Decision details

The Committee received an application for full planning permission.

The application sought approval for installation of a replacement Multi Use Games Area (MUGA).

The Principal Planner corrected two errors in the Officer’s report:

       i.          A Landscape Strategy compliance condition needed to be included.

     ii.          A majority of the boundary fence was 4m high (not 3m).

The Committee received a representation in objection to the application from a local resident.

The representation covered the following issues:

       i.          There were no other MUGAs close to developments ie flats/houses where people lived.

     ii.          It was too close to residents and the public highway. This led to safety concerns. Sport England guidance said the MUGA should be located further away.

   iii.          Implementing the MUGA would lead to a loss of light and view for residents.

   iv.          The streetscene would be destroyed as trees were replaced with a very high fence.

    v.          Noise from football games would impact on neighbouring properties.

   vi.          Suggested there were errors and estimates in the noise report. The apartment block was incorrectly identified within the original documentation as 2 storey rather than 3 storey properties.

Ms Sutton (Applicant) addressed the Committee in support of the application.

Councillor McGerty (Queen Edith's Ward Councillor) addressed the Committee about the application:

       i.          Thanked the Bell School for engaging with councillors and officers.

     ii.          The MUGA was large. Referred to P7 & 8 of the drawing pack. Queried if the diagram showed how close the MUGA would be to local flats. The site context had changed since the tennis courts (MUGA site) were put in.

   iii.          Suggested the flats would not have been built if it were clear they would have less amenity space (due to the MUGA).

   iv.          S106 funding criteria required sports amenity space to be available to the Bell school and residents. The current segmented games area was acceptable. Queried why the segments needed to be combined into one large MUGA. This could cause more noise than the segmented games areas.

Councillor Pippas (Queen Edith's Ward Councillor) addressed the Committee about the application:

       i.          The Bell School sold its football pitch and flats were then subsequently built. The flats would now be 4m away from the proposed wooden fence around the MUGA.

     ii.          People bought the flats expecting one thing and could get another.

   iii.          Suggested the MUGA was being developed to allow more flats to be put on the (former) football pitch land. Queried why other alternatives such as planting flowers could not be implemented.

   iv.          The MUGA would create noise for flat occupiers.

    v.          Residents were concerned that balls flying over the fence surrounding the MUGA would go into peoples’ dwellings or onto the public highway.

Councillor Baigent left the committee as he felt unwell.

The Committee:

Unanimously resolved (by 6 votes to 0) to grant the application for planning permission in accordance with the officer recommendation, for the reasons set out in the officer report, and subject to the conditions recommended by the officers, with an additional condition requiring compliance with the landscape plan and accompanying management strategy.