<p>Southampton Sports Centre - draft wording for Bassett Development Plan.</p><p>Southampton Sports Centre occupies some 270 acres of municipal open space in the NW of the ward and comprises Southampton City Golf Course and Southampton Outdoor Sports Centre and a small area of amenity woodland lying between the facilities and Winchester Road. The land was purchased in 1934 using a loan from the Ministry of Health. It is held in Trust from the Ministry of Health and its antecedents under the Public Health Acts of 1875 and 1925 and is classified as "open space" for the purposes of the Local Government Act 1972. The facilities were formally opened in 1938.</p><p>At the time of writing, operation of the facilities is contracted out to 2 charitable sports management organisations; Active Nation (Outdoor Sports Centre) and MytimeActive (City Golf Course).</p><p>Provision of outdoor facilities for the benefit of all the residents of Southampton was the brainchild of Sir Sidney Kimber who proposed " ....to create for the present and future generations another civic centre - an outdoor sports and recreation centre under one management and control, large, central, compact, beautifully situated for the use of thousands of both sexes, young and old, robust and frail, rich and poor, for the provision of all known outdoor games, which centre is bound to promote health, enjoyment and happiness to untold numbers; and, as the years roll on and the population multiplies enormously, will prove to be one of the outstanding assets of a town and port destined for unrivalled supremacy.". </p><p>From the end of the Second World War onwards a series of changes, improvements and modifications have been, and continue to be, made to the Outdoor Spots Centre and City Golf Course. These include construction of the all weather pitches, surfacing the athletics track, construction of the Alpine Sports Centre (dry ski slope), provision of childrens' play areas, changes to the boating lake profile etc.. Notwithstanding these developments, the facilities remain largely true to the original plans, concept and vision. </p><p>From the mid 1960s onwards, formal planning applications for various works across the site have been recorded in Council archives and are available online. A detailed, annotated listing is provided in Appendix 1. Analysis of the planning decisions made clearly identifies what has been considered to be acceptable or unacceptable development and public and Council concerns over specific applications lead, in 1981, to the creation of a Development Brief for the site (Appendix 2) which sets out parameters for future development. At the time of writing the Bassett Development Plan, Council, in partnership with Active Nation and the Friends of Southampton Sports Centre (www.fossc.info), is undertaking a City-wide public consultation on facilities at the Outdoor Sports Centre. A City-wide assessment of sports provision is also underway as a prerequisite for funding bids to Sports England. These processes will inform a Sports Centre Improvement Plan.</p><p>Historically there has been a presumption: for development that  benefits multiple different user groups  minimises the impact of buildings in the valley floor  is in sympathy with the overall appearance and vision of the site  accords with the 1981 development brief and against development that:  is piecemeal  would set a precedent of benefit solely or largely to a single user group  results in loss of open space / development of indoor sports facilities  conflicts with the 1981 development brief</p><p>There has also been a consistent policy of granting only time-limited consent for placing of temporary buildings (containers and portacabins) as these have been considered unacceptable as permanent solutions / development.</p><p>Sports and recreational needs change over time as activities grow and decline in popularity, as population demographics and health profiles change and the Sports Centre must be allowed to evolve and develop to cater for these changing needs.</p><p>Recommendations That all existing lands within the boundaries of the Outdoor Sports Centre, City Golf Course and the amenity woodland lying between these sites and Winchester Road, be retained as public open space in perpetuity for the benefit of future generations of Southampton residents in accordance with their status as public open space.</p><p>That any proposal for development within the boundaries of the Outdoor Sports Centre, City Golf Course and the amenity woodland lying between these sites and Winchester Road be subject to rigorous, City-wide public consultation.</p><p>That development should, wherever possible, accord with Sir Sidney Kimber's vision and the parameters within the 1981 Development Brief.</p><p>That development should support sporting and outdoor recreational activity for the benefit of multiple ages and abilities.</p><p>That development should provide benefit to multiple user groups.</p><p>That development that increases the range of outdoor sports available and the recreational offer should be encouraged.</p><p>That development which seeks to replace existing temporary buildings (with expired consent) with permanent structures of sympathetic design should be encouraged.</p><p>That development of indoor sporting facilities at the Outdoor Sports Centre is inappropriate and should be resisted.</p><p>That development which benefits single user groups to the detriment of other user groups should be resisted.</p><p>That built development within the centre of the valley should be restricted in height and style to maintain vistas and views and to not dominate the surroundings.</p><p>That a tree replacement policy should be in place and that appropriate additional tree and shrub plantings on the boundaries and sloped areas should be encouraged, whilst maintaining the open aspect of the site which affords safety to users.</p><p>That, providing there is not adverse impact on sports and recreational use, schemes which seek to promote the sites' ecology and habitat provision and the recreational potential / benefit thereof should be promoted.</p><p>That the LPA and public transport providers be encouraged to provide better public transport and cycle path provision to increase access provision and that additional weekend parking provision around the site be explored to alleviate historic car parking problems and inconvenience to local residents (e.g. at local schools).</p><p>The legal terms under which the land is owned is also a consideration in development proposals. Council may neither appropriate nor dispose of any part of it (including by way of a lease) without advertising the proposal and considering objections. A lease of up to 7 years may be granted at a concessionary rent, but one of more than 7 years must be at market rent. Council may, however, grant licences under whatever contractual terms it chooses. This issue has been raised several times where clubs or associations or groups have sought permission for development, Appendix 1 Annotated planning history for Outdoor Sports Centre and Golf Course</p><p>2013 - ENGINEERING WORKS COMPRISING THE INFILLING OF THE FORMER BOATING LAKE WITH ASSOCIATED WORKS AND MEANS OF ENCLOSURE (planning archive 13/00556/FUL) Refused One of the driving forces the formation of the Friends of Southampton Sports Centre.</p><p>2008 - ERECTION OF SINGLE-STOREY CLUBHOUSE BY SOUTH-WEST AREA OF ATHLETICS TRACK (planning archive 08/00097/FUL) Conditionally Approved Team Southampton Athletics Club application for a 113 sq m clubhouse, development not carried out and permission now lapsed. no changing facilities, exclusive use, within fenced track perimeter, small equipment store.</p><p>2005 - ERECTION OF SINGLE-STOREY BUILDING WITH PITCHED ROOF FOR USE AS SHELTER. (planning archive 05/00824/FUL) Conditionally Approved At Ski Centre</p><p>2005 - ERECTION OF A SKI RAMP WITH STORAGE AREA. (planning archive 05/00836/FUL) Permitted Retrospective permission for ramp at top of existing slope, with storage under ramp.</p><p>2003 - ERECTION OF CLUB HOUSE AND ELEVATED BALCONY AREA. (planning archive 03/00467/FUL) Conditionally Approved For Ski Slope.</p><p>2002 - SITING OF 1NO. STORAGE CONTAINER (6M X 2.4M) AND 1NO. PORTABLE BUILDING (5M X 2.4M). (planning archive 02/01482/FUL) Conditionally Approved Within Pleasure Park, for storage, vandalism issues cited, 5 year temporary consent for 5 years only, expired 2007.</p><p>2001 - INSTALLATION OF A PORTACABIN. (planning archive 01/00030/FUL) Temporary Consent Third portacabin within athletics track, located at all weather pitch end, temporary consent for 5 years only, expired 2006, portacabin still present.</p><p>2000 - PROVISION OF ACCESS FROM DUNKIRK ROAD INTO THE SPORTS CENTRE. (planning archive 00/01193/FUL) Conditionally Approved To create a gateway onto grass by cricket pitches from slope of Dunkirk Road for special event coach parking only. permission has conditions regarding number of coaches and access times allowed.</p><p>2000 - ERECTION OF PORTACABIN NEXT TO EXISTING BUILDING (planning archive 00/00694/FUL) Temporary Consent Second portacabin within athletics track, temporary consent for 5 years only, expired 2005, portacabin still present.</p><p>1999 - INSTALLATION OF 12 NO 15M HIGH FLOODLIGHT COLUMNS (planning archive 990018/W) Conditionally Approved A much more extensive and controversial application than its title suggests, includes widening of athletics track to 8 lanes by removing the cycle track which ran around the outside of the running track (an original feature from 1938), described in reports as a "sensitive" application, loss of the cycle track was acknowledged as being of regional significance, no funding available to relocate a cycle track elsewhere.</p><p>1997 - ERECTION OF A BAR EXTENSION (planning archive 970793/W) Conditionally Approved Single storey rear extension at the Pub in the Park / Sporting View / View to create 2 function rooms.</p><p>1996 - RE-BUILDING OF BLOCK 2 (CHANGING ROOMS) (planning archive 960383/W) Conditionally Approved Outline consent for demolition and rebuilding, works dependent on unsuccessful lottery bid, never undertaken, permission now expired.</p><p>1996 - INSTALLATION OF PORTABLE BUILDING AND ALTERATIONS TO FENCING AT GROMELS MAINTENENCE COMPOUND (planning archive 960240/W) Status Not Available No information located in planning archive.</p><p>1995 - RETENTION OF PORTABLE BUILDING FOR USE AS MEETING CONTROL CENTRE ADJACENT ATHLETIC TRACK (planning archive 951381/W) Conditionally Approved Extension of temporary permission for first portacabin within athletics track, temporary permission for a further 5 years granted, expired 2000, portacabin still present</p><p>1995 - ERECTION OF A PORTACABIN AT THE SKI CENTRE (planning archive 950838/W) Conditionally Approved At base of ski slope, temporary permission for 5 years only, expired 2000, unsure if still there.</p><p>1995 - EXTENSION TO CAR PARK AT THE END OF THORNHILL ROAD AND PROVISION OF ACCESS RAMP TO BOWLING GREEN (planning archive 950797/W) Application Withdrawn Council-led proposal to remove putting green to allow extension of car park from 60 to 100 spaces and facilitate disabled access to bowling green, observation that putting green was little used, observation that parking within the Sports Centre was unacceptable and that it is a traffic-free zone (see also 1981 Development Brief). Significant local opposition led to the application being withdrawn.</p><p>1994 - CHANGE OF USE OF 1ST FLOOR OF THE GOLF COURSE PAVILION TO RESTAURANT WITH 2 STOREY EXTENSION TO HOUSE NEW STAIRCASE AND ELEVATIONAL ALTERATIONS (planning archive 940859/W) Conditionally Approved</p><p>1994 - INSTALLATION OF STORAGE CONTAINER FOR CYCLES AND EQUIPMENT (planning archive 940334/W) Conditionally Approved For the cyclocross association, proposed site moved from trackside behind block 2 (see 1993 application) to near block 1</p><p>1994 - ERECTION OF A COVERED STAND ON THE ATHLETICS TRACK (planning archive 940081/W) Conditionally Approved Council application for the current "grandstand"</p><p>1993 - INSTALLATION OF STORAGE CONTAINER FOR CYCLES AND EQUIPMENT (planning archive 931313/W) Conditionally Approved For the cyclocross association, proposed site behind block 2, see also 1994 application</p><p>1992 - ERECTION OF A PORTACABIN FOR USE AS MEETING CONTROL CENTRE ADJACENT ATHLETICS TRACK (planning archive 921487/W) Conditionally Approved First portacabin within athletics track, temporary consent for 3 years only, expired 1995, extension for further 5 years granted in 1995 and expired in 2000, portacabin still present.</p><p>1991 - ERECTION OF A 2 STOREY EXTENSION TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CHANGING SHOWER AND TOILET FACILITIES (planning archive 911268/W) Conditionally Approved At Block 1, these are deemed inadequate after only 22 years service.</p><p>1991 - PROPOSED ACCESS FROM WOBURN ROAD AND WINCHESTER ROAD (VIA THE SPORTS CENTRE AND GOLF COURSE) TO A UNIVERSITY CAMPUS AT LORDSWOOD (planning archive 910770/W) Refused Very controversial application to build a main road right through the heart of the Outdoor Sports Centre, resulting in the loss of pitches and the boating lake, loss of these facilities was deemed unacceptable by Council and permission was refused</p><p>1990 - FLOODLIGHTING AND EXTENSION TO TENNIS COURTS (planning archive 901357/WC) Resolved to carry out Development Very small extension to one end of the all weather tennis courts and extra floodlighting, time restrictions placed on the lighting.</p><p>1989 - SINGLE-STOREY CEDAR WOOD BOWLS PAVILION (planning archive 890384/W) Refused Located on hardstanding to side of bowling green, no objections received from local residents but refused by Council on the grounds of (1) removal of a portion of established hedging (2) represented piecemeal development which might set a precedent for dedicating other areas for exclusive use by individual sports groups/clubs.</p><p>1986 - GAS REGULATOR HOUSE SECURITY FENCE AND ACCESS INTO COXFORD ROAD ON LAND FORMING PART OF SPORTS CENTRE (planning archive 860292/W) Conditionally Approved </p><p>1985 - CYCLE WAY (planning archive C01/1670) Resolved to carry out Development The pathway through to Holly Hill</p><p>1985 - PORTABLE TIMBER BUILDING ADJ TO SKI SLOPE FOR USE AS EVENT CONTROL CENTRE AND EQUIPMENT STORE (planning archive W06/1665) Conditionally Approved "The Chalet", tree planting required to improve visual amenity</p><p>1983 - REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT STORE (planning archive 1627/C14) Resolved to carry out Development Within Groundsman's compound behind Block 1</p><p>1980 - CLUBHOUSE AND CHANGING FACILITIES (planning archive 1580/W7) Conditionally Approved For athletics club, highly controversial with extensive archive file of correspondence (>100pages), re-raised issues of "exclusive use / private facilities" and legal issues concerning leases for lands held in Trust, multiple locations examined, Council required athletics club to negotiate with Ski Club who also wanted club facilities, clear desire by other groups for access to facilities (note, this still exists as is evidenced by the current (2014) "Club Hub" concept for Block 1 redevelopment, archive contains important information on routes of sewers and culverts), this application was the driver behind the Council's 1980 Sports Centre Development Brief</p><p>1979 - SURFACING OF FOOTPATH BETWEEN REDHILL WAY & THORNHILL ROAD (planning archive 1562/C4) Resolved to carry out Development Surfacing of existing earth path through wooded area, accessed from Thornhill Road</p><p>1979 - SINGLE-STOREY EXTENSION TO TOILETS (planning archive 1558/W20) Conditionally Approved At west side of the Pub in the Park / Sporting View / View to provide toilets and a store</p><p>1979 - 10 SQUASH COURTS, 3 BADMINTON COURTS, ANCILLARY ACCOMMODATION ON FOOTBALL PITCH (planning archives 1557/W10 and 1557/W9) Both refused Two simultaneous and very controversial outline applications by Coral Leisure Group to develop a privately run squash club at alternative locations, one within the Sports Centre grounds, the other just outside it, raised issues of "exclusive use / private facilities" and legal issues concerning leases for lands held in Trust, massive objection from town residents, with over 1,000 objections received, refused on grounds that a sports hall was inappropriate development at an open recreation site and for car parking concerns, Kimber's vision cited in arguments against the proposals, Council in discussions with Coral Group about them building a grandstand at the track "in lieu of" rent, very extensive archive also contains information on Golf Course clubhouse, application 1558/W20 and information possibly about 1544/W19, with reference to the Golf Course being a public park over which the public have, at all times, right of way for lawful recreation and that it is held under the Public Health Act.</p><p>1979 - FLOODLIGHTING AT ATHLETIC ARENA (planning archive 1552/C2) Resolved to carry out Development Mixed archive also contains plans for the Pleasure Park, Sports Centre and athletics track</p><p>1978 - GOLF DRIVING RANGE, ANCILLARY BUILDINGS AND CAR PARKING (planning archive 1544/W19) Refused To north of Golf Course Road, plans only, no other details available in online archive.</p><p>1978 - SKI SLOPE (planning archive 1538/C1) Resolved to carry out Development Construction of a second slope to the south of the existing one, plans refer to the boating lake as "canoe lake" and show it in its original shape, archive also contains information on the golf driving range proposal.</p><p>1977 - SINGLE-STOREY EXTENSION TO RESTAURANT (planning archive 1527/W8) Conditionally Approved For the Pub in the Park / Sporting View / View, plans only.</p><p>1976 - EXTENSION TO PLEASURE PARK, ERECT STORE AND INSTALL EQUIPMENT AT CHILDREN'S PARK (planning archive 1517/W21) Conditionally Approved No files in online archive.</p><p>1975 - CHILDREN'S AMUSEMENT PARK, OFFICE AND CHANGING ROOM ON THE PUTTING GREEN (planning archive 1494/W17) Conditionally Approved Plans only, indicate area to NW of Pleasure Park to be a putting green.</p><p>1974 - EXTENSION TO GROUND FLOOR CHANGING ROOMS AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEW FIRST FLOOR (planning archive 1475/C1) No Objection For Block 1</p><p>1972 - SKI HUT (planning archive 1448/C1) No Objection No files in online archive.</p><p>1972 - FUEL TANK INSTALLATION (planning archive 1444/C2) No Objection Underground fuel tank in groundsman's compound behind Block 1.</p><p>1965 - GARAGE ADJ TO MANAGER'S HOUSE (planning archive 1283/P24) Conditionally Approved Garage at the White House</p><p>1965 - GARAGE FOR MOBILE CANTEEN (planning archive 1283/P23) Conditionally Approved Behind and for the Pub in the Park / Sporting View / View, plans only, the lessee held all catering rights within the Sports Centre.</p><p>1964 - GAS GOVERNOR HOUSE ON LAND FORMING PART OF SPORTS CENTRE (planning archive 1269/95) Conditionally Approved For the Southern Gas Board, building on Coxford Road to hold control valves for town gas supply.</p><p>Note: </p><p>Other developments within the Sports Centre have been undertaken seemingly without the benefit of planning consent, these include reshaping of the boating lake (apparently sometime after 1978), erection of the metal store by the boating lake (date unknown) and construction of the earth Bike Park tracks (in 2012-2013). The status of such developments may require legal clarification. Appendix 2 1981 Development Brief for the Sports Centre and Golf Course (planning archive 1580/W7 p66-69) first the original from the archives, then a transcription and retouched image.</p><p>PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION (PLANS) SUB-COMMITTEE: 24TH MARCH 1981</p><p>REPORT OF THE CITY PLANNING OFFICER</p><p>**********************************************************************************************************</p><p>DEVELOPMENT BRIEF FOR THE SPORTS CENTRE AND GOLF COURSE</p><p>1. Introduction</p><p>There have been a number of applications for developments on the Sports Centre by outside firms or clubs and therefore at your meeting on 3rd March you asked me to prepare a Development Brief for the Sports Centre to assist the determination of the most recent planning application (for a clubhouse and changing facilities for an athletic club: Application No: 7033/1580/W7) and to provide guidelines for any future proposals by either outside bodies or Leisure Committee.</p><p>2. Original Character of the Sports Centre</p><p>Sir Sydney Kimber described the Sports Centre as having "a most beautiful setting, isolated from buildings and highways and lying in a natural valley completely surrounded by trees"; and its purpose was for a "civic sports centre where (all ages) can indulge in all forms of outdoor games under picturesque and ideal surroundings". The ancillary buildings, for storage, changing accommodation, shelter and refreshment were a necessary but unobtrusive part of the scene.</p><p>3. Later Modifications</p><p>Since the Second World War, the sports areas have been modified or extended to widen the range of sports offered (e.g. the ski slope), or to extend the seasonal use of the grounds (e.g. the all weather pitches and the polytrack). Whilst these have reduced the green appearance of the sports centre the hardsurfacing is, with the exception of the ski slope, confined to the bottom of the valley.</p><p>4. Problems</p><p>(1) The proliferation of buildings detract from the appearance of the Sports Centre. There are still two war- time buildings, mainly used for storage, as well as the additional ancillary buildings, ski lodge and new changing accommodation made necessary by the extended facilities mentioned above. The siting of a grandstand by the polytrack must be borne in mind.</p><p>(2) The lack of finance has brought other problems :- (a) Entrepreneurs and clubs wish to provide facilities which the City cannot provide and each of these prefers to restrict usage and to have their own security provision. Extensions of the use of these club facilities to social activities could create evening noise and car parking problems for nearby residents. (b) The revenue finance for the Sports Centre is, in the crrent economic climate, only sufficient to maintain the sports pitches and surrounding grass areas. This has left unresolved the increasing problems of lack of car parking and further investment is needed to meet the long-term need for replacement tree and shrub planting.</p><p>5. Responsibilities for Solutions</p><p>While the development, maintenance and operation of facilities at the Sports Centre (including the extent of entrepreneurial provision for club and other activities) are clearly the responsibility of the Leisure Committee, the Planning and Transportation Committee has responsibilities for safeguarding the physical character and traffic aspects of developments at the Cntre, and must have a regard to the ameneties of the surrounding residential areas. The following section outlines a suggested approach to these matters for adoption by the Committee.</p><p>(6) Development Brief</p><p>(1) Future Demand for Buildings</p><p>The Sport Centre's capacity for additional buildings is necessarily limited and extreme care in the of the areas of development identified in the attached plan must be taken. The justification for new development must be for sporting purposes only, and on the grounds that the existing accommodation is both inadequate and incapable of more intensive use in relation to demand. Furthermore, the number of any new buildings can be minimised in two ways :-</p><p>1.1 Firstly there should be a presumption that the proposed buildings should replace obsolete ones within the development area, unless a strong case for an exception can be made.</p><p>1.2 Secondly, by ensuring that all new buildings, whether replacement ones or not, are adaptable and the use proposed is not restricted, in order to make the maximum use of the new facility.</p><p>(2) Traffic Aspects</p><p>(a) As Members are aware, increasing use of the Sports Centre generates increasing traffic problems which led to the following conclusions of the report by the City Engineer and Surveyor, Director of Leisure Services and myself on Recreational Parking.</p><p>"some sites already geneate traffic to the maximum acceptable capacity. In these cases, no further development which would increase traffic generation should be permitted unless or until adequate additional parking can be provided without detriment to the local environment. This applies particularly to the Sports Centre which quite frequently attracts more traffic than it or the surrounding roads can conveniently accommodate".</p><p>This statement and the other conclusions of this report were accepted last year by Planning and Transportation and Leisure Committees as a guide respectively for considering or promoting development on recreational open spaces (including the Sports Centre). (Minute Nos. 1712/80 & 2014/80)</p><p>(b) The other traffic aspect of importance is the maintenance of the traffic free zone within the Sports Centre to allow the free movement of pedestrians.</p><p>(3) Visual Aspects</p><p>There is a need for those buildings that are required in the Sports Centre to be visually unified to each other and their setting. This can be achieved by:-</p><p>(a) The location of the buildings If the ancillary buildings are restricted to the bottom of the valley in the areas indicated on the attached plan, two small unobtrusive groups might be created, one at either end, adjoining the hard surfacing of the all-weather pitches and the polytrack which would relate to any future grandstand on the Western side of the polytrack. These areas where development might be permissible are also sensible in terms of servicing and the pedestrian circulation of the Sports Centre. (b) The style, materials and scale of these buildings Nevertheless unless the style and materials and scale of any buildings are carefully controlled these groups could become obtrusive and discordant in this open setting. Appropriate materials such as a good quality facing brick or timber cladding are essential. Examples of suitable materials and style are set by the ski lodge, and the new changing accommodation.</p><p>(c) Landscaping Existing landscaping is vital and should be maintained. The peripheral woods form an integral and essential part of the unique design of the Spots Centre. Within it, appropriate planting can set both new and existing buildings more firmly in this parkland scheme.</p><p>RECOMMENDATIONS:-</p><p>(1) that the recommendations in Section 6 of this report be accepted provisionally as a guide when considering planning applications appertaining to the sports Centre; subject to the views of the Leisure Committee;</p><p>(2) that the Leisure Committee be asked for their views on the Development Brief; (3) that Leisure Committee be urged to safeguard the landscaping of the Sports Centre by Reinforcing the planned replacement programme.</p><p>Transcribed from a scanned copy of the original, in Southampton City Planning Archive1580-/W7 pp66-69 Image retouched to remove lines resulting from poor quality scan in Council Planning Archives,</p>