Agenda item

Reccomendation: Conditional approval.

Proposal:Full planning application for the demolition of existing store building attached to sports hall and erection of all-weather multi-use games area with floodlighting columns.

Applicant: Director of Waingels Academies Trust

The Committee received and reviewed a report about this application, set out in agenda pages 15 to 37.

The Committee were advised that the Members’ Update included:

·         Following a consultation with Sports England, conditions 5 and 9-12 regarding Construction of Multi Use Games Area (MUGA), Certification of Artificial grass Pitch, Community Use Agreement, Management and Maintenance Scheme and the Cricket square were revised;

·         A revision to condition 6 clarifying the operations of the sports pitch when not in use.

Tom Barker, Woodley Town Council, spoke in objection to the application. He raised concerns over the disposal of construction waste and the hours of operation. He was of the opinion that a 9pm limit on hours of use would be more acceptable for weekday usage and that due to the semi-rural location that Sunday use would disrupt tranquillity. He stated that he had concerns about the noise from the usage of the MUGA and asked for the acoustic barrier to be extended.

Bill Bell, Resident, spoke in objection to the application. He raised concerns regarding light spillage and potentially excessive noise from use of the MUGA. He stated that his property (located in Copse Mead) would be in direct view of the floodlighting. He raised concerns over how nocturnal wildlife in the area would be affected by the floodlighting. He asked that should the application be approved that mature trees be planted on the application boundary to reduce the impact of light spillage. Mr Bell proceeded to read a statement from another resident Stephen Mortimer. He stated that Mr Mortimer was concerned over the times of use whereby in the late evening excess noise would be heard resulting from use of the MUGA. He asked for an acoustic fence to be built on the boundary of the application and his property (located in Denmark Avenue) should the application be approved.

Andy Carter, Agent, spoke in support of the application. He stated that the current build of Waingels College had remained the same since 2012 with some of the sports facilities predating this. He added that Sports England had noted a need for additional sports facilities in the area, which the construction of the new MUGA could provide. He stated that the MUGA would be 100m away from the nearest property in Denmark Avenue. It was noted that a lighting consultant had assessed the floodlighting plans and had concluded that there would be minimal light spillage to the surrounding area. He stated that evening parking would be available within Waingels College to alleviate concerns over parking in residential areas for evening use.

Keith Baker, Ward Member, spoke in objection of the application. He stated that the new MUGA would be 250m closer to residential properties in Denmark Avenue than the previous sports pitch. He raised concerns about the height of the floodlights over and above the 10m height of the floodlights on the adjacent MUGA. He stated that the applicant had not referred to the existence of another local MUGA facility, Goals, which had good provisions for the Woodley area. He asked that should the application be approved that the floodlights be lowered to 10m in height, semi-mature trees be planted on the Copse Mead boundary, the acoustic barrier be extended and that the hours of use be changed to 8am-9pm Monday to Saturday and 10am-4pm on Sunday.     

Simon Taylor, Case Officer, answered a number of queries from Members regarding construction waste disposal, noise from use of the MUGA and light spillage. He stated that the waste that would be produced at the site would not be dissimilar to other construction site works. He clarified that the floodlights were required to be 15m in height to achieve full pitch coverage of light as the primary use for the pitches would be for football games, and a reduction in the height of the floodlights would require them to be angled in such a way that light would be emitted in a diagonal direction, which would increase light spillage. He added that a light analysis had been undertaken and had shown that the impact of light spillage at the boundaries of the property would be negligible. It was noted that the existing sports hall would also assist with the reduction in light spillage. He stated that after a noise assessment had been completed an acoustic barrier could be constructed if it was deemed necessary.

In response to a question from Councillor Shepard-Dubey regarding impact on local bat populations from light spillage, Simon Taylor clarified that the bat habitat was out of the range of the light spillage zone. 

Members discussed the hours of use of the MUGA. A number of Members were of the view that hours of use ceasing at 9pm on Mondays to Saturdays would be more suitable than the current proposal of a 10pm closure time to reduce the impact on nearby residents.

In response to a question from Councillor Holton regarding measurement of standards for noise, Justin Turvey, Operational Development Manager Lead Officer, clarified that the Planning Officers had been guided by the Environmental Health Officers regarding noise standards and that a noise assessment would be carried out.

Councillor Ross proposed that the hours of use cease at 9pm Monday to Saturday and that the noise assessment would come back to the Chairman and Vice Chairman. This was seconded by Councillor Shepard-Dubey.

Upon being put to the vote it was: 

RESOLVED: That

1)    Application 173584 be approved subject to the conditions set out in agenda pages 16-17, amended conditions 5-6 and 9-12 as set out in the Members’ Update and amended condition 6 to specify that hours of use would cease at 9pm Monday to Saturday;

2)    The noise assessment and subsequent scheme as detailed in condition 3 be discussed with the Chairman and Vice Chairman.