Planning Applications PDF 1 MB - Meetings, agendas and minutes

associated pavilion (disused and overgrown), a two-on-two basket ball court area and
three public tennis courts. There is also a single storey public convenience building and
a two storey changing room block on the site. However, the existing facilities are in a
poor state of repair. The intention is that the Council would lease the land to
PlayFootball, who would undertake the provision and management of the sports
facilities. Essentially, the proposal involves the replacement of the existing sports uses
with new sports facilities, for which there would be a charge, whilst retaining two football
pitches and a basketball pitch for free community use. The children's playground on the
site has been disused for several years. A new playground was built in 2010 to the
south of the site.
3.3 As the use of the land as a sports and recreation facility would not change, there
are no planning objections to the proposal in land use terms. With regard to open space
provision, Core Strategy policy OS1 sets out the need to protect and enhance parks,
open spaces and biodiversity in the borough by a range of means, including improving
parks and recreational facilities through the Parks and Open Spaces Strategy, with
scheduled major refurbishment complemented with investment in sports facilities across
the borough. Policy DM E1 of the DM Local Plan seeks improvements to existing open
space where appropriate and states that development should be refused on public open
space and other green open space of borough-wide importance unless it can be
demonstrated that such development would preserve or enhance its open character, its
function as a sport, leisure or recreational resource, and its contribution to biodiversity
and visual amenity. In this case, it is clear that the proposal would enhance the existing
function of the open space as a sports facility. Although the development would involve
the erection of a building of 270 sqm and the provision of fencing which would enclose
the land, there is existing fencing around the sports pitches and the proposal would
involve the demolition of three buildings and a portacabin also totalling 270 sqm in floor
area. The proposed development is necessary for the function and operation of the
sports facility. As discussed further below, it is not considered that the development has
further impact on the contribution of the space to biodiversity or visual amenity. As such,
it is not considered that there is conflict with policies relating to open space.
LOSS OF EXISTING FACILITIES
3.4 The proposed facility is predominantly football based, with one basketball court in
addition to the thirteen football pitches. In this respect, the alternative sports provision,
such as the existing tennis courts and bowling green would be lost from the site. In
support of the application, the applicants have stated that the bowling green is now
completely overgrown since the club's relocation to Ravenscourt Park in 2011. The
bowling green required significant public investment in its upkeep and it was considered
the most cost effective solution to consolidate this facility within the Ravenscourt Park
club to enable both clubs to continue operating. In terms of tennis, there are alternative
facilities in Wormholt Park around 500m away (which are free to use) Ravenscourt Park
(1.5km away) and Brook Green (2km away), for which there is a charge.
3.5 A demand survey has been carried out by the applicant which indicates that of
the 361,670 people who live within a 2 mile radius of the site, approximately 10% are
males aged 18-34 - a key market group for PlayFootball. As an indication of the scale of
demand from the local population, research from another PlayFootball site in Southend
shows that around 20-25% of all 18 to 34 year-old males would be keen to participate in
small-sided football on a regular basis. Therefore, it is estimated that there would be
demand from around 9,000 18 to 34 year-old males who live locally. However, this is
not the only group that would be expected to take advantage of the facilities. The