Agenda item

This application is before the Planning Committee due to Tendring District Council’s ownership of the application site. 

The proposals relate to the replacement and refurbishment of the Artificial Grass Pitch (AGP) facility at Clacton            Leisure Centre and would deliver an enhanced playing facility, with better qualities, in a suitable location. It would give rise to a considerable benefit to the wider community through the provision of an enhanced playing facility and the continued opportunity for usage throughout the year. Moreover, the proposed AGP would make a significant contribution towards addressing the unmet demand for modern football facilities in the District.

Members were informed that this application was before the Planning Committee due to Tendring District Council’s ownership of the application site. 

It was reported that the proposals related to the replacement and refurbishment of the Artificial Grass Pitch (AGP) facility at Clacton Leisure Centre and would deliver an enhanced playing facility, with better qualities, in a suitable location. It would give rise to a considerable benefit to the wider community through the provision of an enhanced playing facility and the continued opportunity for usage throughout the year. Moreover, the proposed AGP would make a significant contribution towards addressing the unmet demand for modern football facilities in the District.

Officers considered that the AGP would not result in an unacceptable impact upon the character, appearance or visual amenity of the surrounding area and would not result in an unacceptable impact to residential amenity or have a detrimental impact upon the private amenity of local residents in respect of noise and lighting impacts. Furthermore, the proposal would utilise the existing parking provision and would not result in any harm to the safety of the surrounding public highway network.

The Committee was made aware that the proposal satisfied Sport England’s E5 exception policy as the proposed development was for an indoor or outdoor facility for sport, the provision of which would be of sufficient benefit to the development of sport. Sport England did not object to the application subject to a condition securing a Hockey Mitigation Scheme to offset the displacement of hockey use at the site.

Officers believed that the planning application was in compliance with national and local planning policies and would not result in any adverse harm to the character or appearance of the area or highway safety. In the absence of any objections from Sport England and other statutory consultees the proposal was considered to be acceptable subject to the mitigation measures being secured via the proposed conditions.

The Committee had before it the published Officer report containing the key planning issues, relevant planning policies, planning history, any response from consultees, written representations received and a recommendation of approval.

At the meeting, an oral presentation was made by the Council’s Planning Officer (ML) in respect of the application.

Following discussion by the Committee, it was moved by Councillor Harris, seconded by Councillor Placey and RESOLVED, that the Assistant Director (Planning) (or equivalent authorised officer) be authorised to grant planning permission for the development, subject to:

-           Approval as per recommendation subject to revision to Condition 5 (Landscaping) to include wording to secure replacement Ash Tree planting.

Conditions and Reasons:

1. The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

Reason - To comply with the requirements of Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

2. No development shall commence until a hockey mitigation scheme to ensure the continuity of provision for the existing hockey use on the artificial grass pitch has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority (after consultation with Sport England). The scheme must set out details of the contractor's specification and maintenance programme for the enhancement works to the artificial grass pitch at Brightlingsea Sports Centre based on the recommendations in the Surface Performance Ltd Test Report (January 2020), the implementation programme for the enhancement works and the arrangements for securing Clacton Hockey Club's use of the facility. The approved scheme shall be implemented and complied with in full.

Reason - To ensure the satisfactory quantity, quality and accessibility of compensatory provision which secures a continuity of use (phasing provision) and to accord with Development Plan Policy.

3. Use of the 3G artificial grass pitch surface hereby permitted shall not commence until:

      (a) certification that the Artificial Grass Pitch surface hereby permitted has met the FIFA Quality accreditation or equivalent International Artificial Turf Standard (IATS) and;

      (b) confirmation that the facility has been registered on the Football Association's Register of Football Turf Pitches;

      have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

Reason - To ensure the development is fit for purpose and sustainable, provides sporting benefits and to accord with Development Plan Policy.

4. The floodlights permitted shall not be switched on or used outside the following times:

            - 09:00 hours to 22:00 hours on any day

Reason - To protect the amenities of local residents, by limiting the potential for any disturbance.

5.  No above ground works shall take place until there has been submitted to and approved, in writing, by the Local Planning Authority a scheme of hard and soft landscaping works for the site (including boundary treatments and lighting), which shall include any proposed changes in ground levels and also accurately identify spread, girth and species of all existing trees, shrubs and hedgerows on the site and indicate any to be retained, together with measures for their protection which shall comply with the recommendations set out in the British Standards Institute publication "BS 5837:2012 Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction."

Reason – To secure replacement tree planting in the interest of visual amenity and the character of the area.

6. All changes in ground levels, hard landscaping, planting, seeding or turfing shown on the approved landscaping details shall be carried out during the first planting and seeding season (October - March inclusive) following the commencement of the development or in such other phased arrangement as may be agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Any trees or shrubs which, within a period of 5 years of being planted die, are removed or seriously damaged or seriously diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of similar size and species, unless the Local Planning Authority agrees in writing to a variation of the previously approved details.

Reason - In the interest of visual amenity and the character of the area.

7. The proposed times of construction, demolition and site clearance operations shall be limited to the following hours; 0800 to 1900 Monday to Friday and 0800 to 1300 on Saturdays with no construction operations on Sundays or public holidays.

Reason – To protect the amenity of local residents.

8.  No development shall take place, including any ground works or demolition, until a Construction Management Plan has been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the local planning authority. The approved plan shall be adhered to throughout the construction period. The Plan shall provide for:

            i.  the parking of vehicles of site operatives and visitors

            ii. loading and unloading of plant and materials

            iii. storage of plant and materials used in constructing the development

            iv. wheel and underbody washing facilities

            v. construction vehicle route from the site entrance should be clearly signed and put in place.

Reason - To ensure that on-street parking of these vehicles in the adjoining streets does not occur and to ensure that loose materials and spoil are not brought out onto the highway in the interests of highway safety and Policy DM1.

9.  The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans;

            - 19-0182 BM25583 0478 02  

            - 19-0182 BM25583 0478 03  

            - 19-0182 BM25583 0478 04

            - 19-0182 BM25583 0478 05

            - 19-0182 BM25583 0478 06  

            - 19-0182 BM25583 0478 07 

            - 19-0182 BM25583 0478 08

            - JKK10672_600 (Tree Protection Plan)

Reason - For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.