2560615
• 4 no. playing pitches (Pitch 1 and 2: synthetic all-weather playing pitches with floodlighting, and Pitch 3 and 4: grass playing pitches); • 1 no. grass training/warm-up pitch;• A single level facilities building (approximately 865 sq m gross floor space) with rooftop photovoltaic solar panel array (224 sq m) and associated building signage (4.5 sq m), to incl. entrance lobby, function room with servery and reception area, office/meeting room, weight/training room, multipurpose community room, medical/first aid room with toilet, equipment store, 5 no. spectator toilets (3 no. universal accessible), circulation corridor, universal access toilet, universal access change room with shower and toilet, plant room, storage/kit room, 2 no. referee facilities with shower and toilet, 2 no. change rooms with showers and toilets, and 6 no. change rooms with toilets; • 123 no. vehicle parking spaces arranged in 2 no. car parking areas with site lighting (12 no. EV, 6 no. disabled, 105 no. regular), dedicated vehicle set down area, dedicated coach/bus set down area, and coach/bus parking area; and • Hard and soft landscaping (incl. enhanced boundary treatment planting and ecological buffer biodiversity corridors), access road and vehicle circulation, pedestrian walkways, site lighting, services (incl. tertiary waste water treatment system comprising of proprietary secondary wastewater treatment plant with pumped discharged to raised tertiary treatment modules polishing filter bed, and SuDS based surface water management system comprising permeable paving, grasscrete, a series of stormwater bioretention swales/detention basins located on the site, hydrocarbon interceptor, flow control hydrobrake controlled outflow discharge to drainage ditch within site, and ultimately the Gageborough River), and all other ancillary and associated site development works above and below ground level. Access will be via a new vehicular entrance from the L6045 Local Road with associated road upgrade works to accommodate development related traffic movements at this site of approximately 11 hectares
Core Refusal Reason
The proposed development is located in an unserviced rural area contrary to compact growth policies and poses significant traffic safety risks at a regional road junction.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The siting of a large-scale sports facility in a rural, unserviced greenfield location is contrary to the principles of compact growth and sustainable development as outlined in Policy HP-17.
- The applicant failed to demonstrate sufficient legal interest to carry out necessary road widening works, and the lack of pedestrian infrastructure makes the proposal premature and a burden on the local road network.
- The projected traffic volumes would create a significant traffic hazard and endanger public safety at the R420-L6054 junction, which is located too close to the proposed entrance and operates in a high-speed zone.