Sports hall extension at Woodfarm Education Centre, Thornliebank

“The Woodfarm Education Centre is a privately operated community and education facility. It is located on the north side of Inglestone Avenue on the west side of its junction with Burns Grove. Parking is located within the boundaries of the site to the front, side and rear of the building including an overspill parking area at the south part of the site. There is a parking area at a lower level to the north of the site beyond a retaining wall.”

“The site is identified as being part of the green network and forms part of an area of urban greenspace, both as identified in the adopted East Renfrewshire Local Development Plan 2. The surrounding area is residential in character with areas of open space to the north and south of the site. Our Lady of the Mission Primary School is located to the east as are the Woodfarm playing fields and changing pavilion.”

“1999/0299/TP Change of use of sports centre to school Approved Subject to Conditions 09.08.1999”

“2014/0696/TP Erection of two storey extension with alterations and extension to car park and erection of retaining wall Withdrawn 12.03.2015”

“The greatest impact on nearby residential properties is considered to be in terms of traffic arriving and leaving the Centre. Although the applicant has indicated that the numbers attending the Centre is not to increase the Council’s Roads Service has advised on the required number of parking spaces for the proposed hall extension is an additional 30 spaces based on the floor space of the extension being approximately 300sqm.”

“At the visit on 16th January 2026 parking demand was also observed by the Roads Service to be extensive on surrounding streets. On Inglestone Avenue, for example, the Roads Service indicate parking was continuous along the northern kerb line from Robslee Road to beyond Burns Grove, resulting in the road operating as a de-facto single lane system.”

“East Renfrewshire Council Roads Service Recommends refusal on the grounds of insufficient parking provision and roads safety concerns.”

“East Renfrewshire Council Environmental Health Service Advises on: construction times; all waste arising from construction or demolition activities must be removed by a licensed waste carrier; there must be no burning on site; adequate precautions must be taken to prevent nuisance from dust from the demolition or construction activities; and noise levels from the premises.”

“Increase in traffic/congestion/road safety issues/speeding Inadequate/insufficient parking Play area not relocated Inappropriate parking by users in neighbouring streets/pavements/emergency vehicles being unable to gain access Car idling and late night traffic Not a local facility/users arrive from far afield Plenty of gyms elsewhere The centre already generates significant noise from traffic, deliveries, and visitors and the proposal will increase this Increased pollution…”

“Welcome addition and benefit to community Addresses health and wellbeing issues Encourages physical wellbeing, social interaction, and community cohesion 8”

“The Principal Planner was heard further on the report, in the course of which he summarised the 119 representations that had been received.”

“During the course of discussion, the Committee agreed with the assessment set out in the report of handling, further adding that they felt the proposed development was contrary to policy D12 of LDP2.”

“Following discussion of the application, the Committee agreed to refuse planning permission for the reasons set out in the report of handling, and that they felt the application was also contrary to policy D12 of the adopted Local Development Plan 2.”