Agenda item

Consideration was given to an application to vary for 22/2517/VARY, Playing Field, Aislaby Road, Eaglescliffe. Stockton-on-Tees.

Planning permission was sought to remove conditions no1 and no2 of planning approval S268/79 to allow community use of the playing pitches at the Yarm School Playing Field, Aislaby Road, Eaglescliffe.

The proposal also included the creation of an extended car parking area to facilitate 97 car parking spaces. Planning permission was approved in 1979 for the use of the land as school playing pitches with restrictive conditions for use by Yarm School only.

The applicant sought consent to allow Yarm School along with their associated partners/community groups and facilitate wider community use and participation in sport at the site.

There had been 34 letters of support and 11 letters of objection which the main cause for concern relating to on street and indiscriminate parking. To overcome this the applicant had proposed the provision of a 97-space car park.

The proposed extended community use would be supported by national and local planning policy and with conditions to control the operation and use of the site it was considered that there were no sustainable planning reasons to refuse the application and the application was therefore recommended for approval subject to planning conditions.

The consultees that had been notified and the comments that had been received were detailed within the main report.

Neighbours were notified and the comments received were detailed within the main report.

The planning policies and material planning considerations that were relevant to the consideration of the application were contained within the main report.

The Planning Officers report concluded that overall, it was considered that the benefits from allowing the community use of the playing fields was significant and the site could be sufficiently controlled through conditions to manage the site so as not to adversely affect residents, therefore the application was recommended for approval with conditions as detailed within the main report.

Members were given the opportunity to ask questions / make comments. These could be summarised as follows: -

- Concerns were raised relating to parking due to the very narrow road which was frequently used and whether there would be any modifications to the entrance.

- It was suggested that a condition be added so the playing fields could be used by the local community.

Officers were given the opportunity to respond to comments/issues raised. Their responses could be summarised as follows: -

- Officers explained that should there be any issues around parking then enforcement would deal with any issues identified and if required traffic regulations orders could be introduced such as double yellow lines.

- In terms of community use Officers explained that condition 3 ‘Community Use Agreement’ within the officers’ report covered this.

A vote then took place, and the application was approved.

RESOLVED that planning application 22/2517/VARY be approved subject to the following conditions and informatives

Approved Plans

01 The development hereby approved shall be in accordance with the following approved plan(s);

Plan Reference Number Date Received

2819 AL(0)100 YS 18 May 2023

SBC0001 9 December 2022

Car Parking

02 Prior to the community use being brought into operation, the car park as shown on plan 2819 AL(0)100 YS received 18 May 2023 shall be provided and available for the parking of vehicles when the playing pitches are in use. The car park shall be retained for the life of the development.

Community Use Agreement

03 Within three months of the commencement of the use of the development by any person other than Yarm School pupils a community use agreement prepared in consultation with Sport England has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority, and a copy of the completed approved agreement has been provided to the Local Planning Authority. The agreement shall apply to Yarm School’s Aislaby Road Playing Field and include details of pricing policy, hours of use, access by non-school users management responsibilities and a mechanism for review. The development shall not be used otherwise than in strict compliance with the approved agreement.

Community Use

04 The use of the facility for organisations other than Yarm School shall be capped at of a total of 125 uses per year and a maximum of 10 senior league matches per year, by non-Yarm school organisations.

Hours of operation

05 The playing pitches shall not be used outside the hours of 9.00 am – 8.30pm. After 6pm, where there is only one game taking place, the southern pitch shall be used.

Lighting

06 No floodlights or other methods of illuminating the site shall be erected site without the prior written consent of the Local Planning Authority.

INFORMATIVE OF REASON FOR PLANNING APPROVAL

Informative: Working Practices

The Local Planning Authority has worked in a positive and proactive manner and sought solutions to problems arising in dealing with the planning application by gaining additional information required to assess the scheme and by the identification and imposition of appropriate planning conditions.

Informative: Community Use Agreement

Guidance on preparing Community Use Agreements is available from Sport England. http://www.sportengland.org/planningapplications/