Sabah Halli
London Borough of Merton
9th Floor, Merton Civic Centre
London Road
MORDEN
SM4 5DX
15 January 2013
Our
Ref: L/MR/2012/28545/S
Dear
Sabah Halli,
App Ref:
|
12/P1058
|
Site:
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Dundonald Recreation Ground, Dundonald Road, London, SW19 3QH
|
Proposal:
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Expansion and refurbishment of dundonald primary school comprising
refurbishment of existing main school building, erection of part first floor
part two storey extension to existing detached rear annexe building (to be
partly sited on dundonald recreation ground) and containing three new
classrooms, new main hall, new studio, kitchen, library, toilets and
associated stores in addition to new public changing room facilities,
toilets, pavilion hall, kitchen and associated storage, and proposed works to
dundonald recreation ground comprising of demolition of existing pavilion and
shed buildings, loss of existing bowling green, creation of new multi-use
games area (muga), new tennis courts, new childrens public playground,
outdoor gym, nature garden and new associated footpaths, planting, and
seating
|
Thank
you for consulting Sport England on the above application.
It
is understood that the site forms part of, or constitutes a playing field as
defined in The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure)
(England) Order 2010 (Statutory Instrument 2010 No. 2184), in that it is on
land that has been used as a playing field within the last five years, and the
field encompasses at least one playing pitch of 0.2 ha or more, or that it is
on land that is allocated for the use as a playing field in a development plan
or in proposals for such a plan or its alteration or replacement.
Sport
England has therefore considered the application in the light of its playing
fields policy. The aim of this policy is to ensure that there is an adequate
supply of quality pitches to satisfy the current and estimated future demand
for pitch sports within the area. The policy seeks to protect all parts of the
playing field from development and not just those which, for the time being,
are laid out as pitches. The policy states that:
“Sport
England will oppose the granting of planning permission for any development
which would lead to the loss of, or would prejudice the use of, all or any part
of a playing field, or land last used as a playing field or allocated for use
as a playing field in an adopted or draft deposit local plan, unless, in the
judgement of Sport England, one of the specific circumstances applies.”
Reason:
Development which would lead to the loss of all or part of a playing field, or
which would prejudice its use, should not normally be permitted because it
would permanently reduce the opportunities for participation in sporting
activities. Government planning policy
and the policies of Sport England have recognised the importance of such
activities to the social and economic well-being of the country.
Following
the submission of the planning application, Sport England has been in
discussion with Merton Council and local sports user groups (namely Dundonald
Rec Tennis Club and Wandsgas Bowls Club). Furthermore, Sport England met with
the applicant, Dundonald Rec Tennis Club and Wandsgas Bowls Club and Merton
Council on 26 October 2012. Subsequent to this, further information was
provided in relation to local need for bowling within the vicinity of the site
and a draft Community Use Agreement was subsequently developed for the proposed
pavilion and MUGA, which has now been submitted as part of the planning
application.
The
planning application involves the expansion of Dundonald Primary School,
including erecting a part first floor part two storey extension to the existing
rear annexe building, including new public changing room facilities, toilets,
pavilion hall, kitchen and associated storage, and the creation of a new multi
use games area (MUGA). The MUGA shall comprise three tennis courts. The
proposed works would also comprise the demolition of the existing pavilion, MUGA,
and bowling green. The existing MUGA comprises two tennis courts.
The proposed development would be sited on an
existing pavilion, MUGA, and a bowling green, to the south east of the existing
Dundonald Primary School building. Sport England considers that Exception E5 of
its playing fields policy would be the most applicable to the proposal, which
states:
The proposed development is for an indoor or
outdoor sports facility, the provision of which would be of sufficient benefit
to the development of sport as to outweigh the detriment caused by the loss of
the sports facilities.
I have considered the information provided in
support of the planning application and make the following assessment of how
the proposed development would relate to exception E5:
Sports Development Benefits
The key potential sports development benefits of
the proposed MUGA and changing pavilion are considered to be as follows:
§
The
MUGA (providing three tennis courts) would replace the existing MUGA (providing
two tennis courts). This would be built to modern standards and would be
superior in quantity and quality to the existing MUGA that it would replace on
the site in terms of a surface that is sufficient for use in all weathers
§
The
MUGA would be suitable for a number of sports including netball, football,
tennis, basketball and mini-tennis
§
The
new changing facilities would be superior in quality to the changing facilities
that are currently on the site
§
Opportunities
for community use of the MUGA and changing pavilion on the site would be
expected to be maintained and improved due to the improved quantity and quality
of facilities that would be on offer. A draft Community Use Agreement (dated 11
January 2013) has been developed and submitted as part of the planning
application in order to ensure that community/school use is specified and
delivered in practice
§
The
facilities would therefore encourage increased participation levels
Impact on Sports Facilities
The existing MUGA is shared by the community and
school at all times. However, a draft Community Use agreement (dated 11 January
2013) has been developed and submitted as part of the planning application in
order to ensure that community/school use is specified and delivered in
practice.
Although the existing pavilion would be lost, it
would be replaced by the proposed pavilion and the use of this facility would
be secured by the Community Use Agreement (dated 11 January 2013).
Although the existing bowling green would be lost,
it has been confirmed by the applicant, in writing, that the existing members
of Wandsgas Bowls Club can be accommodated by the nearby Merton Park Bowling
Club (John Innes Park, Mostyn Road, Merton Park).
The existing adjacent playing field would be
unaffected by the proposed development and therefore existing playing pitch
provision would be maintained.
On the basis of the above assessment, Sport England
considers that the potential sports development benefits that the new MUGA and
pavilion would offer would outweigh the detriment caused by the impact on
existing sports facilities.
I therefore consider that the proposal meets exception
E5 of Sport England’s playing fields policy. This being the case, Sport England
does not wish to raise an objection to this application, subject to a suitable Section 106 Agreement, or other legal
mechanism being delivered and signed, which secures the detail of the draft
Community Use Agreement (dated 11 January 2013) which was submitted as part of
the planning application.
Should
your Authority be minded to approve the application without an acceptable
section 106 agreement or other legal mechanism in place, then Sport England
would wish to maintain/lodge a statutory objection to this
application and in accordance with The Town and Country Planning (Consultation)
(England) Direction 2009, and the DCLG letter of 10 March 2011, the application
should be referred to the National Unit for Land Acquisition and Disposal at
the Department of Communities and Local Government.
The absence of an objection to this application in
the context of the Town and Country Planning Acts, does not in any way commit
Sport England’s or any National Governing Body of Sport’s support for any
related application for grants funding.
If
this application is to be presented to a Planning Committee, we would like to
be notified in advance of the publication of any committee agendas, report(s)
and committee date(s). We would be grateful if you would advise us of the
outcome of the application by sending us a copy of the decision notice.
If
you would like any further information or advice please contact the undersigned
at the address below.
Yours
sincerely
Dale Greetham
