S/086/1714/23: View the Plans and documents online, please click on the Application Number.  (Please note: If viewing as a pdf document, this hyperlink is not available).

Applicant:                          Horncastle Education Trust, Ms S James

Location:                           Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, West Street, Horncastle, LN9 5AD

Recommendation:              Approval with Conditions

Officer:                              Sam Hallett

Application Type:         Full Planning Permission

Proposal:                     Planning Permission - Creation of a 3G Artificial Grass Pitch (AGP) with perimeter fencing, acoustic fencing, hardstanding areas, storage container, floodlights, access footpath and

associated bund.

Location:                      QUEEN ELIZABETHS GRAMMAR SCHOOL, WEST STREET, HORNCASTLE, LN9 5AD

Applicant:                    Horncastle Education Trust

Members received an application for Full Planning Permission – Creation of

a 3G Artificial Grass Pitch (AGP) with perimeter fencing, acoustic fencing,

hardstanding areas, storage container, floodlights, access footpath and

associated bund at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, West Street, Horncastle, LN9 5AD.

The application was subject to considerable local interest and

had also been subject to a committee call in request by Councillor Sandra

Campbell-Wardman and Councillor Richard Avison as local Ward Members.

The main planning issues were considered to be:

·       Principle of development

·       Impact on the character and appearance of the area

·       Impact on residential amenity

·       Impact on the highway network

·       Flood risk and surface water drainage

·       Other matters (Archaeology, Ecology, &

Contamination)

Members were referred to the additional information contained on page 9 of the Supplementary Agenda.

Sam Hallett, Senior Planning Officer, detailed site and surroundings information to Members at Paragraph 2, together with the description of the proposal at Paragraph 3, pages 87 to 88 of the report refer.

Mrs Sandra James (Applicant) and Mr Tom Betts (Developer) spoke in support of the application.

Mr Stephen Pickwell spoke in objection to the application.

Councillor Richard Avison spoke as Ward Member.

Members were invited to put their questions to the speakers.

-      Following a query to Mr Betts questioning whether the height of the lighting was necessary and possible to reduce it, Mr Betts responded that they would look in to it.

Following which, the application was open for debate.

-      A Member commented that the school was entitled to put up the fence, and if there was a condition added with regards to the piece of land between the field and the properties, he would support the application.

Following which, the application was proposed for approval in line with officer recommendation with the additional conditions.

-      A Member commented that the site was going to be a change for the residents with the noise levels being more of an issue. 

Following which, the application was seconded for approval in line with officer recommendation with the additional conditions.

-      A Member commented on the height difference between the residential properties and the school field and highlighted that it didn’t feel like the sound was travelling towards the properties.  A Member further commented that the area would need to be kept clean with a meadow flower bed to be planted on the embankment in the absence of a higher bund.

-      A Member queried whether it would be possible to ask the school to grow trees around the back of the pitch to soften the fencing, to which the Development Management Lead Officer responded that there was already a landscaping condition in place, however, tree planting could be explored.

-      A Member suggested that the residential properties could grow their hedges higher and also commented that he had no objection with changing the closing time from 8.30pm to 9.00pm.

A discussion ensued with regards to the opening times of the site and it was agreed that the closing time would not be extended.

The Legal Representative reminded Members that the application for approval had been proposed and seconded in line with officer recommendation subject to the amendment of conditions 5 and 6.

Upon being put to the vote for approval, the vote was carried

Vote:           9 In favour            0 Against              0 Abstention

RESOLVED:

That the application be approved subject to the following conditions: