Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Director Planning – Community Development Services

The Assistant Director Planning – Community Development Services sought determination of an application for the erection of two covered padel tennis courts; and the installation of a parking area for up to 80 days of the year on land at Harrogate Sports and Fitness Centre, Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

The application had been referred to the Planning Committee at the request of Division Member, Councillor Andrew Timothy.

The Principal Planning Officer highlighted that since publication of the agenda pack, the planning authority had received three additional letters of representation, the first with regard to a conflict with the pre-application advice.  The officer explained that the information within the initial pre-application had been very limited with regards to the siting of the padel courts and the impact on the trees and ecology.  The full application once received clarified many of the points outstanding and provided a landscaping scheme, ensured that there would be no light seepage from the padel courts and clarified the health of the goat willow tree which was proposed to be removed.  As such the proposal had evolved from the pre-application stage to the current application.

The second representation was in reference to car park management for larger events.  There had been concern that the proposal contravened the Travel Plan, however as the application was pending consideration and had not been determined the submitted Travel Plan was not currently enforceable unless the application was approved.  It was commented that it had been understood that only the Harrogate Flower Show and the Great Yorkshire Show would be classed as larger events, however larger events would not necessarily be restricted to these two events, and there could be other large events.

The third representation raised concerns regarding ecological impacts and highlighted a query around the age and adequacy of the submitted surveys with regard to the protection of the ancient woodland.  The Council’s Ecology team had assessed the surveys and found them to be sufficiently recent.  The surveys were also found to provide sufficient mitigation for a restriction of lighting and the Ecology team did not feel that it was proportionate to request further surveys.  Members noted that the buffer to be provided to the ancient woodland was in line with Natural England guidance. 

In addition, Councillor Haslam had submitted a list of queries to the officer regarding the level assessment on foul and water drainage.  The officer explained that the site did not fall within a high flood zone, and as the padel courts did not provide toilet or changing facilities, there was no direct impact on foul drainage.  The proposed padel courts were to be set on existing hardstanding which was not permeable at present and therefore the permeability of the site would not be compromised.  As such, neither of these matters were a material consideration. 

Lastly, the Principal Planning Officer read out an update from the Council’s Public Right of Way (PROW) team in response to a number of public representations received.  It was confirmed that there had been no recorded issues reported by the public regarding conflict between the users of the bridleway and vehicles using the coach road, and that the site had been used in this manner for a long period of time.  The PROW team further stated that the formalisation of this and the limitation to set a number of days would give more control on how the route was used as the overflow access.  In addition, the traffic lights found at the junction meant that the traffic moved slowly or was stationary, and the showground advised the public when the overflow car park would be in use.

Members noted that the padel courts would be of a similar structure to the courts that they had seen at the site visit that morning, but that they would also be fully covered by a canopy.

Natasha Haslett representing the residents of Hookstone Wood Road spoke objecting to the application.

The Division Member for Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone, Councillor Andrew Timothy, spoke objecting to the application.

The applicant’s agent, Chris Creighton, spoke in support of the application.

During consideration of the above application, the Committee discussed the following

issues:

• Clarification on whether the whole of the informal car park to the North would be resurfaced rather than just the proposed installation of the new tarmac path.
• Where the three replacement trees would be situated at the site.
• In terms of the ecological concerns raised by the Hookstone and Stonefall Action Group, had the Councils Ecologist team had sight of the representations and were they satisfied with the information within the surveys.
• As the existing cycle stands were to be moved to another position on the site could the Council add a condition to request that a number of the cycle stands be covered.
• Reassurances were sought with regards to control of the construction traffic that would be using Hookstone Wood Road to access the site, and if there were any other areas of the construction that Members could add conditions to mitigate possible issues.    
• The lack of any noise impact data.     
• If a condition could be added to alter the height of the push button on the bridleway used for traffic control.
• If there was a reason that the two new padel courts were situated away from the main sports centre.
• Would access to the Scout hut set along the western tree line be restricted.

Members felt that the development of the padel courts was desirable and would encourage inclusive sport and cycling and requested that the two conditions: alteration to the height of the push button on the bridleway to cater for all users, and a number of covered cycle stands be added to the planning permission.

The Decision

That planning permission be GRANTED subject to the conditions detailed in the Committee report and the additional two conditions in respect of the covered cycle stands and the push button as set out above.

Voting Record

A vote was taken and the motion was carried unanimously.