Planning Application Number: P15/0783
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
PLANNING APPLICATION NUMBER: P15/0783 Type of approval sought Full Planning Permission Ward Kingswinford South Applicant Mr M. Jordan Location: THE CRESTWOOD SCHOOL, BROMLEY LANE, KINGSWINFORD, WEST MIDLANDS, DY6 8QG Proposal ERECTION OF FLOODLIGHTING AROUND GAMES AREA Recommendation APPROVE SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS Summary: SITE AND SURROUNDINGS 1. The site comprises an artificial sport pitch that is located within the playing fields associated with Crestwood School. The pitch is rectangular in shape measuring 78m long by 38m wide and is enclosed by green powder coated metal fencing. The pitch is elevated approximately 1.5m higher than the wider playing field and is located to the rear of the main school campus. There is a further all weather pitch located immediately to the east of the pitch subject to this application. This pitch measures 30m long by 25m wide, is not enclosed by metal fencing and is at a lower level than the application site. 2. The school is accessed off Bromley Lane, which forms part of the strategic highway network connecting Kingswinford with Brierley Hill. The vehicular access into the site off Bromley Lane leads to a surface level car park, which comprises 80 parking spaces. The school also has access to an overflow car park that can accommodate up to 180 parking spaces. 3. The school buildings are set back approximately 25m from Bromley Lane itself with residential properties having been built on three sides of the school site to the north, east and west. The playing field located to the rear of the school buildings extends approximately 340m deep and between 220m and 310m wide. Dwellings served off Granville Drive are located to the west of the playing field with the rear gardens backing onto the existing playing field. Dwellings to the east of the playing field are served off numerous cul-de-sacs with the side boundaries and side elevations of the nearest properties adjoining the playing field. This is with the exception of the dwellings that adjoin the north-eastern boundary of the site where the rear gardens back onto the playing field (Lydgate Road and Vernier Avenue). 4. The closest properties on Granville Drive are positioned within 50m of the existing artificial pitch (No. 83) and the closest properties to the east are those located off Leaford Way with No. 83 positioned within 54m of the artificial pitch. The rear and side boundaries of these dwellings comprise a mix of 2m high close boarded fencing and mature hedges and trees. The ground floor and first floor rear facing windows within the properties off Granville Drive are visible from the lower playing field. The dwellings on Granville Drive are built on a similar level than the playing field with the artificial pitch sitting at a higher level. The properties located on Leaford Way do not directly back onto the site with windows serving habitable rooms facing north and south. 5. Crestwood School is positioned within a wider school campus immediately adjoining The Briar School and Bromley Hills primary school to the west. The playing field is used only by Crestwood. The artificial pitch is also used by local primary schools as part of Crestwood’s primary school liaison work. 6. The site is located within a predominantly residential area characterised by post-war dwellings comprising a mix of detached, semi-detached and terrace properties. PROPOSAL 7. The proposal seeks the erection of 6 x 8m high floodlighting columns. Each column would be fitted with 8 x 1kw flat glass floodlights with louvers. The light levels to the pitch would be between 100-110 lux and the floodlights would be mounted horizontally. 8. A series of amended lighting schemes have been submitted for consideration during the course of the application. The final design has reduced the height of the columns from 10m in view of the elevated nature of the pitch, has reduced the lux levels of the floodlights and has included the addition of louvers to each light to prevent light glare. 9. The application is supported by a full lighting specification, which includes details of light spillage beyond the pitch. 10. The pitch is used for dual use being used daily for PE curriculum lessons and used by the schools feeder primary schools (Crestwood Park, Bromley Hills, Bromley, Pensnett and Dingle). The extended hours of use afforded by the installation of the floodlights would predominantly be for use by a local junior football club, PS Olympic. PS Olympic would be using the pitch between 6pm to 8pm during the evening and on a Saturday morning between 9am and 1pm. The use of the pitch by PS Olympic would fund the project. The extended hours of use provided by the floodlighting will also allow the hosting of community coaching sessions in football. HISTORY APPLICATION PROPOSAL DECISION DATE No. 93/51109 Construction of sports hall and Approved 03/02/94 associated facilities, synthetic with pitches and additional car conditions. parks. P06/1880 Erection of 8 x 8m high lighting Approved 21/11/06 columns, four lighting bollards with and extension of car park. conditions PUBLIC CONSULTATION 11. The application was advertised by neighbour letters being sent to the occupiers of 165 properties within close proximity to the site, the display of a site notice and the placing of an advert within the local press. Eighteen letters have been received from residents raising concerns regarding the proposals. Two of the letters have been signed by the occupiers of two and four properties resulting in a total of twenty-two objections. A petition has also been received signed by 51 people. A large proportion of objectors reside in Granville Drive with other letters received from the occupiers of properties that are also within close proximity to the site including Vernier Avenue, Alder Road, Lydgate Road, Lerryn Close, Leaford Way and Lewick Close. The following material planning considerations have been raised: • Light Pollution • Noise and disturbance • Lack of on-site parking • Increased litter and associated vermin and general anti-social behaviour • Loss of privacy 12. Two letters of support have been received into the proposed development, one letter from a local resident and the second letter from a co-opted School Governor of the school. The local resident supports the proposals on the basis that the lit pitch would provide a good community facility especially for local children. The School Governor writes as follows: “I am writing in support of this planning application. I must firstly declare that I have an interest in this, as I am a co-opted School Governor at Crestwood School. I understand that there have been a number of objections to this proposal and in submitting my support I do so with a background of being a former and now retired Police Inspector... Community assets promoted by the past coalition govt play a vital role in crime reduction initiatives and community engagement. Crestwood School, the buildings and green space is an asset to the community and by capitalising on this asset we can promote education, health and well being and community safety. Crestwood School is a prime example of a community asset that has reached out to a wider participative audience and seeks to do more for and on behalf of the community. The school is progressive, successful and vibrant. Staff and Governors are committed to providing the very best academic environment for its pupils and sharing the facilities with the community. It has played a huge part in reaching out to those who want to join in after school activities. It has helped small business to grow. Sport England recognises the contribution sport has to reducing crime. In its publication Creating safer communities – Reducing anti social behaviour and the fear of crime through sport, Will Tuckley, Chief Executive of the London Borough of Bexley said:1 “Sports participation creates so many opportunities – not only providing obvious health benefits, but also less tangible benefits associated with community cohesion and personal achievement, through, for example, helping to develop community networks, providing positive activities for young people and creating competitive opportunities. Above all, it is also an enjoyable pastime!” Providing a floodlit area at Crestwood will build on the success of the current activities. It will provide a greater opportunity to those who can’t use the current facilities. It will work towards a number of govt and sporting body initiatives. On the lights themselves, my understanding is that they are less intrusive and create far less light pollution than conventional lighting and have been chosen to balance the needs of the school with the comfort of local neighbours. For all of the above reasons I give my unconditional support to what I believe will be a tremendous community asset for the area. “ 1 http://www.sportengland.org/media/91502/creating-safer-communities.pdf 13. At the time of writing the report, neighbours and objectors have been re-consulted on the final lighting scheme. If any additional comments are received or previous objections removed these will be reported in a pre-committee note. OTHER CONSULTATION 14. Group Engineer (Highways): No objection received. The Council’s lighting engineer has confirmed that the revised scheme would address concerns raised by local residents in terms of potential impacts upon residential amenity (light spillage and glare). 15. Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards: The provision of floodlighting to the multi- purpose sports pitch will permit the use of the pitch to be used more during the months of the year when darkness naturally restricts hours of use. The extended use of the multi use sports pitch has the potential to cause loss of residential amenity to nearby residents by way of noise.