More than 500 people have objected to plans for an all-weather sports pitch that they fear could interfere with performances at an open-air theatre.
BHASVIC (Brighton, Hove And Sussex VI Form College) submitted plans for an artificial grass pitch and multi-use games area to Brighton and Hove City Council.
The prospect has prompted concerns from Brighton Open Air Theatre (BOAT) and its supporters that noise could drown out actors.
The theatre opened in Dyke Road Park in 2015 and, after an appeal on its website, more than 550 people have lodged objections with the council in the first five days of the year.
Four people have sent letters of support for the scheme.
BOAT said that it spent much of the summer discussing the application with BHASVIC, putting forward proposals to limit use of the pitch from May to September when the theatre stages shows.
A statement on BOAT’s website said: “Our suggestions would have had very little impact on student use of the pitches. However, nothing we discussed with BHASVIC has been adopted in their planning application.
“It has therefore become clear that BHASVIC’s objective for the use of the pitches is, in fact, not to benefit their students but rather to hire them out commercially to make money, primarily on evenings and weekends.
“It is also worth noting that, despite BOAT being the closest neighbour to the new pitches, the noise impact assessment and the noise management plan submitted by BHASVIC doesn’t mention BOAT which is quite remarkable considering we have been in discussions with BHASVIC about our concerns since May 2025.
“The only conclusion one can reach about this omission is that BOAT has been ignored because an assessment would clearly show the noise impact would be unacceptable.”
The chair of the actors’ union Equity’s Brighton and Sussex branch, Carole Bremson, asked why a college that provided performance courses would proceed with the application.
She said: “Speaking personally, as an actor and director who taught classes at Mountview Theatre School some years ago, I know full well just how the persistent repertoire of musical theatre songs from a nearby studio can play havoc with rehearsal of the spoken word.
“But that was nothing compared with what is being planned and deliberately ignored here.”
An anonymous objector, whose details were redacted by the council, said: “My wife and I are regular attendees at Brighton Open Air Theatre and its very existence is threatened by this application. It is totally unacceptable to place this pitch on the other side of the boundary to the theatre.
“As an old boy of Brighton, Hove and Sussex Grammar School (the precursor of BHASVIC), I have experience of the school playing field and there is no reason why this cannot be sited away from the Dyke Road Park boundary where it would cause minimal inconvenience.”
A draft community use agreement, submitted as part of the application, would permit sports until 10pm from Monday to Thursday, until 6pm on Saturdays and 2pm on Sundays.
On Fridays, the sports pitches would be available to the public until 6pm during term-time and 2pm during holidays.
Priority would be given to under-18s, girls and women’s sports groups, those on low incomes, black people and those from ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.
The noise management plan, drawn up by Surfacing Standards Limited, said that a member of staff would monitor noise when pitches were in use.
Neighbours would be given contact details should they need to complain about noise. Organisations hiring pitches would be required to sign up to a code of conduct.
In a planning statement drawn up by the planning consultancy Whaleback, BHASVIC said that the sports pitches were currently rented out about 20 times a year for flag football (non-contact American football) and children’s holiday camps.
Proposed LED lighting would have “controlled beam angles to limit spillage and automated curfews”.
The planning statement said: “It is understood there is a desire to avoid conflicts between use of the pitches during (BOAT) performance times – and BHASVIC are committed to ongoing communication on this matter.
“In any event, the application is accompanied by a lighting assessment and noise impact assessment … in addition to a draft noise management plan and draft community use agreement which can be secured via condition.
“These mechanisms will ensure that no harmful impacts will occur in terms of noise and light during performance times.”
BHASVIC principal William Baldwin said that the college wanted to ensure that it had the best facilities which would also become a community asset.
He said: “We always knew that our proposal would not be universally supported. As part of our submission, we actively engaged with local residents, stakeholders and user groups over a three-month period this summer.
“Planning is a democratic process and we respect the right of all voices to be heard.
“My hope is that the clear educational benefits, the promotion of physical exercise and the needs of young people and the community will lead to the approval of this project.”
To view the application or comment, search for BH2025/02901 on the council’s website.
My husband and I are regular attendees at BOAT & it’s very existence is threatened by this application.
It is totally unacceptable to place this pitch on the other side of the boundary to the theatre.
I am very upset that the alternative proposals made by BOAT have been completely ignored!
Given the amount of land at their disposal, wouldn’t it be possible for the college to locate the pitch on the car park? Move the parking to the proposed site enabling shared usage. Or perhaps do away with the parking thus encouraging public transport or cycling? Just a few quick thoughts.
For our official response, please visit the news page on our website.
– BHASVIC
Here’s the link to their statement. They claim noise concerns are addressed, they will commission an additional noise study focused on BOAT to reassure stakeholders, and they have a desire for Coexistence.
https://www.bhasvic.ac.uk/news/official-statement-on-boat-planning-objections