3G artificial grass pitch at Queen Elizabeths Grammar School, West Street, Horncastle

The site and surroundings

The site is within school playing fields north of Horncastle, beside residential properties, with housing permission south of the land.

“The site is located to the north side of Horncastle within the grounds of Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School. The application site comprises of a roughly rectangular parcel of land, within a wider area of grassed playing fields used by the Grammar School. There are residential properties to the north along Upland Close and Elsom Way, and Lincoln Road & Lunn Close to the west which back on to site and playing field area.”

“More generally, the boundary treatments consisting of a mix of hedges of varying sizes running the length of the southern and western boundaries bordering several properties. To the north the common boundaries are not so well landscaped but defined by a mix of hedges and timber fences (less than 2m in height). The northern limits of the Horncastle Conservation Area encompass a small frontage element of the school site but not the application site itself.”

Officer report

Consultees and objections

Highways raised no objection, environmental protection conditionally supported the change, and heritage and sports bodies supported it subject to conditions.

“Change at 20:00-21:00 would be 6dB and not 7dB as quoted in the table at section 9.1 of the noise impact assessment remaining as moderate, leaving 4dB headroom to the standard of 50dB On this basis I accept Noise assessment report revision J with the 6M Barrier being placed as a condition as this affords the most protection to the properties that are proposed to be build closest to the site thus mitigating potential future complaint from this area.”

“ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES (Drainage) - No comments received during the course of determination. ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES (Contamination) - No comments received during the course of determination 5.8 HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT OFFICER - No comments received during the course of determination 5.9 HERITAGE LINCOLNSHIRE -.”

Officer report

What residents said

Nineteen representations from eleven addresses objected over noise, light, privacy, residential amenity, vehicle movements and enforceability.

“A total of 19 representations were received from 11 different addresses across two rounds of consultations, raising objection on the grounds of:”

“- Noise and light impacts - Loss of privacy - Residential amenity - Vehicular movement - Enforceability…”

Officer report

Who spoke

The applicant and developer spoke in support, while an objector spoke against and the ward member addressed the committee.

Members’ debate

Members discussed neighbour concerns, expert advice on higher fencing, the need for extended hours and assurances that use would not go beyond 9pm.

“- Following a comment from a Member regarding the upset and dismay the school had caused to the neighbours by wanting to extend the opening hours, [the applicant] informed the Committee they were a kind and considerate neighbour and that all of their sites were operated in the same way. Members were further informed that the neighbours had been kept up to date with their plans and, once up and running, there would be a Monitoring Committee including councillors and…”

“- A Member queried what assurances would be given to residents to ensure that the operating hours would not change again. [the applicant] assured Members that there would be no need to operate past 9pm as a Programme of Use had been put forward to the Football Foundation stating the number of community groups and clubs using the facility, which would fulfil the requirements for the community use. Members were further informed that some other 3G sites operated until 10pm.”

Minutes

Vote and decision

The committee approved the application by four votes to three, with two abstentions, subject to conditions including revised hours and noise controls.

“That the application be approved subject to the following conditions:”

“PL 8 - No hockey practice or hockey matches shall be undertaken on the artificial Grass Pitch (AGP) at any time. - The construction of the perimeter fencing shall include the fitting of neoprene isolators located between the panels and the posts at the point where the panels of the facility join and overlap at the posts, as described in Section 9.5.”

Minutes