Agenda item

NEWTON ABBOT - 18/01690/MAJ - Devon County Football Association , Coach Road - Construction of an external 3G Artificial Turf Pitch (ATP) with associated lighting, fencing, hard standing, storage and car parking area

Minutes:

Councillor Smith declared an Appendix B, paragraph 12 interest in application 18/01690/MAJ, by virtue of his position as Vice Chairman and Director of Devon County Football Association, and left the meeting.

 

The Vice Chairman, Councillor Clarance chaired the meeting.

 

The receipt of one further representation was noted, but which did not raise any new issues.

 

Public speaker, objector – Residents already suffer noise and bad language form this site which is audible with windows closed, and the proposal would exacerbate the situation; the 5 metre acoustic barrier only covers half the ground; the glare from the flood lights is intrusive and illuminates bedrooms; intrusive white pollution until 9.30pm is detrimental to any resident trying to sleep especially children; and detrimental effect on the bat population.

 

Public speaker, objector – loss of amenity for the residents of Wolborough; significant change to the area and level of activity; the World Health Organisation stipulates a minimum healthy environment; the site operating for 84 hours per week is equivalent to 12 hours, 7 days a week; there is speculation that the material for all weather pitches could potentially be toxic; unacceptable additional traffic along the narrow Coach Road, and which will add to pollution levels; current noise is intrusive and the proposal is an imbalance to the detriment of residents. 

 

Public speaker, supporter – DCFA is a non-profit making organisation consisting of 40,000 players and 9,000 volunteers with 100,000 supporters, with 18 full time posts, and running on grants from the Football Association and Sport England; the club reinvests to improve facilities for the players; it is a well-run, successful and respected club, and hosts County cup finals; its facilities are open to the community including the Wolborough Residents Association; all complaints are investigated and addressed; and the club meets with neighbours to discuss issues; the all-weather pitch is crucial for the future of the club; bad weather last year resulted in no football for 13 weeks; the community support would increase with the all-weather pitch such as disability, school, walking and American football sessions, youth and adult teams;  the club caters for all ages with its oldest player being 78 years; the pitch is identified in the Council’s five year playing pitch strategy; the club will focus on participation and sports education, and run courses in training, coaching and administration; the effect on residents will be minimised, for example an acoustic barrier to minimise noise; landscape plans; LED floodlights and times will decrease to 9pm; two full time positions would be created; and the new facilities would be promoted and open to the community.

 

Comments from Councillors included: the Play Pitch Strategy identifies the need for an all-weather pitch; light pollution would be minimised with the use of LED; noise would be minimised with an acoustic barrier, landscaping, raising a bank and installation of a fence; the hours of use to 9pm would limit use and address residents’ concerns; measures could be introduced to mitigate bad language from players; the existing hours use including three evenings a week continue; surface water drainage; there should be more flexibility with the hours of use; open space will be utilised for additional car parking; and concern regarding the speculative alleged health issues associated with the surface material.

 

The Business Manager confirmed the proposed hours of operation as set out in the report circulated with the agenda; the area for the car park is open space and not currently used as a pitch; the proposed pitch surface details are set out in the report; surface water drainage is addressed with conditions;

 

It was noted that the financial background to the application was not a planning consideration.

 

It was proposed by Councillor J Hook and seconded by Councillor Colclough that permission be approved with the hours to include only 3 nights Monday to Friday until 9.45pm as existing.  The result of a vote was 6 for and 6 against. The Chairman used his casting vote and the result was 7 for and 6 against.

 

Resolved

 

Permission be granted subject to conditions substantially as follows:

1. Standard 3 year time condition;

2. Development in accordance with approved plans;

3. Programme of percolation tests to be carried out;

4. No commencement until the detailed design of the proposed permanent surface water drainage management system has been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority;

5. No commencement until the detailed design of the proposed surface water drainage management system which will serve the development site for the full period of its construction has been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority, in consultation with Devon County Council as the Lead Local Flood Authority;

6. Prior to commencement of the development barriers and ground protection shall be installed for all existing trees and hedgerow within the site and shall be maintained until all equipment, machinery and surplus materials have been removed from the site;

7. Prior to the commencement of any construction works relating to the installation of the 3G pitch artificial pitch surface, the type of infill materials to be installed into the 3G artificial pitch surface which may comprise of recycled SBR with adequate chemical testing evidence in compliance with REACH findings, or EPDM, or TPE, or Encapsulated SBR or natural materials (such as cork/vegetable) shall be submitted to and be approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority;

8. No development shall take place until a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) has been submitted to and agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority;

9. The spectator fencing hereby approved shall be powered coated green prior to the 3G artificial turf pitch first coming into use and thereafter retained in this form;

10. Development to be undertaken in accordance with the Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA);

11. Notwithstanding the submitted details, prior to the erection of the acoustic fence hereby approved, a landscape scheme to enhance existing hedgerow at Coach Road and provide additional landscaping within the site (between the acoustic fence and existing hedgerow to Coach Road) including an implementation, maintenance and management plan shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority;

12. Notwithstanding the submitted details, prior to the construction of the new car parking area hereby approved, a hard and soft landscape scheme, lighting details (which should be minimized) and management and maintenance plan shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority;

13. Prior to the 3G pitch or amended hours first being brought into use, the new car parking provision shall have been completed in accordance with the approved plans and details agreed by condition as part of this permission;

14. There shall be no excavation or re-profiling of the bank to the western boundary;

15. Prior to its installation, details of the construction/finish of the acoustic fence shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority;

16. Prior to the 3G Artificial Turf Pitch hereby approved being first brought into use, details of a management plan and management agreement for the operation of the development and code of conduct for the users of the facility shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority;

17. The flood lighting approved shall not operate outside the existing hours of use, (as approved under application number: 17/01503/VAR):

·           A maximum of three nights out of Monday to Friday - 9 a.m. to 9:45 p.m.

·           Saturday and Sunday - 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

·           Bank Holidays - Closed

18. The use of any amplification system installed on the site shall be restricted to announcements only and shall not be used for music;

19. Prior to the 3G Artificial Turf Pitch being first brought into use, details of the mitigation of impact sound to include the use of catch netting/padding to prevent direct contact with surfaces surrounding the pitch, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority;

20. All signs, fencing and structures which surround the perimeter of the 3G pitch shall be securely clamped with anti-vibration mountings and secured;

21. Prior to the 3G Artificial Turf Pitch or extended hours being first brought into use, a sound impact survey shall be completed by a competent engineer/ acoustician demonstrating the acoustic fence accords with the design criteria for the acoustic barrier and the predicted sound reduction levels as set out in the submitted documents and Noise Assessment;

22. The lights and associated fittings including a timer shall be installed and retained in accordance with the approved details, including achievement of Environmental Zone 1, at the nearest neighbouring residential frontages.

(7 votes for a 6 against)

 

Note: the amendment to the hours proposed was contrary to the advice of the Business Manager. The Committee considered the hours originally proposed were unacceptable on the grounds of a detrimental effect on the amenities of neighbours.

Supporting documents: