‘A loss to the community’
As plans are submitted to build 41 houses on this football pitch, concerns are raised over traffic and the disappearance of open space
PLANS have been unveiled for a new housing estate at the former home of one of the most senior football teams in the Staffordshire Moorlands – despite concerns over the loss of open space and an increase in traffic.
A planning application has been submitted to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council to construct 41 residential properties on Ball Haye Green football ground in Leek.
The proposal involves the demolition of the existing Working Men’s Club and the relocation of the current football pitch and associated facilities to Birchall Playing Fields, in order to facilitate the provision of an outline application for the dwellings.
Ball Haye Green FC were founded in 1880 and have been based at the site, off Ball Haye Road, for 80 years.
In 2018, however, they were told by the site owner that they would have to leave the ground due to ‘aspirations to develop the site for housing.’
The plans for the football ground could see the club relocated to Birchall Playing Fields if an additional senior pitch can be placed there.
However traffic concerns and the loss of open space have been raised by councillors representing the ward area.
Leek’s deputy mayor and ward councillor for the area, Councillor Lyn Swindlehurst, said: “My considerations surround issues within the planning process to consider the impact on local people and infrastructure in terms of traffic flow, road safety, and school place provision.
“A further major concern in particular in Leek North, is the importance of community open spaces, essential for recreation and the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle for all our community.
“This open arena could be developed to ensure a safe, open space for community use.
“The potential to introduce measures to mitigate against climate change within large open spaces should not be ignored to enhance our present environment and future-proof our shared spaces for our community.”
Councillor Charlotte Atkins added: “I am disappointed that much-needed open space and a football pitch will be lost from Leek North.
“While a replacement pitch is to be provided at Birchall Playing Fields, this still represents a loss to the local community.”
However, Councillor Atkins was pleased that the Working Men’s Club, pictured right, would be demolished.
She said: “That is good news as it has become an eyesore and a danger to local children.
“However, 41 new houses will put added pressure on Ball Haye Green which is already a traffic bottleneck.
“I hope the road can be improved to cope with the increased number of vehicles.”
A planning statement prepared by Leith Planning Ltd of Preston, said: “The applicant has worked closely with Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, High Peak District Council and Sport England to provide a suitable replacement adult pitch at Birchall Playing Fields.
“The application site is allocated as open space within the adopted Local Plan but is located within the urban area and is surrounded by residential development. There are no nationally or locally listed buildings on the site or in the vicinity of the site, nor does the site lie within a Conservation Area. “The site benefits from an existing vehicular access off Ball Haye Green; albeit it is proposed that this is amended such that the access is fit for the proposed residential purpose. “Extensive pre-application engagement has taken place with the council, including both the council’s planning team and tourism and leisure team since 2018.
“Discussions have largely focused around the requirement to provide a replacement playing pitch to mitigate the loss of the pitch at Ball Haye Green, and a suitable alternative site at Birchall Playing Fields has been found.
“The development subject of this application seeks to provide 41 dwellings on a site previously used as a football ground and Working Men’s Club.
“While the loss of sports pitches and open space is generally resisted, a replacement pitch will be provided within the same settlement of Leek. “Further to this, the former Working Men’s Club has fallen into a state of disrepair, and we consider the proposed development constitutes a viable alternative use of the site.”
The proposed development includes detached, semi-detached and terraced housing and has been designed such that the terraced housing is adjacent to the existing terraces along Ball Haye Green.
A project brief, also included with the application, added: “During the 2017/18 season, the club were informed by the site owner they would have to leave the site at the end of the season.
“Since then the club has experienced significant difficulties resulting in it dropping down the league pyramid.
“Temporary locations have not been sufficient to meet league ground grading requirements and they have suffered as a result.
“Work has been undertaken on a range of potential sites where a pitch could be relocated.
“This process has discounted various sites and only one appropriate site remains.
“We believe that reconfiguration of a number of existing pitches and the creation of a new pitch could be located at Birchall Playing Fields.
“Headline feasibility work and discussion with the councils grounds maintenance contractor suggest that it may be possible to change the configuration of existing pitches to enable an additional senior pitch to fit into the space.
“In order to be able to undertake these changes, improvements to the site topography would be needed to enable what is currently unusable land to be played on.”
It is expected that a decision will be made by planners within the next 12 weeks.