Planning Schedule Date: 10/08/2004 - Stroud District Council

Planning Schedule Date: 10/08/2004
These planning applications represent the first major stage in the work of the Regeneration
Group. In refining the proposals, the football club undertook intensive consultation between July
2003 and January 2004 when the application was submitted, and the Town Council has been
fully involved in the scheme. The club has gone to considerable lengths to accommodate the
wishes of various parties in the detailed design within the constraints of commercial viability, and
is to be commended in the extent of consultation undertaken.
The second stage in the work involves improvements to Nailsworth Primary School from receipts
in the sale of the surplus playing field land, and the third stage involved development of a village
hall by the Town Council on land reserved as part of the development process.
Application S.04/0096/FUL
The Town Council STRONGLY SUPPORTS the full application for a New Stadium and
associated works, and the application for a replacement playing pitch at King George V Playing
Fields.
2. General Comments about the Application and Appraisals
2.1 General Issues
It has been agreed that some of the proceeds to the County Council from the sale of the surplus
playing field site, will be used for improvements to the school. The funds should also be used to
contribute towards the construction costs of the proposed Multi-Use Games Area. The MUGA is
in the south west corner of the site and is marked as "open space for possible games area" on
the plans. This area should be combined with the adjacent tennis court on the adjoining Stroud
College site to provide the MUGA. Subject to planning approval, the adjacent tennis court on the
Stroud College site, which is protected by a Section 106 agreement, could form part of the MUGA
for the Joint Use Centre, football club, and adjoining housing.
The proposal for an MUGA arises from the Regeneration Group and is strongly supported by the
Town Council. The applicants have agreed to make land available for the MUGA, but it cannot
be progressed as part of the current application because it involves land not under the applicant's
control. The Town Council considers that the County Council should reserve some of the
receipts from sale of the land to contribute to construction costs of the MUGA. Developers of the
Stroud College site would also contribute to the MUGA.
2.2 New Stadium Site
Layout
a) The overall layout is the best compromise that can be achieved on a constrained site.
b) The footpath running along the southern boundary of the site should be secured.
c) There should be lockable gates between the primary school and the car park south of the
primary school, so that this can serve as overflow car parking for the school. There should also
be lockable gates between the primary school and the proposed MUGA.
d) There is a proposed change to the application to provide an extra run-off area around the
primary school pitch, in order to meet the standards for County matches. This will reduce the
landscaping strip between the New Stadium and the primary school pitch from 3m to 1m. The
Town Council considers that the community benefit outweighs the impact on the landscaping
proposals and supports this change.
Light Pollution
a) The long distance impact of the floodlighting should be minimised. From most angles the
floodlighting is unlikely to be significantly worse than the existing stadium, but will be most visible
from below New Inn on Amberley Common.
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