Planning Application:
24/02890/FUL | The upgrade of existing pitches and addition of new sports facilities including a light-weight canopy and enclosure housing padel tennis courts, outdoor padel courts, cricket nets and the creation of a new basketball and netball hard surface court together with associated fencing. The refurbishment of Exeter Cricket Pavilion and Hertford Cricket Pavilion. Alterations to Exeter squash courts for use as a golf simulator and the change of use of Hertford squash courts to café, changing facilities, sports hub reception area and community facilities with associated access, parking, cycle parking, refuse and recycling, new footpaths and landscape. | Hertford And Exeter College Sports Grounds Edgeway Road Oxford Oxfordshire OX3 0HQ
Our Response:
We support various elements of the scheme, including the retention and re-use of existing buildings and the wider community benefits of enhanced sports facilities.
We have significant concerns, however, which are set out below. We therefore object to the planning application in its current form.
1 Impact on Rural Character
The application site sits at the southern end of a ribbon of green space along the flood plain of the River Cherwell. It is also close to an Oxford City Wildlife Site and New Marston Meadows SSSI. Oxford has a green setting that is of heritage significance and these surrounding river valleys help give Oxford its special character.
Oxford is a green city, with its rural ‘villages within the city’ like Marston making an important contribution to its historic character and to the quality of its environment. Marston’s rural aspect is largely due to the extensive meadows lining the Cherwell Valley. OPT owns a number of these meadows, acquired to ensure that they are protected from development, continuing to form part of the city’s historic setting.
The floodplain meadows are ecologically significant. We are working with the University of Oxford and other local landowners on an integrated approach to their management. The meadows provide a beautiful and popular setting for recreation and leisure activities. Many public rights of way and footpaths link around the application site and beyond, giving access to these connected areas of green space. The sensitive management of these sites is critical to maintain their heritage and landscape character.
Whilst we support the retention and adaptation of the existing buildings, especially the existing pavilions, we are concerned that increased light, noise and hardstanding across the site, will harm the wider rural character of this area. Of particular concern is the proposed padel tennis canopy structure. At 10.5m in height this is almost at an industrial scale and will result in a structure that dominates its surroundings.
2. Light Pollution
The provision of additional courts for basketball, netball and padel tennis has significant implications in terms of potential light pollution. For these facilities to be available year-round, a high level of additional lighting will be required. The proposed illumination of the indoor padel courts, and lighting associated with outdoor planned sports pitches, would also contribute to a change in the wider character of the area. The ribbon of green space along the flood plain of the River Cherwell is characterised by an open feel, free from development. Artificial lighting and a large internally illuminated structure will change this rural character. We urge Officers to consider the implications which this would have on the sensitive heritage and ecological character areas immediately surrounding the Recreation Grounds, and the potential change in character of the wider surrounding Green Belt land.
3. Highways and Park Farm
The proposed access and parking area for the sports grounds is located at the end of the lane off Edgeway Road which serves both the application site and Park Farm. We’re concerned about the impact on Park Farm of an increased number of drivers to the site. The effective operation of Park Farm – and the movement of agricultural vehicles and cattle – is critical to the successful management of the adjoining network of floodplain meadows.
Whilst we acknowledge that the site already generates a degree of traffic movement, the provision of the additional 7 padel tennis courts, 2 all-weather courts and 6 cricket pitches will inevitably increase the number of people visiting and using the site. The 20 parking space allocation seems inadequate and is likely to lead to vehicles parking on the access lane. We’re concerned that vehicles parked along the lane will inhibit access to the farm. Any additional parking within the immediate vicinity will also damage the rural character of the surrounding area.
Summary
We therefore object to the application in its current form. More sensitive consideration needs to be given to the site’s setting next to the floodplain meadows and the heritage significance of this ‘green finger’ which runs from Marston down towards the city. Although we support the re-use and retention of the existing buildings we find the level of additional development, especially the padel tennis canopy and additional lighting across the site, to be excessive. We’re concerned about increased traffic movement in the area – and the impact of this on access to Park Farm.
We would like to see a proposal which ensures that the rural character of the surrounding area – and access to Park Farm – are not harmed.