Councillors granted planning permission for an artificial grass pitch and multi-use games area this afternoon (Wednesday 2 September) despite more than a thousand objections.
The two pitches, which would be on the eastern side of the field closest to the college buildings, would be just over 50 yards away from the Brighton Open Air Theatre (BOAT)
Brighton and Hove City Council’s Planning Committee voted eight to two in favour of the plans after hearing from supporters and objectors.
BOAT trustee Graeme Hawkins asked the committee to restrict use of the pitch during the spring and summer holidays to prevent it from being used outside term-time and affecting the theatre.
A report to the committee said that, when compared with this year’s programme, seven performances would have clashed with the timings for the sports pitch.
Mr Hawkins said: “Seven disrupted performances could affect more than 2,000 audience members and seven theatre companies, many of which may decide not to return, and year after year. This could seriously jeopardise BOAT’s future.”
Friends of Dyke Road Park vice-chair Steve Geliot spoke about the adverse effect on starlings which would lose a food source as well as the wider effects of lighting on bird and insect life.
Mr Geliot said: “It’s strategically important for (starlings) that it’s close to the hedge so if you cover over their food supply and you blast light on the hedge, that’s a real problem for wild birds.”
Green councillor Nadia Barton Ahmed, who represents Goldsmid ward and is also the chair of Friends of Dyke Road Park and a former BHASVIC student, spoke against the application – as did her ward colleague, Labour councillor Trevor Muten.
Councillor Barton Ahmed said: “BHASVIC doesn’t offer PE lessons for all of the students and I believe this development would benefit elite sports teams.
“In an overcrowded school, I believe the field space offers recreational green space for all of its students.”
Councillor Muten said: “Residents are deeply concerned that the noise generated from the artificial sports pitch, including whistles, shouting and ball strikes would undermine performances and threaten the theatre’s viability.”
Some 79 supporting comments raised the need for improved sports facilities and the fact that BOAT was already next to a sports field.
Independent councillor Samer Bagaeen, who represents Hove Park ward, spoke in support. He said: “This is not housing or commercial development taking over an open space.
“It is an investment in sporting infrastructure for young people on an existing education site, enabling that land to support substantially more reliable and intensive sporting use throughout the year.”
BHASVIC’s agent Molly McLean, from planning consultants Whaleback, said that Brighton and Hove hoped to become a centre for women’s sport and the development would benefit the college’s team.
Ms McLean said: “The application before you today is not a change of use. The site is an active playing field with existing football pitches currently used by students and the community.
“This has been the case for the college’s entire history and this arrangement has peacefully existed without conflict to its neighbours.”
BHASVIC principal William Baldwin said that he did not want to turn the city against the college and would happily agree to sit down with BOAT, look at their performance programme and reach a reasonable compromise.
He said that there had never been any complaints about noise from the sports field which is used by a summer football club during the school holidays as he pushed against a blanket ban on spring and summer holiday sports.
Mr Baldwin said: “It’s my job to get our students the best facilities for their studies but it’s also my job to ensure we are a good neighbour and considerate of our community. Both things are possible.
“At the moment my students are getting a poor deal. The majority of secondary schools in the city now have an artificial pitch. Students come from those schools to a college environment where surely they should expect to get better, more advanced facilities.”
After the vote, Mr Baldwin said: “We’re delighted with the committee’s approval and I hope they showed robust discussion around the concerns raised with this application.
“Our intention at BHASVIC always has been and always will be to be a good neighbour and we will work closely to ensure BOAT can co-exist and thrive alongside us while also providing desperately needed facilities for our students.”
Brighton and Hove Independent councillor Bridget Fishleigh spilled out a tub of rubber crumb removed from her son’s football boot to illustrate her concerns about microplastics.
Councillor Fishleigh, who voted against the application, was told that there was no national guidance on rubber crumb and that alternatives, such as corn husk and cork, would degrade faster, creating a safety hazard, as well as being more expensive.
Green councillor Sue Shanks proposed adding a condition to the application to prevent the pitch and MUGA use during the late spring half-term and summer holidays.
She was told that conditions on planning applications needed to be necessary, enforceable and reasonable. She voted against the application.
A condition is in place that a noise validation review needs to take place within the first two months of operation.
Labour councillor Paul Nann said: “I’m going to vote for it because I’m optimistic that two respectable institutions that are both incredibly well liked will be able to come to an arrangement that stops them ruining each other.”
Conservative councillor Carol Theobald said: “I do support sports provision. I think it’s very good for children. I hope that BHASVIC can work with BOAT if this is passed today.”
Green councillor Kerry Pickett said: “I’m still concerned that we are still unable to encourage proposals to use a more sustainable surface. I’m really still worried about microplastics.
“This is a nature improvement area and we’re still allowing microplastics to be added.”
