South Tyneside school learns outcome of plans to totally transform sports facilities

The latest meeting of South Tyneside Council’s Planning Committee approved the application for a “semi-permanent building” housing the provision at St Joseph’s Catholic Academy in the Hebburn South ward.

Council planning documents noted the application sought permission for the construction of a single storey building to “provide a strength and conditioning gym and elite sports performance hub”.

It was noted the proposals are a partnership between St Joseph’s School, the Bishop Chadwick Trust and Martin Nugent Elite Performance (MNEP) Ltd to “provide enhanced sports facilities and coaching/teaching” on the site.

The aim of the project is “to increase access to high quality sporting opportunities whilst also enhancing the sporting curriculum” at St Joseph’s.

The application was brought before the planning committee due to an objection from Sport England around the “impact of the proposal on an existing 7×7 football pitch”.

The building would be located “partly over the site” of the pitch.

The body argued the proposal would lead to the “loss of an area of playing field that from the evidence that has been provided is good quality” and “there are other locations where the proposal could be sited” without impacting the playing field.

However councillors on the panel gave the go-ahead for the application by majority vote, in line with the recommendation from council planners, who noted the pitch in question hasn’t been used for “many years”.

A report from officers ruled the proposals “constitute sustainable development” and would be acceptable in terms of its impact on visual amenity, amenity of neighbouring residents and highway safety.

They said: “It is considered that the benefits arising from the proposal in terms of the positive contribution to sports provision on the site outweigh the harm arising from loss of a single 7×7 pitch which is not currently in use nor been in use for many years.”

The application will now be referred to the Secretary of State due to the objection from Sport England.

The council’s senior manager for planning will then formally issue the planning permission, subject to the Secretary of State deciding not to call-in the application for determination by themselves.

Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Paul Dean said although he “doesn’t like losing grass pitches” he agreed the “benefits do totally outweigh the negatives”.

He added: “This particular area, it’s an area that’s very rarely been used, the drainage was quite bad.

“The benefits of this, it doesn’t just benefit the school, who obviously are in favour of it, it can be used for the wider public.”

Councillor Joan Hamilton said she supported the proposal and it would be a “massive improvement”.

She continued: “I think anything that improves the physical wellbeing of our children needs to be applauded because the outside physical activity is controlled by the weather, which wouldn’t happen with this.”

Councillor David Kennedy noted he doesn’t “remember that land ever being used predominantly”.

He said: “To me it’s a good development and use of the grounds.”

Councillor Paul Brenen added it was a “good application” and the “benefits do outweigh the pitfalls”, however he also raised concerns the borough “seems to be losing too many grass pitches and they’re not getting replaced.”

The building would be used 8am – 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am -4pmSaturdays, according to the council’s report.

The application site forms part of a larger area of playing field on the St Joseph’s School campus.

Recent pitch condition survey work shows six grass football pitches on the campus, comprising three 11×11 pitches, two 9×9 pitches and the 7×7 pitch in question, which is not currently marked out.

Council reports note the school and partner organisations who use the St Joseph’s site have advised “they have not used the 7×7 pitch that would be lost to the proposed development for many years”.

This comes despite “the remainder of the pitches occupying the southern area of the St Joseph’s campus being well used” and officers note it reflects council strategies which state “there is limited demand for smaller junior pitches such as this throughout the borough”.

Additionally the local authority planning report noted there remains existing planning permission for two 7×7 pitches in the north-western area of the campus.

It adds one of those “would not be impinged upon by the proposed building” should future provision for such a pitch be needed.

The report added the building would be “semi-permanent” meaning if it is “no longer needed at some point in the future” it could be “easily removed from the site” to allow the land to be returned to a playing field.

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