Youth and community centre at Field Of Os South Of Claridge Road, Manchester

What was proposed

A single-storey modular youth hub would provide flexible youth and community activities, with landscaping, parking, access, storage, bicycle spaces and waste facilities.

“Proposal City Council Development - Erection of modular-building, including associated landscaping and parking to provide a flexible space for youth and community activities (Class F.2) Location Field of O’s South of Claridge Road, Manchester…”

“The application relates to City Council Development for the erection of single storey, modular building, including associated landscaping and parking to provide a flexible space for youth and community activities (Class F.2) on part of a playing field associated with Oswald Road Primary School.”

Officer report

The site

The site is a fenced playing field beside residential properties, Claridge Road, Fielden Avenue and a wider pocket park.

“The application site relates to the Field of O’s, a small, rectangular shaped playing field associated with Oswald Road Primary School.”

“The field which is part of a wider pocket park which adjoins the site to the west, is also bounded by Claridge Road to the north, a two-storey residential building to the east and the terminus of Fielden Avenue to the south.”

Officer report

The field’s past use

The field was formerly used by the school for sport but has not been marked as playing pitches for more than 25 years.

“The field which is associated with Oswald Primary School was originally used by the school for sport and recreation but has not been used by the school in recent years and is in public use by the local community for dog walking etc.. The field has not been marked out for playing pitches for over 25 years.”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered the underused field, youth-service need, retained green space, accessibility and limited impacts outweighed the loss of part of the field.

“The proposed development seeks to address an identified need for enhanced youth provision in the area. Whilst planning policy advocates a general presumption against the loss of green and open space, it is maintained that in this case, the proposal can be justified in terms of the provision of suitable replacement facilities of equal or better quality which would lead to substantial improvements for the health and well- being of young people, through the provision of a…”

“The proposed use would still see more than half of the existing open green space retained by the development and any loss of the existing green space is considered to be outweighed by the benefits of the proposed use. Through the implementation of a community use agreement, the proposal would still enable community usage that would offer a betterment than the existing use of the field.”

Officer report

What consultees said

Highways, ecology, trees, environmental health and Sport England raised no objections or supported the proposal subject to conditions and further details.

“Manchester Active – The submitted Sporting Benefits Statement reflects Manchester’s community sport and physical activity aims and objectives. Manchester Active are supportive of the proposal subject to a condition requiring a Community Use Agreement.”

“Environmental Health – No objection. Conditions are requested in relation to construction management, hours of operation, servicing hours, external lighting, external equipment, acoustic insulation, waste management, ground conditions, any imported soils and electric vehicle charging.”

Officer report

Who spoke

No objectors attended, while the applicant’s representative described a citywide programme of six youth centres and neighbourhood-focused youth services.

Committee discussion

The planning officer highlighted the community use agreement, and a councillor welcomed investment in youth services.

“The Planning Officer made further reference to the community use agreement condition relating to the playing pitch on this site.”

“Councillor Curley stated that he was delighted to see investment in youth services.”

Minutes

The vote

The officer recommendation was moved with revised and additional conditions, seconded, and the application was approved.

“Councillor Richards moved the Officer’s recommendation to approve, incorporating the revision to the wording of the condition and additional condition as set out in the late representations.”

“The Committee resolved to approve the application.”

Minutes