The Heights Free School in Heys Lane is seeking planning permission to install two new green AstroTurf pitches, known as Multi-Use Game Areas (MUGAs), and create 21 new car parking spaces. The proposal also includes the installation of a three-metre-high sports mesh fence around the pitches. The MUGAs would be used by students at The Heights and neighboring Eden School, which caters to students with emotional and mental health difficulties.
The Heights Free School specializes in alternative provision for 150 young people in Key Stages 2 to 4 who find it difficult to be successful in a mainstream school environment. Pupils are taught in small groups, allowing for a more personalized and tailored approach to their education. The school’s unique approach has been designed to help students overcome their challenges and achieve their full potential.
Eden School, on the other hand, caters for 60 pupils with emotional and mental health difficulties. The school provides a safe and supportive environment for students to learn and grow, with a focus on helping them develop the skills and strategies they need to manage their mental health and well-being.
Both schools have received funding to improve and expand the quality of their facilities, with a focus on providing a setting that will contribute to, not get in the way of, their students achieving positive outcomes. The new MUGAs and car parking spaces are a key part of this improvement plan, and would provide much-needed additional facilities for the schools.
The proposed development would involve the creation of two 4G MUGAs, each measuring 36.57 metres by 19 metres. The MUGAs would be sited to the eastern boundary of the school, with the new car park accessed off the existing car park. The MUGAs would be predominately used for five-a-side football, with occasional multi-use during school hours.
The proposal emphasizes that the MUGAs would not be used outside of school hours, thereby negating the need for floodlighting. This would help to minimize the impact of the development on the surrounding residential area, and would also reduce the risk of noise disturbance or light pollution.
The report by planning manager Gavin Prescott notes that the site measures 12,124 square metres, and currently comprises a car park and a wild grassed area. The site is accessed from Heys Lane, and is council-owned and leased to the applicant.
The proposal is typical of its nature and functional in appearance, with a focus on providing a practical solution for the schools rather than a visually striking one. The development would make a positive contribution to the community by providing improved facilities for the schools and their students, which would ultimately benefit the local area.
The report also notes that car parking has been a longstanding issue at the schools, with students attending from a wide catchment area typically by private car, school minibus, or local authority transport. The proposal would help to alleviate this issue by providing 21 new car parking spaces, which would be a significant improvement on the current facilities.
The development would not give rise to significant impact on residential amenity, and would not require any significant changes to the surrounding area. The three-metre-high sports mesh fence would be installed around the perimeter of both pitches, which would help to contain the use of the MUGAs and prevent any potential disturbance to nearby residents.
In addition to the benefits to the schools and their students, the proposed development would also have a positive impact on the local community. The new facilities would provide a safe and welcoming space for students to engage in physical activity and sports, which would help to promote a healthy and active lifestyle.
The development would also provide a valuable resource for the local community, with the MUGAs available for use by local sports teams and clubs. This would help to promote community cohesion and social inclusion, and would provide a positive and inclusive space for people of all ages and abilities.
Furthermore, the proposed development would help to support the local economy by providing a boost to local businesses and services. The new facilities would attract visitors and users from the local area, which would help to generate revenue and create jobs.
In conclusion, the proposed development would provide much-needed additional facilities for The Heights Free School and Eden School, and would help to improve the overall quality of education and care provided to their students. The development would be functional and practical, and would not have a significant impact on the surrounding residential area. The proposal is recommended for approval, subject to nine conditions, and would be a positive contribution to the community.
The proposed development would also help to support the local community by providing a safe and welcoming space for students to engage in physical activity and sports. The new facilities would provide a valuable resource for the local community, with the MUGAs available for use by local sports teams and clubs. This would help to promote community cohesion and social inclusion, and would provide a positive and inclusive space for people of all ages and abilities.
In addition, the proposed development would help to support the local economy by providing a boost to local businesses and services. The new facilities would attract visitors and users from the local area, which would help to generate revenue and create jobs. This would have a positive impact on the local community, and would help to promote economic growth and development.
Overall, the proposed development would be a positive and beneficial addition to the local community, and would help to support the education and well-being of students at The Heights Free School and Eden School. The development would provide much-needed additional facilities for the schools, and would help to improve the overall quality of education and care provided to their students.