Football pitch approved despite fears from theatre

Plans for a floodlit artificial football pitch and multi-use games area at a Hove college have been approved, despite more than a thousand objections.

Brighton & Hove City Council voted on Wednesday in favour of the development at the Brighton, Hove & Sussex Sixth Form College (BHASVIC), which will be just over 50 yards away from the Brighton Open Air Theatre (BOAT).

One BOAT trustee argued that noise disruption, such as "whistles and shouting", might affect alfresco performances and "threaten the theatre's viability".

However, supporters pointed out that the application did not represent a change of use, the site already being "an active playing field with existing football pitches".

In addition, there were concerns about pitch lighting being harmful to the nearby bird population, particularly starlings, as well as the possible presence of microplastics in prospective pitch surfaces.

However, BHASVIC principal, William Baldwin, said that he did not want to turn the city against the college and would sit down with BOAT to seek a reasonable compromise, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"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," he said.

"Both things are possible and we will work closely to ensure BOAT can co-exist and thrive alongside us."

A condition is also in place that a noise validation review has to take place within the first two months of the plan's operation.

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