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As a result of the group’s work they secured an additional lease for Newbury FC at Faraday Road until June
2018.
Faraday Road is the only facility in Newbury suitable for National League System football, and the group
have also been successful in registering the site as an Asset of Community Value. The facility is not only
home to Newbury FC, but other grassroots clubs and football tournaments and events. Facilities such as
these underpin the main strands of the County FA vision, and are a key enabler in ensuring we retain the
current team participation levels within Newbury & the West Berkshire area.
The Football Foundation, on behalf of Berks & Bucks FA, support the NCFG in their aspirations to develop
the site and are in full support of a full size 3G pitch and additional playing pitches. They have further
confirmed that they are fully supportive of the NCFG plans for protecting football on this site.
The replacement of the full size grass pitch with an artificial grass pitch (and additional pitches) will increase
the number of matches that can be played on the site, as the capacity of grass pitches is lower than it is for
artificial pitches. The site is already well used by youth teams and as a competition venue.
The proposals shown as part of this application will impact on the current location on the existing stand and
clubhouse. It is understood that the applicant intends to retain these facilities and has put in a second
application that contains the details of these alongside this application. It is not clear why Sport England has
not been consulted on both in tandem as the two applications are for the same site and were submitted
together. The applicant has shared details of the submitted application with Sport England and in the
absence of a consultation on these documents, Sport England has suggested a further condition below to
ensure that the two applications are implemented alongside one another.
Assessment against Sport England Policy
This application relates to the provision of a new indoor/outdoor sports facility or facilities on the existing
playing field at the above site. It therefore needs to be considered against exception 5 of the above policy,
which states:
'The proposed development is for an indoor or outdoor facility for sport, the provision of which would be of
sufficient benefit to the development of sport as to outweigh the detriment caused by the loss, or prejudice to
the use, of the area of playing field.'
I have therefore assessed the existing and proposed playing fields against the above policy to determine
whether the proposals meet exception 5.
As set out above the proposed replacement full size artificial pitch and adjacent junior and mini football
pitches are proposed to benefit community football in Newbury. Berks & Bucks FA has confirmed that
there is an existing need for a full size artificial pitch in Newbury and this new pitch will meet an identified
local need for this type of facility. Berks & Bucks FA/the Football Foundation also confirm that they are
fully supportive of NCFG in their plans to protect this site from development and to develop and improve the
football facilities on this site.
The location of these facilities close to Newbury town centre means that the facility is accessible by
alternative transport modes to the car and ensure that this is an appropriate location for this community
football facility.
The pitch sizes chosen meet FA design guidance standards. However, I have suggested a condition below to
require the submission of further details. These conditions are required to ensure that Sport England has
the following information; location of any fencing, details of the construction of the surface, appropriate line
markings, goal storage (the FA recommend that the fencing is recesses to allow for safe and easy goal
storage) and confirmation of safe run-off. This information is required to ensure that the facilities provided
are fit for purpose.
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As highlighted above, a further condition is suggested to link this application with the second application
submitted by the Club for the re-provision of the clubhouse and stand, and rearrangement of the car
park/access.
Conclusions and Recommendation
Given the above assessment, Sport England does not wish to raise an objection to this application as it is
considered to meet exception 5 of the above policy. The absence of an objection is subject to the following
condition(s) being attached to the decision notice should the local planning authority be minded to approve
the application:
1. No development shall commence until further details of the design and layout of the football pitches to
include fencing, details of the construction of the pitch, appropriate line markings, goal storage and
pitch layout (including run-off) have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning
Authority after consultation with Sport England. The pitches shall not be constructed other than in
accordance with the approved details.
Reason: To ensure the development is fit for purpose and sustainable and to accord with Development
Plan Policy **.
Informative: The applicant is advised that the design and layout of the football pitches should comply
with the relevant industry Technical Design Guidance, including guidance published by Sport
England, National Governing Bodies for Sport. Particular attention is drawn to: The FA Guide to 3G
Football Turf Pitch Design Principles and Layout. The applicant is advised that the pitch should be
tested in accordance with The FA standard code of rules and be registered on the FA Register for 3G
Football Turf Pitches. The applicant is advised that pitches to be used for Step 1 and Step 2 level
football matches should be built in accordance with FIFA Quality Concept for Football Turf - FIFA
Quality Pro and Steps 3 to 6 should be built in accordance with FIFA Quality as a minimum and
tested annually as per league rules.
2. No development shall commence until details for the phasing of the development, including the
re-provision of the replacement stand and clubhouse, have been submitted to and approved in writing
by the Local Planning Authority after consultation with Sport England. The development hereby
permitted shall not be carried out other than in accordance with the approved details.
Reason: To ensure the satisfactory quantity, quality and accessibility of the ancillary facilities
(clubhouse and stand) which secures a continuity of use and to accord with Development Plan Policy **.
3. Before the sports pitches are brought into use, a Management and Maintenance Scheme for the facility
including management responsibilities, a maintenance schedule and a mechanism for review shall be
submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority after consultation with Sport
England. For Artificial Grass Pitches this should include measures to ensure the replacement of the
Artificial Grass Pitch within a specified period. The measures set out in the approved scheme shall be
complied with in full, with effect from commencement of use of the sports pitches.
Reason: To ensure that the new facility is capable of being managed and maintained to deliver a
facility which is fit for purpose, sustainable and to ensure sufficient benefit of the development to
sport and to accord with Development Plan Policy **.
If you wish to amend the wording of the recommended conditions, or use another mechanism in lieu of the
conditions, please discuss the details with the undersigned. Sport England does not object to amendments to
conditions, provided they achieve the same outcome and we are involved in any amendments.
Sport England would also like to be notified of the outcome of the application through the receipt of a copy
of the decision notice.
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