New sports and leisure centre at Stevenage Swimming Centre, Stevenage

The site and surroundings

The site is beside St Georges Way and Fairlands Way, with Town Centre Gardens and residential blocks to the east and the Bowes Lyon Centre to the south.

“The proposal site is the existing Stevenage Swimming Centre and surrounding land. The site is located on the eastern side of St Georges Way and is bounded to the north by Fairlands Way. To the east is the Town Centre Gardens and residential flatted blocks which overlook the gardens. The Bowes Lyon Centre is sited to the south of the site, including an existing footway connecting St Georges Way to the Town Gardens.”

“The site is accessed by vehicles coming off St Georges Way to the south of the building, entering one of the two car parks serving the centre before heading north around the eastern side of the building to the second car park to the north. The site is exited to the north on to Fairlands Way. The existing building has a larger block located centrally, with single storey elements wrapping around the front and northern side of the building.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

Earlier permissions covered refurbishment, access and car parking changes, and a combined heat and power unit.

“Planning permission reference 06/00181/FP for access road alteration, refurbishment of north car park and construction of new south car park including coach drop off point and canopy assembly point was approved on 25.06.2006.”

“Planning permission reference 09/00397/FP for retention of combined heat and power unit adjacent to the north elevation of the building was approved on 13.01.2010.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the proposal would deliver modern leisure facilities, support town-centre redevelopment, improve garden access and avoid unacceptable impacts.

“This application seeks planning permission for the construction of new Swimming and Leisure Centre, with phased demolition of the existing swimming centre. The proposed facilities would meet the Local Plan designation for a new mixed dry and wet facility on the site proposed. The facility would also provide greater functioning facilities, with an increased total swimming pool provision. Therefore, the proposal is acceptable in principle.”

“The proposal would contribute to the redevelop of the Town Centre, by providing this much needed modern facility within the identified Marshgate Major Opportunity Area. The proposals would positively engage with and increase access to the Town Centre Gardens. The building scale, mass and design is considered to be high quality and positively contributes to the area.”

Officer report

What people said

Comments opposed the shallower pool, reduced parking and loss of bowls provision, with particular concern about artistic swimming continuing.

“The swimming pool should be a minimum of 2m in depth to enable the existing artistic swimming club to continue training; • The reduction in depth of the swimming pool to 1.8m would see the closure of the artistic swimming club as there are no nearby facilities with an adequate depth pool; • The reduction in car parking space numbers will prevent use of the centre by families, and leave the car park congested as people try to find or wait for spaces; • The new facility…”

“These comments are not verbatim. Full comments can be viewed online.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The committee heard from an artistic swimming club representative, a leisure-centre user and a council regeneration officer.

What members discussed

Members discussed pool depth, parking, coach spaces, parking charges, accessibility, underpasses, sporting provision, the crossing and outdoor gym equipment.

“Members raised concerns regarding the reduction in the pool depth and parking spaces alongside the provision for coach parking. A further question was raised regarding parking charges for leisure users.”

“Officers noted that the parking provision was policy compliant and constrained by the site, and members were asked to consider parking in the wider planning balance. Members were informed that the scheme would increase leisure provision from meeting 50% to 80% of residents by 2031.”

Minutes

The decision

Following a recorded vote, permission was granted subject to a unilateral undertaking, safeguarding conditions and delegated final details.

“A recorded vote* was taken on the application and it was RESOLVED that planning permission be GRANTED subject to the applicant having first entered into a Unilateral Undertaking to secure/provide contributions towards:”

“The detail of which would be delegated to the Assistant Director of Planning and Regulation in liaison with the Council’s appointed solicitor, along with the recommendations of the Lead Local Flood Authority, as well as the imposition of suitable safeguarding conditions.”

Minutes