Use Games Area (MUGA), along with the parking but also proposed an access through the protected trees along the boundary to 144 and 146 Hady Hill. This would have led to the removal of a number of protected trees and was therefore amended with the proposed access route removed from the scheme.”

“The revised plans now propose a 61m x 49m MUGA with its associated engineering operations and embankment along with a parking area for 24 vehicles and access route to this.”

Officer report

The site

The site is a sloping school playing field beside homes, with parking, mature protected trees and access from Hady Hill.

“The application site is the existing sports/playing field associated with St Peter and St Pauls Primary School. The site is currently used as a pitch but slopes downwards towards Hady Hill and slightly towards the rear of the dwellings on Hady Crescent. These dwellings back onto the field with generally fenced boundaries. There is then a border of substantial mature trees, which are protected by Preservation Orders.”

“Access to the site is via the top of Hady Hill further to the east. Parking is to the east of the field, where there is a slope leading down to a formerly surfaced area. This is an attractive green space. Google image: Red edge location plan:”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval, finding the proposal acceptable overall because conditions would address the finely balanced sports pitch and amenity impacts.

“There are no statutory objections to the development. Whilst finely balanced in terms of loss of useable sports pitch and amenity impacts it is considered that the objections have been addressed by the conditions recommended.”

“It is therefore recommended that the application be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:”

Officer report

Objections and support

Forty-five parties commented, with objections focused on noise, lighting, traffic, privacy, ecology, drainage, ground conditions, facilities and need.

“Toby Perkins MP - Toby has been contacted by a group of residents from Hady Crescent, Chesterfield. They have raised concerns regarding the application for a MUGA by St Peter and St Paul School, whose site backs onto their properties. Their main objections at this stage are as follows: − Loss of privacy – despite the school having a good sized piece of land, the MUGA is planned to be sited very close to their boundaries, with the ground being raised by five metres.”

“There are serious problems with drainage and unstable ground condition. This will impact on residents in terms of privacy, noise, lighting, security, anti-social behaviour and impact on wildlife and trees and on traffic. Safeguarding at the site entrance will be an issue. The loss of the field will impact the nursery children who use this on a daily basis. For the small number of children at the school this is not required.”

Officer report

Who spoke

An objector, the ward councillor, the agent and the applicant addressed the committee.

Committee debate

A proposal to refuse because of harm to neighbours’ amenities was made and seconded but did not succeed.

“The Committee considered the report and recommendations within it. A counter proposal was proposed by Councillor Brittain to refuse the application due to the impact on the neighbours’ amenities which was seconded by Councillor Miles. Following a vote this proposal did not succeed.”

Minutes

The vote

The chair moved to uphold the officer recommendation, which was seconded and agreed.

“The Chair moved back to the proposal in the officer’s report, and this was seconded by Councillor Caulfield that the officer recommendation be upheld.”

“That the officer recommendation be upheld, and the application be GRANTED subject to the conditions outlined in the Officer’s report.”

Minutes