Epping Upper Clapton Football Club

EPPING UPPER CLAPTON FOOTBALL CLUB

Founded 1879

Introduction and Executive Summary of the proposal by Epping Upper Clapton Rugby Football Club, Upland Road, Thornwood, Epping CM16 6NL

 PROPOSED NEW ALL-WEATHER PITCH TO REPLACE EXISTING GRASS PITCH

 REPLACEMENT AND IMPROVEMENT OF EXISTING FLOODLIGHTING

 COMPLETION OF APPROVED CLUBHOUSE BUILDING TO PROVIDE FUNCTION HALL

 COMPLETION OF APPROVED CAR PARKING AND IMPROVED LAYOUT INCLUDING PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL SPACES.

 PROVISION OF IMPROVED DRAINAGE TO EXISTING PITCHES.

 Epping Upper Clapton Rugby Football Club (previously known as Upper Clapton Football Club) were formed in 1879) The club moved to Epping in 1933, Upland Rd was called Church Rd. u we only changed our name to include our home town in 2013. This was to recognise the support we have received from EFDC over the years and also ensure our excellent location was known to all without explanation

 We as a club are very connected to the community. We coach rugby in local schools including Davenant, Epping Primary, St Johns, Epping Upland and many more. Our involvement in the community doesn’t stop there.

We also provide practical support for local community groups including Norway house and Epping Foodbank. We have over 300 mini and youth players under the age of 17 and we ensure that they are a

Upland Road, Thornwood Common, Epping, Essex CM16 6NL. Telephone: 01992 572588 E.U.C.R.F.C is a Community Associated Sports Club. Registered Charity No 05310 Affiliated to The Rugby Football Union, Middlesex County Rugby Football Union and The London Society of Referees. Associate Member of Essex County Rugby Football Union www.upperclapton.com EPPING UPPER CLAPTON FOOTBALL CLUB

credit to the community by helping them understand we are not all in such privileged positions in life and have to share our quality of life with those around us

 Planning permission was granted 14 March 2013 for a replacement clubhouse, improved training pitches, a hard court area, improvements to car parking and other associated developments at the site.

 These works were to be funded by capital receipts from the sale of land, Grants and Loans provided by Sport England, RFU and other Local Charities including Epping Forest District Council.

 All of the money raised through the sale of the land has been invested in the provision of Community Sports Facilities but continued Grant funding, that would have enabled the completion of the project, has not been forthcoming. We were aware that without additional funds we could not finish the project

 The only means left open to Epping Rugby Club to complete the project and continue to provide sustainable Community Sports facilities is to secure funding through the sale of a small parcel of land that has no practical use as a sports playing field.

 The sale of this land will enable the Club to complete the elements of the project that are already approved, increase the off street parking provision and importantly lay a new full size all weather pitch which will provide significant outdoor sports facilities to the benefit of Rugby and local community sports .

The small parcel of land is designated as Metropolitan Green Belt however:  The proposal does not conflict with the five purposes of protecting Green Belt Land.

The 5 purposes served by Green Belts are set out in the NPPF. It continues, at paragraph 81, to say that beneficial use of the Green Belt should be promoted, such as by providing opportunities for outdoor sport and recreation.  NPPF Para 89 states that an exception to inappropriate development in Green Belt are “appropriate facilities for outdoor sport and outdoor recreation”

 Policy GB2A of the Councils adopted Local Plan states that planning permission will not be granted in the Green Belt unless it is for appropriate development as defined by the policy. One form of appropriate development is for purposes of ‘outdoor participatory sport and recreation or associated essential small- scale buildings.’

Our proposals are supported by the Local Community, 300 Members, 400 players, Volunteers and Coaching staff. Our proposals are also supported by local schools and sports clubs who use our facilities to promote: Rugby, Football, Netball, Cycling, Boxing and martial Arts, aerobics and keep fit classes. The RFU and Sport England support and endorse our work and proposals. Letters of support and full details of our application are included in the full body of text and data attached to our Design and Access Statement.

The club is run by a large body of willing volunteers. We are the caretakers of our club for the next generation and want to ensure that we as a rugby club can thrive for the next generations We can assure you that we have done our very best to deliver the facilities we require however we have been unable finalise our project We have always acted with integrity, and we can assure you that we have done everything possible to secure funding through other routes. We managed the funds we received in 2013 to deliver the facilities we have today. No monies were utilised to support the running of the club on a day to day basis The final part of our development has been costed and the capital receipts would allow us to provide not just a venue for the playing of rugby but also support outdoor sport in the community We now find ourselves asking for your support once again to finish what we started Our Club ask Members of Epping Forest District Council to support our application and enable us to complete our project and continue to provide sustainable sports facilities for the Local Community.

Paul Donnelly Chairman

Epping Upper Clapton Rugby Football Club