Plans for New College Durham's new sports pitch approved

New College Durham, Framwellgate Moor, applied to build the new facility with floodlights and reposition the car park from its current location. 

The proposal was submitted as part of an ambition to improve the college’s sport provision after it fell behind several others in the region. 

A Durham County Council planning meeting heard the new Artificial Grass Pitch (AGP) would allow for all-year-round teaching and be available for public use. 

Initial design drawings of how the site could look (Image: New College Durham)

Paul Bradley, chief financial officer at New College Durham, said the proposal is critical to help develop the college’s curriculum delivery and providing new facilities for the community. 

“The college is now starting to show signs of decline in its recruitment of students for sport, as the facilities at the college are not of the standard that many students have experienced during their educational journey in schools.”

New College has already been contacted by a number of local clubs that are interested in using the facility due to the lack of similar pitches nearby, Mr Bradley added.  

Outside of college hours, the facilities will be open for public use between 5-10pm on weekdays and 9am-5pm on weekends. The newly-installed floodlights are set to be switched off by 10:30pm on weekdays. The new car park will also be closed off until the following morning, when open. 

Yet, the local authority received 33 letters of objection from residents. 

Alan Smith, a neighbour objecting to the plans, told the meeting that residents would be adversely affected by the lighting on the pitch, the noise levels and the increased amount of traffic. He added: “The development would be a major environmental catastrophe. 

“The local people wanting to use the pitch would have to pay to do so. It is disingenuous to say that the development is for the benefit of the local people.”

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The existing car park is due to be built on and moved (Image: New College Durham)

Matthew Phillips, of the City of Durham Trust, said it had no issue with the ambition to improve sports facilities but the proposed car parking was of a concern. 

And despite some questions about transport access from councillors, the proposal was unanimously supported and praised as a ‘big asset’ to the area. 

Cllr Alan Bell added: “It’s a brilliant scheme and to refuse this application would put the college at such a huge disadvantage. It’s been very sympathetic and well thought out.”