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

Planning Schedule Date: 10/08/2004
had the opportunity to comment and become involved in the planning application and project in
general.
In overall terms, the Council is satisfied from a sport and leisure perspective with the level of
outdoor playing space which is being provided. The additional pitch at King George V site (KGV),
the upgraded pitch at Nailsworth School/Recreation Centre and the proposed Multi Use Games
Area/Astro Turf which will be subject to a separate application, all considerably improve the
quantity and quality of community facilities for the town. Attention is drawn to several items which
should form part of the planning conditions attached to any permission.
1.The order of the work should include the construction of the school playing pitch prior to the
new stadium being built in line with the recommendations of Sport England.
2.A new 'community use agreement' should be entered into which formalises the partnership
between the FGR, the District and Town Councils and Nailsworth School. This agreement will
guide the operational management of the facilities at the school site in particular but will also
encourage partnership working across the community use and development of other sites like
FGR and KGV.
3.A financial commitment is made by the FGR to the establish a new playing pitch at KGV and
future arrangements are agreed for its maintenance. This work should be undertaken prior to the
commencement of the residential development at the Lawn site which conforms to Sport
England's recommendation.
CONCLUSIONS
As with most planning applications a balance has to be struck between the benefits of the
proposals and any disbenefits. Whilst it is accepted that the development will impact on several
households its benefits are considered to outweigh such impacts which are not in themselves of
a magnitude which would warrant the refusal of planning permission for the reasons outlined in
the main body of this report.
Therefore, in the public interest, the development is deemed to represent a proposal which would
have a wide community benefit and enhance both the living conditions for the majority, the
enjoyment of sporting facilities, provide valuable housing provision on the existing club site after
the relocation of the facilities and retain and enhance facilities currently provided in this locality by
the Football Club. The site will have a greater degree of accessibility in many forms and will
provide a significant amount of on site car parking thereby relieving the local road network of
parked cars during match times. An informal arrangement for parking cars at the site when it is
not in use will allow car parking in the town centre to be utilized and bring economic benefits for
the town centre.
The traffic generation will not be significantly different from the existing situation and after
confirmation there are no technical issues outstanding this is not an issue in terms of the stadium
proposals.
The interests of wildlife have been considered and it has been confirmed the methods of
mitigation are suitable.
The impact of the development has been considered in landscape terms and whilst short distant
views will be altered long distance views will be such that the affect on the Cotswold Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty will of a scale which is not detrimental. The application is a matter
the Countryside Agency has not objected to in terms of impact on the near by designated area.
RECOMMENDATION
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