Contact: Martin Leeds, ext 6733 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 Planning permission is being sought for the installation of six floodlights at the existing five-a-side football pitch, Anton Junior School, Barlows Lane, Andover. There have been no objections from consultees but a letter of objection has been received from a local resident. Notwithstanding the objection, the recommendation is for planning permission to be granted, subject to conditions.

2. Site and Proposal

2.1 The school campus is within a residential area of Andover (see attached location plan). The main school buildings are on the western half of the site with the playing field and the existing all-weather five-a-side pitch in the north eastern corner. Due north of the playing field is a public footpath with trees/bushes on its boundary with the housing development beyond. Housing adjoins the north-east boundary of the playing field near the pitch. The closest house is approximately ten metres away from the position of the nearest proposed floodlight; this boundary is a mixture of fencing and relatively tall hedging.

2.2 The existing all-weather five-a-side pitches are currently used by the school but are limited to use only during daylight hours. Floodlighting is required so that the school can make use of the pitches outside of the normal working day and on three weekday nights (excluding Saturday and Sunday) but no later than 9pm. Because the site has a slight slope, it is intended to provide four 5-metre high and two 6-metre high lighting columns, each with a single floodlight. When installed, the columns should appear to be all at the same height. The lamps themselves are designed to have a low glare and limit light spillage to a minimum. The school grass field may be used on Saturdays for football, but the lights would not be operational.

3. Development Plan

3.1 Hampshire County Structure Plan 1996-2011 (Review) (adopted September 2000) Policy UB 3 (Design and Compatibility) applies.

3.2 Test Valley Borough Local Plan (August 1996) shows the site as existing schools within the defined built-up area for Andover. The relevant Policy is D1 (General standards for control of development).

4. Consultations

4.1 Test Valley Borough Council has no objection.

4.2 Environmental Health Officer (Test Valley Borough Council) has no objection subject to conditions including hours of when the floodlights should not be operable and additional means of reducing glare from the lights.

4.3 The local Member, Councillor Kirk, supports the application and has no objection to the development.

4.4 Street Lighting Engineer (Hampshire County Council) has no objection in principle but considers the floodlights need to be fitted with baffles to reduce the impact of light emission on nearby houses.

5. Representations

5.1 One letter of objection has been received from a local resident. The grounds of objection are:

(i) their property is approximately 10 metres from the five-a-side pitch and if the lights are erected they will shine directly into their bedrooms which face onto the pitch and will also affect their garden;

(ii) concerned at the time of night the pitch will be used and by whom;

(iii) use of foul language by people using the facility and will become a meeting place for youths; and

(iv) the application should not be granted.

6. Chief Planning Adviser's Comments

6.1 The school is within the defined built-up area for Andover where development on school sites would normally be permitted. The proposal is consistent with the adopted Test Valley Borough Local Plan 1996.

6.2 The objector's comments are noted. It is acknowledged that their property is the nearest to one of the proposed lighting columns and in that repect the concern about glare is understandable. However, the lights have been designed to reduce as much glare as possible and a planning condition can be attached requiring the installation of additional light baffles to further reduce light emissions. Subject to these limitations the impact is considered to be within acceptable standards.

6.3 In terms of evening use, the proposal is for up to 9pm on three weekday nights per week and excluding Saturday and Sunday. The longest time period when the lights would be on is likely to be the winter months when the natural light diminishes quickly. The pitch is used by pre-booked groups of young children (aged from 7 to 12) who are accompanied by qualified coaches and other responsible adults. At all times when in use, there is supervision of the pitch. Since the school installed closed circuit television and a security patrol has been set up there has not been a problem with youths using the site as a meeting place.

6.4 In summary, the proposed development accords with the Development Plan and the lights would operate within amenity standards. Moreover, the use of the floodlighting until 9pm on three weekday nights limits the impact even further. Accordingly, planning permission is recommended.

Recommendation

That permission for provision of six floodlights for five-a-side football pitch at Anton Junior School, Barlows Lane, Andover (Application No. 06/00948/HCC3N) be granted for the following reason and subject to the following conditions:

Reason for Approval

It is considered that the proposal would be in accordance with the development plan (summary attached) and would not materially harm the character of the area or the amenity of local residents.

Conditions

(1) The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date on which this planning permission was granted.

Reason: To comply with Section 91 (as amended) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

(2) The floodlights shall not be used on Saturday and Sunday and not for more than three days in any one week. The floodlights should also not be used between 2100 hours and 0900 hours on any days, and in any event, the lighting shall be turned off after 15 minutes following the end of the last match or use of the pitch unless otherwise agreed beforehand in writing with the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: In the interest of the amenity of occupiers of nearby properties.

(3) Before the lighting is brought into use, all the individual lanterns shall be fitted with baffles of a design previously approved by the Local Planning Authority to further reduce light spillage to nearby properties. When the floodlighting is in use it shall be so angled to the approval of the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: To ensure the lighting does not cause glare to users of Barlows Lane and nearby housing.

(4) There shall be no access to the development site by any traffic associated with the construction (ie no delivery vehicles, no contractors' cars, nor plant and machinery) in the morning between 0830 and 0850 hours and in the afternoon between 1445 and 1515 hours on normal school days.

Reason: In the interests of public safety and to avoid traffic conflict at the times of the day when pupils are arriving at, and departing from, school.

(5) No work relating to the construction of the development approved, including works of preparation prior to operations, the delivery of construction materials, skips or machinery, nor the removal of waste materials, shall take place before 0800 hours or after 1800 hours Monday to Saturday and not at all on Sunday or recognised public holidays, unless otherwise agreed beforehand in writing with the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: To protect the amenities of occupiers of nearby properties.

955/ML

Annexe to Reason for Conditions

(as required by Article 22 of the Town and Country Planning

(General Procedure) Order 1995 - as amended)

__________________________________________________________________

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY STRUCTURE PLAN 1996-2011 (REVIEW) (adopted September 2000)

Policy UB 3 (Design and Compatibility)

All development permitted in accordance with other policies of this Plan should be appropriate in design, scale, layout and density to its surroundings.

TEST VALLEY BOROUGH LOCAL PLAN AUGUST 1996

Policy D1 (General standards for the control of development)

Development conforming to other policies in this Plan, or which is to be permitted as an exception to those policies, will be permitted if it (inter alia), is of a high standard of design and layout, and in relation to its siting, scale, appearance, massing, design, colour and facing materials.