Agenda item

Recommendation: Conditional Approval.

Tim Holton relinquished the Chair to Chis Bowring for the duration of this item.

Proposal: Application to vary condition 3 of planning consent 181565 for an artificial grass pitch with flood lights. Condition 3 refers to the hours of operation; condition 3 to be altered to state: 'The facility shall only be used between the hours of 07:30 until 22:00 hours Monday to Friday and 08:00 hours to 20:00 hours on Weekends and Bank Holidays'. 

Applicant: Wokingham Borough Council

The Committee received and reviewed a report about this application, set out in agenda pages 143 to 158.

The Committee were advised that the Members’ Update included:

·           Updated reason for condition 3;

·           Amended condition 5;

·           New informative 1 in connection with condition 5;

·           Additional representation received;

·           Correction to paragraph 22;

·           Appended minutes of the Planning Committee meeting dated 10 October 2018, agenda item 43.

Craig Hunter, on behalf of the Applicant, spoke in favour of the application. He stated that the project would boost the attractiveness of the school to pupils of years 8 to 11, by providing better facilities and reducing the usage of the currently boggy grassed areas. He added that an increase in pupil admission numbers as a result of the increased attractiveness of the school would result in an increase in funding for the school. Craig stated that the development would allow staff to increase their own health and wellbeing and would allow the school to host tournaments for the community. Craig added that the development would make the school a hub of the community and would improve the scope of student opportunities.

UllaKarin Clark, Ward Member, spoke in favour of the application. She stated that the 3G football pitch would be a wonderful addition to the Emmbrook School and would allow for local football clubs to train on the site. UllaKarin added that the development would provide a huge benefit for the local community, allowing the school to host tournaments and improve the health of its staff, students and wider community. Ullakarin stated that there would be strong management strategies in place on the site, and that should the hours of use not be extended then the business case would be affected which would in turn remove the funding for the project. UllaKarin stated that all users of the site would have to sign a code of conduct prior to usage of the facilities, which would allow management to remove offenders. Ullakarin added that acoustic barriers and padding could be used in the future as a noise prevention strategy, if it was deemed necessary.

In response to the point raised regarding acoustic barriers, Senjuti Manna, Case Officer, stated that they did not form a part of this application however the applicant could implement them in the future if it was deemed necessary.

Rachelle Shepherd-DuBey raised concerns over the noise management plan, as it had not yet been submitted. Senjuti Manna stated that the noise management plan needed to be detailed and approved before development was first used, and clarified that this was conditioned.

Senjuti Manna clarified that noise levels had been monitored from 10m behind the goal line. The computer model had been created using this data and had suggested that the nearest residential properties were 55m and 65m behind the goal lines and would not be subject to unacceptable noise levels.

Angus Ross stated that since the previous application came to Committee, a much more detailed noise impact assessment had been carried out as well as a detailed management plan. He added that the scheme was now far more robust and would better serve the community.

Carl Doran queried why acoustic barriers were not part of the application. Senjuti Manna clarified that this would require further planning permission, however this could be conditioned within the noise management plan if substantiated complaints relating to noise above 50 decibels had been received and verified by a noise monitoring Officer.

RESOLVED: That application 190421 be approved, subject to the conditions as set out in agenda pages 144 to 146, updated condition 3 and amended condition 5 as set out in the Members’ Update, and new informative 1 as set out in the Members Update. 

Tim Holton resumed the Chair.