Agenda item

Erection of sports complex comprising 2 storey building including swimming pool, outdoor facilities for cricket, football and tennis, car and cycle parking, landscaping and access from Stirling Road (Haxby and Wigginton Ward)

Members considered a major full application, submitted by CSSC Properties Ltd, for the erection of sports complex comprising 2 storey building including swimming pool, outdoor facilities for cricket, football and tennis, car and cycle parking, landscaping and access from Stirling Road.

Officers updated that paragraph 4.17 of the report should be amended to read:

As noted in paragraph 5 of the Inspector’s report, a Unilateral Planning Undertaking has been signed to secure the free use of the football pitches and the cricket square for local schools throughout extensive off-peak hours * on each weekday; the same applies to the 5 a-side pitches, 7 a-side pitches and changing rooms for external activities. Moreover, any surplus provision would be offered to community groups at rates equivalent to the fees charged for the use of public facilities. A condition has also been imposed to “secure the provision of many facilities on a ‘pay and play’ basis by non-club member”.

*Off-peak hours means 9 am to 12 noon and 2 pm to 4 pm. 

Representations were received in support of the application from the agent for the applicant. He stated that the proposal represented a significant investment in sport and recreation, providing both indoor and outdoor facilities. The facilities would be available for community use and on a  ‘pay and play’ basis. 

Members discussed the removal of the squash courts which were included in the earlier application, bus service provision, cycle schemes, the use of the facilities by schools, the size of the swimming pool, landscaping details, lighting, and BREEAM (environmental) rating. They raised their concerns about the application being in the green belt.

Members discussed the inclusion of a height condition, the amendment of condition 15 regarding landscaping, that the lighting condition be amended to include the protection of Dark Sky, and the inclusion of an informative regarding the level of BREEAM rating.

RESOLVED:             That the application be approved subject to the conditions and informatives included in the report and subject to the following additional and amended conditions and informative:

15           No development shall take place until there has been submitted and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority a detailed landscaping scheme which shall illustrate the number, species, height and position of trees and shrubs.  This scheme shall be implemented within a period of six months of the completion of the development.  Any trees or plants which die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced (in perpetuity) with others of a similar size and species, unless alternatives are agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

Reason:  So that the Local Planning Authority may be satisfied with the variety, suitability and disposition of species within the site.

30           Prior to the development hereby approved coming into use details of any scheme for illumination of all external areas of the site shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and the agreed scheme implemented on site.  This scheme shall be in accordance with the current Institution of Lighting Engineers Guidance Note for the Reduction of Obtrusive Light GN01.

Reason: To protect the living conditions of the nearby residential properties and to prevent light pollution.

31           Prior to the development hereby approved coming into use details of the illumination of the outdoor sports pitch the site shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and the agreed scheme implemented and maintained on site. This scheme shall be in accordance with the current Institution of Lighting Engineers Guidance Note for the Reduction of Obtrusive Light GN01. Such a scheme should include the following:

- a contour map with illumination levels of the area to be lit and the spill beyond the lit area given in lux in the horizontal plane;

- the angle of the lights and details of the beam - whether asymmetric or otherwise;

- the height of the lighting stanchions; and the luminance level in lux in the vertical plane at the windows of the nearest residential properties.

Reason: To protect the living conditions of the nearby residential properties and to prevent light pollution.

43               Notwithstanding the information contained on the approved plans, the height of the approved development shall not exceed  9.5 metres, as measured from existing ground level. Before any works commence on the site, a means of identifying the existing ground level on the site shall be agreed in writing, and any works required on site to mark that ground level accurately during the construction works shall be implemented prior to any disturbance of the existing ground level. Any such physical works or marker shall be retained at all times during the construction period.

Reason: to establish existing ground level and therefore to avoid confusion in measuring the height of the approved development, and to ensure that the approved development does not have an adverse impact on the character of the surrounding area.

Informative : 9. You are informed that the development hereby approved should aim to achieve a BREEAM "very good" or "excellent" assessment standard.

REASON:      The proposal, subject to the conditions listed in the report and above, would not cause undue harm to interests of acknowledged importance, with particular reference to the vitality and viability of York City Centre and district centres, sustainability, Green Belt development, flood risk, access and traffic considerations and visual amenity. As such the proposal complies with Policies SP2, SP6, SP7a, SP8, GP1, GP3, GP4a, GP5, GP9, GP11, GP15a, HE10, NE7, GB1, GB13, T4, T7b, T13a, T18, L1a, V1, V2 and C1 of the City of York Local Plan Deposit Draft.