Footpath and cycleway at Roundabout At Junction With Bader Avenue, Thornaby

“Proposal 4. Planning permission is sought for the provision of a new footpath and cycleway to be constructed along the edge of the field within the embankment together with associated landscaping and street lighting. The new footpath and cycleway will sit approximately 1.0m lower in level than the existing footpath.”

“The proposal is part of a wider pedestrian/cycle network improvement scheme across the Borough and involves the provision of new pedestrian/cycle safety features.”

“There is a grass verge and public footpath which abuts the highway and roundabout with an embankment which slopes down in level towards the recreational ground. There are a number of trees which line the sloping surface of the site with timber posts delineating the level surface of the open field.”

“The site lies within the defined settlement limits of the main conurbation and is designated playing fields and open space within the Stockton Local Plan.”

“Policy ENV6 (3) which specifically relates to open space states that the Council will protect and enhance open space throughout the Borough to meet community needs and enable healthy lifestyles. It advises that the loss of any open space would not be supported unless the proposal is for another sport or recreational provision, the needs of which would clearly outweigh the loss, or the proposal is ancillary to the use of the open space.”

“In this case, it is recognised that there would be a minor loss of the field to accommodate the development. The main aim of Policy ENV6 is to enhance and protect the Councils open space resource, however it is permissive of loss of space where the proposal is in relation to another sporting or recreational provision. In this case, the proposal would introduce a hard surface to improve pedestrian and cycle facilities which would broadly align with the aims of ENV6.”

“On the whole and subject to condition to control the final detailing, the development would be acceptable in terms of design, scale and materials and would not adversely impact upon the character and appearance of the site and wider area. The proposal would therefore comply with Policies SD8 and ENV6 of the Stockton-on-Tees Local Plan and relevant design Chapters of the NPPF.”

“In conjunction with the submitted Landscape drawing, a Biodiversity Gain Plan, and Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan is required and will be conditioned as part of the Biodiversity Net Gain requirements, to achieve a 10% net gain in biodiversity. It is envisaged that this will be achieved through the introduction of habitat creation through new modified grassland and replacement tree planting.”

“Active Travel No comments received. Highways Transport and Design Manager Highways Comments: No objections Flood Risk & Drainage: No comment.”

“Sport England Sport England does not wish to raise an objection to this application.”

“Councillor Mick Moore I would like to support of the application 25/0777/LA for the construction of a footpath cycle route.”

“Site Levels 03 Notwithstanding the details within the approved plans and prior to the commencement of the development hereby approved, details of the existing and proposed levels of the site including sectional and elevation drawings, which detail the level change treatment between the existing footpath and embankment shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.”

“Biodiversity Net Gain 06 The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the submitted Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment, submitted 10 April 2025 (project ref 65211061) to ensure that there is a minimum 10% net gain in biodiversity within a 30 year period as a result of the development and the Plan shall be implemented in full.”