Agenda item

A report was presented on an application for a proposed multi-use games area

located on the secondary field at Morecambe Road School, Morecambe Road,

Morecambe.

Morecambe Road School was a community special school for children aged 3-16 years old. There were 192 children on roll. The school catered for pupils with special educational needs including physical difficulties, autism, hearing and visual impairments, speech, language and communication needs and social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

The proposed multi-use games area would measure 36 metres by 23 metres and would be surfaced with artificial grass, and enclosed by a 2 metre high wire fence.

The report included the views of Lancaster City Council, United Utilities, Sport England and County Councillor Edwards. No representations had been received.

The Development Management Officer presented a Powerpoint presentation showing a site location plan, aerial view of the existing playing field where the proposed multi-use games area would be located and the nearest residential properties, proposed elevations and photographs of the views of the site from the north, the view towards the site from the school entrance and the view towards Stanhope Court from the playing field.

Committee's attention was drawn to the Update Sheet which contained further comments from Sport England and the applicant's response.

Sport England had objected to the proposals stating that they were not considered to accord with any of the exceptions to Sport England's Playing Fields Policy, or Paragraph 99 of the National Planning Policy Framework. However, the school had confirmed that the field was unusable for large parts of the year due to drainage issues and that the multi-use games area would provide for sports facilities to be used all year round and that a considerable area of grass would be retained.

Ms Fiona Gill, applicant, addressed the Committee and made the following points:

Morecambe Road School had had an increase in pupils on roll from September 2022, and the majority of pupils were secondary school age. The schools Governing Body had approved the installation of a multi-use games area, in order to increase access to sports facilities as part of curriculum delivery. The school field could not be used for 2 terms out of 3 due to drainage issues and the only other area used for sports was the school hall which was used as a dining area so could not be accessed for sports at breaks and lunchtimes. Only 27% of the school field would be used for the multi-use games area which would provide a safe space for the children outside with a suitable, all year round surface for mobility. The school was a member of Lancaster & Heysham Sports Network and the multi-use games area complied with the aims and objectives of this group. Many of the pupils did not socialise out of school and had limited access to community sports facilities due to their special needs and/or a lack of social confidence.

Ms Gill highlighted the privilege of working with all of the pupils at Morecambe Road and invited Committee Members to visit the school.

Committee noted that the facility would be funded by the school and available for use by after school clubs, Saturday and holiday clubs and other primary schools in the area who had minimal or no outdoor space. Sufficient car parking was available on the school site as the multi-use games area would not be used by the wider community.

The Development Management Officer answered questions from Committee.

On behalf of the Committee, the Chair expressed thanks to Ms Gill and her colleagues for all their efforts in supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Resolved: That subject to the Secretary of State confirming that the application will not be called in for his own determination, that planning permission be granted subject to conditions controlling materials, surface water drainage, floodlighting and tree protection, as set out in the Committee report.